Archives
Think for yourself, act for everyone
- MPs debate Assisted Dying Bill as part of Report Stage
- ‘Stop exporting compassion’: Family members who travelled to Switzerland call for assisted dying law
- Humanist parliamentarians demand end to blasphemy laws
- Success! Scottish Assisted Dying Bill passes first vote
- Welsh Government to spend over £100 million on two new Catholic schools the church will own
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Humanists International
- Humanists International highlights rights of humanists under minority rights framework at UN
- Road to pitch night begins for Humanist Ceremonies Accelerator participants
- Cause for celebration: Mubarak Bala arrives in Germany
- Humanists condemn Indonesian court ruling on non-religious rights at United Nations
- Humanists urge Colombia to uphold secularism and indigenous rights
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3. Past Events
Friday 22nd Nov, 7pm
Friday is our monthly coffee & chat get together at The Holiday Inn foyer, 7 – 9 pm, please pop in and say hello and stay for as little or as long as you can!Thursday 21st November
Our local MP, Matt Turmaine held a Town Hall style event in Watford at the Holiday Inn on the evening of 21 November on the subject of the Assisted Dying bill. John Dowdle and I attended.
Sunday 10th November 2024
This afternoon around 2:45pm, at the side of the Town Hall, I’ll be laying a wreath on behalf of Watford Humanists and Defence Humanists (the non-religious in our Armed Forces).
The procession will start shortly after 2pm from St Mary’s Church, and I will be representing Watford Humanists.
Our new flag to be displayed in future activities! It should get us noticed!
Watford Humanists has made a contribution to this Report. Thank you all.31st October 2024
30th October 2024
The AGM was held at 4:00 p.m. onSunday 13 October at the Almshouses, near St Mary’s Church.Minutes will be circulated to all members and supporters in due course.Present: John Dowdle, Derek Foster, Neil Jenkins, Panos Fellas, Katerina Fellas, Alex Williams, Peter Jenkins, Barbara Noble, Brian Hodgson and Elena Soriano (via Zoom), Apologies received from Mohammed Hamayun and Gwen MayThe main news: John Dowdle has stepped down as President and Panos Fellas was voted in as new Chair. Derek Foster has stepped down as Treasurer and Katerina Fellas has been voted in as the new Treasurer. Neil Jenkins has been voted in to continue being the Secretary.This was the AGM Agenda:--
Welcome and Introductions
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Officers’ Reports: President, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Director
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Election of 2024-2025 Officers
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Changes to Watford Area Humanists Constitution
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Future plans
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Any Other Business
Anyone not yet a member can visit https://watford.humanist.org.uk/join-us/ to become a member.———-The AGM was held at 4:00 p.m. onSunday 13 October at the Almshouses, near St Mary’s Church.Minutes will be circulated to all members and supporters in due course.Present: John Dowdle, Derek Foster, Neil Jenkins, Panos Fellas, Katerina Fellas, Alex Williams, Peter Jenkins, Barbara Noble, Brian Hodgson and Elena Soriano (via Zoom), Apologies received from Mohammed Hamayun and Gwen MayThe main news: John Dowdle has stepped down as President and Panos Fellas was voted in as new Chair. Derek Foster has stepped down as Treasurer and Katerina Fellas has been voted in as the new Treasurer. Neil Jenkins has been voted in to continue being the Secretary.This was the AGM Agenda:--
Welcome and Introductions
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Officers’ Reports: President, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Director
-
Election of 2024-2025 Officers
-
Changes to Watford Area Humanists Constitution
-
Future plans
-
Any Other Business
Sunday 13th October, 4pm,
The Watford Area Humanists Annual General Meeting took place on: Sunday 13th October, 4pm, at The Almshouses, near St Mary's Church, central Watford. ====================
23rd September 2024
Central London Humanists and South West London Humanists are delighted to present One Life: An Introduction to Humanism, based on the course developed by Humanists UK with local humanist groups.
This popular course which looks at Humanism and how it can help us live a good, ethical life, has been beneficial to attendees who are new to Humanism as well as those who are familiar with some of the concepts but want to learn more. Watch introductory video.
If you would like to attend a free in-person taster session, to find out more about the course and meet the presenters and other attendees, drop in and join us at the Old Diorama Arts Centre between 6:15 PM and 9 PM on Wednesday, 28 August.
Refreshments will be provided. You can come along without any commitment to sign up to the online course.The actual online One Life Course consists of six, weekly, two hour sessions.
It runs on consecutive Monday evenings, 7-9 PM: 23 September, 30 September, 7 October, 14 October, 21 October, 28 October.Each module of the course covers a different aspect of humanism. By attending the six weeks you will gain a good understanding of this world view.
Sign up for the online course. There is a £12 charge to attend the six session course.
31st August 2024: Herts Pride 2024, Cassiobury Park, Watford, 12:00 – 22:00 Click for more info!
We are proud of our achievements in having established an annual event where everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate diversity in Hertfordshire.
Herts Pride invites people of all races, faiths, genders, sexualities, and abilities, to join in and show their support for our wonderful local LGBTQ+ community.
Despite great progress being made towards true equality, there is still so much more we can, and need, to do. LGBTQ+ people face discrimination every single day, and now more than ever, Pride is a time for us to increase awareness of these issues and join together to solve them.
However, it is also a time for us to celebrate the vibrant, dynamic, and powerful LGBTQ+ communities of Hertfordshire.
All proceeds from ticket sales, donations, sponsors and supporters goes towards the operational costs of running the Herts Pride annual event.
23rd August 2024
Our last informal get together took place on Friday 23rd August, at 7pm at The Holiday Inn foyer, near Watford Junction station.
You can see event information on our Meetup group.
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October 2023 Update: on October 5th and 6th, John Dowdle (President) and Panos Fellas (Director of Communications) of Watford Area Humanists participated at Watford Grammar School for Girls in making an appeal for donations for Uganda Humanist Schools Trust, as well explaining the world-view that humanists possess. A very invigorating and inspiring experience!
We hope to have further news on how well the appeal went and what amount of donations for Uganda Humanists Schools Trust we attained at the school.
We have obtained a Remembrance Day Wreath from the Royal British Legion and amended it so as to be able to lay a wreath on behalf of Defence Humanists UK at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday 12 November 2023 at the Peace Memorial next to Watford Town Hall and opposite Watford Library. All welcome to attend.
Welcome, Panos Fellas !!
Panos Fellas has joined Watford Area Humanists’ Executive Committee as Communications Director.
Panos will work closely with other executive committee members to re-launch Watford Area Humanists now the Covid pandemic has subsided to a point where regular meetings are once again feasible.
Panos has new ideas for our Humanists UK partner group which he will be outlining over the next few weeks, which should hopefully stimulate all of us to become more active in promoting the values of humanism and secularism within the wider Watford area.
We plan activities in the weeks and months to come and are open to suggestions from members and supporters that we can accommodate.
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