Hello Everyone,

• We will no longer meet at Zehrs — it keeps raising the rent and reducing the service. For the rest of this year at least, we will hold meetings in the Boardroom at the Barrie Native Friendship Center 175 Bayfield Street. It is a bit south of highway 400, on the East side, a more central location. This venue charges $60 per meeting and includes coffee (so I’m told)!
• COHA withdrew its registered charity application (after considering the federal government’s negative response). This makes sense, given COHA is a community association, not a charity in the usual sense of raising funds to help the needy. Unfortunately, this means COHA cannot issue tax deduction receipts. Now if we were a religious movement ….
• COHA is incorporating as a non-profit organization (NPO). Why you may ask? Because NPOs are eligible to hold meetings at the Barrie Public Library at no cost. Reserving Library space for our 2010 meetings must be done in early November, and we expect to be registered by then. The cost to incorporate is less than $800, which is just over a year’s rent. That said, our financial position will be more precarious for some time, so please be generous when helping yourself to coffee, or acquiring one of our books, etc.
• COHA may dis-affiliate with Humanists Canada (HAC). Below are some thoughts to ponder. Please email your own thoughts to shawn@cohumanists.ca. Next month Shawn will integrate them into a comprehensive list of pros and cons, including HAC’s position (if any). COHA members will vote on this issue at our annual general meeting:
  • Historically HAC affiliation allowed members to receive tax deductions for donations to COHA. But when HAC changed its governance model, members lost this ability.
  • Historically HAC funded COHA. In the new model we fund HAC.
  • HAC has been unresponsive, such as when we requested membership data and advice on applying for charity status.
  • Individuals can still be members of HAC, so what benefits accrue from COHA’s affiliation?
  • HAC forced COHA to raise its dues this year. Of the $60 annual dues, COHA receives only $20.
  • Dis-affiliation would enable COHA to both reduce its dues and improve its financial situation.
  • COHA expects to be able to participate in secular humanist activities with or without HAC.
  • There are other organizations we might prefer to affilate with, such as The Centre for Inquiry, and the Brights movement.
• COHA is forming an email server. It’s purpose is to permit interested people to learn about Humanist news and views, and to be able to add your own comments and ideas for further discussion by others on the list. Anyone interested in being on this list please contact Shawn@cohumanists.ca
• COHA needs your ideas, your enthusiasm, and your community spirit. We cannot thrive without you occasionally participating in such things as
  • greeting people as they arrive at our monthly meetings, and registering their attendance.
  • leading a monthly discussion on a humanist topic of their choosing
  • educating the community at large, especially young people, about Secular Humanism
  • running fund raisers, such as a monthly 50-50 draw
  • most importantly, helping COHA function by being on the executive, which consists of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Director.
  • hosting our annual solstice parties
  • implementing Humanist pet projects of your own!
• Sign-up Sheets will be on hand at the next meeting, so please think about what you would like to do in time to let everyone know.
• Tom Cooke is forming an elections committee in order to fill the executive roles for 2010. Please feel free to offer yourself for office and to nominate others by emailing him at tom@cohumanists.ca.