COHA Members and Guests,

It’s going to be a great June with your local Humanists, before all of your head off to your summer plans. This month we have our summer solstice BBQ and have a great video presentation lined up. I’m also excited to announce that we have tentatively scheduled the rest of the year’s presentations: a Naturopathic Doctor to come in and talk to us about his industry in September, Doctor Monika Hevelka will be returning to talk about the biology of aging in October and Doctor Chris DiCarlo will be promoting his new new book on skepticism and asking tough questions. Also, out presenter from last month has given me a special message to pass on to you!

Summer Solstice BBQ

The afternoon of Sunday, June 26th we will have a BBQ dinner. Running from 2-6 and located at a new location just outside of Barrie we have fun for the family. We will provider soft drinks with burgers and hot dogs. Please bring a chair to sit on, a small appitizer, dessert or snack to share, and be prepared to pay a parking fee. RSVP by Wednesday June 22nd! For details and to RSVP please contact Lindsay: lindsay@cohumanists.ca or (705) 456-1769.

Message from last month’s presenter, Wanda

Thanks everyone for coming last night – I hope you got as much out of the session as I did! Here’s a couple of things I forgot to mention:

1. Be a DWD Ambassador!
If you’re passionate about choice in dying, we have an opening in our upcoming speaker training day (Thursday June 2nd) and I would LOVE to have someone from Barrie join us. It will be at our offices (55 Eglinton Ave. East, Yonge and Eglinton) in Toronto from 9:00 – 4:30. Anyone interested can contact me for details.

2. Watch
In case you haven’t had a chance to watch the choice in dying videos yet, you can see them on our website at http://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/watch/index.php The videos I showed for Amy Doolittle and John Alan Lee are both there, as is the video of the great choice in dying debate between Don Babey and Margaret Somerville.

3. What does an atheist play?

I also posted a blog post on the session, it’s called “What does an atheist play?” you can see it on our website at http://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/resources/blog_news.php

Thank again to everyone for coming! If you have any feedback for me on the session – or other questions or ideas, please feel free to contact me.

Warmest regards,

Wanda Morris

This month: Living without the Sacred (Video Debate)

On Wednesday, May 29th at 7PM the Central Ontario Humanists will have a video debate with Peterson and de Sousa on Living Without the Sacred.  We meet at the Barre 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.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

• Wednesday, June 29

Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/COHumanists

COHA Members and Guests,

As we warm up in terms of weather, the other executive members and I have decided to warm things up socially. This Tuesday, April the 19th we will be having a cafe get together.  7PM at William’s Fresh Cafe at the south end of Barrie on Bryne’s Drive.  Please reply to this message if you plan to come buy so I can get a big enough table, or if you want to but can’t so we can gauge how many people are interested in this sort of activity for the future.

Also, a call to action: Over the summer I plan to personally redesign our website.  Please take a moment and visit a few pages on our websites that are about our organization and about Humanism and see if you detect any errors, omissions or things that just plain need updating.  I would love to have any suggestions, comments and criticism you have.

This month: Humanist Perspectives on Social Issues

After discussing with people who were and were not at last month’s meeting, everyone seems to want a continuation of last month’s discussion.  We didn’t get to half of the items on the discussion list.  We will continue where we left off and get more discussion on the issues.

So, again, for our meeting on Thursday, April 28th we will discussion social issues form a Humanist perspective.  If any of you have videos, readings, or quotes pertaining to the topics below please email them to me by Earth Hour on March 26th.  I encourage anyone who wants to give a 3 minute presentation on their views of their reading to contact me.

Here are the topics we are considering.  I hope and expect some of these to be controversial with people having different opinions on the subject.

Justice System

• What should it look like?
• Non-violent crime
• Sex industry: Prohibition/Legalization
• Recreational drugs: Prohibition/Legalization
• Restorative justice

Political

• Patriotism
• Change “O Canada” to be more inclusive
• Limits of free speech

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

In a democracy a vote is power.  We have an election coming up in the next few weeks and I suggest we make the most of it.  ”Vote Early. Vote Often.”  With voter turn out continuing to hit record lows your vote practically counts for double. (Vote often.)  When you go to vote bring some neighbors or friends. (Vote often.) And why wait in line to vote? The advance polls are open on the 20th (Good Friday) and the 25th (Easter Monday).  Beat the lines. (Vote early.) With power come responsibility.  Do what people around the world are literally dying to do: vote.

