AEU BOARD MEMBERS & SOCIETY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS!

Please Save the Date:
Friday, July 25 – Sunday, July 27, 2025
for the
AMERICAN ETHICAL UNION’s 110th ASSEMBLY

CREATING COMMUNITIES FOR AN ETHICAL FUTURE

to be held at the
Philadelphia Ethical Society
1906 South Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215-735-3456
Email →

March 21, 2025

We are pleased to announce that the Philadelphia Ethical Society will be hosting the 110th AEU Assembly from Friday, July 25 through Sunday, July 27, 2025, entitled CREATING COMMUNITIES FOR AN ETHICAL FUTURE.

Founded in 1885, the Philadelphia Ethical Society (PES) is one of our oldest Ethical Societies. PES has nurtured religious humanism and contributed to progressive causes for more than a century and is a founding member of our federating organization the American Ethical Union. PES partners with groups that share its values, such as Amnesty International, Peace Day Philly, and Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower and Rebuild (POWER).

The Assembly Planning team include: Vandra Thorburn, representing the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, chair; Stan Horwitz, representing the Philadelphia Ethical Society, co-chair; and Randy Best, Leader of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society, co-chair.

Other AEU board members and members stepping forward are: Scott Wright, representing the Ethical Society of St. Louis, Bylaws and Resolutions; Eric Sandhusen, representing Bergen Society for Ethical Culture, Awards & Entertainments; Ken Novak, representing the Chicago Ethical Humanist Circle, Ethical Action and Communications; Audrey Kindred, member New York Society for Ethical Culture, representing the National Ethical Service, and Coming of Age, Teen & Youth Cohorts; Micheleen Karnacewicz, member Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, and John Daken, representing the Washington Ethical Society.

Creating Communities for An Ethical Future

“As our communities face increasing economic and social assaults, we need to create safe communities preparing for an Ethical Future,” says Vandra Thorburn, chair of the Assembly Planning Committee. “We welcome contributions and participation from Ethical societies across the country and hope we will all extend invitations to our neighbors and friends looking for places to unite and grow ethical futures.”

“And for local ethical society members,” Vandra continues, “please consider who among your members deserves the Anna Garlin Spencer Award; who should be recognized for the work in youth programming for YES or FES activities. Also consider any notables you would like to nominate for the Elliott-Black or Felix Adler awards. And even though time will be limited we want to hear what workshops or activities you would like to participate in. Keep an eye out for an email with nomination and workshop submission criteria soon. Please email all ideas and comments to Vandra.”

In this time when humanity is confronting vast changes in society and Earth’s own health, let us support one another by relying on the wisdom imbued in Ethical Culture’s teachings as we traverse the unsteady ground that lies before us.

Together we will move forward to reconnect, rebuild and restore the founding principles of Ethical Culture.

Vandra Thorburn,

AEU Assembly Committee, Chair
AEU Board of Directors, Brooklyn Representative