"The most wondrous and surprising thing about our world is that it is rational and explicable. Appealing to the supernatural adds nothing to our understanding of our place in the Universe."Read Jim Al-Khalili' official website.
Professor Jim Al-Khalili - BHA President
Annual General Meeting 2013
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW
Hear reports on our activities over the past year, and discuss plans and priorities for the year ahead.
The AGM provides a great opportunity for all members to influence how Dorset Humanists grows and develops in the future, so please do come along and have your say.
This year we’re planning to revitalise the aims of the group, and agree a revised Constitution (see details below). Together with our annual committee elections, this year promises to be no less stimulating than previous AGMs!
If you would like to nominate someone to join the committee, or make a formal proposal for discussion at the AGM, please contact us. Nominations and formal proposals must be received by the end of February. Everyone is welcome to attend but you must be a member in order to vote. Membership costs just £12pa. Ask for a membership form, or join online.
Suggested Dorset Humanists Constitution Changes
You can view a copy of our revised (draft) Constitution here. The main changes are:
1. Overall ‘Aim’ now called ‘Mission Statement’. This is in line with common business practice and our ‘mission’ will be explained in a separate document detailing our aims.
2. A new paragraph setting out our Partnership Agreement with the British Humanist Association.
3. Augmented paragraph on membership conditions.
4. Augmented paragraph on the role of the committee.
5. Additional procedures for the AGM.
6. Removal of the stipulation to appoint an auditor. We are well below the income threshold for this to be a requirement. Nevertheless we do have arrangements in place for non-committee scrutiny of our accounts. Accounts for the period ending 31st December 2012 are available to paid-up members in advance of the AGM on request.
7. Augmented paragraph on Finance.
8. New paragraph on altering the Constitution.
Please contact David Warden if you wish to raise any additional points for discussion at the AGM.
Free entry (donations appreciated). Everyone welcome!
Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.
New Events Programme: Jan – May 2013
The new programme includes presentations and discussions on a range of topics including science, philosophy, poetry, humanist ceremonies. We’ve also been making excellent progress with planning this year’s forthcoming events which will include talks on the environment, the paranormal, a humanist view of sex and sexuality, and donating your body to science, so look out for future programmes and website updates.
For full details of all these events, download your copy of the latest Dorset Humanists Events Programme here.
Finally, please check this website, our monthly bulletins, and/or facebook for any last minute updates to our event schedule.
Most Dorset Humanists meetings and events are at Moordown Community Centre, 21 Coronation Avenue, BH9 1TW, Bournemouth, Dorset. (google map), or The Green House Hotel, 4 Grove Road, Bournemouth. BH1 3AX.
Click this link to see details of Dorset Humanists next meeting.
Click this link to see all posts detailing forthcoming meetings and events.
February Bulletin
Also this month, news about our successful Christmas Appeal, the India Fund, public opinion about secular schools, and Holocaust Memorial Day. We are also distributing a copy of our revised draft 2013 Constitution. This will be voted on by members at our AGM in March.
We look forward to seeing you very soon.
David Warden
Chair, Dorset Humanists
*** Please note that the original version of our February Bulletin (Chairman's View) stated that a recent YouGov survey for Prospect magazine showed only 9% of parents at state schools agree with the statement ‘Make all schools secular’. In fact, 47% of parents at state schools supported this statement compared to only 38% opposing it. The originally quoted figure of 9% was actually net support for the statement (i.e. the difference between those supporting and those opposing the statement). We apologise for this error which has now been corrected.***
Alfred Russel Wallace: A Life Explored
The Green House Hotel, 4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX
‘The 2013 Dennis Bannister Memorial Lecture’
Join us for a fascinating evening as David Croman relates the extraordinary life and achievements of Alfred Russel Wallace.
Wallace is best known as the co-founder, with Darwin, of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection, but he was also one of the greatest explorers, scientists, intellectuals, and writers of his time.
In this well-illustrated presentation, author and psychologist, David Croman recounts Wallace’s jungle adventures in Indonesia, Malaysia, South America and beyond. He will also be exploring Wallace’s immense contribution to science and evolutionary theory, as well as examining how his odd and sometimes quirky ideas led him down strange avenues.
Wallace spent the final years of his life living in Broadstone, Dorset, and was buried in Broadstone Cemetery after his death 100 years ago in 1913.
This lecture is in memory of Dennis Bannister who gave numerous talks to Dorset Humanists on Darwin, Wallace, and evolution.
David Croman is a local author, wildlife photographer, natural science lecturer and a former Secretary of Dorset Humanists.
Free entry (donations appreciated). Everyone welcome!
(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed from Gervis Road, which is better lit and has roadside parking).
Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster.
Humanist Chaplains for Prisons
Wessex Royale Hotel, 32 High Street West, DORCHESTER DT1 1UP
A talk for West Dorset Humanists by Probation Officer, Amy Walden
Much provision is given to religious prisoners to ensure they can practice their religion whilst in custody. For many, this provides much needed emotional support, time out of their cell and a chance to form a network of friends. But what if you are a non-religious prisoner? This talk looks at the inequalities faced by non-religious prisoners and how the British Humanist Association and HM Prison Service are seeking to address them through a pilot involving pastoral care at HMP Winchester. Despite a lot of opposition, the pilot is proving to be a success and it is hoped it will be rolled out across the prison estate.
More details from westdorsethumanists(at)hotmail.com
Everyone's welcome and the talk is free (suggested donation of £2.00)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)