Here is a representative sampling of past events
presented by Ethical Society Mid Rivers (ESMR):

2006

Human Fellowship Pipe Dream

07 January 2007, Sunday at 11 AM

Our speaker was Mr. Robert Greenwell.  "Is humanity doomed to war, deception, manipulation, betrayal?  Human fellowship – is it a pipe dream?  People are imperfect, and so are their relationships.  Yet most people are good at heart.  The good at heart need only education in how to relate in ways they wish to relate, and they may be left free to follow their heart.  They will naturally create fellowship.  In reality it doesn’t happen.  The reason is that some, a few, are not-so-good at heart.  Left free to follow their heart, the few have the capacity to contaminate the fellowship of all.  It is time for the human race to put its mind and its dedication to solving this horrific problem of the spoiling of everyone’s fellowship by the few.  There can be no worthier goal than worldwide human fellowship, in which each is honored as a fellow child of the universe."

Religious Differences Drive People Apart

31 December, Sunday at 11 AM

Our speaker was Mr. Robert Greenwell.  "Rooting for different sports teams brings people together.  Religious differences drive people apart.  What irony!  Religion, which should be for the greater fellowship of all, ends by turning group against group.  What is the answer to this age-old conundrum?  Is progress possible?  It would not do to simply give up.  What, beyond religion (at least as has been known up to know), may start to release real human potential for cooperative paths to peace, justice, and support for each unique individual?  In this light, the Ethical Movement experiment will be described in its origins."

Members of the Ethical Society of St. Louis were especially invited to join us this

Communicating Love in a Meaningful Way

17 December, Sunday at 11 AM

Our guest speaker was Kathy Ratino, ESMR member and a member of the Society Council.

"Words are for communication yet ironically often miscommunicate.  Instinct fails.  Those who are loved feel unloved.  Relationships lose their zest, turn flat, or cause distress.  Drawing on the book The Five Love Languages, Ms. Ratino set forth practical advice on communicating love in a way that will be felt by those who are loved."

She has taught a variety of college communication courses, and held positions in corporations as a writer, standup trainer, and communications project manager.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education and a Master's Degree in Interpersonal and Public Communication.

The full text of this most excellent lecture may be

Impeachment for Healing or Revenge?

10 December, Sunday at 11 AM

Our speaker was Mr. Robert Greenwell.  Some nonprofit, nonpartisan groups have named Dec. 10 as Impeachment Day.  Soon-to-be Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi says it is off the table.  Mr. Greenwell examined the prospect of impeaching President Bush from several ethical perspectives.

If Women Ruled the World?

03 December, Sunday at 11 AM

Our Guest Speaker was Chris Van Mierlo.  She is on the faculty of St. Charles Community College, recipient of the Ring of Excellence Award from the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce in 2004, and member of Mid Rivers Ethical Society.

The lecture addressed the issue of the global problem of gender discrimination and brutal suppression of women and poses the question, "If women gained the power to rule the world, would they govern more wisely than men have done?  Would they be capable of resisting power's seductive and subtle corrupting influence?"

The full text of this most excellent lecture may be viewed by clicking here.

Spirituality as Infinite Interrelatedness

26 November, Sunday at 11 AM

Our speaker was the young & dynamic Leader of the Ethical Society of St. Louis, Kate Lovelady.  The lecture focused on "Ethical Culture’s assertion of universal human worth grew out of a long discussion in philosophy about human nature:  How are we different from other animals?  Are we more than material beings?  On what can we ground our beliefs in worth and dignity and human rights?  The founder, Felix Adler, came to define spirituality as awareness of our "infinite interrelatedness."  His struggle with these issues will lead us to perhaps the hardest question in ethics: What is our ethical responsibility to others?  How do we live with that sense of responsibility and use it to inspire us?"

A New Ethics Movement

19 November, Sunday at 11 AM

Our speaker was MidRivers Ethical Society leader Mr. Robert Greenwell.  The lecture explored "Is a new Ethics Movement possible in our country?  In our county?  If so, it would have to be not a movement of duty, not a regime of repression.  Rather it would have to be a movement of commitment inspired by a vision of joy and cooperation among people.  It would have to political and personal, philosophical and religious, individual and social all at once.   As philosophical, it would have to be practical philosophy.  As religious, it would have to unite rather than divide people of different beliefs.  As political, it would not contend in the arena of party versus party but would hold political representatives accountable to a higher standard.  As personal, it would give people the motivation to develop their own code of ethics, making it the spine of their character."

Is Iran Next?  Progressive Views and U.S. Policy

05 November, Sunday at 11 AM

Our speaker was MidRivers Ethical Society leader Mr. Robert Greenwell.  The lecture laid out Iran’s history and the history of US-Iran relations.  It explored US history and the geostrategic importance of oil for world supremacy.  It gathered in a range of viewpoints from progressive analysts.  Finally, it undertook to place this all within an ethical frame.

Current Political Realities Facing Reproductive Choice

29 October, Sunday at 11 AM

Guest Speaker Rebecca Turner, Executive Director, Missouri Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, presented how audiences are often surprised to learn how many religions of the world regard abortion as a deeply personal matter to be considered from a number of moral perspectives, but not to be made into a black-and-white dilemma, or a critical test of conscience.

Election Integrity: Danger Signals

22 October, Sunday at 11 AM

Mid Rivers Ethical Society leader Bob Greenwell & Judith Conoyer, Ph.D. took turns at the lectern.  Mr. Greenwell presented periods in history involving the rise of the middle class of society and the threats facing it today.  Ms. Conoyer presented recent developments... some national, some in our county, regarding voting machines.

