Following our 2008 Annual General Meeting, a not-for-profit management consultant advised the Board, staff and stakeholders of Humanist Canada on how to improve governance and facilitated discussions on strategic planning to sharpen our overall business focus. Your input on steering our strategic direction is welcome. Choose your two preferences and list them in order of importance to you in the poll below. The top results will be added to our list of priorities for Humanist Canada over the next five years. The deadline for submissions is January 18, 2010.

1. ANNUAL SPEAKER CONFERENCE (REASON OUT LOUD)

Building on the success of our first conference series, “Reason Out Loud” during the 200th anniversary year of Charles Darwin’s birth, Humanist Canada could make Reason Out Loud an annual event. This past April, five prominent speakers, from both the Christian and Humanist communities, debated some of the hottest topics today, including abortion, gender and biotechnology. The format of future Reason Out Loud conferences could vary from debates, to lectures, to panel discussions, to film and discussion evenings, and feature Canadian and international speakers. Already we have seen that this year’s debate stimulated public interest in humanism and secularism and generated membership growth. Although this past event was held in Toronto and drew a crowd of over 100 people, we feel that our membership could benefit even more from holding Reason Out Loud in different cities. Input for future event themes and speakers would be encouraged from our all our members and the general public.

2. NEXT GENERATION CONNECTION

Drawing on the importance of reaching people at a young age to teach them about humanist and secular values and on the reality that we live in an ever-changing and fast-paced technological age, students who have embraced the humanist lifestance will be invited to join a new dedicated Facebook site hosted by Humanist Canada. Here students from across the nation will be able to exchange notes, jokes, news stories, and watch videos related to humanism. These types of sites are very popular and are a quick and efficient way to attract younger Humanists and encourage those who are curious about humanism to learn more. And once a year, Humanist Canada could host a Next Generation Humanist Video Contest. Students would be invited to create and submit a humanism-themed video to win a monetary prize. Judges would be other students and voting would be done online. Prizes awarded will be determined upon donations received.
 

3. MEDIA WATCH

This group would monitor the media looking for stories that either show Humanists/Atheists in a bad light or unnecessarily put religion on the pedestal we want to knock them off of. This group would also look for sympathetic reporters and outlets to help us get our message out. They could monitor the media for stories we want to write press releases on. It is important to stay current as the news cycle, even at 24 hours, dies after the story has run its course.

4. ADVOCACY & AWARENESS

This team would research and provide profiles and contact information of MPs and MPPs and their respective religious affiliations and attitudes toward important subjects and issues affecting our civil rights, public policy, and health and education systems. Knowing who to contact, about what, and when, would help us target our efforts to increase awareness of the importance and relevance of humanism and secularism. The National Council could play a vigorous role in advocacy awareness.

5. SECULAR PARENTS ASSOCIATION

Made up of parents from various organizations, regardless of belief systems, concerned about children’s education. This group would send letters to the editor and attend protests, school board meetings and public hearings to represent secular education each time an issue of interference in education on religious or other spurious grounds arises. It could also forge relationships with other education groups and engage local candidates on secular education issues during election campaigns. Humanist Canada could provide promotional materials, an online discussion form, and a web page with links to various resources. Nominal group membership fee (e.g. $10-$20) would be charged to cover the cost of resources.