Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle

Brain Fuel Evolution: The Nutrients of Change
2016-12-04 08:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | NC
Author Guy Beretich will speak on “Brain Fuel Evolution: The Nutrients of Change.” This is the title of his most recent book. Dr. Beretich’s book traces the rise and decline in civilizations to the rise and decline of brain fuels. With our knowledge of nutrients and their effect on the brain, we now know which nutrient deficiencies cause depression, and even which nutrients improve memory and intelligence. He calls these nutrients “brain fuels.” He has also written How Nutrients Changed Civilization: A New Theory of Evolution, Enlightenment and Renaissance in 2013, and A Unifying Hypothesis for Diabetes, Depression and Obesity also in 2013. Dr. Beretich has PhD in Immunology/Biotechnology from North Carolina State University.

America's Forgotten Working Class
2016-11-27 08:30 - 10:30
J.D. Vance is featured in this Ted Talk (pre-recorded) from September of this year. Given that the recent election may have swung based on these voters and their interests, his talk is right on the mark. We will listen to his talk, and discuss it. Note that Mr. Vance is also the author of Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and a Culture in Crisis which was published in June of this year.

Humanist Happy Hour in Pittsboro
2016-11-23 13:00 - 15:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular, monthly Humanist Happy Hour at the City Tap in Pittsboro. We meet here the fourth Wednesday evening each month.

Stone Soup 2016 Celebration
2016-11-20 08:30 - 10:30
EHST will celebrate its annual “Stone Soup” celebration. Chris Kaman, President, will tell us the story of Stone Soup, and then we will express what we can be thankful for in our lives. Note that being “thankful” does not require theism; nontheists can be thankful too! We will make our own soup using precooked chicken, turkey, or veggies. We will have both a veggie and meat based soup. Please do NOT bring raw ingredients; there is not enough time to cook them. Then we will sit down to enjoy our “stone” soup and fellowship.
Since this is a public event, alcoholic beverages are not permitted. You may bring bread, and juices to supplement the soup if you are unable to bring something for the soup.

Fall 2016 Membership Meeting
2016-11-13 08:30 - 10:30
Each fall EHST has a meeting of members, friends, and visitors to discuss what has transpired (good, bad, and ugly) for the society, and that looms ahead for us. Our programs, budget, and board activity and needs are reviewed. Questions and answers are encouraged to allow members to understand our “state of the union”.

Humanist Happy Hour in Chapel Hill
2016-11-09 13:00 - 15:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular, monthly Humanist Happy Hour at the Mellow Mushroom in Chapel Hill. Parking is available on Rosemary Street behind the Mellow Mushroom across from Breadmans restaurant. The parking lot is marked as parking for Mellow Mushroom customers.

Election 2016 Discussion
2016-11-06 08:30 - 10:30
Some say that this election is one of the most important in recent history; others don’t plan to vote at all. Many like neither Presidential candidate, and plan to vote for the Green or Libertarian candidate. There are many “down ballot” races that also matter such as Senator and House of Representative candidates, and then from governor on down to local county commissioner races. What is a thinking and caring person to do? Come join us for a lively discussion about the election!

How to Treat Others: From Our Children to Our Country
2016-10-30 09:30 - 11:30
Randy Best, Leader of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society, will speak on the Ethical Humanist ideal of how to treat
others. Starting with the example of changing ideas about better ways to interact with our children, he will talk about inclusion, cooperation, and breaking the cycle of dehumanizing violence. Mr. Best will expand the principles for how to treat children to our larger society and the contesting ideas of the contemporary political contest.

Cooking and Serving at the Chapel Hill Community Kitchen
2016-10-27 12:00 - 15:00
We are cooking and serving at the Chapel Hill Community Kitchen. Cooks work from 4-6 pm, and servers work from 6-7 pm. If you would like to help, please email us. Our coordinator will be in touch. This is a great way to help those who need a good meal! EHST has been cooking and serving for at least 22 years, our longest running service program!

