Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville

"How to Sustain Humanity, Advance Our Civilization, and Succeed as a Species" by Joe Simonetta
2023-02-19 14:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
“How to Sustain Humanity, Advance Our Civilization, and Succeed as a Species” will be presented by Joe Simonetta at the Sunday, February 19, 2023 meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Our interactive meeting will be by Zoom. All are welcome to attend.
Humanity has always had problems, but the scale, complexity, and severity are unprecedented. Joe Simonetta explains that our mental infrastructure — responsible for our primitive behavior and our antiquated, divisive, and dysfunctional supernatural religious beliefs — is outdated for the world in which we live today. We need a new understanding of the reality in which we exist. Taking humanity to a higher level includes understanding that what is sacred in our lives are those relationships which, at our peril, we cannot violate, damage, dishonor, or destroy. Be Kind. Be Healthy. Respect the Environment.
Joe Simonetta (https://joesimonetta.com/) is the author of seven books, all 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, and senior editor of the World Business Academy.

Colloquy
2023-02-05 14:30 - 16:00, 2023-01-08 14:30 - 16:00, 2022-12-04 14:30 - 16:00, 2022-11-06 14:30 - 16:00, 2022-10-02 14:30 - 16:00, 2022-09-04 14:30 - 16:00, 2022-08-07 14:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
Colloquy is an opportunity to explore and reflect on a particular aspect of life in a structured and facilitated small-group setting in a nonjudgmental, confidential atmosphere. It is held on the First Sunday of the month from 2:30 to 4:00 pm. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we will meet online -live! Join on Zoom
Colloquy was created more than 25 years ago by Arthur Dobrin (now Leader Emeritus of the Ethical Society of Long Island) and brought to Asheville by Joy McConnell, Consulting Leader for the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville. Colloquy inspires participants to raise awareness of their own views, emotions and values. Guided by a facilitator, participants sit in a circle, listen to a topic read by the leader, and take turns sharing responses – speaking from personal experiences, thoughts and feelings.
Examples of recent topics include: honesty, friendship, generosity, anger, forgiveness, music that defines us, “This I Believe.”
Visitors are welcome. Come join us!

The Future is Now - Our Children Putting Ethics into Action
2023-01-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
We are thrilled to announce that our next All-Societies Platform is taking place on January 29th! Brought to you by our amazing team of Ethical Education Directors, we will hear from the directors themselves about their program as well as from the parents on what goes into raising our ethical leaders of tomorrow. The parents will also tell us about why it’s important that they teach their kids about the the value of Ethical Action and service. For the stars of the show, the kids will share performances with us as well as give their thoughts on what they need from the adults that they embark on their own ethical journeys.
Special thanks to Trish Cowan, Audrey Kindred, and Angel Thompson for all their hard work in organizing this event!
Zoom Info
Join by computer, tablet, or smartphone: http://vh9d.2.vu/janasp
*Registration for this event is required

"Meet the Watchdogs" by Peter Lewis and Sally Kestin
2023-01-22 14:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
“Meet the Watchdogs” will be presented by Peter Lewis and Sally Kestin at the Sunday, January 22, 2023 meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Our interactive meeting will be by Zoom. All are welcome to attend.
Join us to learn about the Asheville Watchdog – a free, local, not-for-profit, nonpartisan news organization founded in 2020 staffed mostly by veteran professional and highly recognized journalist volunteers upholding a commitment to truth, verifiable facts, transparency, science, and important context.
Asheville Watchdog https://avlwatchdog.org was started with a belief that quality journalism is essential for a healthy and successful democracy and because local news is in crisis. Half of all newsroom jobs vanished since 2008 and there are fewer reporters to keep watch over state and local government, to dig deep into the issues, and to hold the powerful accountable. Asheville Watchdog tries to complement and expand the critical services provided by local publications and local radio rather than compete.
Sally Kestin: Investigative Reporter, Co-founder – Former investigative reporter at The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, The Tampa Tribune and The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and recipient of numerous national journalism awards, including the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. She was a 2006 Pulitzer Prize finalist in investigative reporting.
Peter Lewis, Managing Editor, Reporter – Former senior writer, editor, and columnist, The New York Times; managing editor of The Bay Citizen in San Francisco; senior editor Fortune magazine; and John S. Knight Fellow and Hearst Visiting Professional in Residence at Stanford University, where he taught journalism.

