BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville - ECPv6.14.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ehsasheville.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20230312T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20231105T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20240310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20241103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260329T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260329T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20260111T140033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T190316Z
UID:1331-1774782000-1774785600@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"How to be Foolproof in Today’s News Environment: Bias\, Misinformation\, AI – what can you trust?" by Eric Schurenberg
DESCRIPTION:Sunday\, March 29 – 11:00 AM ET – All Society Program – Sponsored by the American Ethical Union\n \n“How to be Foolproof in Today’s News Environment: Bias\, Misinformation\, AI – what can you trust?” will be presented by Eric Schurenberg on Sunday\, March 29\, 2026 – by Zoom only at 11:00 AM. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. \nRegister Here                 Link to American Ethical Union Announcement \nThe founder of The Alliance For Trust in Media\, veteran journalist and media executive Eric Schurenberg will take you through a crash course in navigating today’s chaotic news environment to uncover information you can trust. He’ll explain the economic reasons that news gets delivered the way it does\, the effects of the growing seepage of AI into the information ecosystem\, and some quick\, non-partisan rules that you can deploy to avoid being misled online. \nEric is the former editor in chief of the publications Inc.\, Money\, CBS MoneyWatch and BNET and the former CEO of Inc. and Fast Company. He’s now a distinguished instructor of journalism at University of Chicago and the host of the podcast In Reality.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2026-03-29/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-03-29-ASP-Media.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260315T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260315T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20260111T140033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260210T225139Z
UID:1298-1773585000-1773590400@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Hope\, Mindfulness\, and Success in the Midst of Political Chaos and Upheaval - A Former FBI Agent’s Perspective" by Ken Wheatley
DESCRIPTION:“Hope\, Mindfulness\, and Success in the Midst of Political Chaos and Upheaval – A Former FBI Agent’s Perspective” will be presented by Ken Wheatley at the Sunday\, March 15\, 2026\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. Ken will be with us in-person for his presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend. \nKen will discuss the ground truth of law enforcement operations\, checks and balances\, resistance versus protest\, and the tools\, techniques\, and action items for the path forward\, drawing on lessons from his time in the military\, Federal law enforcement\, and international corporate leadership. \nKen Wheatley is a security management consultant and forensic expert witness. Ken’s varied experience includes a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force\, FBI Special Agent\, Senior Vice President / Chief Security Officer (CSO) with Sony Electronics’ global operations\, a social impact CEO\, entrepreneur\, political volunteer\, guest lecturer and interviewed on several radio and TV stations. He currently serves as one of the 14 members of the Senior Advisory Group with the FBI’s Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC) and as an Advisor to the FBI’s Threat Resilience Information Sharing Committee (TRISC). Ken lives with his wife Lorraine Kerz in Fairview\, Buncombe County\, NC. \n\n 
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2026-03-15/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Ken-Wheatley-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260215T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260215T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20260213T140033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260214T160518Z
UID:1324-1771165800-1771171200@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Sin - An Ethical\, Moral\, Religious and Practical Perspective" by Andy Reed
DESCRIPTION:“Sin – An Ethical\, Moral\, Religious and Practical Perspective” will be presented by Andy Reed at the Sunday\, February 15\, 2026\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. Andy will be with us in-person for his presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend. \nGrowing up a Unitarian in the Bible Belt (here in Asheville)\, Andy Reed was exposed to the concept and supposed repercussions of sin from an early age. He has spent a lifetime figuring out how to incorporate various ethical\, moral\, religious\, and practical views of sin into his own belief system … and behavior. But in Ethical Humanism\, there’s no god to judge us\, no savior to redeem us\, and no hellish eternity awaiting us for punishment. \nThis Sunday\, he’ll ask you\, our fellow Ethical Humanists and friends\, to jointly address these questions: What does “sin” mean? How do we recognize it in ourselves? How do we “repent\,” or “atone\,” or “redeem” ourselves from its impacts on our lives? And should we even bother? \nAndy Reed is an Asheville native\, writer\, editor\, actor\, and community advocate whose work has spanned publishing\, theater\, marketing\, and social activism. A graduate of Columbia University where he majored in English literature\, Andy began his publishing career editing outreach materials for nonprofit organizations before moving into advertising and marketing with NBC Television. After returning to Asheville\, he became deeply engaged in the region’s creative and civic life — acting and directing in regional theater\, editing numerous books\, and founding Pisgah Press to publish works that illuminate the human condition. He currently serves as copy editor for The Urban News and has edited more than a dozen books across fiction and nonfiction. \nAndy is a member of both the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville and the Black Mountain Unitarian Universalist congregation. He is an advocate for LGBTQ inclusion and civil rights\, works to build bridges across communities and generations and brings to his endeavors a lifelong exploration of ethics\, language\, identity\, and belonging. \n 
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2026-02-15/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Andy-Reed-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260118T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260118T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20260111T140033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260118T013142Z
UID:1271-1768746600-1768752000@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Asheville Poverty Initiative" by Ben Williamson
