PLATFORM SPEAKERS

March 11

"NC Implementation of the New Health Care Law"

Adam Searing, Director

North Carolina Health Access Coalition

Adam Searing joined the Justice Center as Director of the North Carolina Health Access Coalition in 1997. The Health Access Coalition is North Carolina’s leading voice for progressive health care reforms that address the needs of the uninsured and underinsured. The project advocates both for more comprehensive and effective public health care programs and on behalf of average consumers in the private market. Adam grew up in Chapel Hill received his graduate degrees in law and public health there from the University of North Carolina in 1994.

March 18

Herb Silverman , Founder and President

Secular Coalition for America

Herb Silverman received his Ph.D. in mathematics from Syracuse University and is Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at the College of Charleston. In 1990, Silverman became South Carolina's most famous atheist activist when he challenged the state's religious test for public office by entering its gubernatorial race. He is a regular contributor to The Washington Post's "On Faith" blog.

Herb has appeared in a number of debates, including one at the Oxford Union in Oxford, England on the topic: Does American Religion Undermine American Values? He has spoken at numerous freethought conferences and given sermons at Unitarian churches. He has had many articles in freethought publications, writes for Secular Nation, has a book chapter called "Inerrancy Turned Political" in The Fundamentals of Extremism, and is an "On Faith" panelist for the The Washington Post online. Herb's new book is titled, Candidate Without a Prayer, An Autobiography of a Jewish Atheist in the Bible Belt.

March 25 "The Ethics of Free-Market Health Care Reform” Joseph Coletti, Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies John Locke Foundation.

Joseph Coletti has written for national and state publications, appeared on radio and television shows, and spoken at numerous national organizations. His policy contributions have had direct impact in health care, state budgets and pension reform. Before joining the Locke Foundation, Coletti was with the U.S.-Japan Business Council in Washington, D.C., and J.D. Power and Associates in Detroit and Tokyo. Coletti received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

DISCUSSION GROUPS

March 4

“National Health Care Standards”

Discussion moderated by Chris Kaman, EHST Member

This Sunday’s discussion will focus on constitutional and ethical issues raised by some of the regulations contained in ObamaCare (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)). Among the controversies this law has raised are mandating all citizens to purchase health insurance or pay a tax, infringing on free exercise of religion by establishing national standards for healthcare access, and who should pay for the cost in delivering essential care To date 11 states have filed lawsuits to have this Act repealed. This will be a lively discussion and members are encouraged to attend and bring their questions and concerns.

EHST EVENTS

March 10

Get-together and Potluck

Our Ethical Leader, Randy Best, is hosting a get-together at Dorothy Pollack’s home for new and prospective EHST members at 5:00 p.m. He will provide an overview of the Ethical Humanist / Ethical Culture community, talk about our Triangle Society, and answer questions from a Leader’s perspective. At 6:00 p.m. we’ll segue into a regular EHST potluck for all comers.  Please call Dorothy at 932-5744 and let her know what you will be bringing.

Dorothy lives right near the Orange / Chatham County line just off 15-501 South.  The address is 500 Ridge View Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. See Directions.

March 27
The Future of Ethical Societies
2012 Conference

This year the conference is being held in Chapel Hill, starting with luncheon at 11:00 a.m. (Details will be listserved at a later date.) The Future of Ethical Societies (FES) is an organization created and run by Ethical Culture’s college-aged members that is designed to keep us connected to the American Ethical Union and the greater Ethical Culture movement. We were created as a continuation to Youth of Ethical Societies (YES), the AEU’s high school youth organization, and we aim to bridge the age gap within Ethical Culture and keep our members involved through their college years, a time when many youths lose touch with Ethical Culture. We hope to do this by representing the Ethical Movement’s youth perspective to the AEU and by fostering our own growth as Ethical Humanists. FES strives to create a community among Ethical Culture’s post-high school youth and to keep our members involved in, and committed to, the Ethical Culture movement. Currently FES holds an annual conference and attends the AEU’s board meetings. We are continually working on developing our own organization as well as our relationship with the AEU.

BELLWETHER BOOK CLUB

Saturday, March 16

Weaver Street Market

2:00 P.M.

The selection for March is Something for the Pain by Paul Austin. This non-fiction book explores the everyday life Durham resident and ER doctor Paul Austin: the impact his job has on his family, his faith, his personal relationships, and the lessons he learns along the way. Books are available at our meetings thanks to a book club kit from the Durham County Library. Even if you don't intend to attend this meeting, feel free to borrow a copy.

INTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE

March 4

IFC Food Pantry

On the first Sunday of each month, EHST members donate food items to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service. One of its missions is maintaining a food pantry for community people in need of groceries. IFC's impact on food distribution in this area is impressive. The economic recession resulted in a loss of donations to this important social service agency, and it relies on organizations like ours to help its clients. Please contribute generously.

March 25

Crop Walk

This year's annual IFC Crop Walk is to help end hunger, one step at a time. Our local IFC will receive 25% of the funds raised while the remainder goes to fight world hunger under the sponsorship of Church World Service. As well as providing direct food assistance, the international program operates on a self-help model to put families on the way to growing their own food and operating small businesses.

Since the actual walk is during a Sunday when EHST has a platform speaker, we will take a symbolic walk in the neighborhood after our meeting. All donations should be turned in by that day with checks made out to CWS. T-Shirts are available for $5. Please see Jan Broughton for more information.

March 15

LWV Luncheon

The League of Women Voters will host a lunch with the League on Thursday, March 15 at 12:00 noon at Spartacus Restaurant in Durham.  Our speaker will be Janet Colm, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina who will give an update on Women's Reproductive health Issues. Everyone is welcome. Bring your friends.

Reservations are required. To reserve a place, please email Beverly Hanly at hanly.bd@gmail.com by March 13^th. Her cell phone number is 919-961-7345, if you prefer.

Spartacus Restaurant is located at 4139 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham 27705. Participants will select their food from a buffet as we gather. The price for the buffet is $15.   There are vegetarian items on the buffet