Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle

Aging Services
2025-09-21 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Kendall McMillan, Orange County Dept of Aging: An overview of services offered to seniors by Orange County.

This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

LGBTQ+ Issues 101
2025-09-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Eliazar Posada of EqualityNC will tell us what we need to know about the current state of LGBTQ+ rights, both nationally and in NC. EqualityNC is the nation’s oldest statewide organization committed to securing rights and protections for the LGBTQ+ community. It aims to ensure that every North Carolinian sees themselves reflected in this movement, working together to create a safer, more equitable world for all marginalized individuals.
This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Building Alliances to Strengthen Ourselves and Others
2025-10-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
This week, Maura Breidt will give a brief presentation on the importance of seeking out and working with other like-minded groups, as well as advocating for groups that share our values. What does this mean? What does it look like? Is it even worth the effort? We will be discussing these questions and others. Please join us for a vigorous discussion!
This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Ask Me Anything: A Black Perspective
2025-10-12 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Program using Zoom
As an African American actor, Sol Gibson has several decades worth of experiences that helped shape his view on life in general and on the American South in particular. He will share his unique perspective on any questions you may have!

Sol Gibson III was raised in Ohio and relocated to the Chapel Hill area as a young man. He has a long and varied career as an actor, including film, television, stage, and mystery dinner theater.

This program will be presented via a Zoom session. You do not need a Zoom account to “attend” this virtual meeting. If you would like to be a participant in the meeting, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Fall Members Meeting
2025-10-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
We will hold our annual fall members meeting on October 19th. We encourage all EHST members to attend in person or online if possible. And we always welcome friends and visitors. We have several important items on the agenda, including a report on meeting attendance, the idea of joint meetings with other “like minded” societies, what members like or dislike about our weekly meetings, and a call for candidates for officers for next year. We hope to see you all there!

This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Community Day!
2025-10-26 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
We hold community days as a way for our members, friends, and visitors to participate in small group discussions around topics that allow each to share their ideas and experiences with others. There is a theme the discussion is organized around. The theme is usually announced on the community day to ensure that everyone is equally prepared (or unprepared) to address the topic. After the small groups meet, we convene as a larger group, and share core ideas or experiences while respecting everyone’s privacy.
This meeting is in-person only. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures. Doors will open at 2:00 pm and our program will start by 2:15.

Do We Live In A Machiavellian World?
2025-11-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Fred Breidt will present an historical analysis of Machiavelli’s political theories and how they may manifest in our current world. Niccolò Machiavelli completed The Prince In the year 1513. Originally dedicated to Giuliano de’ Medici of Florence, the book is now cited as a founding document of realpolitik. Machiavelli passionately wanted to make Florence great again, and he thought that political action should be judged primarily by whether it successfully achieved desired ends, regardless of means. We will discuss whether world nations are currently guided by Machiavellian principles and consider what role ethics should play in global politics.

This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Ted Talk & Discussion: An ethicist’s guide to living a good life by rabbi Ira Bedzow
2025-11-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
It’s easy to say you have values — but how can you actually put them into action? Ethicist and rabbi Ira Bedzow helps people wrestle with this big question so they can navigate life with a sense of meaning and direction. He sits down with Shoshana Ungerleider, physician and host of the “TED Health” podcast, to discuss why you may have more than one singular purpose, how to define success on your own terms and the role of community in a fulfilling life.

This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Foods of the Americas Potluck and Social Sunday
2025-11-23 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
EHST will start the holiday season with a New World Potluck. We will meet at our usual venue, Extraordinary Ventures. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share that features foods of the Americas (See list below for inspiration!) Also, feel free to bring beverages or something store bought to share. (Please note, bringing something to share is not required.) Come one, come all, and celebrate our secular community!

This meeting is in-person only.