DESCRIPTION:“Asheville Poverty Initiative” will be presented by Ben Williamson at the Sunday\, January 18\, 2026\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. Ben will be with us in-person for presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend. \nJoin Ben for a presentation and discussion as Ben leads a discussion on API’s model of community-building as a response to poverty and homelessness\, focusing on the human experience and systemic barriers. \nBen will discuss a collaboration with Unlabel Me and the Asheville Poverty Initiative\, scheduled for Thursday\, January 22\, at Pack Library\, designed to challenge stereotypes about people in poverty and experiencing homelessness. \nBen first learned about API as a teacher leading school groups on poverty walks. After years in education\, Ben’s most recent experiences are in community organizing and non-profit management. When not working\, Ben is usually at home with his two dogs\, his wife Hayette\, and his daughters Grace and Keira. \n 
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2026-01-18/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Asheville-Poverty-Initiative.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251221T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251221T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20250922T210033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T210809Z
UID:1248-1766327400-1766332800@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:Winter Festival
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a Holiday gathering – Food\, Drink\, Camaraderie\n  \nNote Location – NOT at our regular Friends Meeting House location\nAt Cloisters Clubhouse; 4302 Angelus Circle\, Asheville\nIn person only – No Zoom
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-12-21/
LOCATION:Cloisters Clubhouse\, 2700 St. Augustine PL.\, Asheville\, NC\, 28805
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Winterfest-2025-Image.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251116T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251116T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20250312T130033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251116T162203Z
UID:1216-1763303400-1763308800@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Becoming Compassionate Participants in our World—deepening self-awareness" by Sandra Smith
DESCRIPTION:“Becoming Compassionate Participants in our World—deepening self-awareness” will be presented by Sandra Smith at the Sunday\, November 16\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. Sandra will be with us in-person for her presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend. \nThis presentation will give focus to the nuance between being “present” and being in “presence” and the role receptivity plays in the quality of our lives. To be available to ourselves allows us to be available to others and to our deeper knowing. Being present to ourselves and developing inner spaciousness is the foundation of self-observation\, an essential first step in using the Enneagram Map. Sandra will reference teachings from her recent book The Enneagram Map to Your Deeper Self: Living Beyond Your Type (2024) and invite participants to engage in some simple practices from this book. \nThe Enneagram (“ennea” is Greek for nine) is a map of our ego structures automatic patterns. This map names nine unique perspectives and ways humans filter information. No type is better than another type. We retain the same type throughout our lives\, however\, behaviors change as we become more self-aware. \nAdditionally\, the Enneagram System suggests we have three centers of intelligence: head or thinking center\, heart or feeling center\, and body the center of sensing. Depending on our Enneagram type\, one of these is our lead center of intelligence. Knowing our lead center shapes our communication\, decision-making and problem solving. \nSandra Smith (https://alchemyworksevents.com/sandra-c-smith-enneagram-consultant/)\, is a Certified Narrative Tradition teacher\, an Enneagram Consultant\, and an IEA (International Enneagram Association) Accredited Professional and Spiritual Companion. Sandra began teaching this system in 2001 and founded AlchemyWorks in 2008\, which began her full-time Enneagram Teaching and Consulting. \nSandra received her BS in Business from Wake Forest University and MDiv from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is certified in nonprofit management through Duke University and is a trained community mediator. She spent 17 years in the corporate world and 14 years directing a nonprofit. \nClick for a link to the Enneagram Graphic \n 
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-11-16/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Sandra-Smith-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251019T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251019T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20250312T130033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251019T033403Z
UID:1237-1760884200-1760889600@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Housing is a Human Right" by Jessie Figueroa and Abby Nelson
DESCRIPTION:“Housing is a Human Right” will be presented by Jessie Figueroa and Abby Nelson at the Sunday\, October 19\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC There will also be a hybrid Zoom option (see link below). All are welcome to attend. \nGrounded in the belief that every person has intrinsic worth and dignity\, we’ll explore the impact of Homeward Bound’s programs through collaborations with the city and partners\, highlight stories of neighbors who have moved from homelessness into permanent housing\, and reflect on what it means to build a community where everyone belongs. In 2024\, Permanent Supportive Housing programs from Homeward Bound had a 96.5% retention rate of individuals not returning to homelessness and taking steps to rebuild their lives as neighbors in our community. \nJessie and Abby will also discuss the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care (CoC) 2025-2028 Strategic Plan to address homelessness. The CoC objectives are to 1) Decrease unsheltered homelessness; 2) Increase exits from homelessness to permanent housing; 3) Coordinate and expand Homelessness Prevention\, Diversion and Rapid Rehousing; and 4) Build housing-focused system capacity. \nJoin us to discuss challenges and successes of “Every Neighbor Matters: Homeward Bound’s mission to prevent and end homelessness”. \nJessie Figueroa has always had a passion for connecting with people. She served in the AmeriCorps VISTA program as a community organizer for homeless services\, was a program manager serving homeless and low-income neighbors in Orlando and moved to Asheville in 2015. She joined Homeward Bound in 2021 as Housing Placement Director and in 2024 moved into the role of Resource Development Director. Jessie is a graduate of University of Central Florida\, enjoys music\, hiking\, traveling\, and spending quality time with her husband\, friends\, and family. \nAbby Nelson is a dedicated nonprofit fundraising and events professional with a strong commitment to advancing housing-first solutions. In her role as Development Officer at Homeward Bound of WNC\, she oversees strategic initiatives to secure funding and cultivate partnerships with businesses and faith communities\, efforts that are essential to addressing homelessness across Western North Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality & Tourism Management with minors in Business Administration and Interior Architecture from the University of Tennessee\, Knoxville.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-10-19/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Homeward-Bound.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250921T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250921T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20250312T130033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250928T030123Z