Humanist Happy Hour in Pittsboro
2016-10-26 14:00 - 16:00, 2016-09-28 14:00 - 16:00, 2016-08-24 14:00 - 16:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular Humanist Happy Hour at the City Tap in Pittsboro. We meet here the fourth Wednesday evening each month.

The Why and How of Effective Altruism (Ted Talk)
2016-10-23 09:30 - 11:30
We will show the Ted Talk by Peter Singer: The Why and How of Effective Altruism. Afterward we will share our reactions to his talk. In a world with so many problems and human needs, this talk may help you determine how you can be effective.
Note that our originally scheduled program for today was cancelled by the speaker. We apologize for any inconvenience!

A Better Justice System
2016-10-16 09:30 - 11:30
As a followup to the program last Sunday (10/9) we will show the TED talk video “A Prosecutor’s Vision For a Better Justice System” followed by a discussion of the talk, and points raised by last week’s program. Much news coverage of the excessive use of force by police departments has directed attention to that problem as it should. In the TED talk prosecutor Adam Foss discusses other problems focused around the role of the prosecutor.

Fall Buycott Sponsored by Orange County Living Wage
2016-10-15 12:00 - 14:00
Orange County Living Wage (OCLW) is sponsoring a “buycott” for Mystery Brewing Company in Hillsboro (230 S. Nash St). A “buycott” is the opposite of a “boycott”. Come reward Mystery Brewing for paying a living wage (as certified by OCLW). For more information, see Orange County Living Wage.

Humanist Happy Hour in Chapel Hill
2016-10-12 14:00 - 16:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular Humanist Happy Hour at the Mellow Mushroom in Chapel Hill. Parking is available on Rosemary Street behind the Mellow Mushroom across from Breadmans. The parking lot is marked as parking for Mellow Mushroom customers.

Prison, Family, and Reintegration
2016-10-09 09:30 - 11:30
Susan Simone, a long-time volunteer at Orange Correctional center, will bring a group current and former inmates to talk about their experience as inmates and as family members.

Why is family support so important?
How do you maintain relationships with parents, siblings and children from behind bars?
How does this play out when you are released?
What is it like to be in prison, to face re-entry without a family?

And how can we as members of a community receiving these men as they work to re-enter, to leave their prison experience behind, integrate, find connections, and become part of the larger social family?

The Support Circle Program and EHST
2016-10-02 09:30 - 11:30
The Support Circle Program is run by the Interfaith Council. EHST has partnered with two other congregations to provide support to one individual who is struggling to move out of homelessness. (The individual’s name is confidential.) Three of our members who are involved in the program will describe the program, and their experience of it thus far.

Chatham Arts Guild
2016-09-25 09:30 - 11:30
Shannon Bueker, President of the Chatham Arts Guild, will speak to us about the guild and what it does in Chatham County to encourage the arts. You may ask, “What does the arts have to do with Ethical Humanism?” One of the aims of Ethical Humanism is to bring out the best in others. Bringing the arts to more people not only gives them a chance to enjoy the arts, but to participate in them, and bring out their hidden talents.

Cooking and Serving at the Chapel Hill Community Kitchen
2016-09-22 00:00 - 15:00, 2016-08-25 00:00 - 15:00
We are cooking and serving at the Chapel Hill Community Kitchen on Thursday. Cooks work from 4-6 pm, and servers work from 6-7 pm. If you would like to help, please email us. Our coordinator will be in touch. This is a great way to help those who need a good meal! EHST has been cooking and serving for at least 22 years, our longest running service program!

Book Discussion - The Namesake
2016-09-17 23:30 - 2016-09-18 13:00
The EHST Book Group will discuss The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. Our meeting is free and open to the public. Please join us in Meeting Rm. D in the Chapel Hill Library from 3:30-5 pm to participate!

The Transhumanist Movement
2016-09-17 21:30 - 2016-09-18 11:30
James Croft will speak on “The Transhumanist Movement.” Wikipedia defines transhumanism as “an international and intellectual movement that aims to transform the human condition by developing and creating widely available sophisticated technologies to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities.” James also blogs at Patheos.
At the AEU assembly in St. Louis this year James Croft was certified as an Ethical Humanist Leader. He is working for the St. Louis Ethical Society as their outreach coordinator.

