February 5

" Don't Forget the Shoes"
Fran Schindler, EHST Member

We will show a TEDTalks video by Mark Bezos. It is primarily inspirational in nature and underscores the personal satisfaction and community contributions of volunteering. A discussion will follow focusing on personal responses to the talk. Fran will raise questions for people to keep in mind as they watch the film.

Mark is the Senior Vice President, Communications & Events at Robin Hood, the leading poverty-fighting charity in New York City. Bezos joined Robin Hood following the sale of his business, excited to have found a way to use his powers of persuasion for good. Bezos joined Robin Hood following the sale of his business, excited to have found a way to use his powers of persuasion for good.

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has broadened. Along with two annual conferences it includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site.

IFC Food Pantry Contributions

On the first Sunday of each month, EHST members donate food items to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service. One of its missions is maintaining a food pantry for community people in need of groceries. IFC's impact on food distribution in this area is impressive. 15,701 bags of groceries and 823 holiday meals were distributed in fiscal year 2009-10, and 2,938 local households were eligible to receive monthly groceries at end of last fiscal year.

Items this organization needs this month can be seen at Priority Items.
Please donate generously.

February 11

Board Retreat

We will meet at Eva Harrington and Frank Balzac's home for our annual retreat, 9:30am-4:30pm. If you plan to attend, their address is on the web site in the directory under Members' Resources. A Board meeting will also be held. Do you have EHST Issues you want the Board to cover or questions? Contact John Holmgren, (919) 240-4187, jholmgren@nc.rr.com.

February 12

"Amazing Transformation: How Fish Learned to Walk and Took Over the World" Alexander Glass, Instructor Nicholas School of Environment Duke University

A Darwin Day celebration. Professor Glass will tell us how fish acquired human form through evolution. Glass's experience lies in paleontology, evolution, fossil echinoderms, geology, nature of science, and science education. Glass has a strong interest in relationship between science and religion, particularly the public's debate over creation and evolution.

Anti-evolutionism is alive and well in the United States, reaching new supporters via the ever-expanding internet, and finding ample grounds for expansion among an American public that is innately suspicious of "scientific elitism". As the merit and integrity of science is increasingly under attack by those whose political and economic interests run counter to the latest scientific findings, conservative, religiously-motivated anti-science groups are finding new converts among more religiously progressive members of the faith community. The scientific community must become more actively involved in cultural and community affairs to counter the growing anti-intellectual ism in America.

February 17 or 18
Bellwether Book Club

We will discuss The Reluctant Mr. Darwin:Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution by David Quammen. This book will tie in with our Darwin Day celebration this month. Place and time to be determined and an email will be sent! We normally meet on the third Friday of the month but due to interest from some who may not be able to attend, we may meet on Saturday. If you wish to join us, please let me know which day you can and/or can't attend so we can schedule the meeting to fit the most people. Contact Marge Holmgren, (919) 240-4187, mholmgren@nc.rr.com.

February 19
FILM
1:30pm - 4:00pm

Special Event
"What Darwin Never Knew"
NOVA explores life forms from a billion years ago to today's DNA research!

Arrangements have been made with EV to extend our meeting time to show this film. It runs 2 hours so the format of our regular service will be altered to accommodate length. This is fascinating, enthralling, and thoroughly entertaining look at the evolution of the theory of evolution, from Darwin’s The Origin of Species (1859) up until today’s computer enhanced wonders. The major part of this film is a series of scientific vignettes about evolutionary research using genetics and embryology. Flies with glow-in-the-dark wings, sticklebacks that lost their spines, finches with funky beaks, the legs of Sticktail, light and dark mice, and humans are all featured in the second half. Major emphasis is placed on regulatory genes in each of these examples to illustrate how large differences can be produced through relatively small changes. The program highlights what it believes to be differences between us and apes. These traits alone cannot explain art, architecture, music, and all the other things that separate us from other creatures, but it does demonstrate with clarity and simplicity how evolution took place and the the enormous variety of life forms on the planet today.

February 23

IFC Cook and Serve

Our scheduled cook and serve project is this Thursday from 4 to 7:15pm. Contact Amy Piers ma to sign up. The food is donated from the community and anyone who is hungry can eat. Our entire membership participates. It's great fun and a worthy endeavor!

February 26

Mission Statement Review
Growth and Development Committee

Members will discuss the Summary of Findings generated from our October 30, 2011 discussion. This report is posted on our web site in Members' Resources under Growth and Development. In small groups, members will review their responses to modify and add, then individually rank for importance. The findings will be compiled and distributed to members.

February 11

Triangle Freethought Society
2nd Annual Darwin Day | John Frum Celebration
Time: 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Spice Street Restaurant
201 South Estes Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: (919) 928-8200

Join the Triangle Freethought Society for our celebration! Please dress as Darwin, anyone or anything on the evolutionary timeline, or come as something to do with John Frum's cargo cult! We have some great prizes to be given out for the best costumes. However, costumes are not required!

Free admission and food and beverages are available for purchase.

It's going to be a great party - don't miss it!

IFC Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are the heart of the IFC. Please consider lending your talents to the following critical IFC positions at the Crisis Intervention facility at 110 West Main St. in Carrboro. Day/Evening volunteers are the primary positions needed at Community House and HomeStart.

Client Interviewers: Interviewers are needed for walk-in clients and clients who make appointments. Client interviewers assess client financial requests and determine clients’ immediate needs and future goals.

Client interviewers will also provide food, clothing, bus passes and/or health care items—and, where appropriate, will refer individuals to other IFC programs and community agencies.

Greeters: Two Crisis Intervention receptionists are needed during each shift, with one handling appointments and the other handling walk-in clients. Volunteer receptionists answer and manage the telephones and reception area, welcome visitors and clients and provide information as needed. Receptionists begin the client intake process and receive and record donations.

Substitute Client Interviewers and Greeters: Substitute volunteer positions are ideal for those individuals who cannot make a regular commitment. Substitute volunteers—whose responsibilities are the same as described above—are on call for other volunteers who cannot do their shift because of illness, accidents, school breaks, summer vacations, meetings or travel. Having an adequate supply of substitute volunteers help IFC services to continue smoothly for those in need.

Day/Evening Volunteers: Volunteers are needed at HomeStart and Community House facilities to assist staff with resident operations and help with guest needs. Some of the duties include new intakes, greeting visitors, receiving and recording donations, housekeeping, client orientation and assistance with homework assignments.

Food Drivers: Volunteers help IFC staff with regular weekly commitments of food donations from grocery stores and other establishments. Substitute drivers are also needed to pick-up unexpected food contributions for the Food Pantry and Community Kitchen.

We ask volunteers to consider weekly 4-hour shifts. All IFC volunteers are trained for their roles and are provided a Volunteer Procedures Manual.