UID:1206-1758465000-1758470400@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"The Architecture of Life: TAOLISM" by Joe Simonetta
DESCRIPTION:“The Architecture of Life: TAOLISM” will be presented by Joe Simonetta at the Sunday\, September 21\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting. We will meet in-person. Joe will be with us by Zoom for interactive conversation on the big screen. All are welcome to attend. \nTaolism is a modern philosophical movement and ethical framework founded by Harvard Divinity School graduate Joseph R. Simonetta. Rooted in science\, reason\, and sustainability\, Taolism presents a reality-based understanding of sacredness—not through myth\, but through action. It serves as a path for both personal well-being and collective sustainability\, offering a practical approach to a healthier\, more ethical\, and environmentally responsible world. Taolism is built upon three foundational principles\, expressed in seven words: Be Healthy. Be Kind. Respect the Environment. \nJoe Simonetta (https://www.taolism.org and https://joesimonetta.com) is the author of ten books\, nine available on Amazon.com. Titles include Interconnected\, Interrelated & Interdependent World — Like it or Not\, 7 Words That Can Change The World — The Simple Truth & The Death of Sacred Cows\, A Message to Humanity from a Friendly Alien\, and more. He writes books for humanists\, progressives\, freethinkers\, agnostics\, atheists\, skeptics\, and the like.  He holds a BS in business from Penn State University\, an MA in architecture from the University of Colorado and an MA from Harvard Divinity School where he studied ethics\, global environmental issues\, world belief systems\, cosmology\, and evolutionary biology. He has been a U.S. Army officer\, professional athlete (tennis)\, entrepreneur and businessman\, architect\, real estate developer\, home builder\, environmental activist\, senior editor of the World Business Academy\, twice a candidate for the U.S. Congress\, and a gold medalist in the sprint triathlon in the 2023 U.S. National Senior Games. He is the founder of Taolism\, a philosophy and social movement rooted in science\, reason\, ethics\, and sustainability—a universal framework for living well\, both individually and collectively. \nRecording of Presentation: Click Here
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-09-21/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Joe-Simonetta-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250817T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250817T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20250312T130033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250815T134558Z
UID:1090-1755441000-1755446400@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"The Exvangelicals" by Sarah McCammon
DESCRIPTION:“The Exvangelicals” will be presented by Sarah McCammon at the Sunday\, August 17\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Sarah will be live by Zoom for presentation and Q&A. Because of technical support limitations\, It will be a Zoom only meeting. All are welcome to attend. \nSarah will talk about the growing social movement of people leaving the church from her March 2024 NYTimes Bestseller book: “The Exvangelicals”. \nThe Exvangelicals is the story of a rising generation of the children of evangelicalism\, including Sarah herself\, who are growing up and fleeing the fold\, who are thinking for themselves and deconstructing what feel like the “alternative facts” of their childhood. Part memoir\, part investigative journalism\, Sarah describes the post-evangelical movement: identifying its origins\, telling the stories of its members\, and examining its vast cultural\, social\, and political impact. \nGrowing up in a deeply evangelical family in the Midwest in the ‘80s and ‘90s\, Sarah McCammon was strictly taught to fear God\, obey him\, and not question the faith. Persistently worried that her gay grandfather would go to hell unless she could reach him\, or that her Muslim friend would need to be converted\, and that she\, too\, would go to hell if she did not believe fervently enough\, McCammon was a rule-follower and—most of the time—a true believer. But through it all\, she was increasingly plagued by fears and deep questions as the belief system she’d been carefully taught clashed with her expanding understanding of the outside world. \nAfter spending her early adult life striving to make sense of an unraveling worldview\, by her 30s\, she found herself face-to-face with it once again as she covered the Trump campaign for NPR\, where she witnessed first-hand the power and influence that evangelical Christian beliefs held on the political right. \nSarah McCammon\, an award-winning journalist and National Correspondent for NPR\, where she covers political\, social\, and cultural divides across the United States. Her reporting often explores the intersections of politics and religion\, reproductive rights\, and other deeply personal issues that shape our national conversation. \nNow living in Washington DC\, Sarah has reported from Georgia\, Iowa\, and Nebraska\, and served as NPR’s lead political reporter on the 2016 Trump presidential campaign. She has earned multiple awards\, including honors from the Atlanta Press Club\, the National Press Club\, and the Gracie Awards. \nSarah was raised in a conservative evangelical Christian home in Kansas City\, a rule-follower and—most of the time—a true believer. But she was increasingly plagued by deep questions as the belief system she’d been carefully taught clashed with her expanding understanding of the outside world. \n 
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-08-17/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sarah-McCammon.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250720T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250720T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20250312T130033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T161838Z
UID:1221-1753021800-1753027200@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"NC Medicaid: Issues and Options - A discussion" by Lindsey Prather and Brian Turner
DESCRIPTION:“NC Medicaid: Issues and Options – A discussion” will be presented by NC Representatives Lindsey Prather and Brian Turner at the Sunday\, July 20\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. Lindsey and Brian will be with us in-person for presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend. \nThis presentation will center on policy developments\, the process of how NC expanded Medicaid\, the impact the OBBBA Medicaid cuts will likely have on our state and explore issues and options as the NC legislature seeks to balance competing objectives. At this early date\, we may not know the extent of the cuts impacting NC residents and the options. Nevertheless\, the conversation will be valuable to both participants and presenters. \nPlease note: This is a nonpartisan\, educational event. We ask all attendees to keep the conversation focused on issues and legislation—not political parties\, campaigns\, or candidates—in accordance with our nonprofit guidelines. Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and constructive environment. \nLindsey Prather is an educator\, community leader\, and public servant. Lindsey received a NC Teaching Fellows scholarship\, graduated from the University of North Carolina Asheville with a Sociology degree\, taught Special Education\, Civics\, and U.S. History for 6 years in Buncombe County Schools and is now the Assistant Director of Admissions at UNC Asheville. She earned a Masters of Public Affairs from Western Carolina University and dove into making her community a better place. In 2022 she was elected to the NC legislature representing the 115 district. Lindsey loves biking in the Pisgah mountains with her husband\, Eric. \nBrian Turner grew up in Asheville\, worked as a television producer for MTV in New York\, returned to Asheville in 2004 to assist the family manufacturing business\, joined UNC Asheville as Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations in 2012 and was promoted to Assistant Vice Chancellor. He was first elected to the NC House of Representatives in 2014. After a short break from legislating\, Brian\, now in his fifth term\, represents the Downtown/ center of Buncombe County – District 116. Brian is an avid outdoor enthusiast and lifelong learner. He earned a degree in Economics from Northwestern University\, an MBA from Wake Forest University\, and is pursuing a Masters in Energy and Environmental Management at the University of Connecticut. He is especially delighted that his wife\, Hope\, has joined him as his legislative assistant.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-07-20/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Lindsey-Prather-and-Brian-Turner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250615T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250615T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250518T033902Z
UID:1158-1749997800-1750003200@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:“Why the World's Religions Still Matter” by Vicki Garlock
DESCRIPTION:“Why the World’s Religions Still Matter” will be presented by Vicki Garlock at the Sunday\, June 15\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be an in-person only meeting (no Zoom). All are welcome to attend. \nReligion has long been used to justify the worst of human behaviors. We’re also seeing a modern-day shift in the role of both religious institutions and faith-based practices. Nevertheless\, religion continues to play an important role in one’s identity\, how we interact with our neighbors\, and how we care for the earth. Vicki has a special interest in educating kids about the world’s religions. As it turns out\, her award-winning kids’ books also help educate adults. \nVicki Garlock earned a Ph.D. with dual specialties in neuroscience and cognitive development and became a Psychology Professor at Warren Wilson College. To spend more family time\, Vicki took a job at Jubilee! Community where she ran their Sunday School program\, wrote the curriculum for kids aged 3 through 8th grade and became their Minister of Education. Vicki has written three books. Her latest book\, “ABCs of the World Religions”\, was recently named an International Impact Award Winner! It also received a Bronze “IPPY” and a Book Excellence Award! “We All Have Sacred Spaces” received a Gold Award from the Nonfiction Authors Association and a Bronze “IPPY” in the Multicultural Non-Fiction for Juvenile/YA. “Embracing Peace – Stories from the World’s Faith Traditions”\, a 2021 Finalist in American BookFest’s Children’s Religious category\, features 16 of her favorite stories from various centuries\, cultures\, and religions. Her website is: https://worldreligions4kids.com
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-06-15/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Vicki-Garlock-1200x675-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250518T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250518T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T153050Z
UID:1166-1747578600-1747584000@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:“Why We Can’t & How We Can – Just All Get Along” by Rick Ott
DESCRIPTION:“Why We Can’t & How We Can – Just All Get Along” will be presented by Rick Ott at the Sunday\, May 18\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting\, in-person and also available for interactive conversation by Zoom. All are welcome to attend. \nWith the current societal polarization\, open-mindedness is the first step to self-care\, rational thinking\, and discarding the “scare script” that leads to demonizing others. Rick will offer practical strategies for engaging in conversations with individuals holding opposing political views. He emphasizes the importance of understanding\, empathy\, and effective communication to bridge political divides. \nRick Ott is a member of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville. He grew up on his grandpa’s cattle farm in Ohio\, drove the tractor at age 11\, helped his carpenter-father build the family home at age 12\, earned an engineering degree and worked for 30 years in manufacturing engineering. He retired\, moved to Asheville in 2001 and married the love of his life\, Judy\, in 2018. \nRick has relished his spiritual/philosophical journey having found Sunday homes in liberal protestant\, Unity Church\, Unitarian Universalism\, Jubilee! of Asheville\, and now Ethical Humanism.  Rick appreciates EHSA as an open-minded alternative within the liberal-religious market.  He’s hoping to leave us with a pearl or two as our guest speaker. \nZoom Recording of Rick’s Talk:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/vBhggt3j9BhqCrA6ky-zYkDBubtO7-pxMxBIUNaGkOBUQvl_zCQjlO68oaXUWT4u.T4aYpfxxoPaCATcN\nPasscode: e2U%C=^P\n 
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-05-18/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rick-Ott-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250420T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250420T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250202T055153Z
UID:1150-1745159400-1745164800@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:“Religion versus Secular Humanism: What the Psychological and Social Sciences Can Tell Us” by Tim Church
DESCRIPTION:“Religion versus Secular Humanism: What the Psychological and Social Sciences Can Tell Us” will be presented by Tim Church at the Sunday\, April 20\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting. A. Timothy Church\, Professor Emeritus\, Washington State university\, will be on the big screen attending and taking questions by Zoom with members and guests in-person and on Zoom. All are welcome to attend. \nIn today’s contentious climate—in which a seemingly unbridgeable divide persists between religious and secular worldviews— Tim will address the relative merits and viability of religion versus secular humanism from the perspective of the psychological and social sciences. Among the questions asked: Are there plausible naturalistic (i.e.\, nonreligious) explanations of the origins\, evolution\, and functions of religion? What are the beneficial and harmful effects of religion\, and can the benefits be adequately achieved via secular means? As much of the world secularizes\, is religion likely to persist? Some proposals to reduce the religious-secular gap are also offered. \nTimothy Church\, PhD\, is Professor Emeritus at Washington State University. He has published extensively in prominent scientific journals in the areas of culture and personality and his research in these areas was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and National Institute of Mental Health. He is a member of the American Humanist Association and a contributor to Free Inquiry magazine. His most recent book is Religion versus Secular Humanism: What the Psychological and Social Sciences Can Tell Us (Hypatia Press\, 2024).
