10/12/2012
Proposal of objectives and policies for The Humanist Association of Ireland
Here is a list of outline ideas for the Association. They need to be expanded into workable ideas once this outline is agreed by the directors. Many are already incorporated by the HAI
1. Education:-
a. No state funding to religious/faith schools
b. All schools to teach comparative religion in its historical context and taught by non religious / non-partisan teachers
c. Contact the Educating Together organisation to see if we can participate in educating primary school children in Humanism
d. Alternatives/preliminary steps to the above as already outlined by the HAI in the various submissions made to date
e. HAI to sit on National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)
2. Approach colleges / universities nationwide to get them to start a Humanist Association.
a. Work withteThe National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies. This is UK based but includes Eire.
b. Aaron Keohane will set up a website for student societies which will be a source of ideas and resources for these AAHSS societies.
c. Set up a Facebook group for the above
3. Start Community Humanism action programme
a. ? Social activities? Competitions? Games? Youth clubs? Help?
b. Aaron Keohane to present this idea
4. The revised HAI web site- see separate proposal by K.Sheehan
5. Committees for :-
a. Branches
b. Ceremonies
c. Chaplaincy
d. Community
e. Education Nationally
f. Education for HAI members at local meetings plus regional / national level
g. Events
h. Finance / Donations / budget
i. Irish language members to deal with the Gaeltacht, Irish Speakers outside the Gaeltacht and Irish language schools, colleges and societies.
j. Lobbying
k. Magazine
l. Public relations / local and world Humanist news
m. Publicity
n. Recruitmet/membership
o. Training of members in The Objects of Humanism; Techniques of Persuasion; Speaking on radio and television; Public Speaking; Efficient working practices; Conduct of monthly and committee meetings.
p. Universities
q. Web
r. Youth
HAI board to delegate work out to the committees and membership.
Set out requirements for running a committee.
Each committee to have a clear goal with reporting to board meetings and a defined and agreed
budget and timing
6. Create a nationwide organisation of branches with an initial target of 5000 members
a. These local groups started with the help of the branches committee via people/ support material / events / speakers
b. Create a standard operating procedure to start and run a local group
c. Expand out from established groups into local groups and then help with launch
d. Aim towards the Norweigan success of a membership of 1.6% of the population i.e. 70,000 Irish Humanists in the republic
7. Broadcasting:-
a. The possibilities are unlimited of course. To start, the big cathartic events should be filmed /recorded
b. Have Skype at each monthly meeting for those members who cannot get there to participate. This could also be used to encourage non-members to listen in without the need to travel and they can decide if Humanism is for them. There is a limit of 25 people per conference on the Free of Charge set up.
c. Unlimited numbers can be accommodated on a live pod cast.
d. Eventually all meetings can be recorded and put on you tube or our web site
8. Start a Facebook for HAI Can we have a talk by our Student friends on social networking / blogs /facebook / twitter. Is this the best way to reach the younger generation from school children right through to 30 year olds
9. Increase membership:- See the separate proposal by K. Sheehan
10. Web site Forums
a. Use the forum for communication from members and to debate policy
b. Give Specific tips on writing letters to the editor with examples of letters
c. Directors forum to develop ideas and exchange information
11. Volunteers programme :- ask HAI members if they would like to be activists or supporters. So step forward if you want to actively involved or happy with attending meetings and events.
12. Get the current membership to join in with campaigns by local activities of leaflets / speaking to their TD's i.e. marriage bill / abortion
a. Conduct Polls / surveys on the web site to garner opinions to support policy and campaigns and lobbying
b. Lobbying: Tips on how to lobby state and local officials.
13. Expand Ceremonies work Approach funeral directors to offer a celebrant for funerals Ceremonies
a. Pro Forma letters for Undertakers, local council offices and Maternity Units in local hospitals, advertising the fact that HAI can provide celebrants for the “Great Change” events in life, along with suitable contact details. A few stamps and a little time would be all that’s involved.