Winter Festival
2022-12-18 14:30 | Zoom
Details TBA

"Keeping a Moral Compass when Society seems to have Lost its Own" by Bill Walz
2022-11-20 14:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
Bill Walz will discuss his insights on how to hold a steady compass in these historic and frightening times. What is needed and what can we do?
The topic and discussion will be welcome by those deeply concerned by the divisive rhetoric of the past election and those fearing erosion of many hard-fought rights (voting rights, civil rights, environmental responsibility, equality, reproductive rights, labor rights, health access and quality education for all.)
Bill Walz has evolved from a career as a clinical psychologist into teaching meditation and evolving consciousness as a path to personal healing and growth. He taught meditation and consciousness at UNC Asheville and continues in public forums and with a private clientele. Bill also writes a consciousness column for Rapid River Magazine. He has been an active political progressive since the 1960’s and has contributed political columns on numerous occasions to the Asheville Citizen-Times, Mountain Express, and Asheville Daily Planet. He understands expanding consciousness to be the driving force behind both personal and social evolution. See Bill’s website at www.billwalz.com.

Russ Feingold - Former US Senator
2022-10-30 11:00 - 12:30 | Zoom
We are thrilled to announce that the guest speaker for this All-Society Platform is former US Senator and Current President of the American Constitution Society (ACS), Russ Feingold. Senator Feingold will speak about the ACS, a national network of over 250 lawyer and law student chapters who are working together to offer platforms for discussion, opportunities for networking and mentoring, and working at the federal, state, and local levels for a progressive vision of the law. Through grassroots working groups in states across the country, ACS is working closely with the Biden-Harris Administration and other state and local elected officials to recommend qualified and diverse candidates for judicial and other legal positions. ACS is engaged in efforts to protect democracy, advance truth and justice, and transform our laws and legal systems to protect the lives of all people – not just the special interests of a few. ACS advocates for voting rights and non-partisan redistricting; mobilizing and educating voters about their rights; raising awareness and increasing engagement on down ballot races and connecting our members with opportunities to support voting rights and election integrity.
Prior to joining the ACS, Senator Feingold is perhaps best known for his bipartisan effort, with John McCain, to reform campaign financing through the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.
Special thanks to the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island for organizing this event.
About our Speakers:
Russ Feingold is the President of the American Constitution Society. He served as a United States Senator from Wisconsin from 1993 to 2011 and a Wisconsin State Senator from 1983 to 1993. From 2013 to 2015, he served as the United States Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During his 18 years in the United States Senate, Russ was ranked 6th in the Senate for bipartisan voting. He is a recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award and cosponsored the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act), the only major piece of campaign finance reform legislation passed into law in decades. Russ was the only Senator to vote against the initial enactment of the USA PATRIOT Act during the first vote on the legislation and was well-known for his opposition to the Iraq War and as the Senate’s leading opponent of the death penalty. He served on the Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Budget, and Intelligence Committees. Russ was Chairman or Ranking Member of the Constitution Subcommittee. For more on Russ, click here.

OpenDoors Asheville
2022-10-16 14:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
OpenDoors Asheville aims to strengthen community by eliminating the race-based opportunity and achievement gaps for students through education.
Jen and Jasmine will talk about investments in communities, parents and students. OpenDoors Asheville believes “education is the prow of our ship and our students are our highest priority. Supporting students, kindergarten through college, means much more than helping them get better grades. We work with parents and schools to ensure that all students have the stability, resource, equity, and inclusion they need to thrive and ultimately reach their potential. By using a “whole child” methodology, students become inspired members of our community and break the cycle of poverty for themselves, and for generations to come.”
Jen Langdon Ramming, Executive Director, has worked in nonprofit leadership for 23 years in WNC, including being the founder and CEO of OpenDoors of Asheville. Jen holds degrees in Sociology and Mass Communications from the University of Vermont, a Leadership certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke University and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. Jen is the mother of four boys, an avid mountain biker, sailor, and gardener.
Jasmine Middleton began her relationship with OpenDoors as a student who needed additional guidance and encouragement. Jasmine served two terms on the OpenDoors Board of Directors and is currently on the OpenDoors staff as Head of Sustainability. Jasmine is advancing her education toward an Associate’s degree in Business Administration at Blue Ridge Technical College and is raising her 5-year-old son.