Pete Seeger The Man: Music, Courage, Peace and War

15 October, Sunday at 11 AM

A video interview with Pete Seeger on Democracy Now.  Guaranteed to uplift the spirit in such a time as we are facing, living under the spectre of war and the quashing of free speech.

"Stem Cells: Research and Politics in Missouri"

08 October, Sunday at 11 AM

Our guest speaker was Fern Hammerman, LCSW, member MO Coalition for Lifesaving Cures.

Ms. Hammerman explained what the initiative will do and the philosophical, practical, and ethical reasons why, in her view, it should be passed.

This lecture was part of the "Pre-Election Series" of the Society leading up to November 7.

"Ethics Revolution:  Love Not Should"

01 October, Sunday at 11 AM

"Should" is the great bugaboo that vitiates morality and happiness alike.  It’s probably a brain design flaw!  A revolution in ethics is possible, and it flows from realizing that ethics is a matter of love— not flowery, touchy-feely love but an emotion that leads to productive excellence for others and to taking delight in the worth of being.

"Tax Cuts 2001 as an Attack on Democracy"

24 September, Sunday at 11 AM

Our guest speaker was Mr. Robert Reinhold, St. Louis attorney, activist for civil rights, peace, and justice.

"Tax cuts" sounds good, while looking into the details sounds tedious and boring.  Mr. Reinhold overturned these natural assumptions.

"Christians Around Us"

17 September, Sunday at 11 AM

Fundamentalists and Evangelicals have the upper hand in American politics and culture right now.  But what is the difference between these two, and how do they contrast with Liberal Christianity?

"On Solitude and Community"

10 September, Sunday at 11 AM

Americans are desperate for community.  But community is not all that a human being needs.
A person needs a degree of solitude as well.
Presented by Mr. Robert Greenwell.

SEEK Open House began at 10:30 AM.

"An Ethics Driven Life"
    Part Three of a Three-Part Series

27 August, Sunday at 11 AM

The Worth Service was presented by Ginger H. and then the lecture was presented by Mr. Robert Greenwell.

"Encountering Ethical Culture"

20 August, Sunday at 11 AM

A delightful, warm-hearted, & energetic presentation by first, Patti M. and then Kathy R., with each in their own inimitable way, sharing their experiences and ethical lessons from the A.E.U retreat at the 'Mountain', in North Carolina.

"Built for Ethics - Four Billion Years and Evolving"

06 August, Sunday at 11 AM

Our speaker was Adam Saiter, a MBA student at Washington University and a member of the Society Council of Mid Rivers Ethical Society.

His broad-ranging cultural and biological perspective envinces the compelling idea that natural selection has (quite naturally) engineered people to be ethical creatures and that the continuing development of ethical life forms the foundation for the human species' future.

Adam is also an award-winning artist, in the abstract style.
He brought in about 10 of his paintings for display and as a fundraiser.
Most of the paintings sold at (prix fixe) $40 each, with the full sale amount donated to the Society.

You can view additional paintings online at www.adamsaiter.com.  Thank you, Adam!

"An Ethics Driven Life"
    Part One of a Three-Part Series

30 July, Sunday at 11 AM

          Life has many goods: pleasure, achievement, family and friends, lifelong learning, an expansive faith, moral character.  Sometimes these goods conflict with each other, turning good into bad.
          A high good, therefore, is harmony among all these goods.  For this, a person's life needs a principle of coherence.  Some choose pleasure as the lens through which to evaluate the others.  Some choose mental growth.  Some choose a universal faith (if it's not universal it will conflict with competing faiths).
          But there are compelling reasons to choose moral value as one's principle of coherence.  When one's life is ordered by the virtues of morality, the satisfaction has the ring of complete authenticity.
          Our speaker was Mr. Robert Greenwell, M.Ed., Leader of Mid Rivers Ethical Society.

Medicare Plan D Results -
    Large Pharmaceutical Companies Benefit.
    Low-Income, Elderly, and Disabled People are Hurt.

23 July, Sunday 11:00 a.m.

          Our speaker was Margarida Jorge, Organizing Director for Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition (MO ProVote).   ProVote has joined with the ACLU and others to lobby for rectification of the new injustices.   Part of their press release reads:

• Seniors in Missouri and nationwide are calling Bush's Part D Disaster confusing, costly, and corrupt; and asking that the prescription drug plan be fixed to make it simple, affordable, and guaranteed.
  
  
• A new report by the Institute for America's Future, entitled "The Excess Cost of the Bush Prescription Drug Plan in Missouri", shows that Part D costs Missourians $17 billion more than direct Medicare benefits with negotiated prices.
  
  
• Part D prohibits Medicare from negotiating for the lowest possible drug prices for seniors, imposes harsh and lifelong fines for late enrollment, and includes huge gaps in coverage that will leave many seniors saddled with high out-of-pocket costs.

Here's a link to a related article from the 18 July edition of the New York Times.

Knitwits

A social fellowship in member's homes
Usually the first Friday of the month

Ronald McDonald House

Volunteering Food & Cooking Skills to the families of hospitalized children
One Saturday (or Sunday) per month
Coordinator/organizer: Kathy R.

Friday Nite Free Film Series

Usually held at St. Charles Justice Center
1781 Zumbehl Road
The viewers have a brief discussion immediately following presentation