Foods of the Americas: An Abbreviated List

Fruits & Vegetables:
* Avocado * Corn * Squash & Pumpkin * Hot & Sweet Peppers * Tomato * White Potato * Cranberries * Blueberries * Pineapple * Papaya * Blackberries * Sweet Potato * Dragonfruit ** Jicama * Chayote * Sweet Potato *

Meat & Fish:
* Cod * American Bison * Wild Turkey * California Quail *

Nuts & Seeds:
* Peanut * Cashew * Pecan * Brazil Nut * Walnut * American Hazelnut * Sunflower Seeds *

Grains:
* Corn/Maize * Quinoa * Wild rice *

Legumes:
* Pinto Beans * Black Beans * Kidney Beans * Navy Beans * Scarlet Runner Beans *

Miscellaneous (But Important!):
* Cocoa * Vanilla * Honey * Maple Syrup * Agave *

Abortion in the United States after Roe v. Wade was Overturned
2025-12-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
EHST member Stanley Henshaw will discuss now Americans responded to the Dobbs decision and the consequences for the legality of abortion, access to services, and women’s health.
Stanley Henshaw has a PhD in sociology and worked for many years as Deputy Director of Research for the Guttmacher Institute in New York. His work centered on abortion services where one of his responsibilities was to testify as an expert witness in many lawsuits challenging state abortion restrictions. Although now retired, Stan maintains an interest in this topic and stays up to date with developments.
This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Discussion Sunday: Growing Old Ain't for Sissies: The Push and Pull of Independence vs Safety
2025-12-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Program using Zoom
We will have a discussion on the triumphs and pitfalls of aging in the modern time. This will include such subtopics as housing choices, accessibility, and pressure from adult children for safe choices rather than independent ones. Join our conversation, listen, learn, discuss!
This program will be presented via a Zoom session. You do not need a Zoom account to “attend” this virtual meeting. If you would like to be a participant in the meeting, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Secular Potluck and Winter Solstice Party
2025-12-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
It’s a party! Please bring a dish to share at our Secular Winter Solstice end-of-year gathering! (Coffee, tea, and dishes/flatware/napkins are provided.)
Here’s the link to RSVP. Please do so if you plan to come, or think you might.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949A8AE2FA1F4C70-60803308-winter
This event is in person only; there will be no Zoom access.
This is our last event of 2025, so please plan to come and enjoy this time of year with your fellow humanists, deists, atheists, and similarly oriented nontheists!

Food for Life: Nutrition Essentials - CANCELLED
2025-12-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Program using Zoom
OUR EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
We wish everyone a good day!
We will return with our programs in January 2026.

TED TALK: Six Ways to Give that Aren't About Money
2026-01-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Please join us to view an inspiring TED TALK by TED leader Chris Anderson, based on his new book Infectious Generosity. What’s your most creative way to give? Did you hear anything in the TED Talk that you are already doing or intend to start doing? The presentation will be followed by a discussion.
This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Discussion of programs for 2026
2026-01-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Program using Zoom
What programs would you like to see EHST provide in 2026? We will pool our thoughts and come up with ideas (the more specific the better). Our programming change for 2026 is to not meet at Extraordinary Ventures on the 4th Sundays (but January is one exception). Instead, we will either have a Zoom session or do some form of ethical action.
This program will be presented via a Zoom session. You do not need a Zoom account to “attend” this virtual meeting. If you would like to be a participant in the meeting, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Working to End Hygiene Insecurity
2026-01-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
What is hygiene insecurity? Why is it a problem? Mary Baldwin Morris will speak about the work of The Confidence Project which she founded. Its mission is to ensure all children and families have equal access to basic hygiene products, positively impacting their self-esteem, health, and well-being. Hygiene insecurity, defined as the inability to afford everyday hygiene products, has far-reaching consequences. A lack of access to basic hygiene can negatively impact a child’s self-esteem, creating enduring effects on their learning and emotional well-being. Without assistance, these innocent children face compromised physical health and confidence, perpetuating a distressing cycle. One in three families struggle to afford their most basic needs. Accessing hygiene products for families living in poverty proves surprisingly challenging, especially since many of these items cannot be obtained using benefits such as food stamps.
This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Annual Business Meeting - 2026 - Zoom only
2026-01-25 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
All members and friends are strongly encouraged to attend our annual business meeting. This is an important opportunity to discuss important business matters of EHST. The 2026 budget will be presented and voted upon. We also will be electing Board trustees and officers. We also plan to vote on other matters which should interest all members. Visitors and friends are welcome, but can not vote on business matters.
This meeting is a Zoom only due to the weather predictions. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Program for February 1st - Cancelled
2026-02-01 | NC
Due to the predictions for snowfall and accumulations making travel dangerous on February 1st, we have rescheduled this program for February 15th. So there will be NO in person meeting, and NO Zoom meeting on February 1st.

