Dear Members,

We are a voluntary membership community who join together to help and reinforce one another in living our lives better, ethically better. We are a community group religiously dedicated, not being better than other religious communities, not to fervent and uniform beliefs, not even to permanent survival as a coherent community, but religiously dedicated to keeping our priorities in order, and living them…(Judith Eckerson)

This letter inaugurates the pledge campaign for our fiscal year from July 2025 through June 2026.  Our planning for our budget for next year will be determined in large part by the pledges we receive.

When pledging, please remember the many ways in which NoVES impacts your own life and the lives of our Ethical community in a positive way:

• Our Leader, Randy Best, provides thoughtful platforms and adult education programs which encourage us to think about moral and ethical issues and to live our lives in accord with our ethical ideals and values.    

• As a member of NoVES, you have an opportunity to participate in ethical action projects that are in line with our belief in the worth and dignity of each human being;

• Finally, we are a community of humanists who celebrate life's joys and support each other through life's crises.

We need your support to enable us to maintain and expand these important programs.

If you have any questions about this pledge campaign or our financial status, please see any Board member (Hank Gassner - Treasurer, Chris VanDyke - President, Iris Woodard - Bookkeeper, Melissa Sinclare, Jim Ball, or Jeremy Weiss.  

Thank you for your continuing support.

Chris Van Dyke. President, Northern Virginia Ethical Society

How much should I pledge?

• We encourage as many members as possible to pledge 2% of their gross income, after taking account of special circumstances such as college tuitions or high medical expenses;
• If you can maintain your current pledge that would be appreciated. If you could increase your pledge by 7% that would contribute to a reducing the deficit in half; an increase in pledge by 15% - would bring eliminate our deficit, along with our expectation that there will an increase in membership.
• Our ability to maintain our valuable programs and our no minimum pledge policies depends on the willingness of those who have the ability to do so to contribute generously in accord with their financial capabilities.
• For those dealing with difficult financial situations, we value whatever you are able to contribute. Even small contributions have an impact.

You can submit your pledge by an email to Hank Gassner, kargas@earthlink.net