FES Conference 2014
“Building an Ethical Future”
Philadelphia, PA
May 23-26
Registration Packet
Please join us for the 2014 FES Conference in Philadelphia, PA on May 23 -May 26, 2014! Return
your registration materials before April 28th to secure a spot!
The eleventh annual FES Conference (FES XI) will be held from 4pm on Friday, May 23 through
noon on Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day Weekend). Conference activities include: connecting with
old and new friends, working on a service project, guided discussion on self exploration, social
justice, relationships, visiting the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia and a platform led by
conference participants. Accommodations will be provided at the homes of Ethical Humanist Society
members and friends.
The conference schedule is as follows:
-Fri PM- arrive around 4pm, gather at Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia
-Fri evening- Welcoming before Meet and Greet with homestays
-Sat AM- Volunteer project with Cease Fire Philadelphia followed by lunch
-Sat PM- Guided discussions around activism, self exploration, art, and relationships
-Sun AM- Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia Platform
-Sun PM- FES Strategic Planning Meeting, dinner, fun night out in Philadelphia!
-Mon AM- Pictures, packing, closing ceremony
Conference Fee
The 2014 Conference Fee is $60, which covers: accommodations, meals, most transportation during
the conference, and conference materials.
Travel
By plane: Fly into Philadelphia International Airport. We will be driving to and from the
airport to pick up people all day, so just let us know when you plan to arrive
By train: Visit amtrak.com and put Philadelphia as your arrival city. We will be able to pick
you up from the station when you arrive, so just let us know your plans.
By bus: Visit megabus.com and put Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as your arrival city.
By car: If you plan on driving, we recommend setting up a carpool. Let us know if you plan on
driving and post a note on our Facebook group page to set something up.
Upon arrival to Philadelphia, please meet at Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia (1906 South
Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103). If you need help getting there please send in
registration early and let us or other FES members know. After welcoming at the Society we will
travel (by public transit or cars) to our various accommodations, which will be provided at the homes
of several Society members and friends.
Please send in your registration early, talk with your nearby FES friends, check Facebook (FES), and
email each other to secure a way of transport.
Scholarships
Thanks to the AEU, FES offers registration scholarships to conference participants! Please see the
attached Scholarship Application for more information. We want everyone to feel free to come,
regardless of his or her financial status, so please apply if you need one. Scholarship recipients will be
notified by email by April 30th. If you need travel assistance, we recommend reaching out to
individual Ethical Societies.
How to Register:
Email the Registration Form, electronically signed Code of Ethics, and optional scholarship
application to: [email protected], with the subject line FES2014 Registration [your full
name] or FES2014 Registration and Scholarship [your full name], or physically mail it to:
Law'nence Miller
American Ethical Union
2 West 64th Street
New York, NY 10023
To finalize your registration you must send a check for $60 made out to “American Ethical Union” to
the same address (memo line: FES Conference [your full name]. You can also pay by credit card by
calling L Miller at the AEU at 212-873-6500.
Deadline: registration and fee must be in the mail NO LATER than April 28th.
Questions? Contact one of the Conference Planners!
Christian Hayden: [email protected] (646)-289-0879
Tyler Lurie-Spicer: [email protected], (718)-928-4353
Emily Newman: [email protected], (917)-370-7050
About FES:
FES, the Future of Ethical Societies, is an organization created and run by the Ethical Culture
Movement's young adult members. We seek to establish and maintain ties between the Ethical
Culture movement as a whole and its young members. FES members come together annually
to discuss ethical issues, engage in service projects, and establish deep connections and
friendships with one another. FES members include graduates of Ethical Society youth groups
and national Youth of Ethical Societies (YES) conferences, as well as young adults that are
new to the Ethical Culture Movement. Anyone between ages 18 and 28 can attend the FES
Conference, whether or not they are members of an Ethical Society.
About Ethical Culture:
Ethical Culture is a humanistic, religious and educational movement inspired by the ideal that
the supreme aim of human life is working to create a more humane society. Dr. Felix Adler
founded ethical Culture in 1876 as a way to promote active moral engagement in the world
beyond traditional religious creeds.
Contact us: [email protected]
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/FutureofEthicalSocieties
Visit our YouTube page: www.youtube.com/ethicalfes
Learn more about the Ethical Culture Movement as a whole at the American Ethical Union: www.aeu.org
THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR REGISTRATION IS April 28th!