Humanist Happy Hour in Chapel Hill
2016-09-13 14:00 - 16:00
Come join fellow humanists for drinks, dinner, and good conversation at our regular Humanist Happy Hour at the Mellow Mushroom in Chapel Hill. We are trying out Tuesday night to see if that works better. Parking is available on Rosemary Street behind the Mellow Mushroom across from Breadmans. The parking lot is marked as parking for Mellow Mushroom customers.

Fifteen Years After 9/11
2016-09-11 09:30 - 11:30
The terrorist attacks of 9/11 changed everything, from the lives of those loved ones perished at the World Trade Center, those who died when AA flight 77 crashed into the pentagon, and those on UA flight 93 who successfully but tragically prevented a third plane from crashing into the White House. Our program today will allow our members, friends and visitors to remember that day, and how it affected them. We are not seeking political or theoretical statements, and will not pursue this in a debate format. This is simply time to remember.

First Sunday - Food for the Needy
2016-09-04 09:30 - 11:30
Each first Sunday of the month EHST collects canned goods and other items for donation at the local Food Pantry Please bring one or more of these items below with you when you come to our program on the First Sunday of the month. Your generosity will help those in need of nourishing food.
Here’s what is needed…
Food Items–

Oatmeal
Canned tuna, other meats
Milk (dried/canned/shelf-stable)
Jelly

along with these items

Macaroni & cheese boxes
Canned fruit
Cereal
Canned baked beans/pork & beans
Instant coffee (many people don’t have a coffeemaker)
Instant meal items, like instant potatoes, pasta, rice, etc.
Canned pasta for kids, like ravioli, Spaghetti-Os, etc.
Corn bread mix, other baking mixes
Crackers (saltines and others)

and we can always use

Fresh produce (extras from your garden welcome)
Canned vegetables (hold off on corn and green beans for now)
Dried beans
Grits/Oatmeal packets
Paper Bags with handles

Personal Care Products–

Toilet paper
Soap
Shampoo and conditioner
Toothpaste

along with the other “standard” items

Toothbrushes and floss
Deodorant
Razors and shaving cream
Soap and shampoo
Lotion
Washcloths
Feminine products
Diapers

A Living Wage for All
2016-09-04 09:30 - 11:30
On this Labor Day weekend, we have a program right on target. There are two big efforts to raise the minimum wage: the $15 an hour campaign, and the living wage campaign. Our program features Kimberly Brewer of Orange County Living Wage who will tell us about the the living wage campaign in Orange County and beyond. To date 70 employers in Orange County have been certified.
EHST has been certified as paying a living wage while we employed Randy Best, our former Leader. We are committed to doing so for any employees we hire.

The Gospel of Doubt
2016-08-27 21:30 - 2016-08-28 11:30
We will show the Ted Talk by Casey Gerald “The Gospel of Doubt” and then share our reactions to it. Many people have found that their faith failed them when they needed it. For people like Casey Gerald, they find that embracing uncertainty is the key to living a meaningful life, rather than being a morass that drags them down to despair.

Dog Training and Treating Mental Illness
2016-08-21 09:30 - 11:30
Puppy love is not just for children. UNC at Chapel Hill has a shelter to pet program which helps those with severe mental illness by teaching them to train puppies for adoption as service dogs. Benefits for patients include learning responsibility, enhancing self-confidence, experiencing empathy, as well as training for a job. Come hear about the Puppy Development Center!

What Happened at the AEU Assembly?
2016-08-14 09:30 - 11:30
Chris Kaman, President of EHST, and attendee will talk about the 101st Assembly of the American Ethical Union. Resolutions were passed expressing our concerns about racism, wages, “move to amend,” among others. The Elliot-Black Award was also given to activists who stood up against racism and police brutality in Ferguson, the Millennial Activists United. We also passed a new budget, and elected new board officers. Chris will provide the highlights.
