Meetings

Next Meeting: Sunday, June 7, 2026, 1:30-2:30

Millhopper Library, Meeting Room B

AGENDA

1.  WELCOME & QUICK INTROS

2. RECENT ACTIONS/ACHIEVEMENTS

A. Submitted the final report to the AHA’s American Empathy Project for our $1000 grant.

B. Individually funded and sent 100 “Unfit. Unwell. Unhinged. 25th Amendment” postcards:     https://www.signsofjustice.com/products/remove-him-postcards

C.  Individually attended author John Fugelsang’s seminar on May 24 at United Church of Christ, where he spoke about Christian Nationalism and his book The Separation of Church and Hate.

D.  Set up Venmo account for donations

3. OUTREACH

A. Diane Dimperio from the League of Women Voters will speak to us about how our group    can do voter registration.

B. Tabling opportunities remaining in 2026; Pride festival (Oct ?), Thornebrook Arts     Festival (Oct 3&4), Downtown Arts Fest (Nov 14&15)

4. ACTIVISM

A.  June 14^th  Watch Party for Rise Up ,Sing Out Concert: https://www.thetownhall.org/event/rise-up-sing-out-a-concert-for-the-first-amendment

B.  Supporting/Following Defiance.Org: https://www.defiance.org/

C. Discuss the results of brainstorming session from the May 3 meeting TO IDENTIFY FUTURE ACTIONS

1.Empathy: Link immigrants to legal aid, safe houses, transportation, resume writing, proper attire and preparation for job interviews, financial assistance, therapy, connect with other immigrants

2. Fundraising :  GH Membership dues ($20/year), tax-deductible contributions from officers, use website to ask for donations from general public using Paypal, Venmo, or check to a mail address… have a collection jar at tabling events, look into grants from other foundations…organize paid events (i.e. film, lecture)…monthly treasury report

3. Separation of Church and State: Facilitate humanist invocations at local governmental/public gatherings…partner with Central Florida Free Thought Community and other humanist groups like Freedom From Religion Foundation, Americans United for Separation of Church and State…petition drives to object to chaplains in public schools…handouts to educate government and  school officials on first amendment applications and form letters to be sent to violators

4. Combat Christian Nationalism:  Gather books and educational materials to distribute at events and to put into libraries …give a class/lecture on American History  at the library… wear t-shirts that will promote discussions…speak to Christian ministers to increase their awareness and to speak to their parishioners… Get Democrats in Congress to pass laws that protect First Amendment rights…billboards

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Sunday, May 3, 2026, 1:30-2:30

Gainesville Humanists Meeting  May 3, 2026 1:30-2:30 Headquarters Library

MEETING MINUTES

Attending (15): Leonard Cohen, Jack Kulas, Phil Seiden, Pete Murray, Dahlonega Peck, Carolyn Caracausa, Anita Alemanne, Dale Bryan, Nicole Alemanne, Nikki Herbst, Ralph Canapa, Rick Gold, Madeline Austin, Tom Wood, Bud Jones

After brief introductions, Jack Kulas reviewed recent actions and achievements: GH sponsored an Open House on May 2 at Westminster Presbyterian Church where a $1000 grant from the AHA was used to provide food and needed household items to immigrant families as part of the American Empathy Project… GH members also participated in the May 1 nationwide resistance to billionaires by a day of “no school, no work, no purchases”… Leonard reported that as of March 4 our tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) status  as a charitable organization has been approved by the IRS and donors to GH can deduct their contributions.

Outreach: Pete Murray is continuing to look into voter registration training… Jack is looking into becoming a humanist celebrant…Rick Gold will look into tabling at Pride Festival. Rick is also part of a Jewish Humanist reading group. Jack also mentioned a seminar lead by John Fugelsand ( author of “Separation of Church and Hate”) on combating Christian Nationalism at the United Church of Gainesville on May 24 at 11:30.

Activism: Leonard Cohen facilitated an exercise designed to generate future actions for our group. The larger group broke into four smaller groups to  brainstorm ways to:

 1. Show compassion and empathy for immigrants and religious and sexual minorities

 2. Support Separation of Church and State,

 3. Fundraising

4. Combat Christian Nationalism

Groups were encouraged to use the S.M.A.R.T. criteria for effective goal setting: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and accomplishable within a year.