b. Needs a leaflet
14. Expand Chaplaincy work
a. Guidance from Nic Johnson needed here on how to achieve this
b. Needs a leaflet
15. A costed budget with financial implications for 2013 and estimate of costs for various campaigns. Decide where funds are to spent and how much. Donated funding for projects
16. National conference for all HAI members
a. Spring workshop for all members to address strategy and hear ideas / agenda / objectives
17. Make an HAI Business Card for ~Directors and members. ~Say 5000 initially for 10 to each member
18. Other groups. Improve dialogue / joint activities with other Humanist Groups
a. Cork Humanists
b. Mid West Humanists
c. The Humanist Association of Northern Ireland
d. West Cork Atheist and Humanists
e. The UCD Humanist Society
f. Belfasr Humanist Society
g. Queen’s Humanist Society
h. Work with Irish groups of Atheism, Freethinkers, Skeptics
i. Ditto International Groups
Share resources with these groups
Share speakers with these groups
Joint events with these groups
Call on their members to help with our community programme
Have a joint all Ireland conference to share ideas for the future
19. Seek company sponsorship / donations
20. Elected officials of the HAI to be available through the WEB site email facility
21. Sell on the web site HAI approved books/literature/articles or whatever. Other possibilities are name badges or humanist logo badge and many other promotional items, cards etc
22. Donations:
a. Seek donations from the members, the public, companies, other charities, government
b. Ask members to bequeath say 5% of their wealth in their Wills. This fund would be put to obtaining a building to house the HAI
23. Telephone answering service taking messages and passing on to nominated person/director
24. Changes to Religious practice in Ireland
a. Broadcasting:- If religion gets a say in a programme then it should be balanced with a non religious view
b. Constant awareness of moves by religion to have power/influence in our secular state.
c. Removal of religious affirmation in public life for TD’s, Judges plus ???. Remove swearing on the bible in the polling station plus ??
d. Remove charitable status from religions
e. Religions to pay tax, perhaps by becoming businesses and pay corporation tax
25. Change membership period to one annual date say 1st January to 31st December or June to June
a. How to change over from present system ??
26. Equality for the non-religious. All of the tenets of the HAI statement in its book on the subject. This book is not up to date and needs revising. Perhaps if this book was turned into a small booklet of headlines and refer readers to our web site for the full explanation
27. An annual Darwin day celebration each year
28. Irish Constitutional Convention 2012. Seek to influence the outcomes of this body
29. Reinforce current dialogue with all arms of the Irish State
30. Create a recognised written structure for the HAI. Tom White has submitted a proposal for this
31. Get all HAI data held on directors personal computers onto a web based online storage system ( called the CLOUD)
Proposal of objectives and policies for The Humanist Association of Ireland
Here is a list of outline ideas for the Association. They need to be expanded into workable ideas once this outline is agreed by the directors. Many are already incorporated by the HAI
1. Education:-
a. No state funding to religious/faith schools
b. All schools to teach comparative religion in its historical context and taught by non religious / non-partisan teachers
c. Contact the Educating Together organisation to see if we can participate in educating primary school children in Humanism
d. Alternatives/preliminary steps to the above as already outlined by the HAI in the various submissions made to date
e. HAI to sit on National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)
2. Approach colleges / universities nationwide to get them to start a Humanist Association.
a. Work withteThe National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies. This is UK based but includes Eire.
b. Aaron Keohane will set up a website for student societies which will be a source of ideas and resources for these AAHSS societies.
c. Set up a Facebook group for the above
3. Start Community Humanism action programme
a. ? Social activities? Competitions? Games? Youth clubs? Help?
b. Aaron Keohane to present this idea
4. The revised HAI web site- see separate proposal by K.Sheehan
5. Committees for :-
a. Branches
b. Ceremonies
c. Chaplaincy
d. Community
e. Education Nationally
f. Education for HAI members at local meetings plus regional / national level
g. Events
h. Finance / Donations / budget
i. Irish language members to deal with the Gaeltacht, Irish Speakers outside the Gaeltacht and Irish language schools, colleges and societies.
j. Lobbying
k. Magazine
l. Public relations / local and world Humanist news
m. Publicity
n. Recruitmet/membership
o. Training of members in The Objects of Humanism; Techniques of Persuasion; Speaking on radio and television; Public Speaking; Efficient working practices; Conduct of monthly and committee meetings.
p. Universities
q. Web
r. Youth
HAI board to delegate work out to the committees and membership.
Set out requirements for running a committee.
