HAGSA News Archive

Return to News page

Mike Weber

June 15, 2008 (corrected June 19)—John Martin “Mike” Weber died last Thursday, June 12, at the age of 94. The cause was congestive heart failure.

Mike was a longime member of both UUSS and HAGSA and, in recent years, was an active participant in Tuesday morning discussion groups at Ted Webb’s house. In fact, Mike was at the latest meeting, last Tuesday, at its new location (the UUSS Library) and under its new name—Ted’s Web.

His life will be celebrated in the UUSS Auditorium at 11 am on Tuesday, July 1.

The following notice is from the June 15 Sacramento Bee:

John Martin (Mike) Weber

In Sacramento, June 12, 2008, of congestive heart failure. Born in El Centro, CA, April 13, 1914. His widowed mother raised her family of six boys first in California and then in Corvallis, Oregon. Mike received a Bachelor of Science/Master’s from OSU (Corvallis) in Education. Taught in Portland for nine years. Served as school principal in Parker Dam, CA, and Crestline, CA. Moved to Sacramento in 1949 to work as a science consultant with the Sacramento County Office of Education. He retired in 1979.

Mike was active during his 39-year career and in retirement with groups related to history and prudent interaction with our environment: Save American River Association, Renaissance Society at CSUS, CRTA History Committee, groups promoting the planting of native oaks and plants. He was very much a “people person” with many interests and a great desire to know and share knowledge.

His three daughters remember their father for his gifts to them: appreciation of nature, singing together in the car, homemade ice cream, bike rides, photography, and many family gatherings.

Preceded in death by his wife Ferris Jane in 2005. Survived by daughters: Catherine Ferris Castanos; Rachel Anne Curran (Earle); and Martha Jane Drummond (Dan); grandchildren: Amy Curran Barker (Jack); Anne Kristin Simon (Jeff), Marte Emiliano Castanos (Kristen), Benjamin Graciano Castanos (Claudia Pena); Ross Daniel Drummond (fiancee Ashley Latimer); and Melanie Jane Shipley (Phillip); great-grandchildren: Jessica Marie Barker, Robert Earle Barker, Alyssa Michelle Simon, and Mia Grace Castanos. Mike is also survived by many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorial service 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento (UUSS), 2425 Sierra Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95825. Contributions to Mike’s memory to UUSS Endowment Fund (above address) or Effie Yeaw Nature Center, P.O. Box 579, Carmichael, CA 95609-0579, will be greatly appreciated by the family.

Dr. Goparaju Vijayam

Click here for June 17 update.

June 2, 2008—The internationally-known Humanist and Indian social reformer, Dr. Goparaju Vijayam, will be in Sacramento from June 19 to 23. He will be in the US for the World Humanist Congress in Washington, DC. There will be several opportunities to meet him. (See Events, below.) 

Dr. Vijayam is Executive Director of the Atheist Centre (AC), in Vijayawada, India. His family has run this unique and successful organization, which they built, for over 60 years. Dr V, as he is usually known, has spoken and written widely and notably. The AC has been successfully engaged in broad range of social reform. Its secular social work has included humane assistance, education, and governmental and social reform in many areas, including economic equality and women’s power.  It has especially worked for cultural and legislative changes needed to eradicate, among a number of cruel inherited customs, the concept of untouchability, which continues to be part of their caste system. It provides many education programs, including adult literacy, health awareness, sex education and family planning, and environmental awareness. The AC was given the International Humanist Award at the World Humanist Congress held in Oslo in 1986. Click on one or both of the links, below, to discover this amazing social institution and its wonderful work:

Atheist Centre          Positive Atheism

Events

So far, two events have been planned. The UUSS Public Forum will feature Dr. Vijayam as their speaker on Sunday, June 22, from 13:00 to 14:30 (1 to 2:30 pm). His topic will be Secular Approaches to Social Problems in India. From there, he will then go to the Summer Solstice Potluck, at 15:00 (3 pm), at Mike Newdow’s house (see Upcoming Meetings), which we hope will provide him and us with a low-key informal setting for interesting conversation.

Update

Nancy Gilbert has now arranged an additional informal event. It will be at the Tower Cafe, on Broadway, starting between 17:45 and 18:00 (5:45 and 6:00 pm) on Friday, June 20 (i.e., this Friday).

You may need to go inside (or outside) and just look for the other attendees. Temperature and space and who arrives first will decide whether the event is inside or outside. Look for Dr. Vijayam himself (photograph above). If it is busy and seems appropriate, Nancy hopes to put a discreet name sign on a table.

If you can’t make it on time, show up anyway. Everyone will be there for quite a while.

Contact Nancy at gilbertn@surewest.net (phone 916-974-7922) if you need further information.  

