38 Old Country Rd
Garden City,
NY 11530

(516) 741-7304

PREVIOUS ISSUES
November 97

• Religious Education
• Ethical Friends of Children
• Transmedia Card Holders Announcement
• Pandora's Box -- Public Affairs Committee
• News -- Announcements -- and More
• Haiti Project Partnership
• Personals
• Thanks -- and Thanks Again

This year's Religious Education Conference was a special one for the National R.E. Committee, of which I am a member.

In the beautiful setting of Holiday Hills, we introduced the first thirteen Ethical Identity stories which have been in the works for the past four years. The general introduction on Saturday morning included a wonderful slide presentation with commentary, depicting scenes from the turn of the century as well as pictures of well-known figures of the Ethical movement. This was followed by mini - workshops on three stories chosen by each facilitator.

Although fictionalized, every story focuses on true events in the lives of various early leaders or others connected to the Ethical Culture movement. One example is an account of Effie Benedict and the Visiting Nurse Service instituted by the New York Society for Ethical Culture. Another tells of John Lovejoy Elliot's trip to Europe at the age of 70 to rescue the Leaders of the Berlin and Vienna Ethical Societies from the Nazis. The stories are geared to school aged children but contain themes of interest to all ages.

There are introductory activities, discussion questions and follow-up material with each one. Some wonderful copies of authentic photos are attached. This marvelous core curriculum will be used through out all our Sunday Schools, fostering a sense of connection, and developing an understanding and appreciation of our history in everyone who reads it.

-------- Linda Napoli
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Originally when asked, I planned to tell you about our work with all that clothing in Room 101. I planned to mention all the other Room 101 volunteers, and finally I would try, slyly, to draft a few recruits to help us out. But I have been told that this is not the program at all. The point is not to tell you about us at all! Rather I am to give a personal statement of why I do it, what I get out of it, why is it important to me.

This is very difficult. A treacherous business. It's rather like asking someone to say "I love you." Some feelings are best left unarticulated. Ethical Friends of Children is charity. I don't think you can give it another name. Most religions, lots of corporations, and many business have such "outreach programs," programs to help the unfortunate, the poor, the sick, the disadvantaged. Why? I suppose if you want to go to heaven, charity means a better chance of salvation. We could certainly accuse the corporations of using a charity as a means of tax relief, of raking in millions and giving away pennies. I don't believe that charity solves in any way the very real underlying causes of suffering. In fact, charity itself is a culprit, lulling the poor into false humility and impotency. Often when I bring clothing or furniture to a family, the recipient says " God bless you" to me. A friend once suggested that with every package of clothing we make up, we should sneak in a revolutionary message.

Yet, we do feel that need to "do good," to "do right," to join in the fight to right wrongs. We join the NAACP, Amnesty International, NOW, the Sierra Club, the Ethical Humanist Society. We write letters, we attend meetings, we give donations. But where are the poor we are helping, the working classes, the oppressed minorities? Have they joined our organizations? I'm not one of them! Why should I fight for their causes? My daughter tells me that I once said, "I don't believe in being a volunteer. If the work that I am doing is important, then I should get paid. Not because money is the recognition of worth. But if I work for nothing and it is work that needs doing, then I am taking away somebody else's job."

Really the only answer is to shed our clothing and live as hermits in the desert. And I'm not going to do that! But I've got to do something , drudgery, something direct, something modest, humbling, without reward, without recognition, something that helps someone, if only temporarily, something to help my own feelings about compassion. There! I've said it. But even to say this is arrogance and a contradiction of my prior ramblings.

-------- Diana Vecchione
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The Trans Media Card entitles you to 20% off your entire bill when you eat at any of the hundreds of restaurants that are part of their program. Those of you who have been members know the advantages!

Now, by calling 1-800-422-5090 and mentioning CODE # 8251, you can still enjoy the advantages, while the Society receives a percentage as well. However, you must call and convert your membership, using the Code mentioned above, in order for the Society to receive benefits.

If you have never been a member of Trans Media and are interested in knowing more about it, call the Society office and they will send you a brochure and application.

It is a good, solid, fundraiser for the Society, as well as a chance for you to enjoy the benefits of dining out for less.

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Our Society is an affiliate of the Interfaith Alliance, a multi-denominational group dedicated to promoting pluralism and tolerance in American religious life. The Alliance is concerned about efforts by the Christian Coalition to create a Constitutional amendment permitting school prayer. The proposed Religious Freedom Amendment to the Constitution is as follows: "To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of their own conscience: the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage or traditions on public property, including public schools, shall not be infringed. The government shall not require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, initiate or designate school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion."

