Annual Meeting
2026-06-21 14:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
The Annual Meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville will take place on Sunday, June 21, 2026, 2:30 – 4:00 PM at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. A potluck meal will follow the meeting. All are welcome to attend (only members may vote).
An agenda will be available in advance of the meeting.
Board members will be elected. If you wish to serve as a member of the EHSAsheville Board, please let any current board member know.

“Levers of Change: Humanist Policy, Politics, and Advocacy in the Time of Christian Nationalism” by Rachel Deitch
2026-07-19 14:30 - 16:00
“Levers of Change: Humanist Policy, Politics, and Advocacy in the Time of Christian Nationalism” will be presented by Rachel Deitch at the Sunday, July 19, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville. The program will take place from 2:30–4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC. Rachel will join live via Zoom from Washington, DC, and will be featured on a large screen. Attendees are invited to gather in person at our regular meeting location. All are welcome.

Active engagement in the political landscape is essential for individuals and organizations committed to strengthening their communities. As an organization dedicated to creating a more just and humane world, the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville recognizes both the importance—and the responsibility—of civic participation.
In this program, Rachel will lead a discussion on how humanists can effectively engage in the political and electoral process. While nonprofits operate within certain legal limitations, there remains a wide range of permissible activities—including advocacy, education, and public engagement—that can meaningfully influence issues of shared concern.
Rachel will also introduce the work of the Center for Freethought Equality, including its mission, how it collaborates with local organizations, and ways individuals and groups can become more informed and engaged. The program will offer attendees an opportunity to better understand how national and local efforts can align to advance shared values.
Rachel Deitch is the Policy and Political Director at the Center for Freethought Equality (CFE) and the American Humanist Association (AHA). She oversees the organizations’ work to create a more humanist world through public policy, as well as CFE’s political program to increase humanist representation and influence at all levels of government.
Rachel is a seasoned strategist, advocate, policy wonk, and coalition builder. Most recently, she served as Director of Federal Policy at the National Coalition of STD Directors, where she founded and co-chaired a coalition of 65 national public health, sexual health, and LGBTQ organizations during the mpox public health emergency, bridging the gap between advocates and the White House. And prior to that, she worked at the AHA and CFE as Director of Policy and Social Justice.
Rachel holds a Master of Theological Studies in Religion, Politics, and Ethics from Harvard Divinity School and a BA in Religious Studies from Occidental College. She resides in Washington, DC., serves on the board of her local Planned Parenthood, and enjoys being an active Humanist celebrant.

Presentation TBA
2026-08-16 14:30 - 16:00

"How to Live a Life of Great Value" by Jim Stokely & Lynn Brailsford
2026-11-15 14:30 - 16:00
“How to Live a Life of Great Value” will be presented by Jim Stokely and Lynn Brailsford at the Sunday, November 15, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Jim and Lynn will join us in-person for his presentation and Q&A. A hybrid Zoom option will also be available. All are welcome to attend.