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-04-20/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Tim-Church.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250323T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250323T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20250312T130033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250312T221035Z
UID:1178-1742740200-1742745600@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"The Power of Vulnerability" by Brene Brown & EHSA Discussion
DESCRIPTION:“The Power of Vulnerability”\, a TED talk by Brene Brown will be viewed and discussed at the Sunday\, March 23\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm. This will be a Zoom only meeting. All are welcome to attend. \nNote that this is the 4th Sunday instead of the regular 3rd Sunday. \nWhile we will look at the TED talk together\, here is a link in case you’re interested: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?referrer=playlist-the_10_most_popular_tedx_talks&autoplay=true \nJackie Simms and Rick Ott will lead the discussion.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-03-23/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Brene-Brown.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250216T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250216T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241020T033620Z
UID:1087-1739716200-1739721600@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Whole Broken People" by Brenda Lewis
DESCRIPTION:“Whole Broken People” will be presented by Brenda Lewis at the Sunday\, February 16\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting\, Brenda will be in-person. Also available by Zoom. All are welcome to attend. \nIn a culture that often values autonomy above most other principles and values\, the challenges of aging impact our sense of self\, the stories we tell about our lives\, and our sense of meaning and spirituality in profound ways. How can we navigate changes and transitions with agency and intention and find the gifts that this unexpected and often unwanted journey brings? \nBrenda Lewis is the Director of Spiritual Care at Givens Estates and Givens Gerber Park in Asheville. Before coming to Givens three years ago she worked for 18 years as a chaplain with CarePartners Hospice. Her work in Interfaith and Interphilosophy chaplaincy began three years before that as the chaplain at Florida Southern College in Lakeland\, Florida. Brenda also taught Humanities at UNC Asheville for five years. When not at Givens\, Brenda keeps bees and chickens\, hikes\, reads voraciously\, and plays bass in seedy places.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-02-16/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Brenda-Lewis.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250119T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250119T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240910T131259Z
UID:1072-1737297000-1737302400@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"The Paradox of Persuasion: Motivating Americans to Sacrifice Present Consumption for the Future" by Ty Jones
DESCRIPTION:“The Paradox of Persuasion: Motivating Americans to Sacrifice Present Consumption for the Future” will be presented by Ty Jones at the Sunday\, January 19\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting\, in-person and also available for interactive conversation by Zoom. All are welcome to attend. \nJoin Ty as he explores why the “Environmental Movement” mostly failed to motivate people to change their consumption behaviors. He will review some dark episodes in the nation’s history (Native American relocations\, slavery’s profitability\, numbing responses to today’s school shootings) as informative to today’s failures\, that is\, knowing something is morally wrong won’t likely change behaviors around the convenience of consumption\, profit and loss\, or national policy. He will consider how “what about expertise” and “weaponized politics” can also undermine well-intended motivations to reform ourselves. \nTy Jones [the Rev. Deacon John Tyler Jones] was born (1951) and raised on a farm in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains north of Pittsburgh\, PA. He earned a BA in history (John Carroll University) and MBA (Gannon University). He was an industrial electrician\, a technical writer\, a communications manager and an IT manager for manufacturing and software companies and tech start-ups. From 2003-6 he attended Virginia [Episcopal] Seminary (Master of Theological Studies) with his wife\, who became an ordained priest (died\, 2023). Ty was ordained a deacon at the National Cathedral in Washington\, DC in 2012\, one of the first ever “permanent deacons” to be honored that way. \nTy and his wife retired to Asheville in 2016. He assisted at the Cathedral of All Souls and at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Mars Hill. He especially enjoys learning about archeological finds\, indigenous cultures\, and the history of early America.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2025-01-19/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Ty-Jones-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241215T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241215T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241020T025957Z
UID:1083-1734273000-1734278400@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Why Heroes Don't Change the World” (video TEDx Talk followed by Zoom discussion) with David LaMotte
DESCRIPTION:We will view the TEDx Talk video “Why Heroes Don’t Change the World” followed by a live Zoom discussion with David LaMotte at the Sunday\, December 15\, 2024\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting\, in-person and also available for interactive conversation by Zoom. All are welcome to attend. \nIn March of 2024\, David LaMotte gave an 18 1/2 minute talk at TEDx Asheville 2024\, along with eight other speakers at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts. David’s talk focused on the downside of hero narratives\, and how stories that we tell to inspire people can often have the opposite effect. It’s a hopeful message\, reminding us that we don’t have to be extraordinary to make change\, we just have to work together. David’s TEDx Talk was chosen by TED International as an “Editor’s Pick.” \nDavid will also draw from his book: You Are Changing the World; Whether You Like It or Not\, David LaMotte challenges some deeply held\, though seldom examined\, ideas we have about how large societal changes happen and what our own roles in those changes can and should be. Drawing on stories from his own work and interviews with others in Guatemala\, India\, South Africa\, Australia\, Palestine\, the United States\, and Bosnia\, LaMotte methodically challenges narratives that keep us immobile in the face of problems that confront communities\, nations\, and a world. \nDavid LaMotte is a songwriter\, speaker and author. He has performed over 3500 concerts and released thirteen full-length CDs of primarily original music\, touring in all of the fifty states and on five of the seven continents. David’s speaking and workshop calendar has included presenting at the PC(USA) Mission to the United Nations\, keynoting peace conferences in India\, Australia\, Germany and at the Scottish Parliament\, as well as offering the baccalaureate for 2016 graduates of Columbia Seminary.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-12-15/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/David-LaMotte-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241117T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241117T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241117T021516Z
UID:1075-1731853800-1731859200@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Practices for a Flourishing Life" by Guy Sayles