Ted Gangursky

January 8, 2009—Updated at the request of David Gangursky, Ted’s son, to correct information about Ted's degrees.

February 13, 2008—Ted Gangursky, longtime member of the Humanist Association of the Greater Sacramento Area, died of congestive heart failure at his El Dorado Hills home on February 2. Ted, who was 81, is survived by his wife Helen, three adult children, and four grandchildren.

Ted was not only a dedicated Humanist and Unitarian-Universalist, but also an excellent pianist, and a linguist, fluent in French, German and Russian. He had a BA in psychology from what is now San Diego State University, an MA in sociology from UC Berkeley and an MA in French from Sacramento State University. He taught history and government at Sacramento High School. 

He was a strong supporter of Democratic causes in the overwhelmingly Republican El Dorado County, and a generous donor to Barack Obama's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. He was also a very enthusiastic supporter of UNICEF, to which those who knew him might want to make a donation in his memory.

HAGSA Member's Book Wins Award

May 16, 2007—At the April 27, 2007 NCPA (Northern California Publishers & Authors) Awards Dinner, which honored books published in 2006, Bill Potts’ Bushopedia was announced the winner in a new category, Best Political Commentary. 

HAGSA Member
Wins Another Poetry Contest

October 29, 2006—Elizabeth Bernstein's very moving poem, A Touch of Victory, won first place in the May 2006 Contest of the California Federation of Chaparral Poets. Were it not for Elizabeth's modesty, we would have known sooner, but she only provided the information a couple of weeks ago.

Elizabeth read her poem to an appreciative audience at the beginning of the October 22 HAGSA meeting.  It will appear in the November issue of Human Interest. 

HAGSA Members Elected to AHA Board

September 27, 2006—The results of the American Humanist Association Board election were announced today. The successful candidates included HAGSA members Beverly Church (VP, HAGSA) and Mynga Futrell (who has filled many roles in both HAGSA and AOF). Here are all the new board members (in last-name order):

Chuck Debrovner, who received somewhat fewer votes than the other six candidates, will serve the remaining two years of the four-year term of a Board member who resigned. The other six were elected to full four-year terms.

There will be additional information about Beverly and Mynga in the October issue of Human Interest.

Fred Pratt

September 15, 2006 (update)—On Thursday, September 14, the Sacramento Bee published an obituary, written by staff writer Robert Dávila. As long as it remains on the Bee website, you can view it by clicking on this link:

Fred Pratt Obituary

August 26, 2006—Dr. Fred Pratt, that wonderful HAGSA and UUSS member who spent much of his retirement performing reconstructive surgery on children in Central and South America (and elsewhere), who were born with such deformities as cleft palate (whose visible manifestation is a "hare lip"), died of pneumonia on Friday morning, August 25.

Fred was suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which progressively impairs the capacity of the lungs to supply the blood with oxygen. There is no known cause (as implied by "idiopathic") and, as yet, no cure. Few even knew about his condition until he revealed it, in his usual quiet and unassuming manner, at the July 22 fundraising event at Beverly Church's house.

In May 1998, Fred was presented with the AHA's Humanist Distinguished Service Award at the annual conference in San Diego.

He will be sorely missed, as is clearly evident from the following note written by Ted Webb:

"The only way I have come to know a man like Fred Pratt has been though reading books of fiction. Such heroes as Fred hardly exist but in our imagination. Authors with their fertile persuasive ways have given the world heroes who calmly and creatively treat the ailments of men, women and children needing specialists, a doctor who visits the sick and lonely in their homes, treats them in foreign lands, a man who supports liberal religious undertakings, makes donations to men and women running for political office, and who is inventive when it comes to supporting organizations of the importance of the United Nations.

"It will be a long time before we see another Fred Pratt, except as an approximation of the fictional Horatio Alger -- doctor, ministerial type, promoter, and a curious mortal ever eager to know more about what exists and why." 

There will be a memorial event to celebrate Fred's life on Sunday October 1, at 3:00 pm, in the UUSS Auditorium.

The following notice, from the August 30 Sacramento Bee, was added on August 30:

PRATT, Dr. Frederick
Dr. Frederick Pratt was a dedicated physician, local and international volunteer, and peace activist, who above all else gave himself entirely to the service of mankind. On the beautiful morning of August 25, 2006, Dr. Pratt died in his home surrounded by family. In addition to his wife Patricia M. Pratt, who shared with him his passions and work, Dr. Pratt is survived by his children, Gwynne Pratt, Daryl Pratt and wife Alison, Marcelle Pratt and husband Dr. David Koster, Serena Pratt and fiance John Robinson, and Dr. Dyveke Pratt; grandchildren Kelan Pratt and wife Jeannette, Carin and Jennifer Pratt, Arthur, August and Arie Koster; great-grandchildren Sydney and Lauren Pratt and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sister Elizabeth, and brothers Robert and Arthur Pratt.

