Table of Contents
Letter from AEU President, Jennifer Scates

American Ethical Union Assembly -
I'll be having a wonderful time, and I hope you'll be there!
The American Ethical Union's (AEU) 97th Assembly is right around the corner, June 14-17, in Albany, New York. I urge you to attend the Assembly and meet with members of other Ethical Societies for workshops dedicated to helping you make more ethical choices for yourself, your Society, and the World.

Our Assembly's theme this year is "Creating Communities of Hope and Justice," and the National Leaders' Council has produced an outstanding program focusing on Criminal Justice, with a stellar line-up of speakers, both from within the Ethical Culture Movement and from the criminal justice field.
         
In addition to the Assembly's business meeting and board elections, there will be a presentation of the results of the Strategic Planning Listening Sessions held in 2010-2011. There will be meeting times for Society Presidents and for the members of our virtual Society, the Ethical Society Without Walls; opportunities to recognize achievements, including presenting the Anna Garlin Spencer and Elliott-Black awards; and time to catch up with old and new friends. 


Lay Leadership Summer School - I had a memorable and affirming time, and I hope you remember, or are planning, yours.
The AEU Lay Leadership Summer School will be held at The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center in Highlands, North Carolina from July 24-31. Thanks to the Summer School staff: Kate Lovelady and Matthew Hile of St. Louis, Diane Kirschner of Brooklyn, Hugh Taft-Morales of Philadelphia and Baltimore, Jan Broughton of the Triangle, and Bart Worden of Westchester, with assistance from L. Miller of New York. 

Recently Bart Worden wrote: "Ask people who have attended about their experience and you will hear stories of inspiring lectures, challenging group experiences, and deep friendships formed with Ethical Culture members from around the country." If you want to find someone who attended Summer School, Bart wrote that "It is very likely that you have been in contact with LLSS graduates as ten current Society Presidents attended, as did seven AEU Board Members. Eighteen Leaders have participated, five of whom entered the AEU Leadership Training Program after attending the LLSS."

The Summer School welcomes contributions from all Ethical Culture members and friends who recognize the value of this training opportunity and want to support our efforts to build a strong and effective Ethical Culture Movement; you can contact the AEU office at (212) 873-6500 to find out how easy giving is!


Volunteering to Make a Difference -
I'm still having a wonderful time, please join me!
Much of the AEU's work is vested in its committees. Consider sharing your time and talents with one of the AEU's committees: Assembly, Board Development, Ethical Action, Finance & Fund Development, Information Technology & Publicity, Leadership, Membership, Personnel, Planning, and Religious Education. If you are at all interested in serving on a Committee, e-mail the board at board[at]aeu.org.


I have had a marvelous time in service of the AEU.
I thank you for letting me join you.
At this year's Assembly, I will have reached the limit of the time I am permitted to serve on the Board. I was at the Lay Leadership Summer School in 2004. I worked with the 2004-2005 Planning Committee, and in 2005 was elected to the Board of Directors. I have worked with task forces, teams, and (I think) all of the committees, fabulous staff and wonderful volunteers, and many, many wonderful people. I have visited lots of Societies and been at many Assemblies and Religious Education and Membership Development conferences. I am grateful for the tremendous opportunities I have had to learn from each and every Board, task force, team, committee, staff member, volunteer, Society, Assembly, and conference. Thank you.