STATE OF THE ORGANIZATION
by HOH President Daniel Strain – March 2007

• Our main event, big changes.

• Adding more structure: social reception, announcements, a short reading, main presentation, questions & discussion.

• Subject matter of main presentation to focus more on positive Humanist values and life issues.

• Currently working on having child care or a children's program for attending parents.

• Already have: Social Club, Ideas Club, and Humanist Contemplatives Club.

• Will soon be adding: Women's Club and Religious Critique Club.

• Most of these hopefully public.

• At a minimum each year: Darwin Day (Feb), World Humanist Day (June), Winter Solstice Celebration (Dec).

• Likely will be putting on a joint Freethought Alliance celebration in the park in May.

• We will be having Star Trek screenwriter Susan Sackett coming in September to speak on "Humanist ideals expressed in Star Trek". Plan to invite Alliance groups (of course), sci-fi and Trek fan clubs, local gamers, MySpace folks, Unitarians, and more.

4) Other Projects (possibilities, in the works):

• Discovering Humanism: A one-session basic overview of Humanism we'd like to put together, which would be put on once/year - probably as one of our Monthly gatherings. Purpose: educate new members, give us something to advertise and invite to those who haven't heard of us.

• Humanistic Citizenship Award: A plaque awarded to a local prominent Houstonian, at a public location, who has advanced some worthy humanistic value or principle (even though s/he may or may not be a Humanist or even atheist per se). Purpose: support the humanist value being promoted, exposure of HOH from the event.

• Annual HOH Scholarship: An award (probably around $500) given to the Houston college student who submits the best essay on Humanism. Purpose: support education, exposure of HOH to college students.

• Ongoing Canned Food Donations: Encourage all members to buy just ONE extra can of food each time they grocery shop and set aside, bringing however many they have to each Monthly Gathering for donating to the needy. Purpose: help those in need.

• Purpose is not to convert or evangelize, but simply to make current nontheists aware of our group and of Humanism.

• Web functionality and new HOH Patron Program has already more than doubled our operating funds for the year.

• Currently collecting advertising rates so that we can make a decision on where to spend funds.

• We already have rates for: U of H Newspaper, Rock radio station 94.5, Houston Press.

• We still need rates for: Rice Univ Newspaper, Greensheet, Classical/News radio station 88.7, Direct Mail possibilities.

• Free web exposure exists. Already we have MySpace page and over 180 'friends' - totally new people who hadn't heard of us a few weeks ago. We are looking at getting more involved on YouTube.

6) What YOU can do to help (our most pressing needs):

• We need a Program Director to help arrange people and subjects for our monthly gathering presentation.

• We need an Outreach Director to help get rates and submit our ads to the media companies.

• We need a Child Care Director: someone with the desire to watch children during the monthly gathering, or possible play or have fun lessons if you are willing and able. Either way, please let us know.

• We need people interested in the new Women's Club, Religious Critique Club, and Social Club to let us know and attend.

• Joining if you're not a member, or possibly donating or becoming a Patron if you are, are always welcome, although elbow grease is a more rare commodity than money at this point.

***

NEW VOLUNTEERS ANNOUNCED
HOH has recently been benefited with a new Secretary and Membership Director.
[Click Here For More Info]

***

WELCOME GATHERING SUCCESS!
See pictures and learn about the great turnout at our recent Welcome Gathering!
[Click Here For More Info]

***

HOH CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Learn about our plans for an HOH Children's Program and help us make it a reality! Find out what one Humanist group did.
[Click Here For More Info]

***

WHAT HOH REALLY NEEDS
More than funds, more than events, it's our rarest commodity.
[Click Here For More Info]

***

CANNED GOODS PROGRAM
Remember to get one extra can when shopping, then bring those collected to the monthly Gathering!
[Click Here For More Info]