Born in North Clarendon, VT, on August 18, 1926, he was the son of Roy and Mary Pratt. A World War II veteran, Fred attended the University of Vermont on the GI bill, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelors Degree in Science. He entered the University of Vermont Medical School where he earned his M.D. in 1953. During medical school, he met and married Anna Temple Condos (Dr. Anna Pratt, pathologist, deceased 1974).

In 1954, he moved to Folsom, CA, and began his career as a general practitioner. After four years of practice Dr. Pratt returned to the East Coast to complete a residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Upstate New York Medical Center, Syracuse. He returned to Sacramento, CA, in 1962 and began a private practice in plastic surgery. Dr. Pratt was also an assistant clinical professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine and founded the Sutter Cleft Palate and Orofacial Anomaly Panel, Sacramento. He married Patricia, a surgical nurse, in May of 1976. After 25 years Dr. Pratt "retired" from private practice to begin a second career of volunteerism. This career took Dr. Pratt to the far reaches of the globe to help those most in need of medical care. He was also committed to local health activities. He founded a plastic surgical clinic through the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society SPIRIT program to help Sacramento's uninsured residents. Other community activities included; Sacramento Area Peace Action, Physicians for Social Responsibility, United Nations Associations of Sacramento and Town and Country Democratic Club. He will be remembered and missed by people around the world, as Fred, Dr. Pratt, "Doc," and "the doctor." His love and generous spirit embodied in the hugs he gave so freely will be missed by all. The following excerpt from Two Tramps in Mud-Time by one of his beloved poets, fellow Vermonter Robert Frost, was one of his favorites:

"only when love and need are one and work is play for mortal stakes is the deed ever really done for Heaven and the futures sake"

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Agape Foundation (Agape is a Greek word meaning "unselfish love of one person for another"), at 1095 Market Street, Suite 304, San Francisco, CA 94103.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Dr. Pratt's life and work at 3:00 pm on October 1 at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95825.

---

Vashti McCollum

August 24, 2006—Vashti Cromwell McCollum, the courageous Illinois woman who won the landmark 1948 Supreme Court ruling in McCollum v. Board of Education (333 U.S. 203), died on August 20 at the age of 94. Robert Alley, who died six days earlier (August 14), wrote in his book on leading church-state cases, The Constitution and Religion (1999), "The McCollum decision was the first Supreme Court case to erect barriers against those who wished to employ the public schools for proselytizing."

Vashti was the author of One Woman’s Fight in 1950, served from 1962 to 1965 as president of the American Humanist Association, and is honored in the Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York. She is survived by her three sons, James McCollum (with whom she attended the 2005 AHA Conference), Dannel McCollum, and Errol Cromwell.

Virginia Hansen

August 24, 2006—AHA/HAGSA member Virginia Hansen died at the age of 89 on June 17. A memorial service was held at UUSS on July 15. Here is the notice from the June 29 issue of the Sacramento Bee:

Hansen, Virginia Drew

In Sacramento, CA, on June 17, 2006. Born in Chicago, IL, on Jan. 11, 1917, to Laurence and Mabel Drew. She graduated from Carroll College, WI, 1948, M.A. at Mills College, CA, 1950. She served in the USNR "WAVES" in the 1940s. Survived by loving husband Frederick D. Hansen of Sacramento; niece Gina Molina of Lake Worth, FL; grandniece Janet Branum (husband Shawn); and great-grandniece Alyssa Branum in Sacramento. Virginia was a truly professional elementary teacher who taught in Stockton USD, Colegio Jorge Washington, Cartagena, Colombia, for two years, San Diego USD, Napa Valley USD as a reading specialist, and a Fullbright Exchange Teacher in Dundee, Scotland (1958-59). She traveled appreciatively in Europe, South America, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia. She was active in civic theaters in Stockton and in Napa, CA, as well as in UUSS, Theater One. She was also active in Sacramento Area Peace Action and The United Nations Association, Sacramento.

[Replaces item of August 9]

Halina Wilsnack

August 9, 2006—HAGSA recently received a letter, dated June 17, from Dorie Wilsnack, informing us that AHA/HAGSA member Halina Z. Wilsnack died on March 24, 2006, at the age of 95.

The letter contains the following statement: "Halina was always clear and proud of her humanist beliefs. She appreciated your newsletter. Even at an elderly age, she would read through the articles and underline points that were important to her."

HAGSA Banner

May 12, 2006—In early April, Board Member and Publicity Chairman Shelly Ebenholtz donated a banner to HAGSA. It's about 180 cm (71") wide by 57 cm (22") high. It will be used for events such as Darwin Day and Freethought Day to identify the HAGSA table. It may also be used at HAGSA meetings.

