NoVES Microcredit Project with Kiva has begun: On April 29, 2007, we made our first four loans to entrepreneurs-in-need through the Internet-based Kiva.org. To see the NoVES lending page at Kiva, please click here.

On Tuesday, June 5, I'll be speaking at the Northern Virginia Lifelong Learning Institute.

I'll talk about “Ethics in a World of Diversity.” In the 21st century, cultures that separately developed their own ethical systems are in close contact. “Cultural clashes” and religious differences are often clashes of different understandings of ethics. What is “good” in one culture is “bad” or even “evil” in another. I'll explore with the audience some thought-provoking questions, including (1) Are there common values? (2) Can we learn to live together?

10 a.m., Ernst Cultural Center, Annandale: http://lli.nova.org/

NoVES does not hold Sunday platform meetings during the summer. The closing platform before the break is June 17, and opening Sunday will be September 9.

While NoVES will not be holding Sunday platforms in the summer, we do hold a few special social events and continue other activities.

Watch this site for announcements of time, dates, and locations of the Fourth of July picnic and Labor Day picnic.

Commitment Circles meet through the summer.

Committees and the Board meet during the summer, finalizing plans for the upcoming program year.

Interested in stepping up to facilitate a Commitment Circle? Jone Lewis will lead a training session in Commitment Circle facilitation on Saturday, July 7, 10 am to 3 pm at Green Hedges. Contact Jone by July 3 if you plan to attend.