2008 was another good year for HGA. We had a number of entertaining and controversial speakers. Our annual picnic was also a huge success. Financially we are in the black and have once again entered a long term agreement with AFS to hold our monthly meetings at Freethought Hall. The new location should help us grow in upcoming years.
I think that the endurance of our organization is testament to the strong friendships which we have made and strengthened over the years. I have seen the caring and concern that you have exhibited for our members with health issues. I have experienced the camaraderie of close friendships generated from mutual respect and tolerance of dissenting views when we disagree. The human condition is sometimes frail and sometimes needy. You all have impressed me with your willingness and dedication to, as our purpose states, "improve the human condition and enhance the quality of our own lives." No one will ever convince me that charity and caring are exclusively the hallmark of a theistic worldview. In fact, charity and caring without fear of divine reprisal or coveting heavenly reward seem to me characteristic of a warmer heart and truer spirit.
Everyone pulled together to confirm our speakers this year. A special thanks is due Dave as V.P. for making up for my shortcomings; to Larry for his meticulous handling of our finances, and to Lori for editing and posting our newsletter even on short notice. It has been a real privilege to serve as president of HGA in 2008.
Thanks for all you have done.
Sincerely,
Mark Refuss
HGA officers for 2009 are:
President: Dave Patterson
Vice-President: Frank Vickers
Treasurer: Kathy Sayeg
Secretary: Steve Burnett
Social Committee co-chairs: Kathy Sayeg and Kelly Wilhoit
Board Member at Large: Steve Burnett
Board Member at Large: Mark Refuss
Board Member at Large: Fred Sayeg
Board Member at Large: Steve Yothment
If you have any questions/comments you'd like the board to discuss, feel free to contact any board member.
Videos on DVD are available to be checked out of the library. Most DVDs feature previous speakers from either HGA or AFS meetings. Please remember to return the DVD when finished. For those who would like a copy to keep, DVDs may be purchased. Prices are marked and most of the proceeds go to either HGA or AFS as the buyer chooses.
Each January it is time to renew your HGA membership. Membership will entitle you to voting privileges and a year's subscription to our newsletter, The Georgia Humanist. Please make it a point to send in your subscription soon so that we can pay our monthly rent and buy the food and refreshments that are part of each meeting. Thanks!
Membership Classes are:
| Non-Member | $15.00 | (newsletter only) |
| Individual | $30.00 | |
| Family | $40.00 | |
| Contributing | $60.00 | |
| Sustaining | $100.00 | |
| Patron | $200.00 | |
| Lifetime | $1000.00 |
Make your check payable to Humanists of Georgia. Checks can be mailed to Humanists of Georgia, c/o Atlanta Freethought Society, 4775 N. Church Ln. SE, Smyrna, GA 30080.
The Humanists of Georgia, our chapter of the American Humanist Association, was named for Edwin H. Wilson. He was born August 23, 1898 and died March 26, 1993. He was a Unitarian leader and Humanist who helped write the Humanist Manifesto of 1973.
Though he was born in Woodhaven, New York he was raised in Concord, Massachusetts. In 1928, he was ordained a Unitarian minister. In 1952, he helped found the International Humanist and Ethical Union.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
The Humanist lives as if this world were all and enough. He is not otherworldly. He holds that the time spent on the contemplation of a possible afterlife is time wasted. He fears no hell and seeks no heaven, save that which he and others created on earth. He willingly accepts the world that exists on this side of the grave as the place for moral struggle and creative living. He seeks the life abundant for his neighbor as for himself. He is content to live one world at a time and let the next life - if such there may be - take care of itself. He need not deny immortality; he simply is not interested. His interests are here.
Larry Curry has posted the following information on the internet regarding the American Humanist Association's efforts to aid the victims of this disaster:
Subject: [AHA Action Alert] Humanists Support Tsunami Disaster Relief Efforts
We at the American Humanist Association have received an outpouring of interest from our membership to provide a method for individuals to give as Humanists to the tsunami relief efforts. In response to this call for action, we have partnered with the Atheist Centre in India through our international body, the International Humanist and Ethical Union.
The Atheist Centre manages Arthik Samata Mandal, an established disaster relief organization that has been active since 1977. This organization already has the required Indian government approval to receive overseas aid funds, which it will use to address both short-term rehabilitation and long-term reconstruction needs of tsunami victims.
Programs are being designed in cooperation with the affected communities aimed at addressing health, food security, habitat, and livelihood needs. In the longer term, the Centre will work toward reconstruction and reduction of vulnerability.
Tens of thousands perished in the tsunami and even more are at imminent risk of disease. And the lives and livelihoods of still more have been shattered. As Humanists concerned for the well-being of all, we wish to express Humanism's compassion for the survivors who have experienced such lost.
The American Humanist Association is making it possible for 100% of your donation
to reach our overseas partners--we're absorbing all the various processing and
transfer costs. If you wish to participate in this program, you can
donate online
through the AHA's secure website.
Donations Needed
At one of our meetings, Priscilla Vandecar asked for donations that can be
given to the women's shelter at which she volunteers. Specifically, she asked
for donations of bed linens for single beds and towels and washcloths for the
people who come in to the shelter. For a variety of reasons, clothing donations
are not being sought. If you have any items that you are able to donate, please
bring them to the HGA meeting. In the future, we plan to have a donation bin
set up so that you are able to leave any donations whenever you happen to be
at the AFS center.
Humanist Newsletter Available as PDF
In order to cut down on newsletter expenses, we are encouraging our membership to opt for having a PDF version of the newsletter emailed to them instead of a mailed paper issue. This will help us save money and time, and it will help ensure that the newsletter is received in a more timely manner. If you would like to be sent the PDF version of the newsletter, please email Larry Curry.
In the past, some of our members have presented their views on the Humanist affirmation of their choice. We are looking for volunteers to continue this activity at future meetings. As of right now, we don't have many people signed up, so there are lots of openings! :) The signup sheet will be available at the next meeting, or you can contact Steve Burnett to volunteer for future meetings.
Several people have expressed interest in having a way to contact other HGA members. Steve Burnett has been sending out emails to all our members to verify contact information and make sure that no one minds being listed. If your email is in our database, you should have received a message. If you didn't receive one, you can contact Steve. (The contact list won't be available to telemarketers or people outside HGA, so you don't have to worry about your personal information being distributed).
Wouldn't it be great to get together for a bite after our meetings for further discussion and socializing? If there is sufficient interest in having these lunches become a regular part of our meetings, it would probably work best to try and get a volunteer or two who will be able to attend the lunch and who can pick the restaurant and guide others to the place we're eating. If you're interested in serving in this capacity, please contact Steve Burnett and we'll try to arrange something.
New Humanists of Georgia T-shirts and coffee mugs are available for sale. The shirts are available in small, medium, large and extra-large sizes. They are white and feature a striking new diamond logo on the front. You can purchase them for $10.00 apiece or 3 for $25.00. The mugs cost $4.00 apiece. Proceeds will go to the Humanists of Georgia. If you are interested, talk to Dave Patterson. He'll be bringing them to our monthly meetings.
Anyone interested in writing articles for the newsletter is invited to do so. Topics could include famous humanists, ethics, science, etc. Get your pen and paper out - there have to be some prolific writers out there. Submit articles to HGAPres@yahoo.com.