38 Old Country Rd
Garden City,
NY 11530

(516) 741-7304

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• Viewpoint
• Amnesty International
• Religious Education
• Everyday Ethics
• Malaika
• Pandora's Box -- Public Affairs Committee
• Long Island Alliance
• Founders Day
• Cast Call
• Personals
• Letter From Susan Teshu
• Wanted

Sunday morning is the central communal experience in the Society. The nature of the platform meeting was set down more than 100 years ago by founder Felix Adler. While there have been modifications in the nature of the meeting, it is largely as it was in 1876.

One change has been the more participatory style that we now use. Recently several members have proposed some programs they would like to see. They seem like good ideas to me. So here are the ideas. In order to work they need some help from you. Let me know if you want to participate or can provide some leads.

1. Ethics in the workplace. The idea is to have 4-5 members who have thought about ethics at work. This may be a moral problem encountered or it may be more general, such as work-pressure or what keeps the workplace an ethical one.
2. Sunday School graduates. Many hundreds of children have graduated from our Sunday School. Where are they now? What are they doing? We would like to have a morning devoted to hearing from them. Can you help us find them?
3. Inspirational Readings. Every once in awhile we come across a passage from a book, a poem or something else which moves us and we would like to share it with others. This is the chance to do it. To do justice to your selection, we will have several of our more professional speakers read it for you.
4. You favorite song. Just as a reading may inspire, a song may move you. You can tell us about your favorite recording, then we will play either a tape or CD so everyone can hear your favorite song. There are several takers here so far. We can use a few more.

======= Arthur Dobrin

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Our Group 74 of Amnesty International has been writing letters to Egyptian officials urging the release of three imprisoned Muslim Brothers, members of fundamentalist Muslim group that has renounce its former advocacy of violence. We have learned that two of the three were released in October 1998 at the end of their three-year terms. The third, who was 76 years old, had been pardoned on health grounds in January 1998. Others, however, have been arrested since October, and our Group 74 will continue to write letters urging their release.

The next meeting of Amnesty International takes place at the Ethical Society on Wednesday March 24 at 8:00 p.m.

==== Robert Ernst

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This month I am happy to tell you about graduating senior, Liz Milizio who will be affirmed on March 21st. She is a happy, energetic young lady who is competent in many areas. (At our senior retreats, Liz has been the one to coordinate getting breakfast on the table. She is great at slicing strawberries!)

Liz plans to be an astronaut when she grows up and wants to be the first person on Mars. To get ready, she went to Space Camp in Alabama this past summer and had a wonderful time.

Liz has been attending Tae Kwon Do classes for a number of years and is at the red belt level. She likes studying Math and Science and enjoys wandering along the stream near her home with her brother and sister. Her pet hedgehog, Spike, often keeps her occupied and she likes to collect cameras, although she doesn't take pictures.

To Liz, what's most important is to be happy and to have a good family life.

This year as part of the graduating Senior's experience, the students have been assigned a mentor to assist them in completing their Coming of Age Journal.

Each of the people asked, Joan Beder, Lisa Saft, Andy Jacobs, Elsa Javkin and Alan Cohen enthusiastically accepted and will be meeting with these young people in March and April with a culminating luncheon on May 23rd.

Thank you to these wonderful people for their willingness to help.

====== Linda Napoli

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On Tuesday night, January 26, Arthur met with seven members of the Society to discuss "Everyday Ethics", or "What would you do?" in a particular situation; the situation (s), both real and imagined, specifically involved an ethical dilemma or conundrum. It was a mentally challenging, stimulating, and enjoyable evening.

You may wish to join the group when it meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

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Arthur's new novel about Kenya has arrived from Nairobi. We will discuss the book at the Society on Friday May 7th at 8:00 p.m.

You can get a copy of Malaika at the Society or from Arthur. Since the book is published in Kenya, it can't be purchased anywhere else.

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Next Meeting: Sun. March 21 10:00 am

The November/December issue of Sierra, the magazine of the Sierra Club, had a fascinating series of articles on religion and the environment. It was very encouraging to read the lead article by Trebbe Johnson. Religious communities that have not traditionally been seen as environmentally conscious are, in fact, re-examining their roots and re-confirming the importance of caring for our world. The National Council of Churches, the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) have all made public calls for environmental protection. In fact, the EEN arranged for the lobbying in Washington in January 1996 which is credited with preventing the weakening of the Endangered Species Act at that time.

Pope John Paul II is quoted in the article as saying, "The dramatic threat of ecological breakdown is teaching us the extent to which greed and selfishness . . . are contrary to the order of Creation."

Maimonides, the Jewish philosopher is also quoted: "It should not be believed that all the beings exist for humanity. On the contrary, all the other beings too have been intended for their own sakes, and not for the sake of something else."

