The Humanists of Idaho is a chapter of the American Humanist Association and the
Council for Secular Humanism. We are a nonprofit corporation organized to promote
ethical, democratic, and naturalistic Humanism in the state of Idaho through public
awareness, education and community involvement.
April/May 2006
Humanism is a
rational philosophy
informed by science,
inspired by art, and
motivated by
compassion. It affirms
the dignity of each
human being and
supports individual
liberty consonant with
social and planetary
responsibility.
Humanism advocates
participatory
democracy, the open
society, human rights,
and social justice. Free
of supernaturalism, it
recognizes human
beings as part of nature
and holds that all
values—be they
religious, ethical, social,
or political—have their
source in human nature,
experience, and culture.
Humanism thus derives
the goals of life from
human need and interest
rather than from
theological and
ideological abstractions,
and asserts that
humanity must take
responsibility for its
own destiny.
—The Humanist,
Official publication of the
American Humanist
Association
http://Idaho.humanists.net
Idaho@humanists.net
President’s Report:
It’s Spring – and Humanism is Bustin’ Out All Over!
How is Humanism showing its loveliness? Let me count the ways. (With
profound apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning!)
Besides some of us driving around with “Humanists of Idaho” bumper stickers
on our cars or T-shirts on ourselves, and the occasional letter to the editor signed as
humanists, there are many signs that humanism is sprouting forth in our area.
As recounted last month, HOI members appeared on KAID, Idaho Public TV, in
March to support their annual pledge drive. Sadly, we let the spring equinox (March
20) go by unobserved. March 27 was our regular monthly meeting at the Flicks.
April 1, Paul Rolig of HOI joined with Bruce Packard of Idaho Atheists, a
couple Libertarian Party activists, and several other supporters of Planned
Parenthood of Idaho to demonstrate in support of PPI’s first-Saturday-of-the-month
session at the Applebaum Mental Health Center in Nampa. Since the inception of
this foray into Canyon County, protesters from Idaho Chooses Life and Generation
Life have picketed PPI. In March, the protesters showed graphic pictures of aborted
fetuses, sparking a backlash from locals. In April, they stuck to slogans rather than
graphic images. These demonstrations will continue for the foreseeable future. To
help support Planned Parenthood, contact Rory Williamson at
rory.williamson@ppidaho.org or call 376-2277 ext. 11.
During April, arrangements were made to receive copies of the Council for
Secular Humanism’s weekly half-hour TV show, “The Humanist Perspective,” for
showing on Boise’s local cable access channel. See the separate article in this
newsletter.
April 16, aka Easter, Nancy & Paul hosted a showing of a DVD lecture
debunking Intelligent Design by Dr. Keith Lockitch of the Ayn Rand Institute.
Perhaps most importantly, Doug “Van” Van Curen has just started teaching a
course on “Humanist Philosophy” in the Boise Community Education program! It
started on April 18, and will go for six sessions in all, on successive Tuesdays from
7 to 8 p.m. at West Junior High. Rather than trying to shut down Community Ed
classes that pitch the finer points of Christianity, we in HOI thought it would be
more productive to try putting on a class on Humanism. Van took up the challenge,
and now his efforts are coming to fruition. There were three or four enrollees who
are not currently involved with HOI.
In May, we can celebrate the National Day of Reason (first Thursday of the
month, May 4) by donating blood at the local Red Cross blood center. Call the Red
Cross directly to get signed up to contribute.
Enjoy the spring blooms!
The Idaho Humanist
April/May 2006
HOI Meeting
4th
Page 2
National Day of Reason
Monday of the month
The Flicks in Boise
646 Fulton, at 6th and Myrtle
6:30 PM Board/Business meeting
7:30 PM Discussion/Program
Monday, April 24th Meeting
During the business meeting in April nominations
for officers will be made for the May elections.
Please come to this meeting to help make up a slate
of nominations for the Board of Directors:
President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Other offices are newsletter editor, Webmaster,
charitable giving chair, publicity, membership and
Permanent Building Fund treasurer. If you can’t
come to the meeting forward any nominations to
Paul Rolig at roligpd@spro.net
April meeting topic will be Intelligent Design
and we will discuss the video “Creationism in
Camouflage: The ‘Intelligent Design’ Deception”
that was shown on Sunday, April 16th at the Roligs’.
