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Jefferson County Colorado Chapter of the American Humanist Association (AHA)

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Jefferson County Colorado Chapter of the American Humanist Association (AHA) The Jefferson Humanists mission is to expand an ethical and life-affirming Humanist Community devoted to science, reason, inclusion and social responsibility. Through community building, lectures and social activism we expand our member’s awareness, gain an understanding of the issues facing the world and provide learning opportunities through guest speakers on a variety of topics. Jefferson County Colorado Chapter of the American Humanist Association (AHA) https://www.jeffersonhumanists.org/ Annual Picnic: June 23rd 2 Chapter Meeting: May Review Chapter members wonderful time 3 Humanist Perspectives and friends are outdoors with your (HP): June and HP Looking invited to the fellow Humanists.¨ ahead July annual Jefferson For location and Humanists to ensure we have Monthly Hike: June and Summer Picnic, enough food, Humanists Helping which will take the RSVP to this Humanity June place of our June Meetup https:// 5 President’s Message monthly chapter www.meetup.com/ meeting. JH will JeffcoHumanists/ Art, Science, Culture (ACS) provide brats, Outing: June and burgers and veggie Humanist’s Birthdays: June burgers, with buns, condiments and events/258568203/ 7 FROG Book Club: May all the fixings, along with soft drinks. Chapter members are asked to bring Review and June The Road Wine and beer will be available for a a salad or dessert to share. Also, we to Unfreedom. $3 donation. Members are need volunteer help in the following encouraged to bring a side dish, areas: Set up, pour drinks and 8 4 H Happy Hour: May and appetizer or dessert to share, but is June cleanup as follows: 2 people to set up optional. We'll meet and eat at the at 4:30 pm; 2 to clean up at 8:00 pm; Looking Ahead: July and Arbor House in Maple Grove Park. 2 to help set out and serve food at Colorado Secular We'll also have some fun activities. 5:30 pm; and a few folks to bring and Conference June The Table Mesa Jazz Trio will play kick-start lawn games; a facilitator 10 Summer Solstice Picnic: and cool music from the 30s and 40s. for Humanist trivial pursuit. Contact Library Thing Gordon Gamm, long-time AHA Vice President Jim Bole if you can activist, will give a short talk. There help or if you can bring food. 11 Movie Night will be a drawing for two Reply to Jim here. 12 The Last Page complimentary 2019 memberships, and more. So come and have a JH Monthly — 2019 June 1 Issue 6.06 ay 26th brought us Intellectual Freedom, Social Justice, and the Signs of the Times, presented by Jamie LaRue, former Director of the Office M Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association When the American Library Association was founded in 1876, its motto was “The best books for the most people at the least cost.” Jamie pointed out that it was assumed that the “best books” would be chosen by the professional librarians and that cost was a major factor. In 1939, ALA revised this concept by creating the Library Bill of Nancy Bolt and Speaker Jamie LaRue Rights, which provided a broader view of what the library should do on behalf of the information needs of its users. It includes concepts such as these: • Materials should not be excluded because of origin, background, or views or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. • Libraries should challenge censorship and cooperate with groups resisting censorship. • The right to use a library should not be denied or abridged. • Exhibit spaces and meeting rooms should be available on an equitable basis. • All library users possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their use of library materials or services. Jamie added, “Today, indications in many parts of the world point to growing intolerance, suppression of free speech and censorship affecting the rights of minorities and individuals,” and libraries are one of the institutions often challenged for implementing the concepts of the Library Bill of Rights. One of the aspects of library services challenged the most often is access to information by children. Parents often ask librarians to censor what their and other children should read. Librarians stress that parents have the right to control their own children’s reading (or try to) but not what other children are allowed to read. That doesn’t prevent conservative groups from challenging books because they feel they are inappropriate for children. Libraries need to have policies and processes in place to respond to these challenges. Another concern is access to information in schools. Recently, the EBSCO databases, which many schools subscribe to, were challenged for providing access to pornography. The challengers were was never able to replicate the search they claim led to pornography on the school library’s computer. Also challenged are library services. For example, a library in Montana scheduled a series of programs from ethnic speakers. All went well until the library