Ted Talk - The Mission to Safeguard Black History in the US
2026-02-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Program using Zoom
We will play a Ted Talk by Julieanna Richardson who founded TheHistoryMakers. The organization is a digital repository for the black experience. Here is an excerpt from its website: “The HistoryMakers is a national 501 (c ) (3) non-profit research and educational institution committed to preserving and making widely accessible the untold personal stories of both well-known and unsung African Americans. Through the media and a series of user-friendly products, services and events, The HistoryMakers enlightens, entertains and educates the public, helping to refashion a more inclusive record of American history.” The talk will be followed by a discussion of Ms. Richardson’s talk.
This program will be presented via a Zoom session. You do not need a Zoom account to “attend” this virtual meeting. If you would like to be a participant in the meeting, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

This Is Not America, or Is It?
2026-02-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Recent events in the U.S. are startling to many Americans, events such as the killing of Renee Good by ICE agents, and the creation of camps in and out of the U.S. for immigrants rounded up by ICE. Some say this is not America! But, is it? Are those that say that correct? What does our history show about what is America and what is not? EHST member and frequent guest speaker, Solomon Gibson III, will present us with his answer to this question.
This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

No Meeting
2026-02-22 08:00 - 17:00 | NC
EHST is not meeting this Sunday. See you on March 1st.

Pee Wee Homes - Housing for the Needy
2026-03-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
PeeWeeHomes is a local organization whose mission is to create dignified, affordable, tiny homes in a caring community for, and with people transitioning out of homelessness. Their homes of 250-400 square feet enable people who can not afford larger homes to have a place to live. Representatives from PeeWeeHomes will tell us the story of how they came to be, how they function, and what the future holds.
This meeting is a Zoom “hybrid” meeting. We will meet at our regular venue, Extraordinary Ventures, where the program will take place. We will also Zoom the program. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Urgent Work to Protect North Carolina’s Environment
2026-03-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Program using Zoom
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) does great work across the South to protect the environment. Please join us for excerpts from their webinar on what’s happening with protecting North Carolina’s environment. We will then discuss the points raised by SELC and what we can do as individuals.
This program will be presented via a Zoom session. You do not need a Zoom account to “attend” this virtual meeting. If you would like to be a participant in the meeting, please use our contact us form (https://ehstnc.org/contact-us/) to make your request.

Community Day
2026-03-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Extraordinary Ventures, 200 S. Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
What is a community day? It is a program in which a topic is introduced for discusssion, followed by breakout into small groups for discussion, and then we reconvene as a whole to review ideas, and thoughts arising from the group discussions. Our program will be led by Jan Broughton who has conducted these community days in the past. The topic will be introduced soon.
Given the nature of this program, there will be no Zoom option.

CROP Walk
2026-03-22 13:30 - 15:30 | NC
We will participate in the local CROP Walk. The CROP Walk is our ethical action activity for this quarter. It is a local walk sponsored by the InterFaith Council (IFC) to raise money to fight hunger both locally and internationally. Find out more about it here: https://www.ifcweb.org/features/2026-crop-hunger-walk Registration begins at 1:30, and the actual walk begins at 2:30. If you are an EHST member, please wear your EHST t-shirt.
There will be no program at our usual venue, Extraordinary Ventures.

How to be Foolproof in Today's News Environment
2026-03-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Program using Zoom
The 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.
Eric 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.
This is a Zoom only program sponsored by the American Ethical Union. You must register to participate. You may do so via this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ofKPzj3cR0iJJRhKbFX1lg#/registration