DESCRIPTION:“Practices for a Flourishing Life” will be presented by Guy Sayles at the Sunday\, November 17\, 2025\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting\, in-person and also available for interactive conversation by Zoom. All are welcome to attend. \nJoin Guy Sayles as he draws on a variety of wisdom traditions and psychological perspectives to explore practices which help us to flourish and to contribute to the flourishing of others and of creation.  Flourishing\, in this context\, includes moving toward wholeness\, exercising compassion\, and experiencing joy. \nGuy Sayles is a retired pastor and professor who spends his time writing\, consulting with faith-communities\, and offering spiritual guidance or coaching. His website is FromTheIntersection.org
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-11-17/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Guy-Sayles-120x675-3.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240915T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240915T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240908T044355Z
UID:1068-1726410600-1726416000@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Leverage Your Voting Knowledge" by Ron Katz By ZOOM ONLY
DESCRIPTION:Join Ron Katz\, long-time CJJ-West leader and voting rights advocate\, to explore ways of leveraging your voting knowledge. You can be a resource to your friends and family. Ron will focus on three questions. 1) How do I navigate voting? (What has the NC General Assembly done to make it harder to vote?); 2) How do I find the positions of the candidates on the issues I care about? (I want more than the misleading info on candidate mailers.); 3) How can I do more? (There are a wide range of partisan and nonpartisan groups and activities to match your interests and empower voters with information on the up AND down-ballot races.) \nRon Katz currently focuses much of his time on issues of social justice. He created and administers the website WNC Social Justice Guide which connects those interested in social justice public policy with nonpartisan organizations working on eighteen social justice issues. He edits an e-newsletter on Voting & Democracy Rights for WNC. He is also the lead for the Carolina Jews for Justice West chapter for Democracy Rights and a member of the state advisory board of Common Cause NC. Ron retired from the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County as the Community Fund Director.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-09-15/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Ron-Katz-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240818T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240818T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240730T171152Z
UID:1062-1723991400-1723996800@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"The Foundations of Applied Ethics: Felix Adler and Henry Sidgwick" by Terry Smith
DESCRIPTION:“The Foundations of Applied Ethics: Felix Adler and Henry Sidgwick” will be presented by Terry Smith at the Sunday\, August 18\, 2024\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting\, in-person and also available for interactive conversation by Zoom. All are welcome to attend. \nJoin Terry L. Smith as he explores the foundational assumptions\, ideas and ideals of Ethical Culture and contemporary applied ethics. Applied ethics is built upon the judgment of people of good will\, who are found in all walks of life. Ethical culture focuses on applied ethics rather than philosophical ethics\, promoting the knowledge and practice of social and personal ethics. Its goal is to help people find meaning by living lives of moral worth. \nTerry Smith is the former dean of arts and sciences at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania\, and before that\, department chair and philosophy professor at the University of the District of Columbia. He has a Ph.D. in Philosophy from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. in History from Wittenberg University. Now retired\, Terry has renewed his interest in research\, writing\, and editing and has published articles in several professional journals on behavior and philosophy.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-08-18/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Terry-L-Smith-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240728T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240728T150000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20240728T054059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240728T054952Z
UID:1051-1722175200-1722178800@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:2:00 PM Aspirations for Ethical Culture
DESCRIPTION:2024 Assembly Platform\nSunday\, July 28 2:00 PM ET\nEthical Culture Leader Louise Jett will talk about her aspirations for Ethical Culture and the importance of clergy within our movement and Societies. \nImmediately following the presentation\, Joy McConnell will lead a discussion for EHSAsheville members and guests on
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-07-28/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:All-Society Presentation,Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-28-at-12.05.23 AM.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240721T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240721T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240721T005734Z
UID:1044-1721572200-1721577600@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Leadership and Public Education” by Mo Green
DESCRIPTION:“Leadership and Public Education” will be presented by Maurice (Mo) Green at the Sunday\, July 21\, 2024\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting\, in-person and also available for interactive conversation by Zoom. All are welcome to attend. \nJoin Mo Green as he discusses Leadership and Public Education. Not only will Mo’s style entertain\, but his passion for championing public education and his determination to make a difference is impressive. Under his leadership\, the Guilford County Schools saw substantial improvements in student performance and overall educational standards. Green implemented changes in personnel and leadership\, ensuring that the right talents were in place to drive the district’s vision forward. He inspired educators and administrators by fostering a culture of excellence and innovation and advocates for improving North Carolina’s public schools. \nMaurice (Mo) Green\, served for more than seven years as superintendent of Guilford County Schools – the third largest district in North Carolina. Prior to that\, he served as general counsel\, chief operating officer and deputy superintendent for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He was the executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation from 2016-2023. \nMo began his career as a lawyer in private practice after doing two United States judicial clerkships. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics and a law degree\, both from Duke University. Mo is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi (the Boulé) fraternities. He is married and has two adult children\, both of whom were educated in North Carolina public schools
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-07-21/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mo-Green-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240616T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240616T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240602T021659Z
UID:1012-1718548200-1718553600@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Christian Ethics vs. Ethics” by Dr. Vincent Bacote