2014 FES Conference Registration Form
Name: __________________________________________________ Date of Birth: ___________________
Email address: __________________________________________________________________________
Phone number (circle one: cell, home, work) _______________________________________________
Current Mailing Address:
Street Address _________________________________________________________________________
City ______________________________________ State _________ Zip _______________________
Permanent (Parent’s) Address (if different than above):
Street Address __________________________________________________________________
City ______________________________ State ____________ Zip ________________________
Year graduated High School: __________ How many FES conferences have you attended? ________
College & year of graduation (if applicable): ________________________________________________
Affiliated Ethical Society (currently or previously): _____________________________________________
Special Dietary Needs: (vegetarian, vegan, or serious allergies)
______________________________________________________________________________
Special Needs or Concerns [please include medical conditions, or medications taken on a regular basis
(information kept confidential)]: _______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
How/When do you plan on getting to the conference? (There may be carpool opportunities if we get it together
soon enough)
Will you have a car at the conference? Circle:
Yes
No
If YES, How many passengers will you be able to transport? ______________________________
TOTAL CONFERENCE COST: $60.00
FEES
$ 40.00 Meals (all meals Fri night – Mon breakfast except one dinner out in town)
$ 10.00 Conference and Materials Fee
$ 10.00 Transportation during the conference (bus/train tickets)
REMEMBER To be fully registered you must send:
1. Registration Form, (physically to L Miller at American Ethical Union or via email, [email protected])
2. Payment (check for $60 postmarked by April 28th or call L Miller at 212-873-6500 to pay by credit card)
3. Signed Code of Ethics and Safer Spaces (physically to AEU or via email)
(Make checks payable to: American Ethical Union. Memo line: FES conference [your full name]
Mail to: L Miller, FES, American Ethical Union, 2 W. 64th St, New York, NY 10023
F.E.S.
FUTURE OF ETHICAL SOCIETIES
AMERICAN ETHICAL UNION
CODE OF ETHICS
FES members are expected to maintain the highest personal moral standards, which are exemplified in
thoughtful, kind, fair, and responsible behaviors. All FES members demonstrate by their actions that FES is a
worthwhile and responsible organization. Behavior guidelines for all FES activities and conferences are
founded on our common values as Ethical Culturists/Humanists. Primarily, we respect the inherent worth and
dignity of all people, and expect every freedom to be balanced with a corresponding responsibility. Conference
attendees are asked to pledge the following for the duration of the conference:
1. I will participate actively and to the best of my ability in the scheduled program.
2. I will follow instructions from my peers and the conference coordinators, and encourage or support others to
do so.
3. I will participate in cleaning and cooking activities, and take responsibility for keeping the conference site
clean and orderly.
4. I will respect the requests of my host(s) as far as sleeping hours and use of space.
5. I will also arrive on time and be present for all activities, and maintain contact with FES organizers if there is
a reason I cannot do so.
SAFER SPACES
FES Conference participants have different communication styles, personalities and opinions, and
come from diverse gender, racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. In order to foster a temporary
community space that is as safe and supportive as we can make it, people must respect others and actively
look out for the well-being of all those attending
The Future of Ethical Societies recognizes that the institutional, economic, political, social, and cultural
dynamics of hierarchy, power, and privilege define mainstream society and permeate the Ethical Culture
Movement. These dynamics are expressed in various interlocking systems of oppression (e.g., white
supremacy, patriarchy, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, speciesism, etc.), which prevent equal
access to resources and safety, disrupt healthy communities and movement building, and severely—
sometimes irreparably—harm our allies, our friends, our loved ones, and ourselves. We have an understanding
that implicit in our desire to create an Ethical Culture free of religious doctrine is a need to create communities
that are free of oppressive social relations. We understand that failing to address oppressive behavior not only
weakens our Movement by alienating and further victimizing our friends and allies, it also calls into question our
commitment to a more ethical future.
To this end, we acknowledge that rape culture and racialized micro-aggressions create the foundation
for these forms of violence to continue in our communities. We are therefore committed to holding perpetrators
accountable for their actions and prioritizing the needs and experiences of survivors. Should you experience
any form of interpersonal conflict, please come to members of the FES steering committee and we will work
with you towards creating a safer space. If you are asked to take accountability for actions, please do so
respectfully and not defensively. If you are asked to leave the space, please do so immediately out of respect
for this space.
I have read and understand the F.E.S. Code of Ethics and Safer Spaces and pledge to uphold it.
_______________________________________
_________________________
Signature of conference participant
Date (If emailing simply type your name on the line above)
2014 FES Conference Scholarship Application
Instructions: Thanks to the strong support of the AEU, FES is offering registration scholarships to conference
participants again this year! Scholarship amounts will depend on the number of applicants and the quality of the
applications. The scholarships are to be used to cover registration costs exclusively. For additional monetary
support to cover travel fees to and from the conference site, we recommend contacting your home society or
getting in touch with [email protected] to discuss carpooling options.
Please fill in the information below and email it by April 28th to [email protected] with subject
“FES2014 Registration and Scholarship [your full name]”. You will be notified of your acceptance by April 30th.
________________
Name:
Mailing Address:
Email Address:
How many FES conferences have you attended?
Affiliated Ethical Society:
________________
Please answer the following four questions in a single personal statement of no more than 500 words on this
form or separately:
 What does Ethical Culture and participation in FES mean to you?
 How do you want to be involved in the Ethical Culture movement in the future?
 Why do you need scholarship assistance to attend FES?
 Is there a particular amount of assistance that you need to be able to attend?