AEU Weekly Update: Wednesday, Oct 25, 2023

Dear Members,

Meet the Four Regional Teams

Collaboration works by strengthening our institutional and interpersonal relationships. Last month, we introduced plans to continue future-facing work to prioritize Societies through the formation of Regional Teams. These teams aim to: 1) expand on multi-Society gatherings; 2) identify Society challenges; and 3) create a regional support plan. Their work will build local resilience and expand access to resources for reinvesting in Societies.

Regional Teams include:

Northeast

• New York Society for Ethical Culture, New York

• Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, New York

• Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, New York

• Ethical Humanist Society of Queens, New York

• Ethical Culture Society of Essex County, New Jersey

• Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, New Jersey

• The Future of Ethical Societies (Julia Julstrom Agoyo — based in New Jersey)

South

• Ethical Humanists of Atlanta, Georgia

• The Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle, North Carolina

• Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, North Carolina

• Northern Virginia Ethical Society, Virginia

• Washington Ethical Society, Washington D.C.

West/Midwest

• Ethical Society of St. Louis, Missouri

• Ethical Society of Mid Rivers, Missouri 

• Chicago Ethical Humanist Circle, Illinois

• Ethical Society of Austin, Texas 

• Ethical Culture Society of Silicon Valley, California

• National Leaders Council (Louise Jett — based in St. Louis)

Eastern/Atlantic

• Ethical Society of Northern Westchester, New York

• Westchester Community for Ethical Culture, New York

• Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture, New York

• Susquehanna Valley Ethical Society, Pennsylvania

• Philadelphia Ethical Society, Pennsylvania

• Baltimore Ethical Society, Maryland

These teams do not replace AEU committees. Committees have been paused to make space for Regional Teams and National Teams to facilitate the transformational re-imagination of the AEU. 

As these Teams work together and build skills through training, they will assess past efforts and cultivate new initiatives that the AEU can support with its new three-year financial plan. We hope you will familiarize yourself with the financial plan and reach out to your Regional Team representative at your Society, Circle, or Fellowship.

If you missed our earlier updates about the new Teams, you can read more about them in our September 11 and October 12 updates.

Featured Board Member of the Week 

Each week, we will introduce a new Board member so you can get to know them and connect with our new leadership.

Please meet Wendell Bohannon (he/him), the new Board Director representing the Ethical Humanists of Atlanta.

Wendell Bohannon

Wendell hopes that being a Board member will give him the opportunity to learn about, grow, and help sustain Ethical Culture.

He has attended multi-Society events and is convinced it is something that should be done regularly.

For the last few years, Wendell has been working as a Contact Center Manager. That role came after ten years in the hospitality industry with a short stint in telephony. In his free time, Wendell enjoys hiking. The wilderness is his sanctuary.

Wendell is a member of the Atlanta Democratic Socialists of America. As an active member of the Operations and Membership committees, he has a good understanding of the importance of organization, keeping things in order, as well as presenting and implementing well-defined plans.

In community, 

Khandra, Jé, Liz, and Anya

Reach us at PresidentandVP@aeu.org.