Meet Navy Humanist Chaplain Candidate

This is a last-minute posting, but Jason Heap, candidate to be chaplain for the US Navy is in town for his final interviews with the Navy. The US military is notoriously anti-humanist, and he is a key player in seeking equality for us in the military. If you'd like to meet with him and spend some time visiting and show your support, he'll be available after the Northern Virginia Ethical Society (NoVES) meeting on May 11th. The Ethical Culture meeting runs from 11AM to 12:15PM. It's unfortunate we didn't have more time, but Jason Heap is dedicating his life to serving the nation and serving humanism. This is a great opportunity to meet him and show your support.

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Warning: The NoVES will be a "churchy" meeting with bells and songs (but no god), so if that's not your thing, come late. But NoVES has a great program with Anne Klaeyson, one of the top professional humanists in the movement (more info below). If Jason Heap weren't available, her presentation would be reason enough to visit. See more info below. With Mother's Day conflicts and Anne in town, visiting the NoVES meeting seemed to make the most sense.

Article 1: Biography for Jason Heap, EdD, MDiv, Oxford graduate, and Humanist Celebrant and Chaplain. (http://americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2013-07-becoming-a-humanist-chaplain-in-the-military-an-open)

Article 2: The push for humanist chaplaincy, including broad support from the interfaith community (http://militaryatheists.org/news/2013/08/interfaith-leaders-support-humanist-chaplaincy/)

Anne Klaeysen, Leader, New York Society for Ethical Culture

THE POWER OF POETRY

Poetry has the power to inspire us and elicit empathy for others. It can turn us inward to reflect upon the meaning of our lives, as well as open us up to people and places around the world. For some women, writing and reciting poetry are acts that put their lives at risk. Still, they do it to survive the harsh conditions under which they live and love. Join Anne to learn more about the power of poetry..

Directions:

We meet at the Green Hedges School at 415 Windover Avenue, N.W., Vienna, Virginia at 11:00 a.m. on most Sundays from September through June. Take the Nutley Street North exit from Route I-66. At the fourth light, cross Maple Avenue (Route 123) and start watching your odometer. At 0.2 miles, you will see a driveway with “Watch for Turning Vehicles” and “Green Hedges” signs. There will also be an Ethical Society sign next to the driveway. Turn right into the driveway, park in the lot, and take the nearest entrance into the building.