I started as the membership coordinator in the beginning of November and this may be the single most repeated sentence I have heard since arriving. As part of being brand new, my regular task is to learn more about members and visitors. And one of my questions I pose is “What brought you to WES?”
Community.
“I grew up in a church community. I want less of the church, but more of the community.”
“My kids are going to school where other kids are identifying their religious community. I want them to be able to identify a community for them as they learn about ethics.”
Yet, community is not always an easy word to define. I recall my time as a graduate student, when we spent TWO entire semesters defining community. Often, of course we think of community as having a geographic boundary. Except, that’s very limiting. Some of the components we identified that make a community are: shared language, shared history, shared identities, shared culture, shared religious practice, shared values, etc.. I suspect the common thread is sharing. Sharing what we have is key to being in community.
Being part of a community is like networking professionally. You’re actually creating your professional community via networking. Yet, one of the things I regularly advise young professionals is don’t just take from your network. You have to FEED your network. Even when you are young in your career, fresh out of college, often the thought is you only need the resources of the more senior person and we find ourselves going to them hat in hand. However, those senior people, often need the resources that you have, whether it’s fresh ideas, or new perspectives, technology or just a new sounding board. We all are all resources. Our networks, like our community, are where we go to eat…. and to feed. It’s a mutual relationship, where one has something the other lacks.
Not only am I new to WES, I’m also new to ethical culture, and UU culture and atheist culture. So, I am excited as I am constantly learning. One of the other things that has been repeated to me again and again, WES is a community that is made up of many “non-joiners”. Wow!! If this doesn’t make my job super hard! My role is developing and a large part that is clear is that I am here to help facilitate people feeling more connected to the community. And I’ll be asking everyone for help. Also, being in a community requires that we challenge ourselves, even just a little bit. I’m reminded of group work, when facilitators ask us to “step up! Step back!”. Some of us are always ready to step up, yet if we constantly do that as we are comfortable, we sometimes lose our energy because we take on so much; we feel overwhelmed; and also we don’t leave space for others to step up. And for those of us, who are used to being in the back, we may get lost; we don’t get to add our input. As a community, we have to examine who we are and also understand who are other community members are to help make the community stronger.
Here’s the challenge
“When people reach the point of walking in the door at WES, they are interested in something,” this was what Patti Absher said one day when we were talking about finding more members to participate in the WES Immigration Team. As members, let’s take on the challenge to welcome visitors (they wear blue name tags) and other (re) connect to other members to understand what they are interested in. As a community, we can all reconnect to each other. Shortly, on platform Sundays we will set-up a “Get Connected!” table where people can find me. Feel free to direct people to me, but of course direct them to other members that you know are a resource or have a need. Together as a community, we can strengthen the community at all times.
To be continued…
Warmly,
Maceo, Membership Coordinator (maceot@ethicalsociety.org)
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In the meantime, MLK Weekend is this weekend and several WES/WES affiliated events are happening and a great way to (re)connect with the community. On Saturday, WES will be walking in the Women’s March. Contact Emily Newman at emilynwmn@gmail.com. WES will be marching in the Annual MLK Parade starting in Anacostia Park on Monday from 11am – 2pm. Contact Amanda at amandap@ethicalsociety.org. The Young (-ish) at WES will have an adult brunch towards the end of the MLK Parade at the Anacostia Bus Boys & Poets from 1pm-3pm. RSVP to maceot@ethicalsociety.org by the 15th.