Thank you, Richard for all your good work. I have already created my will, my living will,communicated final requests to my loved ones, and will be cremated. My will focuses on giving to the needy in my communityand The National Conservatory to save special environmental places for eternity My purpose in this later life is to createbeauty through raising orchids, writing about orchids and creating music-- both vocal and instrumental and performing in Sarasota and Venice, Florida where I live. My other main purpose is to electDemocrats. I've been a Precinct Captain for my area for 10 years and I’mcurrently leading a team to register voters to Vote By Mail (VBM). So that's it!! To celebrate my life/death -- a group of colleaguesare welcome to go out for lunch and share profound or funny stories about me. I, also, will be pleased to receive any suggestionsor directives created by the group you are forming. Grace and Peace, Cynthia Vance 941-483-9165 facilitationfla@aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Richard Alton via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net>; Colleague Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: Richard Alton <richard.alton@gmail.com> Sent: Tue, Jun 2, 2020 11:09 am Subject: [Dialogue] Fwd: to send to listserv Hello All, 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. If you are interested, please sign up here -- see more below! - Join The Last Chapter Virtual Learning Community The What: 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. The Why: 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? Our Ask: 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 here. 2.) Tell Us how you would like us to Celebrate your Contribution to ICA The What: 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. The Why: 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. Our Ask: Email Dick Alton richardalton@gmail.com, 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. -- Richard H. T. AltonOne Earth Film Fest ( OEFF)Green Community ConnectionsInterfaith Green NetworkT: 773.344.7172richard.alton@gmail.com*Save the Date! One Earth Film Festival 2021, March http:www.oneearthfilmfestival.org Make Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2Won't you be my neighbor?_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net