Exploring Ethical Living
2022-10-09 14:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
This event is open to EHSAsheville Members Only
This month we will take a look at human rights, their foundations, their ethical implications, and some knotty problems that they raise. Human rights underlie the ethical values of social justice which we hold dear in Ethical Culture, but in fact, the issues are far from simple. Please join us for what I hope will be a great discussion. Happy Autumn!
Cheers,
Ronny Manheim Rich

"How Future Generations Will Remember Us" by William MacAskill
2022-09-18 14:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
We will listen to a TED talk by Professor William MacAskill on “What are the most important moral problems of our time” and view segments from interviews with Professor MacAskill. An article from the August 16, 2022 Atlantic “How Future Generations Will Remember Us“, by William MacAskill prompted the discussion topic.
MacAskill is prominent in the Ethical Altruism movement and has received a great deal of attention for his new book, What We Owe the Future. His work has been discussed recently in the NY Times, the New Yorker, Time, on NPR and elsewhere. A skeptical reaction to MacAskill’s work can be found in the August 26, 2022 Wall Street Journal (WSJ link). Among other things, MacAskill asks how future generations will assess our behavior. How much of our resources should we dedicate to the well-being of future generations?
William MacAskill is an associate professor in philosophy at the University of Oxford, and the most widely cited philosopher of his age. A TED speaker and past Forbes 30 Under 30 social entrepreneur, he also cofounded the Centre for Effective Altruism, which has raised over $1 billion for charities. He lives in Oxford, England.

"Death Penalty – Racist Roots" by Noel Nickle
2022-08-21 14:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
It has been sixteen years since the last execution in North Carolina, yet the death penalty remains on the books. To honor this anniversary, please join the NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (NCCADP) for a presentation and screening of the film Racist Roots. This 25-minute film, created by the Center for Death Penalty Litigation, exposes the death penalty’s deep entanglement with slavery, lynching and racism. The film highlights the diverse voices that are central to the movement to end North Carolina’s death penalty and reminds us why we must work together to ensure that state-sponsored executions are never again carried out in our names. Following the film, NCCADP Director Noel Nickle will facilitate a conversation focused on the movement to end the death penalty in our state.
Noel Nickle (she/her/hers) serves as the executive director of the North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Noel has worked as a mitigation specialist on trial and post-conviction death penalty cases in North and South Carolina since 2006. Working with attorneys from The Center for Death Penalty Litigation, Noel secured life sentences for two individuals previously sentenced to death. Noel has a long history of community organizing in opposition to the death penalty, including her leadership in a successful community effort for the Asheville City Council to adopt a resolution supporting a moratorium on the death penalty. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Noel founded a social media group (WNC Response to COVID-19 For Those In Custody) for families who have loved ones in jail and prison custody and advocated for early release for incarcerated individuals. Noel is deeply committed to the principles and practices of restorative and transformative justice. She has a master’s in social work from UNC-Chapel Hill and lives in Asheville.

Explore Ethical Living
2022-08-14 14:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
On Sunday, August 14 at 2:30 PM (by Zoom), we will begin a new series for members only.
“Exploring Ethical Living”
(meeting the second Sunday of every month)
We will explore such topics as ethical decision-making and goodness, and build our habits and skills in ethical living.This Sunday our topic will be “Ethical dilemmas”.

We look forward to “seeing” you at this new series. Join us on Zoom for Exploring Ethical Living →

EHSA Picnic
2022-07-30 12:30 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
Please join us on the front lawn of Friends Meeting House for a picnic. (Rain date is a few weeks later on Saturday, August 20, 12:30). Bring a lawn chair, your lunch, drink… whatever you may need.

Will you join us? Please let Karen Ziff know (kayzey@gmail.com) if you plan to attend. It would be helpful (though not necessary).

We look forward to sharing the afternoon with members, guests and the curious.

The Work of the Many Volunteers Across the Ethical Movement
2022-07-24 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
For our latest All-Society Platform, we will be celebrating the importance of volunteerism to the Ethical Culture movement. Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture Leader Jone Johnson Lewis will discuss the work of Anna Garlin Spencer and how her work for social justice in the early years of the 20th Century relates to issues that we face today. Next, we will honor the recipients of this year’s Anna Garlin Spencer Volunteer Award. We will also pay tribute to those who we have lost this past year during our Mourners’ Moment.

"Individual Rights" by Ben Gilbert
2022-07-17 14:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
What individual rights do we enjoy? What does the Constitution guarantee? Where do our rights originate? How are they protected? Ben Gilbert will provide insights into how the Supreme Court has interpreted individual rights and what rights and freedoms are protected in the Constitution. Among the rights discussed will be Freedom of Ideas; Political Participation; Equal Protection: Privacy and other Liberties.
At times the Supreme Court has been expansive and protected individual rights and minority rights, at other times restricting rights. Bring your curiosity and questions to this interactive discussion.
Ben Gilbert taught courses in law and public health to graduate and professional students at UNC Chapel Hill, and he has served as general counsel for UNC Health.

Colloquy
2022-07-03 14:30 - 16:00 | NC
