<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><b style="white-space:pre-wrap;color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font face="times new roman, serif">Hello All, </font></b><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font face="times new roman, serif">We hope you are safe and well. In the midst that all that is happening around us, it is important that we continue to ask ourselves what we want to get accomplished in the last chapter of our lives. We invite you to join us for our second cohort (Starting Friday June 19th). We are a learning community that explores our goals for the last chapters of our lives, and are getting our affairs in order as we prepare for what is next. </font></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><font face="times new roman, serif">If you are interested, please sign up <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXUVbbZzhhnqvm-AFS9HH8lQKGCoybtkFdm8fX4q93aQPSTg/viewform" target="_blank">here </a>-- see more below!</font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:center;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"></p><hr><ol style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:decimal;font-size:14pt;font-family:calibri;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Join </span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The Last Chapter</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Virtual Learning Community </span></p></li></ol><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The What:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> We are piloting a workshop/seminar or series, that would allow people (no matter what age) to think seriously and intentionally about their final journey in life, their death, and make concrete decisions about their funeral/memorial service, organ or body donation, distribution of assets, obituary, burial/ cremation/ natural, etc.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Why:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Many of us who have seen our parents or children die, are beginning to look at our own end of life decisions.  As an organization that has seen itself as one who brings significance to everyday life events, the ICA  and others are asking the question: “What could ICA create that would help everyone, no matter what age, to look at their own death, and make the necessary end of life decisions? </span></p><br></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Our Ask:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> The curriculum and design of the virtual learning community around ‘the last Chapter’ of life is currently being worked on, and will be piloted on the third Friday of the last month of the quarter (June 19th, August 21st, October 23rd, December 18th)  from 9am- 1pm Central Time. If you would like to join this 2020 Virtual Learning Community. Please sign up </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXUVbbZzhhnqvm-AFS9HH8lQKGCoybtkFdm8fX4q93aQPSTg/viewform" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">here</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span></p><div style="outline:none;padding:10px 0px;width:22px;margin:2px 0px 0px"><div id="m_-4927826779128466547gmail-:2g1" style="background-color:rgb(232,234,237);border:none;clear:both;line-height:6px;outline:none;width:24px;border-radius:5.5px"><img src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif" style="background:url("https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/wyO-mqxDViyCHJMD3biw9i-z2DJMRf6HOkSBkfXpvddcaLcfjOAfoTCnzlp5FPaN6eymiUrzVY7Gs8RXMHNmTjJWSZ3Tu-QhwzeHQzkG_Md-nOxACOj2MDRauiupSJWTuQYXnw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://www.gstatic.com/images/icons/material/system/1x/more_horiz_black_20dp.png") 50% 50%/20px no-repeat;height:11px;opacity:0.7;width:24px"></div></div><div><div style="margin:5px 0px"></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;white-space:pre-wrap;font-family:calibri;font-weight:700"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-family:calibri;font-size:14.6667px">2.) </span><span style="font-size:14pt;white-space:pre-wrap;font-family:calibri;font-weight:700">Tell Us how you would like us to Celebrate your Contribution to ICA</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The What:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> We would like to share your story, acknowledge and celebrate you, your gifts, and your unique contribution to the ICA/EI/OE mission.  We would like to know what you would like the Institute to do (if anything) for your end of life celebration. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Why:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> ICA staff are frequently experiencing first hand, or hearing about the deaths of former members of EI/ICA/OE.  With many of these former members, the current ICA staff do not have personal knowledge of who they are or what they did while they were members. As more and more of the “old ICAers” continue to die, it has become obvious to some of the current ICA staff that there needs to be a self-conscious effort on the part of the organization to acknowledge the contribution of these ICA stewards.  They realize that the current organization and mission was built on the backs of those who went before and who are leaving this world at an ever-increasing rate.  They are asking themselves: “What would be an appropriate way for ICA to honor current and former members when they transition?” 5th City has always, either before someone dies or at the funeral, prepared and read statements to acknowledge and honor a person’s contribution to making 5th City what it was and is, both to the community and the world.   Looking at this as a possible model, we would put this idea out either to the Directory or to the EI/ICA/OE listservs, or both.  We have already experienced several deaths of former and current members who did not leave any instructions.  Some family members wanted the ICA involved.  We acknowledge that there will be some members or their families who do not want the ICA involved or any acknowledgement from them.  That will be honored, but this response is to be sure to acknowledge and honor those who wish to be. We have also experienced former members who wanted to have a service in Chicago, wanting to have Daily Office, wanting to have their ashes spread in 5th City, wanting particular people to sing a particular song, etc.  While it is impossible for ICA to send people to every funeral/memorial service that occurs, there could be volunteers who live nearby who would be able to represent the ICA and read the Declaration on behalf of the organization. Another idea is that every year the ICA would hold a Memorial Service in honor of those who died that year.  The Archives volunteers could retrieve information about unique contributions of individuals. Pam is currently working on a draft of the “Declaration” template about the significance of life, death and the ICA.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Our Ask:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">  Email Dick Alton </span><a href="mailto:richardalton@gmail.com" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">richardalton@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, on how would you like ICA to celebrate your contributions to the Institute.  We are still figuring out how to collect this information from our colleagues, so whatever thoughts or examples you can send will help us get clear on next steps. </span></p></div></div><br></div>
</div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>Richard H. T. Alton</div><div>One Earth Film Fest ( OEFF)</div><div>Green Community Connections</div><div>Interfaith Green Network</div><div>T: 773.344.7172</div><div><a href="mailto:richard.alton@gmail.com" target="_blank">richard.alton@gmail.com</a></div><div><b><font size="2">*Save the Date! One Earth Film Festival 2021, March </font></b></div><div><font size="2">http:<a href="http://www.oneearthfilmfestival.org" target="_blank">www.oneearthfilmfestival.org</a></font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">Make Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2</font></div><div><font size="2">Won't you be my neighbor?</font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>