We just completed our final Sunday Platform of the season and I’m beat.  For the past four weeks I’ve been involved in one Ethical Culture event after another.  They’ve been very interesting, rewarding experiences but honestly, I’m ready for a vacation.

In June, I will be attending the 94th Assembly of the American Ethical Union (AEU), which will be held this year in St. Louis, Missouri, from June 11 through June 14. I will be one of three voting delegates from our Society. The others are Mary Ellen Stanton and Hank Gassner. Additional NoVES members who will be attending are Jone Johnson Lewis, our Leader, Hugh Taft-Morales, our Leader Intern, Betty Chia Karro and Bill Lewis as alternate delegates, Phyllis Duncan as a member of the AEU Board of Directors, and Mary Bellamy representing the Secular Coalition of America, of which the AEU is a member. There may be additional NoVES members there as well.

In the course of our lives we are constantly confronted by ethical choices. Most are of relatively minor consequence, such as should I call in sick to work even though I’m not physically sick? Most of us have taken “mental health days” on occasion; though, hopefully, we did not do it when our work responsibilities would suffer that day if we stayed home.

I’ve been thinking about a movie I saw a few days ago called “I Love You, Man.” You may have heard of it. It’s an often silly, sometimes crude comedy starring Paul Rudd. Although I generally dislike this type of movie, I found that it said something important to me about why I value being a member of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society.

We are midway through the 25th year of existence of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society.  Where do we go from here? What should be our goals for the next 25 years?

In an attempt to answer these questions, we are guided by our Long Range Plan, which a group of NoVES members put together several years ago.  The Plan made two primary recommendations.  One was to institute a regular system of gathering and analyzing data to help improve our ability to attract new members and retain existing members.  We are making good progress on that recommendation through our recent conversion of our financial records from a loose leaf binder to a computerized accounting program and to the maintenance of important Society information on our website.  We recognize that we still have a way to go and are always looking for computer savvy volunteers to help in this effort (hint, hint!).

On February 12, 2009, we will be celebrating the 200th birthdays of Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln. Both men are heroes of mine because each had an idea that many people objected to, but which they believed in strongly.  And they not only put their ideas forward, despite ardent opposition, but did it in a calm, thoughtful, rational way that eventually convinced people that their ideas were correct.

In last January’s column in the NoVES newsletter, I made some New Year’s resolutions for myself, my country and the world.  My primary personal resolution, to lose weight, actually occurred in part.  By the summer I had lost 10 pounds. However, I had some health issues (and willpower issues) and unfortunately gained back all of the weight.  On the positive side, I resolved to spend more time on my NoVES responsibilities and to take a vacation, both of which I’ve done.  I also took a semi-vacation when Mary Ellen and I went to the AEU Assembly in Austin, Texas.  My resolution for the country came to pass, as we elected a progressive President (although the Rick Warren controversy has put somewhat of a damper on my enthusiasm for him).  My resolution for the world, unfortunately, has not occurred, as there is still pervasive conflict, poverty and illiteracy.

Now that the election is over and President-Elect Obama is preparing to take office on January 20, 2009, there are many interest groups pushing their agendas. Liberals are eagerly anticipating that Mr. Obama will have a “progressive” agenda, while conservatives think they see signs that he is veering towards a “centrist” agenda. I’m interested in a different agenda - the Ethical Culture agenda. As Felix Adler said, we should act at all times with the recognition that every human being has worth. People must be treated as ends in and of themselves, not merely as the means to an end. Here’s my take on how the issues facing this country should be handled under an Ethical Culture agenda. Please keep in mind that these are my personal views and not necessarily the views of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society or the American Ethical Union.