This amendment, primarily sponsored by Rep. Istook (R-OK), has been labeled deceptive in its attempt to be innocuous. First of all, activities such as silent public prayers and religious clubs are already constitutionally protected. The Istook amendment will have the effect of allowing religious coercion ; this can be especially damaging in a school setting where the authority of the teacher and his/her religious beliefs can have a tremendous impact on the children. It will also create a "majority rule" system where minority religions may be recognized or belittled. So many faiths exist in American society that, even in areas apparently homogeneous on the surface., finding prayer that speaks to all represented faiths (including atheist, agnostic and humanist) is not possible.

Rev. Philip Wogaman of the Interfaith Alliance said at a press conference," this deceptive legislation would pit members of different faith communities against one another, and promote religious intolerance in our public schools. Frankly, we prefer James Madison's original version (of the Constitution) to that of Representative Istook and his supporters from the religious right."

More about Cassini: I recently found out some facts that further incensed me over the launch of the nuclear powered mission. The European Space Agency is preparing to launch a mission called Rosetta which will use solar power to travel beyond Jupiter. (So contrary to NASA's assertions, solar power is within reach of being a possible alternative to nuclear power.) Of 63 known US and Russian space missions involving nuclear power, nine have been involved in accidents including a Titan IV rocket at Cape Canaveral in 1993. Titan IV is the same rocket powering Cassini. Obviously, nuclear power in space is not as safe as NASA would like us to believe . Westinghouse and General Electric are two major players in the nuclear industry. In fact, GE products were used to encase the plutonium of Cassini. Ever wonder why news about Cassini dangers and information about protests was so difficult to obtain. Well, in a startling conflict of interest, Westinghouse owns CBS and General Electric owns NBC, two of the three major networks. Did you know that the government of New Zealand formally registered opposition to the launch? (Source: International Women's Writing Guild newsletter) .

------ Janet Rudolph
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Ethical Friends of Children:
Did you know that Oct.25th of this year was designated Global Day of Service? I think it is a "volunteer thing" quasi-sponsored by the county that's been going on for 7 years. People and companies from Nassau volunteer their manpower to help other various "good causes." We were one of those good causes this year and Chase Manhattan Bank was the company that sent us the volunteers.

Saturday, Oct.25th, Ethical Friends of Children had the great help of 25 volunteers, 9 from Ethical Friends and 16 more from Chase. What a great day it was for us! The volunteers fixed our sagging shelves. They sorted and neatly boxed over 100 boxes and bags of ill-sorted winter clothes. Chase treated us to sandwiches and drinks at lunchtime. Then another 12 volunteers from Chase arrived with 40 more boxes of clothing, already sorted and neatly boxed.

Then they dragged up all the boxes of toys down in the basement, sorted them out and reboxed them, ready for the next month's holidays. And when they were sure everything had been done, they cleaned up and vacuumed the whole place. Mirabile dictu!

Our volunteers were Lois Blatt, Gertrude Delson, Terry Palo, Mimi Koenig, Henrietta Nessin, Tony Pumo, Gertrude Simpkin, Mary Ann Smith and Diana Vecchione.

Celebrate Human Rights
Two books that tell the stories of human rights activists are receiving the biannual human rights award from the Society's own Amnesty International group (# 74) with group # 17, the branch that meets in Great Neck. The books are Troublemaker: One Man's Crusade Against China's Cruelty by Harry Wu with George Vecesy (Times-Random House,1996) and Irrepressible Spirit: Conversations with Human Rights Activist by Susan Kuklin (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1996).

Both Vecsey and Kulkin will be at the Society on Sunday, December 14th at 11am to accept the awards and speak from the platform about the inspiring people in their books.

Wanted: Greeting Cards
Each year during the winter holidays, the Society's Amnesty International conducts a Sunday morning holiday greeting card action where members of the society send messages of hope to Prisoners of Conscience throughout the world. This year we'll be sending cards to people in China, Columbia, Nigeria, Peru, South Korea, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.

Holidays mean little to prisoners who believe they have been forgotten by the world. A simple greeting card, however, can bring renewed hope. We are in need of unused greeting cards for this campaign and hope that you have some to donate. Please do not donate Christmas or other religious theme cards. Also, please note that reference to alcoholic beverages (such as champagne bottle on New Year's cards) could be offensive in some cultures. Most appropriate would be cards with scenery, flowers, animals, birds. Please bring your cards to the EHS office anytime, or give them to Amy Antoniazzi or Lyn Dobrin on Sunday morning as soon as possible. Thank you for your help. We of Amnesty International Group 74 appreciate the on-going involvement and concern expressed by the members of the Society.