Results of brainstorming session

1. Empathy

Link immigrants to legal aid, safe houses, transportation, resume writing, proper attire and preparation for job interviews, financial assistance, therapy, connect with other immigrants

• Fundraising

GH Membership dues ($20/year), tax-deductible contributions from officers, use website to ask for donations from general public using Paypal, Venmo, or check to a mail address… have a collection jar at tabling events, look into grants from other foundations…organize paid events (i.e. film, lecture)…monthly treasury report

• Separation of Church and State

Facilitate humanist invocations at local governmental/public gatherings…partner with Central Florida Free Thought Community and other humanist groups like Freedom From Religion Foundation, Americans United for Separation of Church and State…petition drives to object to chaplains in public schools…handouts to educate government and  school officials on first amendment applications and form letters to be sent to violators

• Combat Christian Nationalism

Gather books and educational materials to distribute at events and to put into libraries …give a class/lecture on American History  at the library… wear t-shirts that will promote discussions…speak to Christian ministers to increase their awareness and to speak to their parishioners… Get Democrats in Congress to pass laws that protect First Amendment rights…billboards

Next GH meeting will be Sunday June 7 1:30-2:30 in Millhopper Branch library Room B.

Respectfully submitted,

Leonard Cohen

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MEETING AGENDA

Headquarters Library, 401 E University Ave., Meeting Room B

A. RECENT ACTIONS/ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Sponsored an Open House on May 2 at Westminster Presbyterian Church to provide needed household items to immigrant families. It was underwritten by a $1000 grant we received from the American Empathy Project, sponsored by the AHA
2. Participated individually in May 1 nationwide strike — no school, no work, no buying anything

 B. OUTREACH

1. Report on what we need to do to register voters while tabling: Pete
2. Report on what is involved to become a Humanist Celebrant: Jack
3. Identify further tabling opportunities in 2026; create tabling subcommittee; Earth Day, Pride festival, Thornebrook Art, Santa Fe Spring arts, Downtown Arts Fest

 C. ACTIVISM

1. Generate ideas for future activism.  We’ll break into pairs to brainstorm future short-term and long-term actions.  Then each pair will report what they came up with, and we’ll discuss and plan future actions
2. Billboard: Continue discussing putting up a billboard. What should the content be? Start a Go Fund Me campaign?

–Jack Kulas

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Sunday, April 5, 2026, 2:15-3:15

Cypress & Grove Brewery, Back Meeting Room

Minutes of Gainesville Humanists Meeting   April 5, 2026

Cypress and Grove Brewery, Back Meeting Room

Attending (16): Jack Kulas, Len Cohen, Pete Murray, Bud Jones, Dahlonega Peck, Chuck Peck, Mare Wyn, Dale Bryan, Chris Ickler, Bridget Hanson, Ellyn Ahlston, Rick Gold, Jan Frentzen, Tom Wood, Larry Shaw, Patti Breedlove

Introductions

Jack reviewed recent achievements: Received $1000 Empathy project grant from A.H.A….  . listed in Gainesville Iguana’s Community Directory…acquired resources and canopy for tabling…tabled at NO Kings III and signed up over 30 people for our email list…registered with state of Florida as a non-profit corporation… set up Paypal account with QR code for donations

Old Business

501(C)(3) status is pending- Len has submitted paperwork to IRS…GH mission needs to focus on separation of church and state and helping immigrants (Empathy Day May 2  8-11 am Open House event at 3232 NW 15^th Avenue funded by AHA and run by Louise and Yosse Yariv of the ESOL closet)…Voter registration training- Pete is still looking into this…Secular celebrant training through AHA- Pete is interested…GH business cards with our contact information- also Pete … Billboard discussion- humanistic “Good Without God” message plus “Join a humanist group” or a political one-  we should probably wait for 501c3 status before GoFund Me Campaign to raise $5K for a three month run…

New Business

OUTREACH-Need for a subcommittee of GH to investigate more tabling opportunities in 2026… Earth Day, Pride Festival (Rick Gold will look into this), Thornebrook Art Festival, Santa Fe Spring Arts, Gainesville Downtown Arts Festival, WUFT Pledge Drive (Dale Bryan will look into this)…faculty sponsor for GH on UF campus …Mainstreet Daily…Alachua Chronicle… GH should become an affiliate of Central Florida Freethought Community… TBD

EDUCATION- GH should send a delegation to Winter Park to hear Fish Stark talk on April 19 2-3 pm

FINANCIAL- should we require GH dues? (wait on this)…have a place on website where people can make donations

ACTION- participate in May 1 protests (Workers Fight Back 13^th and University)… participate in nationwide strike May 2 (no work no school no purchases)

Next meeting will be Sunday  May 3 at Headquarters Library 401 E. University Ave 1:30-2:30

Respectfully Submitted,

Leonard Cohen

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AGENDA

Here is what we will be talking about and hashing out.

1. RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

A. Received $1000 grant from American Empathy Project, sponsored by AHA
B. Listed in Gainesville Iguana’s Community Directory
C. Acquired canopy for tabling events
D. Acquired resource materials from AHA for tabling
E. Tabled at No Kings 3 event—signed up ~35 people on email list
F. Became a Florida Corporation and a non-profit corporation.
G. Set up a Paypal account with QR code for donations.

2. OUTREACH

A. Do voter registration: get trained for collecting VR forms; discuss where we can
do this outreach
B. Become a Humanist Celebrant; learn how to get this certification
C. Identify further tabling opportunities in 2026; Let’s create tabling subcommittee;
Earth Day, Pride festival, Thornebrook Art, Santa Fe Spring arts, Downtown Arts Fest, etc.
D. Design and get printed business cards with our contact info

3. ACTIVISM

A. May 2: Open House for American Empathy Project at Westminster Presbyterian Church
B. April 19: 2-4pm, AHA Exec. Dir. Fish Stark to give talk in Winter Park: “The Religious
Right Is Fighting a Holy War. Here’s Our Plan To Win.” Let’s send a delegation.
C. May 1: plan for a nationwide strike- no school, no work , no buying anything.
D. Billboard: Discuss putting up a billboard. What should the content be? Statrt a Go Fund Me campaign?.
E. Other Actions

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Sunday, March 1, 2026, 2-3 pm

Millhopper Branch Library, Meeting Room A.

1. RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

A. Set up a Bank Account
B. Received a Federal EIN (Employee Identification Number)
C. Listed on AHA website as a chapter
D. To be listed in Gainesville Iguana’s Community Directory
E. Acqiring canopy for tabling events
F. Acquiring resource materials from AHA for tabling
G. Working on becoming a Florida Corporation and a non-profit corporation.

2. OUTREACH

A. Disuss our relationship with Sunday Assembly of Gainesville
B. Do voter registration: get trained for collecting VR forms; discuss where we can
do this outreach
C. Talk about becomeing a Humanist Celebrant; learn how we can get this certification
D. Identify tabling opportunities in 2026
E. Design and get printed business cards with our contact info

3. ACTIVISM

A. Table at the March 28th No Kings 3 event
B. Discuss the AHA’s American Empathy Project; the following are some possibilities:
1). Use the $1000 for four immigrant children to become US citizend via UF Law Clinic;
2). Help immigrants with food, transportation to school, church etc via Rural
Women’s Health Project or Faith Mission;
3). Help immigrants with home furnishings and appliances via the ESOL Closet at
estminster Presbyterian Church
C. Turn out together as a group at the No King 3 protest
D. Discuss billboard. What should the content be? Go Fund Me financing.
E. Become part of Gainesville Activism Hub
F. Follow Gainesville Community Calendar for progressive events in Gainesville.

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Sunday, February 1, 2026, 2-3 pm

Millhopper Branch Library, Meeting Room A.

Here is what we will be talking about and hashing out.

1. RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

A. Flying Pig Parade Amphifa participation
B. New Banner
C. MLK parade participation with new banner
A Chapter Status — listed on AHA website
E. Facebook group

2. OUTREACH

A. Do voter registration: get trained for collecting VR forms; discuss where we can do this outreach
B. Put up a bulletin board: Good Without God; fund it with a GoFundMe campaign
C. Become secular officiants; learn how we can get this certification
D. Identify art fests and other tabling opportunities in 2026
E. Secure resource materials from AHA for tabling
F. Design and get printed business cards with our contact info

3. ACTIVISM

A. Organize a silent protest march through Oaks Mall
B. Partner with the local INDIVISIBLE group for the March 28th No Kings 3 event, and turn out together as a group at the protest with our Gainesville Humanists banner.
C. Support the group Fight Against Federal Overreach (FederalOverreach.org) who are going after Federal Law Enforcement (ICE etc) for violating the law; contact local prosecutors to see if they will get on board with FAFO.
D. Boycott HILTON hotels for housing ICE police; make noise at night if ICE is staying in a local Hilton; encourage people to cancel their membership in Hilton Honors Program.
E. Remove TIKTOK from your phone and encourage everyone else to do likewise. [TikTok’s new US business is led by a group of mainly American investors approved by President Donald Trump.]
F. Protest the new Melania film