Ponderāre

“To define twentieth-century humanism briefly, I would say that it is a philosophy of joyous service for the greater good of all humanity in this natural world and advocating the methods of reason, science, and democracy.”

~ Corliss Lamont

(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.)

COHA Members and Guests,

Thanks to everyone who came out to our last meeting.  Your engagement and interest with the subject matter at hand amazing.  For anyone interested in donating to the Elizabeth Fry Society’s food program I’d point out that on March 26th 9AM-noon the Second Annual Superdrive is happening  behind 110 Dunlop St. W. (beside Meineke on Toronto St.) where they are taking e-waste (anything electronic, including kids toys) to be safely recycled, food for the EFS and used clothing for the Barrie Free Clothing Centre.

Lastly, I want your input to prepare for this months meeting:

This month: Humanist Perspectives on Social Issues

For our meeting on Wednesday, March 30th we have decided to have a discussion on social issues form a Humanist perspective.  If any of you have videos, readings, or quotes pertaining to the topics below please email them to me by Earth Hour on March 26th.  I encourage anyone who wants to give a 3 minute presentation on their views of their reading to contact me.

Here are the topics we are considering.  I hope and expect some of these to be controversial with people having different opinions on the subject.

Justice System

• What should it look like?
• Non-violent crime
• Sex industry: Prohibition/Legalization
• Recreational drugs: Prohibition/Legalization
• Restorative justice

Food issues

• Ethical implication of vegetarianism
• Food as lifestyle
• Kosher and Halal

Political

• Patriotism
• Change “O Canada” to be more inclusive
• Limits of free speech

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

Of course, social issues and disaster relief are linked issues, and as you all are well aware there have been floods in Manitoba and earthquakes with aftermath in Japan.  In any case were you think something must change I am sometimes reminded of the derisive adage becoming common in atheist circles: ”Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer.”  However there is real benefit to prayer, but no more than any form of mediation. While I haven’t accepted the efficacy of prayer,  this reminded me of the following quote from an article about the Blair/Hitchens debate in Toronto. Thanks to Mike Savage for sending it my way.

Ponderāre

Religion, said the Vanity Fair columnist in a debate in which he was arguing that religion is in no way a force of good, has produced its fair share of the transcendent.That there is, he said, “the sense that there is something beyond the material, or if not beyond it, not entirely consistent with it, is, I think, a very important matter of what you could call the numinist, or the transcendent or at its best, I suppose, the ecstatic. I wouldn’t trust anyone in this hall who didn’t know what I was talking about.”

~ on Christopher Hitchens

(Do you have a quote we can use in a future newsletter? Submit your quotes online.)

Happy Humanists,

A reminder that February’s meeting is pushed to Monday March 7th. Our speaker will be from the Elizabeth Fry Society, and we are announceing our blood drive.

This month: Elizabeth Fry Society

On Monday, March 7th we will be meeting at the Barrie Public Library for a presentation by Paula King the Executive Directory of the Elizabeth Fry Society in Barrie, where she will discuss their work and some of the innovative approaches they take to justice, assistance for those in need. 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.

Blood Drive

We are putting together a blood drive. We will descend en mass to the blood clinic on Bayview Dr. Please respond if you would be interested in donating blood.

President’s Message

Darwin Day was on February the 12th. This day is used by science proponents to discuss how fundamentally important education in the sciences is and as a reason to teach science. I suspect that this day and this name would not have been selected if people didn’t actively speak out against evolution and natural selection emphasizing the need for science education.

In Humanist communities there is a great deal of positive emotion when talking about Darwin and evolution. But we must not forget all the other aspect of science that are important, as well. Darwin has become a symbol of the flame of knowledge. Mostly because people keep trying to snuff out his contributions to science. But let us not forget all the other people who have and do contribute to our understanding of how the universe works. Darwin Day is in large part a celebration of Darwin’s contribution. But it’s also about the benefits of science in general.