Thursday, May 4st
Donate Blood
At the HOI April meeting it was decided to
acknowledge this year’s National Day of Reason we
would join other groups in donating blood on that
day. To make an appointment to make a donation
you may call The American Red Cross Blood
Services at 429-5845. The Red Cross located at
Franklin and Phillipi is open from 2-6 pm. They can
schedule donations every 15 minutes alternating
between 2 and 3 people. You may call any time
they're open to make an appointment. They request
if you've donated before that you let them know so
records can be checked. If you haven't, plan to
arrive a few minutes early to complete the
paperwork. Also please let them know you are part
of the Humanist Day of Reason Blood Donation
Drive. If you can’t donate on that day, please
donate whenever you can. Donating Blood is simply
a great deed no matter what day it's given
HOI Annual Meeting
BUUF Discussion Group
Monday, May 22nd Meeting
Second Sunday of the Month at 9 AM
Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at
6200 Garrett, Garden City
Childcare with the BUUF RE programs
The Flicks in Boise
646 Fulton, at 6th and Myrtle
6:30 PM Board/
7:00 PM Business meeting/Elections
7:30 PM Discussion/Program
All Humanist of Idaho members in good
standing, please come to this meeting to support our
organization and vote for officers for 2006-07.
Nominations will be published in the next
newsletter.
Paul Verhage Article in Servo
Sunday, May 14th Meeting
At the May meeting the discussion of
Modernism vs Post-Modernism will be continued.
In April Larry presented his definitions of
Modernism and Post-Modernism, their history and
some examples of how our society has changed in
these periods of traditionalism, modernism and now
post-modernism. Time ran out to discuss the topic
further, so it will be resumed with a group
discussion. Are things better, worse or a
combination with the rise of post-modernism?
HOI member Paul Verhage had an article
published in the March 2006
edition of Robot
Experimenter magazine
You can buy a shirt with the HOI logo at www.zazzle.com. Our logo is
Servo. “The BoRG” is the
on the pocket, AHA motto on the back. Navigate through the site by
cover story and is about
going to “All Product Categories”, click on “Religion, Spirituality,
seven projects that the group
Philosophy” and then “Philosophy.” You will find it displayed there or
has developed.
further narrow the category by going to “Secular Humanism.” You can
order your shirt in your choice of color and style. You can buy a basic tshirt for $16.95(+ tax & shipping) or other styles up to the most
expensive, a hooded sweatshirt for $34.45. there is a 10%.: 376-5475 or
Humanists of Idaho T-Shirts
saw2thking@aol.com
The Idaho Humanist
Page 3
April/May 2006
"The Humanist Perspective"
on TVTV
Those of you with CableOne will now be able to
watch an explicitly Humanist TV program on a
weekly basis! Sorry to say, this does apply to cable
only, not to satellite dish systems.
The Council for Secular Humanism (CSH)
produces a weekly half-hour television program
exploring issues of interest from a humanist point of
view. These are recorded and made available to
local affiliates to sponsor on local TV channels.
Boise's local cable access television station,
TVTV, is carried as Channel 11 on the local cable
provider, CableOne. TVTV carries locally
produced programs, such as the one done each week
by the Idaho Atheists, and they fill available time
with programs not necessarily produced locally, but
sponsored by local groups. About 50% of TVTV's
current programming is religious in nature.
"The Humanist Perspective" will air each
Thursday, starting April 20, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00
p.m., and then repeat at 9:30-10:00 the following
mornings. In May the whole TVTV schedule will
likely be shuffled all around. To check on
programming schedules, see their website at
www.tvpatv.org.
“Creationism in Camouflage:
The ‘Intelligent Design’
Deception
The DVD lecture “Creationism in Camouflage: The
‘Intelligent Design’ Deception” was played at
Nancy & Paul Rolig’s home. Six people came to
watch.
In this talk Dr. Keith Lockitch, senior fellow at
the Ayn Rand Institute, examined the intelligent
design movement focusing on its similarities and
differences with standard creationism. Dr. Lockitch
is a physicist, not a biologist, so many of his
explanations of evolution could have been clearer,
but he gave a pretty clear definition of Intelligent
Design and the difference between it a creationism.
He made the case for using science and rationality
to answer the questions of the beginnings of life and
its development.
We will have a further discussion on the topic at
the April Meeting on Monday April 22nd.
Planned Parenthood Rally
April 1st
From Rory Williamson of PPI: “Thank you so much to everyone who braved the weather and the opposition to
show your support of Planned Parenthood of Idaho in Nampa this past Saturday. It was so wonderful to meet
all of you and begin a dialogue on how we can better organize future demonstrations! Thanks to everyone's
support, our services are becoming more well
known and accessible for our clients.
In addition, I would love to organize a
group including those of you who are
interested in maintaining local activity around
reproductive rights in general, and PPI's
presence in Nampa, specifically. Anyone who
is interested in helping to plan and facilitate
future demonstrations and awareness events,
please send me a personal email at
rory.williamson@ppaidaho.org, so that I can
compile a smaller email list specifically for
this purpose.
Thank you again to everyone supporting
our services and mission. I look forward to
working with you again soon! Take care, Rory
The Idaho Humanist
Page 4
April/May 2006
World Humanist Day
Wednesday June 21st
Come celebrate World Humanist Day on
Tuesday, June 21 at 6 PM at Jullion Park at
3801 Jullion Way in West Boise. It is next to
Summerwind Elementary School. If it rains or
is too windy we will move the party to Nancy &
Paul Rolig’s house nearby at 9877 W. Ripley St
about a block away.
