Literary group: more on Island at the Center of the World

Hi Everyone,
For those of you who read Island at the Center of the World, there is an interesting article on the Op-Ed page A29 in the Thurs. 12-27-07 issue by Kenneth Jackson. The article mentions how NYC, when it was still New Amsterdam developed religious tolerance.
From, Marjorie

Editor's note: I recommend this brief article to anyone interested in the issue of religion and its place in politics today. Jackson, in A Colony with a Conscience, offers up the story of early settlers in Flushing, Queens who, in 1657, stood up for a principle they believed in. They still stand tall as role models for us today.

12/18/07: Branch meeting & holiday party -- Simple Gifts

Branch Meeting and Holiday Party

Tuesday, December 18
3 PM, Kingston Library

This year's theme was Simple Gifts. We, ourselves, were the program. People brought and shared readings, poems, songs, and memories that evoked the holidays for them.

In addition, we shared "simple gifts" with the women living in the Homeless Shelter and Domestic Violence Shelter run by Family of Woodstock -- books, board games, puzzles, bath & beauty sets, art supplies, winter hats & gloves, writing supplies...

Introducing Unofficial Passions

We are growing into Web 2.0 and sorting things out as we go. We've concluded that we'll post only our "official" AAUW branch items here.

But, we want a place to share the things that interest us as individuals. A place to post about our passions, events we want to share, , issues we support and want others to support, too. A place to brag about our successes and introduce you to our businesses, books, products, and services.

So, take a look at
Unofficial Passions - Issues and Activities that KAAUW Members Care About

Book mark it; make it a favorite; subscribe for updates.
Contribute, too!

11/27/07: branch meeting on non-violent communication

Update: here's what you missed

Roberta Wall presented some salient features of Non-Violent Communication at a Branch Meeting of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) that took place on November 27th in the Woodstock Library. This system of observing and analyzing human behavior was developed by Marshall Rosenberg who was a protégé of Carl Rogers and utilizes a similar type of empathic listening that was made famous by Rogers.

Behavior is not judged as right or wrong but is viewed as fulfilling needs. When these needs are verbalized and understood, Roberta Wall feels most conflicts do not escalate to violence.

She shared that Marshall Rosenberg witnessed race riots in Detroit as well as experienced virulent anti-Semitism as a child. These experiences prompted him to develop a method of intervention that would reduce conflict. His method has been used in over 60 countries and applied to situations of both social and personal conflict.

Roberta Wall told the group that Non-Violent Communications practitioners learn a set of skills that enable them to listen with empathy and identify the needs of both parties as well as the strategies used by each party to fulfill these needs. She feels that this system allows people to speak and act from awareness of the interconnectedness of all life.

She told the audience of several opportunities in the mid-Hudson Valley for training and further discussion of Non-Violent Communication.

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Join us for the Kingston AAUW Branch Meeting.

Date: November 27th
Time: 7pm
Place: Woodstock Library

Topic: Roberta Wall will present a program on non-violent communications.

About Roberta: Roberta Wall is a lawyer, mediator, teacher and coach. She lives in the beautiful Hudson River Vally of Upstate New York and travels the world coaching couples, individuals and organizations and facilitating workshops and retreats in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as developed by Marshall Rosenberg.

Roberta uses her 20 years of experience as a lawyer, mediator, coach, teacher, parent and activist in service of peaceful resolution of conflict, individual and organizational growth, and community and spiritual development. Among her students and clients are families in the Hudson Valley, businesses in India, centers in New York City, Mexico, France, California and India, peace activists, court advocates, spiritual communities, teachers, students and healing professionals.

You can read more about Roberta on her website.

Reminder: This meeting is at the Woodstock Library.