DESCRIPTION:“Christian Ethics vs. Ethics” will be presented by Dr. Vincent Bacote at the Sunday\, June 16\, 2024\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting\, in-person and also available for interactive conversation by Zoom. All are welcome to attend. \nJoin Dr. Bacote for a lively presentation and discussion as we consider questions on Christian Ethical Discernment vs. Ethical Discernment – Is there a difference? Ethical Societies “preach” deed vs. creed. Creed\, however\, can be formal (religious) doctrine\, or a philosophy or personal set of beliefs. Dr. Bacote will explore and seek greater understanding of the intersection of beliefs from different doctrines and its impact on ethical discernment (ability to judge well). \nDr. Vincent Bacote\, Ph. D.\, is Professor of Theology and Director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College. Dr. Bacote is a frequent author of scholarly publications (from a Christian perspective) on ethics\, race\, racial justice\, public life/theology\, African American Theology\, and other works. His forthcoming work is Eschatology and Ethics\, Baker Academic. He has been a regular columnist for Comment Magazine and contributes to other magazines and journals\, including Books and Culture\, Christianity Today\, Think Christian the Journal for Christian Theological Research\, and others. Dr. Bacote believes that doctrine is central to the life of a church. \nThe Center for Applied Christian Ethics (CACE) promotes and encourages the formation of moral character and the application of biblical ethics to contemporary moral decisions. CACE serves Wheaton faculty and students through a portfolio of activities\, including ethical training\, public forums\, and projects. The upcoming spring 2024 CACE faculty seminar will focus on civil discourse and teaching controversial issues in undergraduate courses.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-06-16/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Vincent-Bacote.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240609T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240609T153000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20240605T030532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240608T172812Z
UID:1018-1717939800-1717947000@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Living Our Ethical Humanism to Bring Out Our Best" by Dr. Khandra Sears
DESCRIPTION:The American Ethical Union president\, Khandra Sears\,  is speaking at the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle (Chapel Hill) Sunday\, June 9 at 1:30 PM. We are invited to take a “field trip” (via Zoom) to our North Carolina sister Society. Register to receive a Zoom link: https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/\n \nLiving Our Ethical Humanism to Bring Out Our Best\n\nKhandra Sears will address how living our ethical humanism will bring out our best. Her relationship with Ethical Humanism began as she pursued an undergraduate degree in microbiology and began to question what faith and the Bible meant to her. As she moved to Baltimore to earn a Ph.D. in Microbiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)\, she started to attend Baltimore Ethical Society Platforms and went on to join them as a member. She is now President of the American Ethical Union\, the national organization of ethical humanist/culture societies in the U.S.\n\nThis program will be presented via a Zoom session. If you would like to be a participant in the meeting\, please use our contact us form to make your request.\n\nContact Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle:\nhttps://ehstnc.org/contact-us/
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-06-09/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Khandra-Sears.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240519T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240519T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240421T075828Z
UID:982-1716129000-1716134400@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:Understanding: The Assignment by Dr. Je’ Exodus Hooper
DESCRIPTION:We seek to understand each other. Understanding creates relationships. Understanding is rooted in epistemology – a way of knowing. The worth of knowing\, the worth of understanding is learning to create a better world. Take on the need to apply learning and understanding so that we can elicit the best in each other and thereby the best in ourselves. \nThe history of the Ethical Culture Movement had been a long journey of uncertainty and unprecedented ideas. Dr. Felix Adler\, although well educated and informed\, made up this philosophical and religious formation each and everyday. In this platform\, we will seek to appreciate and explore uncertainty\, seek meaning\, be generators of ideas and agents of change. You are the assignment: you matter. You shape your role\, your assignment. \nJé Exodus Hooper (them/they) is an arts and cultural community curator\, clergy\, and scholar\, who has served the Ethical Culture and Congregational Humanist Movements for over eight years while an instructor of performance theory at Ohio University School of Theater. Dr. Hooper repurposes the Humanist message with alive spiritual intensity\, cultural complexity\, and persistent intellectual urgency.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-05-19/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Je-Hooper-1200x675-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240421T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240421T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240414T040129Z
UID:961-1713709800-1713715200@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:Be the Change: Mindfulness-Based Emotional Intelligence for Self-Care\, Deep Collaboration and Conflict Resolution” by Stacey Crowley
DESCRIPTION:“Be the Change: Mindfulness-Based Emotional Intelligence for Self-Care\, Deep Collaboration and Conflict Resolution” will be presented by Stacey Crowley at the Sunday\, April 21\, 2024\, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30-4:00 PM\, at Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Road\, Asheville\, NC. We hope you will attend in-person. There will also be a Zoom connection. All are welcome to attend. \nWhile restorative justice and social emotional learning initiatives are on the rise in the United States\, many adults have not been trained in the conflict resolution or emotional intelligence practices we seek to teach our youth. Additionally\, the complexity of 21st Century life and the enormity of the mental health issues we see across the human lifespan create an imperative for parents and educators to tend to our own well-being as the first intervention offered to those in our care. \nThis highly experiential session\, based on the Search Inside Yourself program\, combines neuroscience and mindfulness with emotional intelligence training to offer participants foundational practices that promote self-care and build self-awareness\, empathy and communication for deep collaboration and conflict resolution. \nStacey Crowley\, MA\, CCC-SLP (she/her); communicologist\, neural architect\, storyteller\, owner of Learning Tree Literacy\, is a certified public accountant turned dually certified speech language pathologist and literacy specialist with over two decades of experience as an educator\, public speaker\, and professional development provider. Her current work combines her fields of expertise with neuroscience\, mindfulness\, and nonviolent communication to teach emotional literacy and peaceful conflict resolution to youth. \nAs a certified teacher for the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute\, Stacey is passionate about restorative practices and providing state of the art emotional intelligence and compassionate communication training to adults who teach and raise children. Stacey’s work with educational systems focuses on empowering students with the 21st Century skills they need to become engaged citizens who are mentally fit\, emotionally intelligent\, creative problem solvers capable of deep collaboration. It is Stacey’s core belief that a peaceful planet depends on the human skills we teach\, and that these human skills are trainable at all ages and stages of life.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-04-21/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Stacey-Crowley-1200x675-v2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240317T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240317T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240311T005045Z
