Summary of Our 2011 Meetings

I've made a new page in the Hastings Humanists section of my website, which summarises all our meetings during 2011. This includes links to the video and other sites mentioned in Stephen Milton's talk on Science and Society. I intend to add further links for the other meetings in due course.

A Rainbow at London Bridge

On Wednesday afternoon I went to London for the Conway memorial lecture, which was about Jeremy Bentham and his extensive unpublished works. It proved to be mainly about his views on sexual relationships rather than secularism. The poddelusion people were there, so it can be heard on their recording. It seems Bentham's views anticipated those of the Australian philosopher Peter Singer, such as those on infanticide, which have been in the secular news (e.g. see New Humanist) thanks to Nadine Dorries accusing all humanists of favouring the killing of children on the least excuse!

I bought a ticket to Charings Cross as usual, but my train was "terminated" at London Bridge. We were advised that our tickets could be used on the Underground, but mine wouldn't even let me out of the station! It was raining and I decided to make use of my free bus pass, and catch a bus direct to Holborn. While I was waiting at the bus stop at one end of the Bridge a beautiful full half-circle rainbow appeared, like another Bridge in the sky, framing the scene that included Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the 'Gherkin' and other buildings. For a while there was even a partial secondary rainbow above the main one. I do love rainbows! I think I may take the London Bridge route in future.

OOPS! I intended to post this on my Jeepyjay Diary pages, but seem to have pressed the wrong buttons. Anyway it's not entirely irrelevant to Hastings Humanists, so I will let it stand.

Agenda for Our 2011 AGM

Hastings Humanists, Annual General Meeting

6:30 pm, Thursday 10 November, Notley Room, White Rock Hotel

1. Reports by the Society's Officers, including Secretary and Treasurer, on
the year's events and progress.

2. Discussion on the present organisation of the group (e.g. do we need to
appoint more people to specific tasks). Election of Officers. The current
Treasurer has expressed the intention to stand down. (To vote you must have
paid the £5 annual membership fee.) The fee structure is also up for
discussion. Should we make meetings free, with just optional donations?
Should we keep the £5 annual membership structure?

3. Debate on our relationship with the BHA (and NSS): Affiliation,
Partnership or Independence? This is in response to the BHA's proposals for
new terms and fees. The issue of donations to support the BHA and the
encouragement of BHA direct membership has also been proposed for
discussion.

4. Involvement with East Sussex SACRE: should we continue to have an
observer, and lobby to have a member on one of the subcomittees?

5. Expansion of activities. Suggestions have been made that we open a
Hastings Humanists twitter account, and support Non-Prophet Week. Are there
local issues we should be campaigning about? e.g. Council prayers. Assisting
formation of a Local AHS student group.

6. Programme for next year. Any ideas for subjects we should deal with, or
speakers we might attract, or days out?

Sorry if this Agenda is a bit sketchy. We are a rather informal group. There
will be opportunities for other issues to be raised if there is time.