Ponderāre

Speaking of education I happened on this quote which made me think:

There is only one Education, and it has only one goal: the freedom of the mind. Anything that needs an adjective, be it civics education, or socialist education, or Christian education, or whatever-you-like education, is not education, and it has some different goal. The very existence of modified “educations” is testimony to the fact that their proponents cannot bring about what they want in a mind that is free. An “education” that cannot do its work in a free mind, and so must “teach” by homily and precept in the service of these feelings and attitudes and beliefs rather than those, is pure and unmistakable tyranny.

~ Richard Mitchell, The Underground Grammarian, September 1982

(Do you have a quote we can use in a future newsletter? Submit your quotes online.)

Calendar

Monday, Mar 7 – COHA Presentation (delayed from February)
Wednesday, Mar 30 – COHA Presentation

-Shawn

Happy Humanists,

Hello, and happy New Year. In the Frozen North of Canada we have statutory holidays scattered throughout the year. I hope that you have taken the recent ones to develop your relationships with your family and friends. To take enjoyment in each other’s company. Humans are a social species and for most of us we need that social contact. It’s part of a fully developed human life. I hope that you were able to take full advantage of the winter holiday season, and that the time spent was enjoyable and enriching.

This month: Sam Harris on “Can Science Determine Human Values”

On Monday, January 31st (UNUSUAL DAY!) we will be meeting at the Barrie Public Library for a video presentation of a talk Sam Harris gave about his book The Moral Landscape. There is mixed reaction to this controversial work and I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s opinions on them. We have two copies of this book that you can pick up for a minimum donation of $20. 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.

Humanist Canada membership

Humanist Canada recently emailed all members asking for a renewal. Humanist Canada is a national affiliate of the Central Ontario Humanists and if you aren’t a member I would recommend looking in to the organization. They have been instrumental in growing our group in our earlier days. You can download the membership renewal form. For more information go to http://humanistcanada.com/ and find out more.

Also, many your memberships will be expiring soon. We will let you know.

President’s Message

As your newly confirmed president I would like to take this moment to thank everyone who has been supportive of me over the last month. Your congratulations and well wishes were very important to me. But the most important message I can think of for this month is to say thank you for all the former executive members and past presidents over the years. There is an African word “Ubuntu” (sometimes referred to ‘Humanism’) which means “I am who I am, because we are who we are.” I know that I have grown with my involvement in this group personally. But it works the other way around too: we are who are, because all of you are who you are. And the former executive members are people who have put in the time and energy to make COHA work.

Thank you all!

Ponderāre

While listening to Tim Minchin’s “Storm” (strong language and swearing) I was struck by the Humanistic idea in that beat poem about how this life is valuable. He was trying to understand why some people seem to require a meta-physical mystery over the mysteries of the physical world and grandeur of a naturalistic view of life (to paraphrase Darwin). When asking “isn’t this enough, just this world? Just this? This wonderful, complex, wonderfully unfathomably, natural world.” As way of analogy, he quoted Shakespeare. And that (extended) quote is what I will leave you with today.

Therefore, to be possess’d with double pomp,
To guard a title that was rich before,
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess…
~King John (Act 4, Scene 2)

(Submit your quotes online)

-Shawn

Welcome, Everyone, to our November Newsletter!

If you missed our October meeting, not to worry: We’ve put a video (in 7 parts) of Dr. Monika Havelka’s funny and informative presentation online at http://www.cohumanists.ca/2010/paradox-of-sex-by-monika-havelka/ Just click on the images at the bottom of the video screen to select the 15 minute segments you want to view. (Her slides are forth coming.)

Our November 25th meeting will feature Dr. Reeshma Haji, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Laurentian University at Georgian College. Here presentation should stimulate an interesting discussion among us secular humanists:

A Quest Toward Interreligious Harmony

How can we promote better relations among people from different religions? The nature of our motivations may be key, specifically whether they are externally motivated, say from peer pressure or fear mongering; or internally motivated, such as by intrinsic satisfaction or spiritual and related quests. There is considerable evidence that the latter correlates with less hostility towards other religions. I will discuss my research on how motivations toward religiosity influence attempts to promote positive interreligious attitudes.

