The Brooklyn Humanist Community, Inc. presents
Vicki McFadyen
Chairperson, Military Families Speak Out Metro
“The Collateral Pain of Military Families”
Sunday, June 13, 2010
1 PM
At the Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch**
10 Grand Army Plaza
** Meeting room is accessed through the Children’s Library entrance. Make an about face before passing through the security check and take the staircase to your right. We’ll be on the 2nd floor.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Going for the 501(c)(3)
At the May Board meeting, we decided to go forward with the application for tax-exempt status, now that we have a program. We've decided to pick up refuse on Brooklyn streets at least once or twice a month during the warmer months. We're also having tee shirts made up with a logo and "Brooklyn Humanist Community" printed on them. This is an exciting move forward for BHC, and we're expecting it will bring us into the public eye. Go, BHC!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
New Year's Brunch
We had a capacity crowd at our 2nd annual New Year's Brunch yesterday. People brought friends and family and we had 24 of us taking over half the dining room at the Three Star Diner.
Antoinette presented a sterling engraved bookmark to Sheila for Sheila's hard work on the Book Discussion Club. I rose to thank Tony for going above and beyond the call of duty in helping Bruce to find a new job.
The food was delicious and we lingered for 3 hours while other parties came and went. A great time was had by all.
Antoinette presented a sterling engraved bookmark to Sheila for Sheila's hard work on the Book Discussion Club. I rose to thank Tony for going above and beyond the call of duty in helping Bruce to find a new job.
The food was delicious and we lingered for 3 hours while other parties came and went. A great time was had by all.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Catching up at year's end
In the last hours of 2009, I'm reviewing a few of our recent activities. We had a Reflection with Dr. Kurt Johnson on November 28th, and then partied our way through the holidays with a program on Holiday Music December 12th, hosted by Michael and Antoinette. We played Hanukah and Christmas songs and talked about what particular songs mean to us.
On Dec. 27th, Michael and Antoinette hosted another holiday party, and Adriana as our Gypsy Lady read her tarot cards as a fundraiser for BHC.
Tomorrow we're starting 2010 with a brunch at Three Star Diner, and hoping for an excellent New Year with our BHC friends!
On Dec. 27th, Michael and Antoinette hosted another holiday party, and Adriana as our Gypsy Lady read her tarot cards as a fundraiser for BHC.
Tomorrow we're starting 2010 with a brunch at Three Star Diner, and hoping for an excellent New Year with our BHC friends!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Reflection with Dr. Kurt Johnson
We had a great Reflection with Dr. Kurt Johnson this past Saturday night. Maureen hosted and we had our usual delicious potluck. Extra special mention goes to Adriana for her delicious tortilla pie!
We read quotes from "The Power of Now" and then discussed things we love, things that make us feel alive.
Mostly, I felt a profound sense of peace and a departure from the worries of everyday life. I enjoyed hearing Adriana's love for planting trees that will outlive her, and Sheila's love of making a child feel welcomed and happy during a tutoring session. Positive energy flows through these Reflections and we are fortunate indeed to have Kurt's wellspring of wisdom drawn from a variety of traditions, to think about.
We read quotes from "The Power of Now" and then discussed things we love, things that make us feel alive.
Mostly, I felt a profound sense of peace and a departure from the worries of everyday life. I enjoyed hearing Adriana's love for planting trees that will outlive her, and Sheila's love of making a child feel welcomed and happy during a tutoring session. Positive energy flows through these Reflections and we are fortunate indeed to have Kurt's wellspring of wisdom drawn from a variety of traditions, to think about.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Book Club Discussion: The Kite Runner
The BHC Book Discussion group held another exciting meeting on Sunday, October 18th. Our topic this time was The Kite Runner: can this man be redeemed?
We discussed the book in its political and economic context. The rigid class system and the political turbulence that affected the characters' lives were very obvious. Sheila asked us to ponder what events in our lives or our parents' lives affected us. Several people cited World War II as a major factor in either their own or their parents' lives. I mentioned the Vietnam War and JFK's assassination as having shaped my views and many of my actions throughout my life.
I felt Amir could be redeemed, that he was doing his best at the end of the book to make a good life for Hassan's son. The wrong that he did, really, was an act of cowardice compounded by a lie. But it was the act of a frightened and guilty 12 year old boy. Even though the consequences were terrible, I didn't feel it was right to judge him as if he were an adult.
I'm looking forward to our next meeting on November 15th, to discuss "This I Believe."
We discussed the book in its political and economic context. The rigid class system and the political turbulence that affected the characters' lives were very obvious. Sheila asked us to ponder what events in our lives or our parents' lives affected us. Several people cited World War II as a major factor in either their own or their parents' lives. I mentioned the Vietnam War and JFK's assassination as having shaped my views and many of my actions throughout my life.
I felt Amir could be redeemed, that he was doing his best at the end of the book to make a good life for Hassan's son. The wrong that he did, really, was an act of cowardice compounded by a lie. But it was the act of a frightened and guilty 12 year old boy. Even though the consequences were terrible, I didn't feel it was right to judge him as if he were an adult.
I'm looking forward to our next meeting on November 15th, to discuss "This I Believe."
Transformative Leadership with David Mensah
Those of us who attended yesterday's program with David Mensah got a unique treat.
David had us sit in a semicircle, conducting a much more interactive program than he might have if we'd filled the room to SRO. We heard his insights on leadership and what stops people from becoming the leaders they are meant to be, as well as how to get out of our own way and put the internal conversations that hold us back aside.
He addressed individual questions and shared his own personal history and experiences that have led him to writing this book on transformative leadership, Who I Am is Leader. The book will be completed at the end of October so we might be able to find it in bookstores by the holiday season, or so I hope! I'm recommending his book for the book club as soon as it is available.
It's hard to convey in words how inspiring, insightful and entertaining David's talk was. David's business in leadership training and consulting has been thriving and he's booked up 2 years in advance. He donated a very valuable hour and a half of his time!
David had us sit in a semicircle, conducting a much more interactive program than he might have if we'd filled the room to SRO. We heard his insights on leadership and what stops people from becoming the leaders they are meant to be, as well as how to get out of our own way and put the internal conversations that hold us back aside.
He addressed individual questions and shared his own personal history and experiences that have led him to writing this book on transformative leadership, Who I Am is Leader. The book will be completed at the end of October so we might be able to find it in bookstores by the holiday season, or so I hope! I'm recommending his book for the book club as soon as it is available.
It's hard to convey in words how inspiring, insightful and entertaining David's talk was. David's business in leadership training and consulting has been thriving and he's booked up 2 years in advance. He donated a very valuable hour and a half of his time!
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