Save the Date
AEU 111th Assembly

The American Ethical Union is proud to announce the 111th Assembly – 150 Years of Eliciting the Best – on the sesquicentennial year of the Ethical Culture Movement. Our Movement’s founding Society, The New York Society for Ethical Culture, is looking forward to hosting our gathering in New York City. We encourage all Ethical Culture members and friends to join us in exploring “150 Years of Eliciting the Best: Then, Now and Always.”

Registration for the assembly will be released by April 1st, 2026, but please see a DRAFT of the 111th AEU Assembly Schedule HERE for planning purposes.

What: 111th American Ethical Union Assembly
When: July 24-26, 2026
Where: New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th Street, New York, NY 10023

Accommodation Options

We encourage those who are thinking about attending the assembly to book their accommodations early, as NYC in the summer is busy and as lodgings become more scarce, the prices do go up. Feel free to book on your own as there are many options, but below are four that have been vetted to consider:

Empire Hotel, 44 W. 63rd Street, New York, NY 10023
We have secured a block of rooms at this hotel, with group pricing guaranteed until June 12th, 2026. This is the most expensive option but has the most amenities and is right around the corner from the New York Society for Ethical Culture. If you would like to learn more and/or make a reservation use the Empire Hotel Group link: HERE.

LaQuinta Hotel, 31 W. 71st Street, New York, NY 10023
Although we could not secure a block of rooms, this hotel is moderately priced for NYC and is only a few blocks away from the New York Society for Ethical Culture. You can learn more or directly book a reservation by using the link: HERE.

West Side YMCA, 5 W. 63rd Street, New York, NY 10023
We have secured a block of rooms at this hotel, with group pricing guaranteed until May 26, 2026. This option is directly next to New York Society for Ethical Culture. Although this is the most affordable option, it does have the least number of amenities. Please note the following room options: a private single room and ensuite bathroom ($170 per night), a private single room but a shared bathroom down the hall ($140 per night) and a bunk bed for two and ensuite bathroom ($190 per night). If you would like to learn more about the West Side YMCA use the link: HERE.

If you are interested in booking at the YMCA with the AEU group pricing, call Mayesha Hoque (mhoque@ymcanyc.org) at 212-912-2686 or Jennifer Ventura (jventura@ymcanyc.org) at 212-912-2697 during the weekday and state that you are with AEU/Ethical Culture.

Home Hospitality
Although we do not have many available, some members from the New York Society for Ethical Culture and Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture have offered extra rooms that attendees can use. If you are interested in a home hospitality option please contact Co-Chair of the AEU Assembly Planning Committee, Ellen McBride.

Pre-Assembly Activities

The AEU Assembly Planning Committee is working on offering numerous pre-assembly activities on Thursday, July 23rd.  Whether it’s your first or fiftieth visit to New York City, we want you to enjoy your visit and take advantage of  opportunities to socialize with other AEU members. Activity options will be shared in the coming weeks.  Planned activities include: Tour of Lincoln Center, an Ethical NYC Bike Tour, Circle Line Boat Tour, and a Broadway Show.

Interested in Presenting a Program?

The AEU Assembly Planning Committee is accepting program proposals. Based on feedback from past assemblies, we are keeping programs focused on the theme: “150 Years of Eliciting the Best: Then, Now, and Always.” Proposals are due by April 30, 2026. Each session is 45 minutes (this includes Q&A) and will take place Saturday, July 25 at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. Presenters do not receive compensation but do get a discount on the Assembly registration fees.

If you are interested in presenting a workshop, please submit a Program Proposal HERE. Or go to: https://tinyurl.com/aeuprograms