HAITI PROJECT PARTNERSHIP
An Ethical Action Committee Program of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture. 63 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn,NY 11215. Telephone 718-768-2972: Fax 718-768-2973

ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEBRUARY 14-22, 1998 HAITI TRIP -- *Two people, from our Society are being sought to volunteer to attend this trip to Haiti*

PURPOSE: To partner with Haitian self-help organizations including Fonkoze, Three Little Flowers School in Petite Goave and the Leogane Movement by visiting and working with these groups. To inspire participants to partner with them after returning from Haiti.

Cost: $ 1,100 for air fare, ground travel, meals, lodging, funds to host groups; last two days lodging at a seaside hotel for reflection and recuperation.

Qualifications: Willing to learn about Haiti and attend orientation session. Sensitivity to extreme poverty and rugged conditions. Willingness to accept responsibility for the group's success. Ability to teach a mini-course in economic development, business skills, micro credit lending, credit unions, English, computers, typing, preventive and public health, electricity, engine repair or air conditioning.

Deposit and Applications: A $250 deposit is required by December 1, 1997; balance due by January 1, 1998. Submit a letter explaining your interest in this trip, and describe your background and experience to Ms. Marie Yolaine Gateau Esposito, HPP Trip Coordinator, 365 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215. Telephone 718-768-1282.

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Travelers from among our members include Gertrude Delson who participated in a three week Elder Hostel in Austria during September: Henrietta Nessin thoroughly enjoyed an Elder Hostel in New Orleans; Muriel Neufeld and Rhoda Weil traveled to Turkey together for two weeks at the end of October.

On the recovery front we have one of our newest members, Lauren Costen, who had surgery just prior to joining our fellowship and happily reported that she has now been cancer free for more than a month. Arlene Baum had a hip replacement operation at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Both she and her doctor are very pleased with the healing she is showing. President Richard Rapp appeared at our Platform meeting , on the Sunday after Halloween, wearing wrap-around dark glasses. He wasn't imitating a movie star nor a trick or treater . . . just recovering from successful cataract surgery. We wish all of them continued good health as we wish for you, too.

Among our birthday items it is important to note that Emma Kershen had her ninth, not as incorrectly reported last month . On September 3rd twins Justin and Liz Milizio became a year older. Other Sunday school scholars who observed birthdays in September were Keith Crowley on the 20th and Andrew Harding on the 28th. In October Aaron Maxant observed on the 1st, Suzanne Allison on the 13th; Eric Vissichelli on the 26th, Laura Gersten on the 31st. Keep watching for notice of the birthdays of others as we catch up with our delayed reports.Roy Reisch turned 79 years young on the same date that Mrs. Clinton became 50. Ever youthful Irma Shapiro admitted that her grandson Scott Kleinbaum, now a college freshman, gave away the fact that even she feels the passage of time.

Sylvia Bornkoff-Polozzi is pleased to have been accepted as a docent for the forthcoming decorators' showcase produced by Mansions and Millionaires, a non-profit organization. The showcase this year is called "Holiday Mansion '97. The event will benefit the Family Service Association which benefits 24 human service programs in Nassau County. For the date and further information call Sylvia at (516) 794-4906.

The bulb sale initiated by Pat Spencer, ably abetted by Renee Silver and Richard Rapp resulted in income for the Society, but also will produce flowers that bloom in the Spring. Renee has already planted these at the Society's grounds. Have you planted yours yet at your home?

Once again we plead that when you share your milestones you give full name and if possible, put the information in writing with complete information.

In the letters to the Editors in Newsday, both Tony Pumo and Joan Beder had letters. One on The Rights of Homosexuals and the other on Dr. Assisted Suicide.

Friends of Leopold and Helga Katz have donated to the Society in honor of their birthdays.

Edith Schwedt donated flowers to the Society to wish Arlene Baum a speedy recovery.

Evelyn and husband Bill Von Eschen labored mightily last month to produce the November Newsletter. The work has been made possible through our new computer software program, but human intelligence is still needed to put it all together. We thank them and congratulate them on the excellent result.

All who have sent cards, flowers , made phone calls concerning my recovery. I hope to be back with all of you very soon. Love, Arlene Baum