News from the Board President Stephanie Sigala (September 2020)

It’s been almost six months since we met in person in the Ethical Society. Sometimes I feel ambivalent about Zoom but I am happy that it exists. We can at least see and talk to our friends, not to mention run the Society mostly seamlessly.

Now more than ever, we depend on our capable and conscientious staff to get things done. Right before our closure, the Board voted to approve two big and expensive projects. Thanks to our great Facilities Manager, Terri Arscott, both of those projects are a big success. The parking lot has been upgraded with better curbs, resurfaced paving, and colorful paint. It’s very pretty. (Gosh, I hope you get to see it sometime soon!) As I write, the new accessible bathroom in the office wing is nearing completion. Terri has spent many hours at the Society making sure that things were going right for these complex improvements.

Did I mention how much Zoom has changed our lives? Now ESTL Board meetings, AEU meetings and platforms, and new initiatives seem commonplace on Zoom. As Board President, “Zoom is my life,” and I can participate in many meetings without leaving my dining room. New to me are the Membership Pipeline meetings each Tuesday night and the monthly Reopening Planning meetings on Fridays. Ethical life now is a virtual beehive. You can’t see the bees but they are busy buzzing.

September is bringing young kids back into the building but not us. The Nursery School has created admirable guidelines for safe distancing, cleanliness, snack and play protocols, etc. Six pages worth! By the time you read this, the Nursery School’s fall semester will be underway. Unfortunately, we Members are still at risk, so our Fall Gathering scheduled for mid-September in Tower Grove Park has been cancelled. It seems likely that you are facing challenging situations with lost income, health concerns, and/or school age kids running amok, so it is doubly disappointing not to be able to talk and touch elbows in empathetic solidarity with you. The Society has a member relief fund. It is there to be spent when needed. Email me at Stephanie.sigala@sbcglobal.net with your questions.