Bring your own picnic dinner and a chair
perhaps. The park has a couple of picnic tables
and playground equipment for the kids.
The day is a way to spread information about
humanism and to celebrate the global community
of humanists. The origins of the day date back to
the 1980s, when humanist groups in the U.S.,
Belgium and elsewhere began celebrating World
Humanist Day, although not always on the same
date! In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the
American Humanist Association (AHA) and the
International Humanist and Ethical Union
(IHEU) passed resolutions declaring the solstice,
June 21, as World Humanist Day.
Humanist Calendar
First Saturday of each month: Demonstrate in
support of Planned Parenthood’s program at the
Applebaum Mental Health Center in Nampa
Sep 22, 2006 – Fall Equinox
May 4, 2006 – National Day of Reason
Nov 18, 2006 – Rake Up Boise
May 22, 2006 – HOI: Election of Officers (every
year, at May meeting)
Dec 21, 2006 – Winter Solstice
Jun 10, 2006 – Gay Pride parade in Boise
Jun 10, 2006 – Paint the Town – Boise
Oct 15, 2006 – CROPWALK Boise: Julia Davis
Park
Dec 25 – Isaac Newton born (1642)
Jan 15 – Martin Luther King born (1929; holiday:
3rd Monday in January)
Jun 21, 2006 – International
Humanist Day
Feb 12 – Charles Darwin born (1809)
Jun 21, 2006 – Summer Solstice
March of each year: Idaho Public TV
pledge drive
Mar 21, – Spring Equinox
The Idaho Humanist
Page 5
April/May 2006
HOI Membership
To those of you who have received this newsletter complimentary, I hope you will decide to join our group.
Please fill out the form below and send in the payment for the level of involvement you wish to the address
below.
You are invited to join the Humanist’s of Idaho’s yahoo group. Go to idaho-humanists@yahoogroups.com
and follow the links to join.
Nancy Rolig, Secretary, Newsletter Editor and Membership Administrator
Humanists of Idaho Board
President: Paul Rolig ……………………………377-0535 or roligpd@spro.net
Vice President: Van Van Curen:……………376-5475 or saw2thking@aol.com
Secretary: Nancy Rolig…………………………… 377-0535 or nrolig@spro.net
Treasurer: Laurie Rollins ……………………………………………….841-1601
Auxiliary Positions
Webmaster/Yahoo Group Administrator:……………………. Van Van Curen
376-5475 or saw2thking@aol.com
Newsletter Editor/membership Administrator:…………………..Nancy Rolig
377-0535 or nrolig@spro.net
9877 W. Ripley St. Boise 83704
Charitable Giving Coordinator: ………………………..……………..Jan Rowe
376-5475 or janiejolee1@aol.com
Publicity Chair:………….Van Van Curen: 376-5475 or saw2thking@aol.com
Permanent Building Fund: …………………………………………....Paul Rolig
roligpd@spro.net 9877 W. Ripley St., Boise 83704
Organization Information
Your support of this local chapter with
your membership, donations and ideas is
greatly appreciated.
Mailing Address:
Humanists of Idaho
P.O. Box 44913
Boise, ID 83711-0913
Website:
http://Idaho.humanists.net
Yahoo Group: idahohumanists@yahoogroups.com
Email Address:
Idaho@humanists.net
Humanists of Idaho Membership and Donation Form
Name
Mailing address
City, state, zip code
Phone and e-mail address
[ ] $25 Individual annual membership and Newsletter subscription
[ ] $45 Couple annual membership and Newsletter subscription
[ ] $15 Newsletter subscription only
[ ] $___ donation to help promote public awareness of Humanism
Mail to:
Humanists of Idaho
P.O. Box 44913
Boise, ID 83711-0913
[ ] $___ Humanists of Idaho Permanent Building Fund Donation
You are invited to join the Humanist’s of Idaho’s yahoo group.
Go to idaho-humanists@yahoogroups.com and follow the links to join.
The Idaho Humanist
April/May 2006
Page 6
Mark your Calendar!
Monday, April 24th HOI Monthly Meeting
The Flicks 646 Fulton, at 6th and Myrtle in Boise
6:30 PM Board/Business Meeting, 7:30 PM Discussion Group
Sunday, May 14th - 9:00 AM
BUUF Humanist Group
Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 6200 Garrett, Garden City,
Childcare Available
Monday, May 22nd
Annual HOI Meeting and Elections
7 PM Business Meeting
The Flicks 646 Fulton, at 6th and Myrtle in Boise
6:30 PM Board/, 7:30 PM Discussion Group
Humanists of Idaho
P.O. Box 44913
Boise, ID 83711-0913