Each committee to have a clear goal with reporting to board meetings and a defined and agreed
budget and timing
6. Create a nationwide organisation of branches with an initial target of 5000 members
a. These local groups started with the help of the branches committee via people/ support material / events / speakers
b. Create a standard operating procedure to start and run a local group
c. Expand out from established groups into local groups and then help with launch
d. Aim towards the Norweigan success of a membership of 1.6% of the population i.e. 70,000 Irish Humanists in the republic
7. Broadcasting:-
a. The possibilities are unlimited of course. To start, the big cathartic events should be filmed /recorded
b. Have Skype at each monthly meeting for those members who cannot get there to participate. This could also be used to encourage non-members to listen in without the need to travel and they can decide if Humanism is for them. There is a limit of 25 people per conference on the Free of Charge set up.
c. Unlimited numbers can be accommodated on a live pod cast.
d. Eventually all meetings can be recorded and put on you tube or our web site
8. Start a Facebook for HAI Can we have a talk by our Student friends on social networking / blogs /facebook / twitter. Is this the best way to reach the younger generation from school children right through to 30 year olds
9. Increase membership:- See the separate proposal by K. Sheehan
10. Web site Forums
a. Use the forum for communication from members and to debate policy
b. Give Specific tips on writing letters to the editor with examples of letters
c. Directors forum to develop ideas and exchange information
11. Volunteers programme :- ask HAI members if they would like to be activists or supporters. So step forward if you want to actively involved or happy with attending meetings and events.
12. Get the current membership to join in with campaigns by local activities of leaflets / speaking to their TD's i.e. marriage bill / abortion
a. Conduct Polls / surveys on the web site to garner opinions to support policy and campaigns and lobbying
b. Lobbying: Tips on how to lobby state and local officials.
13. Expand Ceremonies work Approach funeral directors to offer a celebrant for funerals Ceremonies
a. Pro Forma letters for Undertakers, local council offices and Maternity Units in local hospitals, advertising the fact that HAI can provide celebrants for the “Great Change” events in life, along with suitable contact details. A few stamps and a little time would be all that’s involved.
b. Needs a leaflet
14. Expand Chaplaincy work
a. Guidance from Nic Johnson needed here on how to achieve this
b. Needs a leaflet
15. A costed budget with financial implications for 2013 and estimate of costs for various campaigns. Decide where funds are to spent and how much. Donated funding for projects
16. National conference for all HAI members
a. Spring workshop for all members to address strategy and hear ideas / agenda / objectives
17. Make an HAI Business Card for ~Directors and members. ~Say 5000 initially for 10 to each member
18. Other groups. Improve dialogue / joint activities with other Humanist Groups
a. Cork Humanists
b. Mid West Humanists
c. The Humanist Association of Northern Ireland
d. West Cork Atheist and Humanists
e. The UCD Humanist Society
f. Belfasr Humanist Society
g. Queen’s Humanist Society
h. Work with Irish groups of Atheism, Freethinkers, Skeptics
i. Ditto International Groups
Share resources with these groups
Share speakers with these groups
Joint events with these groups
Call on their members to help with our community programme
Have a joint all Ireland conference to share ideas for the future
19. Seek company sponsorship / donations
20. Elected officials of the HAI to be available through the WEB site email facility
21. Sell on the web site HAI approved books/literature/articles or whatever. Other possibilities are name badges or humanist logo badge and many other promotional items, cards etc
22. Donations:
a. Seek donations from the members, the public, companies, other charities, government
b. Ask members to bequeath say 5% of their wealth in their Wills. This fund would be put to obtaining a building to house the HAI
23. Telephone answering service taking messages and passing on to nominated person/director
24. Changes to Religious practice in Ireland
a. Broadcasting:- If religion gets a say in a programme then it should be balanced with a non religious view
b. Constant awareness of moves by religion to have power/influence in our secular state.
c. Removal of religious affirmation in public life for TD’s, Judges plus ???. Remove swearing on the bible in the polling station plus ??
d. Remove charitable status from religions
e. Religions to pay tax, perhaps by becoming businesses and pay corporation tax
25. Change membership period to one annual date say 1st January to 31st December or June to June
a. How to change over from present system ??
26. Equality for the non-religious. All of the tenets of the HAI statement in its book on the subject. This book is not up to date and needs revising. Perhaps if this book was turned into a small booklet of headlines and refer readers to our web site for the full explanation
27. An annual Darwin day celebration each year
28. Irish Constitutional Convention 2012. Seek to influence the outcomes of this body
29. Reinforce current dialogue with all arms of the Irish State
30. Create a recognised written structure for the HAI. Tom White has submitted a proposal for this
31. Get all HAI data held on directors personal computers onto a web based online storage system ( called the CLOUD)