director scheduled a Muslim speaker. There was a protest because “Islam is an evil religion that supports violence.” In this case, the library director challenged the conservative group and the program received a standing ovation. In another example, the librarian canceled a program under pressure and has found that giving in has led to increased attempts to limit “controversial” programs. Jamie’s message was, “Don’t give in to intimidation.” Jamie concluded by emphasizing that America’s institutions are important to democracy. After WWII, people trusted institutions. They trusted government and would change in response to government. Now, people distrust government and expect government to change, or in some cases, go away. JH Monthly — 2019 June 2 HOME Issue 6.06 Humanist Perspectives | June 15th program By Tom Kellogg and Jim Bole Saturday , June 15 , 2019 10 : 00 AM to 12 : 00 PM To honor the national AHA conference coming up in June 7-9, we'll show some amazing talks on video from major secular conferences, especially from past annual AHA conferences. These presentations are very interesting and showcase views on Humanism. We meet in the Mills Building behind JUC. Park on the east side and take the walkway between the buildings to the side entrance. The Jefferson Humanists Chapter of the American Humanist Association is very pleased to of- fer a regular explorations series on 3rd Saturdays, 10-12 AM, at Jefferson Unitarian Church (JUC). Each session will be slightly different and include several segments to showcase aspects of Humanism through a presentation, videos, movies, forums and explorations, followed by discussions. We will include time for participants to socialize and get acquainted, in keeping with our chapter goal of building community. Breakfast pastries and beverages will be served. Hosted by Tom Kellogg and Jim Bole Humanist Perspectives-Special Evening Event with Dr. Darrel Ray: Sexy Evolution Saturday, July 20th, 7:00 pm, JUC Chapel. Dr. Ray is a world-renowned psychologist who focuses on various topics like workplace organizational culture and secular sexuality. He is also a speaker, podcaster and atheist activist. He helped found and is President of the Board of Recovering from Religion and author of the books, The God Virus, and Sex and God. Darrel is an amazing speaker who captivates his audiences and is a frequent headliner at secular conventions. The Jefferson Humanists are very fortunate to have him speak for our Humanist Perspectives. On August 30, 2014, Ray launched a podcast about human sexuality and atheism called Secular Sexuality where is he also the host. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. Space is limited. For more information: https://www.meetup.com/JeffcoHumanists/events/261882807/ JH Monthly — 2019 June 3 HOME Issue 6.06 Monthly Hike 1st Saturday | June 1, 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Join us on the first Saturday of the month for a walk/hike, geared for easy and moderate hiking levels. We visit different interesting wild places and sometimes do an urban hike at special events. This month we’re going to Bear Creek Greenbelt 2800 South Estes Street, Lakewood it’s an easy level hiking trail with beautiful scenery. We'll do a loop of over two miles. Afterward, for those interested, we'll have dinner at The Garlic Knot. http://garlicknotpizza.com/colorado/ Bring a water bottle, good walking shoes, comfortable clothes, sunscreen and a hat. Be prepared for any weather. For more information or directions, call Tom Kellogg at 720-808-2825 or nearly two years we’ve been DONATION DRIVES FOR THE collecting oral hygiene items and other REMAINDER OF 2019 toiletries for donation to The Action June: No drive….join us at the picnic Center, a local non-profit organization July: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss Drive for the Fproviding help with basic human needs and Action Center pathways to self-sufficiency. The Action Center August: Special Drive for Jeffco Schools provides personal hygiene items to between 65 Foundation…Serving Kids Clothing Program and 85 households each day so that these people can conserve their limited funds for more urgent September: Sock Drive for The Action Center expenses. October: Gently used sleeping bags, tents Drive for the Action Center On April 23 the Social Responsibility Committee November: Laundry Detergent Drive for The met to discuss ways to help our Chapter address Action Center the needs of our community. One idea that we’ll act upon is to bring more focus to our monthly December: No Drive…Join us at the Holiday donation drive. Most months we’ll ask members Party to donate a particular type of item. We’ll also be happy to collect additional personal items those For questions or comments about Humanists Helping months. Thanks for helping. Humanity, please contact Carole Hughes at [email protected] Get Involved JH Monthly — 2019 June 4 HOME Issue 6.06 hen the Jefferson Humanists chapter was formed back in 2014, it started as a small group of people who wanted to build a humanist community.
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