Happy CELEBRATIONS Month

*ASSEMBLY this month is at Your House

SATURDAY DECEMBER 12th at 10:30 am online in HWF Friends group.
HWF’s December is about: the Season of Celebrations

*MONTHLY ASSEMBLY PRESENTATION:
Speaking of Humanism video 

The Mission of HWF-
A chapter of the American Humanist Assn.

The Mission of the Humanists of West Florida is to facilitate the advancement of humanist thought and action in Pensacola and surrounding areas by interconnecting groups of humanists, atheists, agnostics and non-religious.
We will strive for equal participation in government and societal life through building strategic partnerships with other humanist and freethought organizations and with our religious neighbors to advance the greater good of humanity.
*** See the AHA mission below–
 

   *** The American Humanist Association
has stood as the voice of humanism in the United States for over 75 years.

We strive to bring about a progressive society where being good without a god is an accepted and respected way to live life. We are accomplishing this through our defense of civil liberties and secular governance, by our outreach to the growing number of people without traditional religious faith, and through a continued refinement and advancement of the humanist worldview.

Humanism is a nontheistic worldview with ethical values informed by scientific knowledge and driven by a desire to meet the needs of people in the here and now. At the foundation of those values is an affirmation of the dignity of every human being.

We count humanists and other nontheists as the core of our movement but are always willing to work with friends and allies on issues of common concern. The positions we hold and the actions we take are not simply for our own benefit, but for the betterment of all of society and the world in which we live.

*Announcements:

WUWF RADIO: We are looking for HWF members that are WUWF radio financial contributors. This past month our Shoe Drive for the Homeless was public service announced a number of times each week for a month at no charge from Buz and Muffie Rylands WUWF account. This is wonderful publicity and we would like to do a few more over the year when we do a community service but each contributor only gets one PSA a year. So, if any of you are also WUWF supporters let us know and we will get in touch with you. Your names are not  broadcasted.

HOLIDAY PARTY ROOM: We normally have met annually with the Gulf Coast Freethinkers for a last Sunday in December holiday-new years party. Not this year, this year we will do it from home. We will try to meetup at the same time online in our HWF Friends PG Facebook PRIVATE group. It will begin at 5:30pm Sunday December 27 until approx. 7pm, and so pour a toddy and make some dinner and sit down to see some of your HWF friends. This will  be a first so bear with us as we try to connect and direct a larger group gathering online. If you are members of this group you will see the room open up at that time and all you need to do is ask to join in the room. You can also join in through the Messenger app as well but we may have to invite you instead. If you are using Messenger but not on Facebook and want to join the room send us a Message to: Humanists of West Florida via Messenger and make sure your name is attached.

LOCAL CHARITY for this QUARTER: is Seans’ Outpost which operates Satoshi Forest and does Food Not Bombs homeless help. You can donate by mail to HWF, POBox 11930, Pensacola, FL 32524, or by website and select Donate and please comment for Seans. https://www.humanistsofwestflorida.org/home

Our ANNUAL CALENDAR is shown at the bottom of this newsletter, and is also posted in our Facebook: HWF Friends Private Group as well.

The Presidents Letter:

From the Desk of the President: Greetings all!
On behalf of the BOD, I wish everyone a holiday season filled with peace, joy, and love. HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING: As I write this, we are concluding the Third Annual Shoe Drive to benefit clients at Alfred-Washburn Center. We are on track to exceed last year’s drive. WTG everyone. We rescued one member in the wake of Hurricane Sally who needed help with a utility bill. Thanks everyone who donated to this cause. November’s Assembly was a walkabout at Bayview Park; attended by 5 members. We will return to live stream assemblies until Spring 2021 when we hope a vaccine will be available against the coronavirus. Second quarter charity donations to benefit Sean’s Outpost are being accepted through Dec 31. Donate at humanistswestflorida.org. If you missed the 1st quarter charity, it was the HWF Memorial Fund; we are shy about $50 of our goal to provide books to local libraries in memory of our deceased members (currently 3). DECEMBER’S EVENTS: Online assembly streams at 1030AM on Saturday, December 12th with a presentation by the AHA. Sunday, December 27th is our annual joint gathering with the Gulf Coast Freethinkers. Set yourself up with dinner and drinks. Join us on HWF PG from 530PM til 7PM in the special room labeled Holiday Party Room. This is a social event; feel free to stay for the entire event or just drop in for a short time to say hello. UPCOMING: BOD quarterly meeting is January 9, 9AM. If there is an issue you want to have discussed, please contact any BOD member. January 9, 1030AM is our monthly assembly. Share any ideas for presentation topics on HWF PG or contact the BOD secretary directly.
Sincerely, Betty Myers, HWF President


