Sept. 30, 2018 Humanitas Team Forum at 9:15am

Humanitas Team Forum

Conference Room, 9:15

Our Humanitas Team provides support to local people in need by listening to their stories and offering limited, emergency financial assistance, such as a car breakdown on the way to work, in a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere. Nine volunteer members of the Team participate at a time. In addition, currently a tenth member of the Team oversees the "Laundry Love" program. Every Wednesday morning they give vouchers to individuals to wash a load of laundry. Up to 28 people per week have availed themselves this of this opportunity. 

Our Humanitas Team provides support to local people in need by listening to their stories and offering limited, emergency financial assistance, such as a car breakdown on the way to work,in a sage and non-judgmental atmosphere.

Interacting with people in need can be very difficult some days due to their emotional turmoil. But our patient Team members are there to listen and offer relief.

Please read the Team's stories of distress and relief, one in every week of BUF's Midweek Update.

The Humanitas Team follows BUF's covenant, "Love is the spirit of this Fellowship and Service gives it life. "You'll surely be moved to support this Team's noble work. -Sita Amba-Rao

Sept. 23 - Where There's Smoke There's Fire: Wildfire in the American West

Presenter: Ronald D. Quinn, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Ecology

I have been interested in wildfires all my life, having grown up in southern California. Over the course of my childhood, I watched all the vegetation on the surrounding mountains burn off, piece by piece. While studying biology I researched how plants and animals recover after fire on blackened hillsides, and for the past half century have written about these and other questions concerning fire ecology.

Why are the wildfires becoming larger, more frequent and more destructive in the Pacific Northwest? I will review with you the causes of today’s growing loss of lives and property from wildland fires. We will talk about how better public and private planning practices can reduce these mounting losses, and I will describe ways that individuals and communities can improve safety from wildland fires, and will include sources for more detailed information.

Building Connections: Chalice Circles & Healthy Relationships

Sunday Forum on Sept 16th

The BUF Chalice Circles Coordinating Team will introduce the ways Chalice Circles help connect Bufsters, through small groups meeting regularly throughout the year, to explore themes for spiritual deepening. BUF’s Healthy Relationships Team will also share the communication practices that support BUF’s covenant of Healthy Relationships. As part of the Forum, an abbreviated Chalice Circle meeting will offer a sample of a Chalice Circle meeting, for those considering joining a Chalice Circle.

Helping the Brain Walk and Chew Gum at the Same Time: An Update on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Sunday May 9, 2018, in the BUF Conference Room

Research has completely changed our conception of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and expanded our treatment options. In the past this condition was called “Minimal Brain Dysfunction” and kids were zombied out on Ritalin to prevent them from misbehaving. Now we have better answers for these questions: Who gets ADHD and why? Where do you find ADHD in the brain? What are the short and long-term outcomes of this condition? What medical and psychological treatments are effective for ADHD?

Beth Nyblade, a Clinical, School and Forensic Psychologist, will discuss the questions above. She’ll also bring a Macarena tape to see if anyone present at the forum has ADHD (LOL).