COHA Members and Guests,

It’s been quite a time change at home and abroad. From the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the upcoming anti-gay bill in Uganda and our own election here Canada things have been moving in all sorts of different directions.  But never fear: Your favourite local Humanist organization is here to constantly provide you with intellectual stimulation and new ideas.  For the first time in about a half decade we bring back Dying with Dignity to talk about end-of-life issues this month.  And be prepared for our announcement of our summer BBQ coming up in the next month or so.

Also next month, on Saturday June 4th, we will have a tent at Celebrate Barrie!  We will have activities for kids as well as information for adults. What we need is people to take shifts of 2 or 4 hours throughout the day to help out handing out literature, playing with the kids on our cool science activities, and making sure that the other people who will be there get time to take health breaks and eat their lunch!  Please reply if you’d be willing to help out for 2 to 4 (or more!) hours.

Have a great May!

This month: Dying with Dignity

On Wednesday, May 25th at 7PM the Central Ontario Humanists will have Wanda Morris of Dying with Dignity in to talk about end of life issues including advocating for medically assisted dying and what Dying with Dignity does to support people at the end of their lives. After her presentation she will take questions from the audience.  We meet at the Barrie Public Library. Guests are welcome.

Doors open at 6:30, and the presentation starts promptly at 7 PM. As is our tradition, we will be meeting for dinner and discussion at 5 PM at Swiss Chalet on Bayfield St. Anyone is welcome to come. If you have any questions about our pre-meeting dinner, please email me and ask.

President’s Message

Gay rights is remarkably still an issue both in Canada and abroad.  Past president Paul Bassett sent me a link to a petition to stop Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill that will include the death penalty for homosexual behaviour.  For more information on this bill you can see the first and second part of an interview with the Ugandan MP David Bahati.

Ponderāre

I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.

~ Unknown (But was falsely attributed to Martin Luther King, Jr. in recent weeks.)

(Do you have a quote we can use in a future newsletter? Submit your quotes online. It can even be a quote that is disagreeable, so long as it’s thought provoking.)

Upcoming Meeting Dates

• Wednesday, May 25
• Wednesday, June 29