*The HUMANIST MAGAZINE: current bi-monthly magazine
 and the 2020 Humanist of the Year–
https://thehumanist.com/magazine/november-december-2020/

*AHA Monthly THEME: Celebrating our freedom to think and speak freely *From the AHA Leadership: (Washington, DC, November, 2020)  from the AHA Executive Director As you know, the American Humanist Association (AHA) stands for freedom of and from religion everywhere—at home and around the globe. This week, AHA staff members are attending the third Ministerial Conference to Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief. The first Ministerial was organized by Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback’s office three years ago. Because of our willingness to open discussions with the administration about true religious freedom, the AHA was the only nontheist group invited to participate then. With steady lobbying by our staff, last year several humanist and non-theist groups from the United States and around the world were included. With Poland as the host of this year’s virtual Ministerial, governments are again recognizing humanist concerns. United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief said, “In regard to protection of human rights there is no hierarchy of human beings, there is no hierarchy of rights, and certainly in regard to religious freedom there is no hierarchy of religions or beliefs that require protection….whether one is a believer or nonbeliever, the human rights status of that person doesn’t change…So there is absolute clarity in international human rights law that whether one is a believer or nonbeliever that person enjoys equal status, equal right to protection from authorities. ”Even Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, no friend to nontheists, had to acknowledge our existence in remarks to the Ministerial when he said, “…we share a conviction in the fundamental dignity of every human being, believers and nonbelievers alike” before reverting to tropes favoring Christianity. There is a lot of work still to do. The AHA plays a prominent role in Washington, DC, meeting with top leaders in discussions about religious freedom and influencing policy decisions on the rights of nontheists. But humanists need more than just a seat at the table. We need to be among those at the head of the table and setting the agenda. And I need your help to get there. Please consider making a donation of $25 or $100, or whatever is significant to you, to help the AHA continue reaching out to government officials at all levels to make sure that true religious freedom—freedom of and from religion—is part of the worldwide conversation. With your help, the AHA can continue our important work. Yours in humanism, Roy Speckhart

*From the AHAs’ upcoming activities:

AHA announces the Humanist Action Headquarters for Grassroots Advocacy. https://americanhumanist.org/actionhq/

AHA Center for Education  to learn more about us–
https://americanhumanistcenterforeducation.org/
As an AHA member you have access to the Zoom presentations they are offering plus other activities as well.
 

American Humanist Association invites you to join our next Speakng of Humanism event: Thursday, December 10, 6:30-8pm. We’ll be streaming this talk on Facebook Live and on Zoom.Watch this talk on Zoom here: https://zoom.us/j/91843782348Watch this talk on Facebook Live here: http://facebook.com/americanhumanist/live Celebrating as a Humanist It’s that joyous time of year when humanity is called to break from the routine and come together to celebrate traditions. Of course, the wrong greeting or coffee cup can inflame conflicts between strangers and family alike. In this talk, Janey Rizvi shares how he celebrates the season and navigates the holiday sensibilities of his religious family and traditionally conservative community in his home state of Texas.   Speaker  Jani Rizvi Janey Rizvi is a founding member of The Oasis Network. He is a Pakistani-American and former Muslim who became a Humanist in 2007. Janey served on the Houston Oasis board of directors for seven years in various capacities, including marketing, governance, finance, and as the board Secretary. He serves on the Marketing committee for The Oasis Network and is a contributor for Oasis Gaming.

Do you have a legal question you would like answered?


Watch the most recent Legal Tuesdays video with our Legal Director and Senior Counsel Monica Miller. Be sure to tune in or send an email if you have a question!

DONATE TO THE WORLD:Want to help people suffering from national or global catastrophes? Do it here as a Humanist to the Foundation Beyond Belief-FBB. This is the AHAs’ disaster relief partner organization.  Here is their facebook and website.

https://www.facebook.com/foundbb

https://foundationbeyondbelief.org
 

*HUMANIST CORNER       

November-December 2020  by member Bill White

“We live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.” Dalai Lama

“The most important factor in survival is neither intelligence nor strength but adaptability.” Charles Darwin

            Since our hominid ancestors strolled out the African savannas, women’s bodies have often been considered as engines of fulfillment, mostly determined by male wishes. Still the case in too many parts of the world.