As you probably know, November’s meeting will elect/acclaim COHA’s Directors for 2011. At the moment we have one nominee for each position except Secretary. They are:

President — Shawn Conroy
Vice-President — Josh Phillips
Treasurer — Lindsay Smith
Membership — Chris Emmink
Secretary — open

It is desirable to have more than one person vying for the positions; so if you want to help COHA thrive, please inform Tom Cooke that you would like to be a Director. Nominations will close by November 20th.

It is my pleasure to announce that you and your adult family members are cordially invited to our annual Winter Solstice party, being held on the evening of December 18 in the Grande Parlor of Victoria Village. A big Thank You goes to Jack Wallas, COHA’s Founder and a resident of Victoria Village for securing the venue.

No pot luck this year! Instead we’re preparing a sumptuous buffet banquet at a cost of only $10 each, with COHA covering the rest. Chris Emmink, our Membership Director, is catering, and he and Teresa Amado are the party organizers. Of course we will have games and lots of fun too. Here is the menu (if you have dietary restrictions, please inform Chris cemmink@gmail.com and he will try to accommodate):

Appetizer: Smoked Salmon with Dill Cream Cheese, Capers and Bagel Slices
Main: Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Mixed Green Salad with Caramelized Pears & Pecans
Dessert: Chocolate Fountain with Fresh Fruit, Browned Butter Shortbread Cookies
Coffee, Tea, and soft drinks — Please bring your own wine/beer/spirits, along with your good cheer.

Chris needs to know in advance how much food to prepare, so we must receive your payment (or issue a refund if you can’t come) by December 12. Seating is limited to 43, so a waiting list is possible; and COHA members and their families take precedence. If you want to come but can’t make the November 25th meeting, please mail your cheque to Armando Perez, 53 Eder Trail RR3, Minesing, ON. L0L 1Y3. kaitoo.gm@gmail.com

Last but not least, please put the following dates into your 2010 calendar for COHA to meet at 7pm in the Angus-Ross room at the Barrie Library:

Monday, January 31
Monday, February 21
Wednesday, March 30
Thursday, April 28
Wednesday, May 25
Wednesday, June 29
Wednesday, Jul 27
Wednesday, August 31
Wednesday, September 28
Wednesday, October 26
Wednesday, November 30
Wednesday, December 28

Warm regards,
Paul
President

The Central Ontario Humanist Association has just released their updated 2010 Membership form. There are two changes this year over previous years. The first is that members are no longer automatically members of the Humanist Canada (Humanist Association of Canada). The second is that because of this, our membership fees are lower than previous years.

You can view our membership information and to download the membership form on this site by going to our membership section.

You can download the Humanist Canada (Humanist Association of Canada) membership form or pay online at the Humanist Canada Membership page.

Hello Everyone,
Good news! I was able to book Barrie Public Library’s 50 seat meeting room for all our regular monthly meetings in 2010. The not so good news is that I was unable to book the room on the last Wednesday of every month. Please put the following COHA meeting dates in your 2010 calendar:

Wednesday January 20
Thursday February 25
Wednesday March 24
Thursday April 29
Wednesday* May 26
Wednesday* June 30
Wednesday* July 28
Wednesday August 18
Wednesday* September 29
Thursday October 28
Thursday November 25
Wednesday* December 29

The asterisks flag the last Wednesdays of those months. Although historically we have not met in June, July, August, and December, I booked those months just in case (and will cancel as soon as we know we won’t need the room). If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

More good news!
Dr. Monika Havelka is over H1N1, and will be coming to our November meeting. As you know, last January a snow storm caused most of us to miss Monika’s (TVO’s twice nominated best lecturer) extraordinary slide presentation. Then the day before she was to speak at our October meeting her daughter came down with H1N1. Sooo… hopefully for sure this time come prepared to learn about the exciting discoveries coming from the emerging biological specialty of “evo-devo” — whereby a set of genes common to all life forms, including us, control the construction of our bodies. There will be time for questions, and I intend to ask her about the even newer field of epigenetics. And please, post a copy of the attached poster on your favorite grocery store’s bulletin board and/or other venues.

