January:

The Humanist Community of Central Ohio is developing a closer, collaborative relationship with OSU’s Students for Freethought (SFF). The current President of SFF, Sharon, Moss, shared the aims and some of the activities of SFF over its seven years representing secular and humanist values on campus. SFF activists pour their energy into creating high visibility in a student community saturated with religious organizations. In addition to lively weekly meetings, members frequently set up display tables, host debates, and focus attention on science through events such as the annual Darwin Day celebration. SFF has discovered the importance of personally connecting with fellow students. We heard how members have developed the skills to share secular approaches to intellectual and emotional challenges as well as current social issues. HCCO members responded to Sharon’s proposal for joint SFF/HCCO events this year with a discussion of how we might raise the public visibility of both groups in central Ohio.

February:

Our scheduled speaker was called away for a family emergency. Instead, we had an "open mike" discussion about ways to put our humanist approach to life into practice. It appears that effective communication and the importance of cultivating friendships are highly valued by humanists in HCCO. One member had the interesting suggestion that living a good, humane life does not and should not necessarily lead to happiness. Another asked how accepting can we be of those whose orientation toward humanity’s highest goals is radically different from humanism. Apparently, how best we can exemplify humanism in our daily lives is a topic that members might enjoy exploring further at future meetings.

March:

After the recent passage and signing into Ohio law of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, HCCO invited Stonewall-Columbus activist Eric Peters to bring us up to speed on challenges to GLBT legal equality. Eric and Episcopal priest George Glazier spoke about movements for acceptance of gay rights in the churches and in our society. Eric summarized the impact of judicial, legislative, and executive decisions regarding same-sex marriage from Massachussetts to California. Rev. Glazer addressed the debates in liberal churches on accepting and supporting equality for all in marriage. Some audience questions focused on best strategies to pursue in this crucial election year. We will continue to track the efforts toward legal recognition of the rights and responsibilities of same-sex couples in starting a family. Advocates wisely seek the support of liberal religious organizations as well as secular humanists and freethinkers.

April:

.Geologist Tom Baillieul was our guest speaker for the day. As a member of Ohio Citizens for Science, Tom has been in the forefront of the fight to keep religion inspired creationist and "Intelligent Design" concepts out of our public school science classrooms. He was able to give us a blow-by-blow account of how the backers of these unscientific concepts were able to inject their anti-evolution prejudices into one of the new science lesson plans recently approved for high school use by the Ohio state board of education. Although some may think this doesn't represent much of a victory for the forces of ignorance, Tom went to great pains to show how it fits into the decades-old fundamentalist assault on evolution as well as how it conforms to what its orchestrators themselves have called a "wedge strategy" geared towards making the Bible an increasingly important part of American education, culture, and politics.

May:

Over 20 HCCO members and guests gathered at the Northwood High Building for cookies, companionship, and a lecture delivered by Paul Poast, an OSU Senior Lecturer in Economics. Among the startling facts Poast passed along were these: In 1980, the average CEO in America made about 40 times what the average worker did. By 1999, that CEO was making 571 times as much! (In contrast, Poast told us, CEOs in Britain make about 270 times as much as workers. In Brazil, they make about 47 times as much.) Although there's some debate as to what exactly constitutes CEO income (e.g., should stock options count?), this widening compensation gap between top management and those managed seems hard to defend and troubles many. Another highlight of Poast's talk was his treatment of the subject of outsourcing. After revealing that manufacturing companies that pay American workers $16/ hour can get the same work done in Mexico for $2/ hour - and in China for just 60 cents an hour - Poast tried to allay our fears by pointing out that more jobs are now being created in the U.S. than are being lost, and that many, many jobs require a local presence and are thus immune to outsourcing. If I understood him correctly, he also seemed to be saying that sincejobs are always being created and destroyed for rational reasons that benefit society as a whole, we should support and, if necessary, enroll in retraining programs for displaced workers rather than attempt to stand in the way of progress by demonizing outsourcers the way many politicians do.

June:

30 HCCO members and guests gathered for the third time at the Northwood High Building. This time we enjoyed cookies, treats, fellowship, and a lecture entitled 'Morality Is In Our Bones - Is There A Cure?' That lecture was delivered by Richard Garner, OSU Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and the author of the book, Beyond Morality. Garner began by complimenting those of us who have rejected God, religion, and their silly commandments but then quickly went on to attack those who continue to embrace morality. What exactly he meant by 'morality' became the subject of lively debate. Garner seems to believe that moral precepts aren't objective or discoverable (as many philosophers and humanists seem to believe) but are instead delusions and superstitions akin to God. Garner prefers to talk about ethics instead, and he apparently wants us to base those ethics on the feelings of empathy we have for our fellow human beings rather than on any grand moral system, such as utilitarianism. The question and answer period which followed the initial presentation of his views seems to have involved the vast majority of those present. Whether those in attendance ended up agreeing with him or not, I think we all enjoyed the enthusiasm he brought to this important subject and the way he got us to think about it.

July:

Long-time member Chuck Pitstick blended humor and serious analysis as he recounted his Catholic upbringing, gradual break with the Church, and continuing disagreement with many of its most basic tenets and practices.

August:

Rick Otten, Green Party candidate for Ohio's 19th District House seat, and Brian Freeman, Democrat John Kerry's field representative for central Ohio, described their party's position on many of the issues facing the country today, then answered all the questions we cared to ask.

September:

Meeting at the Big Run Park Shelter House in order to avoid the traffic hassles associated with an OSU football home game, members shared music, poetry, books, and observations related to humanism.

October:

Richard Campagna, Libertarian vice presidential candidate, and other representatives of the Libertarian Party explained their views. (This meeting was held at BC Roosters to minimize Game Day hassles.)

November:

Cynthia Kerkoff, former president of Hemlock of Ohio, and Warren Wolf, member of the Central Ohio Funeral Consumers Alliance, gave a presentation entitled "Last Wishes: End of Life Decisions."

December:

Board members August Brunsman, Peggy Shecket, and Larry Buhrow conducted a mini-symposium entitled "An Overview of Humanism: Some History, Principles, and Practices."