UID:955-1710685800-1710691200@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Instructions for Living a Life" by Kathy Meacham and Ira Sloan
DESCRIPTION:“Instructions for Living a Life” will be presented by Kathy Meacham and Ira Sloan at the Sunday\, March 17\, 2024 meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30-4:00 PM\, at Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Road\, Asheville\, NC. We hope you will attend in-person. There will also be a Zoom connection. All are welcome to attend. \n“Pay attention.  Be Astonished.  Tell about it.”  This stanza from Mary Oliver’s poem “Sometimes” is at the core of being aware\, living in the “now” and thinking ethically.  Kathy and Ira teach medical students about ethical thinking and moral imagination versus risk aversion.  Moral imagination means envisioning the full range of possibilities\, including new and creative alternatives in a particular situation\, in order to solve an ethical challenge.  Acting morally requires more than just strength of character; it requires compassion\, empathy and the awareness to discern what is morally relevant in a given situation.  Join Kathy and Ira to elevate your moral imagination\, creativity and moral courage as we seek to act more ethically in society. \nKathy Meacham\, Ph.D.\, is the recently retired\, Co-Director of Ethics & Humanism at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine\, Asheville Campus (@MAHEC).  She is a Professor Emerita in Philosophy from Mars Hill University\, with academic degrees from Temple University (Ph.D. and M.A.)\, Harvard University (Ed.M.)\, and Eckerd College (B.A.). \nIra Sloan\, M.D.\, is the recently retired Co-Director of Ethics & Humanism at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine\, Asheville Campus (aMAHEC). He is a semi-retired Psychiatrist\, licensed in NC. He is Emeritus Chairman\, Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Professor\, Evanston Hospital\, for Northwestern University Medical School. Dr. Sloan earned his B.A and M.D. from the University of Illinois\, Champaign/Urbana and Chicago. Ira also teaches at the OLLI College for Seniors on magic\, Zen and the Art of Balloon Twisting\, and medically-related topics.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-03-17/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Ira-Sloan-Kathy-Meacham.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240218T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240218T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240204T232352Z
UID:950-1708266600-1708272000@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Peer Support" by Jodi Ford
DESCRIPTION:“Peer Support” will be presented by Jodi Ford at the Sunday\, February 18\, 2024 meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. Jodi will present in person. There will also be a Zoom option. All are welcome to attend. \nEveryone deserves the chance to see tomorrow\, but anxiety\, trauma and isolation are symptoms contributing to a massive rise in substance use\, mental health challenges and unintended overdose deaths. \nJoin Jodi Ford to learn how certified peer support specialists\, who have managed and overcome their substance use and mental wellness challenges\, use their personal experience with mental health and substance use disorders\, houselessness or incarceration to help others with their life journeys. Jodi will discuss some of the causes for chaotic substance use and how Sunrise is filling in much-needed gaps in continuums of care for individuals struggling with the effects of trauma. \nJodi Ford is the Marketing and Development Director for Sunrise Community. Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness is a non-profit recovery community organization staffed entirely by certified peer support specialists who help remove stigma\, reduce loneliness and lower rates of incarceration\, hospitalization and recidivism. \nSunrise’s Peer University program provides training opportunities as a Certified Peer Support Specialist\, as well as training as a recovery coach\, forensic peer support\, problem gambling\, harm reduction\, reverse opioid overdose\, and developing a personal wellness recovery action plan. www.sunriseinasheville.org.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-02-18/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sunrise-at-Pack-Square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240121T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240121T160000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20230806T181533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240112T085430Z
UID:940-1705847400-1705852800@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:"Breaking Free from Racism: Can White People Do It?" by John Huie
DESCRIPTION:“Breaking Free from Racism: Can White People Do It?” will be presented by John Huie at the Sunday\, January 21\, 2024 meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville\, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC. John will present in person. There will also be a Zoom option. All are welcome to attend. \nJohn Huie is the subject of a book written by Bill Lightle\, “Breaking Free: The John Huie Story”\, published in November 2023\, available at Malaprops and Amazon. It is a story of a Southern boy from Georgia\, who found his way out of a profoundly racist culture to higher ground. The book and John’s presentation will highlight the cultural battles in the Deep South and throughout the United States and John’s inspiring journey influencing and being influenced as he worked for social justice and environmental sanity. Join John as he draws on his life experiences to stimulate discussion around the question of how white people can shed their racism — or can we? \nJohn Huie emerged from humble roots in Albany\, Georgia\, to become a leader in both experiential education and environmental activism. John is the product of segregated public schools. He attended Davidson College on an athletic scholarship (when Davidson did not admit black students) and majored in American history and psychology. He earned a MA in American Studies from Emory University (wrote his thesis on segregationist Lester Maddox\, who became Georgia’s governor in 1966)\, and earned his Ph.D. in Confluent Education from the University of California\, Santa Barbara. \nJohn is the former director of the North Carolina Outward Bound School (1977-1994) a character-building\, wilderness-based program; founded and led the Environment Leadership Center of Warren Wilson College for eleven years and continues to work supporting older adults who face declining health find meaning and purpose. John is married to Jaan Ferree\, native North Carolinian and former chair of the Asheville Public Arts Commission.
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2024-01-21/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting House\, 227 Edgewood Rd\, Asheville\, NC
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Breaking-Free-John-Huie-Story.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231217T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231217T143000
DTSTAMP:20260414T214403
CREATED:20220630T041533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231217T045523Z
UID:911-1702823400-1702823400@ehsasheville.org
SUMMARY:Winter Festival
DESCRIPTION:We’ll be jingling our ethics bells . . . Oh what fun it is to ride on our EHSA sleigh!\n\nMC: Gloria Cosgrove Smith\n  \nNote Location – NOT at our regular Friends Meeting House location\nAt Cloisters Clubhouse; 2700 St. Augustine Pl. Asheville\nIn person only – No Zoom\n 
URL:https://ehsasheville.org/event/2023-12-17/
LOCATION:Cloisters Clubhouse\, 2700 St. Augustine PL.\, Asheville\, NC\, 28805
CATEGORIES:Presentation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ehsasheville.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/WinterFest-2023-v2.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR