Our Dec. 27 Platform will honoring Joe Chuman
Administrative Director
Hugh Taft-Morales
FOR DEC. 27:
Sorry that I am unable to attend virtually this end of year fete for you, Joe. I am at this moment on another Zoom with the Baltimore Ethical Society.
I just wanted briefly to add my deep gratitude for your mentorship and friendship. I appreciated your role as my advisor in Leadership Training for the training modules on Felix Adler and on our movements transition from idealism to humanism. You offered me, in your example, a model of academic depth and precision towards which I aspired. You set the bar high for me, and encouraged me with realistic clarity and astute critique. My training set me on a path inspired by, but not taken by, Adler – a path that led toward what I sometimes call “pragmatic idealism.”
After certification, when I struggled to create quality platforms, it was your treasure of writings that I raided most, with appropriate attribution, of course! When I was installed at the Philadelphia Society, you graciously agreed to deliver the keynote. In that talk I appreciated your advice to cultivate thick skin and retain a sense of humor. Joe, while I may have struggled to develop thick skin, I have been able to keep the smiles and laughter alive.
But most of all, I valued how you explained to me that, as an Ethical Culture Leader, “our manifest selves – our utterances, our gestures, aspirations and actions –are but…symbols” and that we should pay most attention to that precious inner core that some call “dignity”. It meant a lot to me because, in my eyes, you embodied that dignity. Again, thank you for your guidance, support, and friendship, and I look forward to more collaboration in our Ethical Culture work.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Connections" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to connections...@aeu.org.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/aeu.org/d/msgid/connections/CABxuhBGaVi8GCtMb8g8_Qh30ESYnO3LiLCkakOR6s2biNmbA5Q%40mail.gmail.com.
Hugh Taft-Morales
Ethical Humanist Leader in Baltimore and Philadelphia
American Ethical Union
preferred pronouns: he, him, his