In an especially fine nugget from the article, one of our movements very own is mentioned. "Joe Chuman, leader of the Ethical Culture Society in Teaneck, New Jersey, sees members exploring ways of relating humanist values such as reciprocity and egalitarianism to the natural world."

Pope John Paul, Maimonides, and Joe Chuman together in one article - my, the ethical movements come a long way!

I received a call for action from the "Green Corps." According to them, the US Forest Service has built more that 400,000 miles of roads with our tax dollars in our National Forests. This is second only to clear cutting as the most destructive force in our forests today. Only 4% of America's old growth forests remain. Green Corps is asking that we write to Vice President Al Gore to protect these wilderness areas. The Forest Service is presently developing their policy and as in stands at this writing, there are so many loopholes that at least half of the road less areas will be endangered. They are asking for three points to be made 1- Protect all roadless areas greater than 1,00 acres; 2- Defend roadless areas from logging, mineral, oil and gas development; and 3- Include all of our National Forests, especially forests in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The address is as follows: Vice President Al Gore, The White House, Washington, DC 20500

Thought for the month: This information came to me over the Internet so take the facts with a grain of salt. It does give one pause, however, as to the inequities of our society: Michael Jordan used to make over $300,000 a game: $10,000 a minute assuming he averaged about 30 minutes a game. Assuming $40 million in endorsements last year, he was making $178,100 a day, working or not.

Assuming he slept 7 hours per night, he made $52,000 while asleep. If he went to a movie it cost him $9 but he made $18,550 while he was there. If someone wanted to hand him his salary and endorsement money, they would have to hand him $2 every second. Last year, he made twice as much as all of our past presidents for all their terms combined. Amazing? But get this: Jordan will have to save 100% of his income for 270 years to have a net worth equivalent to that of Bill Gates.

====== Janet Rudolph

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February marked the official kick-off of the Abolition 2000 campaign in the U.S. Abolition 2000 is a Global Network of more than 1200 worldwide citizen action groups who are calling on nuclear weapons states to participate immediately in a convention that will require elimination of all nuclear weapons within a time bound framework, with provisions for effective verification and enforcement. The worldwide movement for nuclear weapons abolition is growing rapidly and provides how for us all to be able to live in a less fearful, nuclear weapons-free world. The L.I. Alliance will actively participate in this campaign through news conferences, educational programs, and circulation of petitions. You can read the Abolition 2000 statement and other pertinent information on the web site of the Nuclear Age Peace foundation, ww.wagingpeace.org.

We are also very pleased to announce the recent hiring of Kevin Van Meter as coordinator of the Long Island Students for Peace and Justice, which was successfully run for many years by EHS member Eric Alexander. Kevin is a dynamic local college student who also started the Modern Times Collective, another youth activist group, and was recently profiled in the Long Island Voice. The group meets every Thursday from 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Society and welcomes all high school and college age people. Kevin can be reached at his pager #516-834-9745 or e-mail address: nonviolentaction@hotmail.com.

===== Peggy Jacobs

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Try a riddle. Remember this one? What has six wheels and flies? A garbage truck. Now how about this one? What has white hair, tropical fish, can teach, present a paper, fix a computer or car engine, provide counseling and train dogs? Hint: it likes paddle ball, fine stereo equipment and belongs to the local Amnesty group.

No, it's not superperson, it's two people, Joan and Steve Beder. The Board of Trustees has enthusiastically decided to honor Joan and Steve at our Founder's Day luncheon on May 2, 1999. The contribution for adults is $25. We'll have our usual honoree(s) roasting, good food and an opportunity to thank two dedicated members of the Society for their ongoing efforts on behalf of the Ethical movement. Save the date, more details to follow.

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The Ethical Humanist Society Drama Group will be casting Clifford Odets' play, "Awake and Sing" on March 9th. and 11th.

All those interested in reading for a part or who would like to help backstage, please contact Ken Schwartzman at 516-541-4723

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• Al D'Angelo's daughter, Eva, has been admitted to several colleges, mostly on scholarship.
• Ken & Muriel Schwartzman have just celebrated their 49th. wedding anniversary.
• Lyn & Arthur Dobrin's daughter-in-law, Maria, has just become a citizen.
• Jean Bobick's oldest daughter just celebrated her 50th. birthday.
• Irma Shapiro's oldest grandson will be spending his junior year in England; it was his first choice.

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that the Leadership Committee of the American Ethical Union is recommending to the Board that I be certified as a Leader. The years of hard work are paying off and I am very excited.

There will be a certification ceremony for two other Leaders and me on Sunday, April 25th in New York, in the morning. Please save the date.

With Love and Happiness, Susan Rose Teshu

Tripod for my old, original, large CAMCORDER. See David Fersh if you can help.

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