August 19, 2023 Dear Friends, We are looking forward to being together, either in person or via Zoom, for our Association meeting on Saturday, October 7th. You have received a letter from Bruce detailing his inspiration as well as initial readings for this year’s meeting. (If you did not receive this email, please contact Ann Matthiesen, via cellphone (973) 876-9042 or via email ann.matthiesen@icloud.com.) Logistics The meeting will be held at Sixth Church, Portland. Please use the entrance on the south side of the edifice, at 915 SW Columbia Street. Also, please plan on arriving well before 9AM to ensure you have time to check in and be settled before…

This is the OpEd about the current quality of news, and how a journalist can’t read much of it—with a few exceptions, one being The Christian Science Monitor. The author writes: “There aren’t many major news outlets systematically creating news for humans yet, but one that I admire (and now subscribe to) is the Christian Science Monitor. Each issue features reporting from around the globe, vivid photos, brutal realities — right alongside hope, agency and dignity. Stories include a brief explainer called “Why we wrote this,” treating readers like respected partners. It’s a kind of low-ego, high-curiosity journalism that I’ve started trying to emulate in my own work.” Opinion: I…