This website is now defunct. But, for info...

TAUNTON HUMANISTS
Meet at noon on the second Saturday of each month (except August)

at the Cosy Club, Corporation St., Taunton. 

For more (and full) information about our activities, please visit:
http://www.tauntonhumanists.org.uk/

Meetings Diary

The first meeting after our summer break - it'll be a chance to catch up with old friends! (And some new ones?)

Professor A.C. Grayling, new president of the British Humanist Association, writes:

“Humanism . . . is about human life; it requires no belief in an afterlife. It is about this world; it requires no belief in another world. It requires no commands from divinities, no promises of reward or threats of punishment, no myths and rituals either to make sense of things or to serve as a prompt to the ethical life. It requires only open eyes, sympathy, and reason.”

Like thinking people are welcome to join us for lively discussions on a wide range of topics. We have informal meetings and formal presentations. We also arrange social events from time to time.  

Our Autumn programme of talks is as follows:

September 20^th, The history of Astronomy

October 18^th, Alpha exposed

November 12^th, The Lunar Society

December 10^th, Humanist ceremonies (TBC)

For further information call

Tony at 01832-662986   or   chris@ancestorstrail.net

Taunton Humanists meet monthly, at The Winchester Arms on the second Saturday of the month at noon, for informal social meetings.

And our next meeting, on the 14th of May is exactly that - an 

"Informal social meeting"!

A chance to meet and chat with like-minded people over a coffee or a pint. Come along and share your views - tell us what you're thinking, what you're reading - we'd love to know!


It's our last meeting before the annual Ancestor's Trail - on the 29th of May - and Chris Jenord will give us a final update on the planning. If you haven't already booked for this great day - Do It Now!

Generally:

When we have speakers we will meet in the upstairs room at the Winchester Arms on the evening  of the third Tuesday, with a nominal charge for non-members (to help with speakers' expenses).

The Winchester Arms is on Castle Green, next to the bus station.

The current annual subscription to the group is £10, due now.

This year's AGM was held on January 8, 2011.

Chairman reviewed the previous year's meetings and events.

The Treasurer presented the accounts. Resolution on subscriptions was to keep the annual fee at £10. For those who join in April, the fee will be £9, and thereafter will reduce by one pound per month. Occasional visitors will pay £1 per meeting.

At May 15, 2010, the bank balance stood at £140.

Payments made, £25.50 for publicity leaflets; £50 towards Ancestors Trail expenses.

Balance at 1/1/2011, £76.50.

Subscriptions collected on January 8th, £70, raising current balance to £146.50.

Ancestors Trail. Chris gave the current arrangements for this year's Trail which will take place on Sunday May 29th, Spring Bank Holiday weekend. Details can be found on the AT website. This year accommodation will be offered at St Audries Bay Holiday Park, including camping and catering, and an evening venue. 

Comunications: Paul has set up a blog site under "Taunton Humanists" and will update along with the Twitter site.

Social programme. A theatre trip has been arranged to Richard Herring's show "Christ on a Bicycle . . . the Second Coming". Other suggestions were to attend meetings at Dillington near Ilminster, and join the Dorset group for their Darwin Day dinner.

Speakers and presentations. Penny will organise visitors to our meetings, from the BHA and other groups and organisations. These could be either on Saturdays or on the third Tuesday evening of the month.

Election of officers. Chairman/secretary: Tony Bloodworth

                      Treasurer/webmaster: Paul Youd

                      Ancestors Trail secretary: Chris Jenord

                      Events secretary: Penny C-B.

                      Committee member: Neal Davies

AOB. Val proposed we should look into the possibility of mounting an exhibition in the Central Library on Humanism, its historical beginnings, our group and the BHA. There is a two-year waiting list for such an opportunity.

   

Archive

Our  next meeting, on the 12th of February (Darwin's birthday!) will hear a talk on the life of Robert Fitzroy, captain of HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin’s voyages – given by Keith Denby of Devon Humanists.

As well as captaining the Beagle, Fitzroy  also governed New Zealand and invented the weather forecast. He was present at the heated Oxford Debate on the Origin of the Species where he raised up a bible and, pointing to it, shouted at Thomas Huxley, that 'the truth is in here'. 

Ancestor's trail - Sunday the 29th May

Last June, a group of 70 walkers took part in the first Ancestor's Trail along the Quantock Hills in Somerset. The project, named after Richard Dawkins’ book the 'Ancestor's Tale', combines hill walking, biodiversity,evolution and Humanism. It represents, as far as we know, the very first biological pilgrimage and we hope to establish the event as an annual celebration of our shared origins through evolution.

How does it work? Simultaneously a number of disparately located walking groups will begin trails that eventually coalesce, depicting the story of evolution in reverse. The number of walkers following the trail will gradually swell as tributary groups, representing the various branches the tree of life, merge with the main body of walkers. Eventually, the ever-increasing band of 'pilgrims' will arrive together at a fossil strewn beach, where we will celebrate life's 3.7 billionth birthday with a small science festival.  You can choose the distance of your walk through the trail you decide to follow, and all walkers are offered coach transport to the start of their trails so that they walk back to their cars. 

The 2011 event is located at the same location on Sunday the 29th May (a bank Holiday weekend). Whilst the concept attempts to maintain scientific integrity, it is primarily a celebration, and what self respecting celebration is complete without music? To this end this year's trail will be punctuated by a range of artistic, as well as scientific contributions. We were very fortunate that Baba Brinkman (the evolutionary rap artist of Edinburgh Festival fame) performed at our 2010 event and we intend to continue this science-art collaboration. We already have confirmed bookings for Jonny Berliner (a science singer-songwriter), the British Humanist Choir (of 9 Lessons and Carols for Godless people fame), Bob Churchill from the BHA in London, Steve Pinn with his birds of prey and, depending on our ticket sales, hopefully much more. 

Last year we celebrated the International Year of Biodiversity and from now on we intend to promote the work of a different wildlife charity each year. 2011 has been assigned our 'Year of the butterfly'. Walkers will be encouraged to raise sponsorship (£ per billion years walked!) for the Butterfly Conservation group; Europe's biggest insect charity. 

Lastly, for those wishing to come from further afield, we will this year be in a position to offer two night accommodation/camping at the trail end festival site. Details of how to book will shortly be posted on our website. http://ancestorstrail.net/

The event price will be £20 per person which includes bus transport to your trail start, all speakers, the acts along the walk and longer contributions from our performers at our trail end festival.  The walk itself is just £10. 


We hope to see you there!

Social Diary

Val suggested some more social get togethers, and the first is on Wednesday April 6^th at the Brewhouse for Richard Herring’s show “Christ on a bike the second coming”. 


We would like be sitting together and in order to arrange this members must commit to paying the fifteen pound ticket price so we can make a block booking. 


If you want to join us please contact me by early January and pay by our next meeting on Saturday January 8^th, which will also be the Annual General Meeting. 

http://www.thebrewhouse.net/main_house/Richard-Herring--Christ-On-A-Bike-The-Second-Coming/

There's also an afternoon lecture at Dillington House, A History of Science (Dr Patricia Fara) on Sunday 9 Jan 2.30, (the day after our meeting) which may be of interest to members.


Val will be going - she will be delighted if others join her. More info at the AGM.