            Strict male/female roles are often doggedly set forth in Abrahamic religions from conservative Catholics, Evangelicals, Orthodox Jews to Muslim Sharia Law. The quarter of world population calling the Indian sub-continent home still struggles with caste systems and female abuse. Male preferences seem almost part of our DNA! Yet unrestrained human growth is causing conditions far beyond our planet’s carrying capacity. In conjunction with global warming and economic disparities, increasing suffering within the human family. The present pandemic confirms that although the meek may be in line to inherit the earth, right now they’re getting the worst of the deal. Again, principally women and their offspring-

            You’d be right in pointing out that in advanced nations, for the most part, women are in the streets fighting to gain more seats at the table. Yet in “advanced” America issues pertaining to women’s bodies, climate issues, unrestrained world population etc. are often missing from much political dialogue. Voices often drowned out in racial or law and order dog whistles! Although it seems possible the new administration will provide these issues more attention. Already Senator John Kerry has been designated climate czar.

            There’s a phrase I keep falling back on in these troubled times. The challenges confronting us in the 21^st century require actions far beyond “Revolutionary” in nature. Nothing less than change on a daily and “Evolutionary” level are demanded of us! Nothing less than activities required for survival taking place in our day to day lives. Evolution become a visible force in our living patterns…

            We could well consider the pandemic raging around us as a “starter set.”  Perhaps even leading us out of the insane, over-production of “consumer” societies. The word speaks for itself, no? Perhaps the fresh discovery of “new” values that have always been there! A glacier-like melting of “we” and “them,” into “us”! Clearly, much work lies ahead, both economically and mentally, to improve our scores in the “cooperation” game. A game well begun with the awakening of women worldwide. Hey, we’ve got a shot! That’s if we can remember the huge difference between “regimentation” and “discipline.” Ask any team player. Only the latter works. So let’s go Team Humanity!

Thank you for your writings Bill.


IMPORTANT DATES:in the secular world.

• December 10: International Human Rights Day
• December 20-23: Winter Solstice
• December 23: Festivus (“For the rest of us”)
• December 25: Holiday (as in, “Happy Holiday”, also “FSMas”)
• December 25: Newtonmas
• December 31: Hogswatch

HWF Annual Calendar July 2020 thru June 2021

Q 1 Summer Charity: Member Memorial Fund(honors with a book to local library)

July 11th Assembly – The Freedom to Assembly & Right Vote Theme.

Welcome Back Party at Assembly and AHA Commitments Review

Committees-Teams policy reviews

BOD meets: New Directors and Officers seated, Committees % Teams filled, New budget approved

Quarterly Book Review Online
 

August 8th Assembly — Back to School Theme

AHA chapter members report

Open Books Packing on 1st Wed.
 

September 12th Assembly – Students Ethics and Rights Theme

Membership List Updated

Little Free Library Building Workshop

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Q 2 Fall Charity: Seans’ Outpost(owns Satoshi Forest and does Food not Bombs)
 

October 10th Assembly – Homeless and Hungry Theme

BOD meets:

Quarterly Book Review Online

Fall picnic party
 

November 14th Assembly – Native Americans Theme

Food Distribution TBA +

Open Books Packing on 1st Wed +

Shoe Drive TBA
 

December 12th Assembly – Global Celebrations Theme

Winter Festivities Party with Freethinkers on Dec 26^th

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Q 3 Winter Charity: Currie House(providing shelter & housing for youth)
 

January 9th Assembly – A New Start Theme

BOD meets:

Food Distribution TBA +

Quarterly Book Review Online
 

February 13th Assembly – Science and Critical Thinking Theme

Charlie’s Chili-Chowder Cookoff @ Assembly

IRS N-990 Due, Fla Incorporation annual report

Open Books Packing on 1st Wed
 

March 13th Assembly – Myths and AHA Rights Theme

Nominating Committee is activated

Fla Charities Registration due, Fla Tax Exempt redo every 5 years-next 2025

Little Free Library Building Workshop

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Q 4 Spring Charity: Earth Ethics Inc.(provides education and environmental advocacy)
 

April 10th Assembly – Earth Ethics Theme

BOD meets: Directorship nominees due by 4/30 and presented to chapter

Quarterly Book Review Online
 

May 8th Assembly – Reason is the Reason Theme

Elections (if candidates surpass 3) from May 1 thru mid Assembly -Email vote or at Assembly

Open Books Packing on 1st Wed
 

June 12th Assembly – Humanist Proud and Planning Theme

Ideas Workshop @ assembly

Membership renewal month

New Draft Budget 6/30
SUGGESTIONS? 
Contact us with your ideas-

Email
info@hwfl.org

Humanists of West Florida
P.O. Box 11930
Pensacola, Florida 32524

Phone
(850) 366-3410

***The American Humanist Association is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable educational organization, as well is the Humanists of West Florida. Donations to the Humanists of West Florida , a chapter of the American Humanist Association, are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.FLORIDA REGISTRATION #: CH54590 “A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.”