One of the reasons we can enjoy Monika’s presentation at our Annual General Meeting, is that the business portion of the meeting can be mercifully short. — the current slate of Directors is being acclaimed, so no time is required for elections.

In yet more good news, the recent changes in our afilliation with Humanist Canada (the old HAC) allow us to decouple our membership fees. This means you can choose to continue your Humanist Canada membership or not. If not, you need only pay COHA’s annual membership fee, which starting on Jan. 1, 2010, will be $30 per person, or $50 per household, or $15 if you have a student card. If you do want to renew your Humanist Canada membership you can download it from www.humanistcanada.com and remit it to Humanist Canada yourself. And please note that if you wish to make a charitable donation to COHA (always needed and welcome), you can remit it to Humanist Canada with the stipulation that it be forwarded to COHA, and a tax deductible receipt will be issued to you. That way, all tax payers support COHA as well as all the churches out there.

Warm regards,
Paul
President, Central Ontario Humanists Association

Hello fellow Humanists and Humanist-friendly people,

I have 4 interesting things to tell you.

1. Vote for November’s video presentation
2. Last months presentation available online
3. Discussion group
4. Richard Dawkins’ new book available at next meeting
5. Humanist social / meet-up

***

1. Vote for November’s video presentation

The November presentation and AGM is coming up it less than two months. We will be having a video presentation and want you to vote on which short video we will use to start a discussion on November 25th (that’s next month). Please respond to this email with your selection of one of the following three videos:

a) *Jonathan Haidt* on secular morality

Associate Professor of Psychology Jonathan Haidt, author of /The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion/ discusses where innate morality comes from in a secular, naturalistic world view. Also, how morality intersects with politics on the left and the right as well as with religion.

b) *Dan Dennett* on dangerous memes

Starting with the simple tale of an ant, philosopher Dan Dennett unleashes a devastating salvo of ideas, making a powerful case for the existence of memes — concepts that are literally alive.

c) *Julia Sweeney* on letting go of God

This video features Julia Sweeney (of Saturday Night Live fame) giving a sample of her one-woman show ‘Letting Go of God’. This delightful and thought provoking video intertwines a young ladies coming of age story and humour and Julia Sweeney discussions he deconversion from the Catholic faith.

Please respond to this email before October 26th to make your vote count, only a few weeks away.

***

2. Last months presentation available online

You can now download last months presentation of the psychology of bahaviourism from our website in MP3 form and the slides. Go to the following website:

http://www.cohumanists.ca/2009/behaviorism-and-daily-life/

***

3. Discussion group

At the last meeting I told everyone that we had started an email discussion group. We now have 6 people signed up, and they are interesting people! We have been talking about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and what the proper etiquette for people who don’t believe in gods actually is. Is it more respectful to sit in silence while others pray out loud? Is it mocking their beliefs to pretend to pray or accept communion? Is it disrespectful to not sit down until the hand-holding grace-saying pre-meal festivities are over? What if you are the host and religious people are coming to your house?

Sign up and take part in future conversations. We are inviting all atheist, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers and otherwise Humanist-friendly people in the area and beyond to join the discussion. You don’t need to be a member.

Email shawn @ cohumanists.ca to be added to this email distribution list so you can participate or just listen.

***

4. Richard Dawkins’ new book available at next meeting

We are pleased to announce that at this months presentation we will have copies of Richard Dawkins’ new book ‘The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution’. This book is a return to Richard Dawkins’ first interest, evolution. Rather than a critical look on religion this is a biology book. A minimum donation of $20 to COHA is required for you to pick up this book at our next meeting.

***

5. Humanist social / meet-up

A bunch of us are getting together at William’s Coffee Pub on Bryne Dr. on Wednesday, October 20th, 2009 at 7:30 PM. If you would like good company come on down and hang out with us. Everyone is welcome to join. This is behind the south-end Wal~Mart.

***

Have a good October!