I would like to apologize to Shelly for the delay in acknowledging his kindness.

Bill Potts, President

New HAGSA Mugs

May 7, 2006—At the May 5 meeting, Bill Potts introduced the new blue-on-white HAGSA mugs to the thirty people in attendance. They are available for a suggested donation of $5. However, for the month of May, members (and others) can take advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free offer. Larger donations are, of course, acceptable. Mug donations, at the meeting, totaled $30.

The mugs, which have a capacity of 300 mL (10 fluid ounces) are both microwave- and dishwasher-safe.

Guilbert Dumont

April 10, 2006—Former longtime HAGSA member, Guilbert Dumont, died on March 24 at the age of 95. A wonderful obituary appeared in the Sacramento Bee on April 5. Because it is copyright, we cannot reproduce it here. However, as long as it remains on the Bee website, you can view it by clicking here:

Guilbert Dumont Obituary

A further, more personal obituary appeared on April 9 in the death notices section of the Bee. It is reproduced here:

DUMONT, Guilbert
September 22, 1910 - March 24, 2006

Unique, fortuitous wanderer on planet earth, his mission to help each person he touched, with becoming. Beloved friend to countless hundreds of Sacramentans, disciple of Plato/Socrates, lamenter of the power of the Oligarchs, believer in the potential of the common man, Guilbert led the transformation of American River from Junior College trade school to a full potential educational venue for the working class. A man who knew that human contentment flowed from the pure play of the child’s ever-shifting appeal with the new. A wise, gentle genius, rarest treasure of human beings, Guilbert was a man who inspired one to accomplish one’s highest aims and had the uncanny ability to live, perceive and enjoy the now. He had many life cycles in each of which he was engaged to the fullest.

Guilbert passed from the earth the morning of March 24, 2006. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. They were many. In his more than twenty years as an educator, including many years as Philosophy instructor at American River College, he imparted to his students a questioning attitude and a deep love of learning. His wide-ranging experience first, as a concert musician in Depression-era San Francisco, where he played on occasion with the San Francisco Symphony under the directorship of Pierre Monteaux. While working his way through Berkeley with his music, he provided support for his family, including helping his sister, Helen Putnam, through Berkeley, who later became Mayor of Petaluma. He organized a group of musicians who then played their way round the world on a cargo ship in the 1930’s. In the 60’s he became a developer in downtown Sacramento. For whatever abstract philosophical concept needing explanation, Guilbert had a story.

After retiring, Professor Emeritus, from American River College in 1978, Guilbert did not retire from life. To keep active he took up ballroom dancing “and won awards” for his effort and married again at 92. He took on the daunting task of refurbishing a property in the Historic Preservation district of mid-town Sacramento, where he lived long enough to spend his last three weeks of life. Donning a green hat and painted green shoes, he took his concern for his country very seriously, canvassing his district in the last two presidential elections, Guilbert went door to door registering voters for the Green Party, battling for the environment, constitutional rights and economic justice.

He leaves, grieving, his wife Helen Livingston Dumont; who has lost her dearest friend, son Guilbert Dumont of Napa, grandson Leslie, great-grandson, Dominic DuMont of Ventura and one niece, Kate Oliver of Honolulu, Hawaii. Claimed as father and grandfather by Andrew Patero, whose tender care replaced his frail legs and supported his failing body, Sean Patero who would not be a trumpeter without Guilbert’s teaching and guidance, daughter-in-law Imelda who cooked his fish just right and received piano lessons in return. Phoebe Celestin with whom he had the father-daughter relationship neither ever had. Connie Moss, with whom he shared a passion for Kleinian psychoanalysis, David Peters; whose mission Guilbert joined to saved the planet from global warming; James Henkel, commercial pilot, whose first call when he flew in was to check on Guilbert’s welfare. Scott Cook, Professor of philosophy at San Jose State with whom he shared a love of Philosophy and music and more recently, Chung Wai Soong, who sang his way into Guilbert’s heart and co-hosted Guilbert’s recent travels to hear the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus. Judge Lloyd Connelly, with whom he shared his love of justice and the American Constitution. Tom Schmidt, Merced, and Larry Salerno, Sacramento, who were part of Guilbert’s American River Faculty Jazz Band, and jammed at many a venue at the Sacramento Jazz Festival. Joy Custer, Linda Lawler, Ann Malcolm, Trudy Sills who all stayed in touch, Evan, Mike, Jeanne, Mindy, Carly, Patrick, Colin and Stephanie, Georgia and Lavonne, as well as many others, just as important but not named.

He had to leave undone his last self-imposed task; to get close enough to George Bush to make a citizen’s arrest for his many violations to the Constitution of the United States; the basis of our democracy upon which Guilbert placed a very high value.

If desired, contributions may be made to the Guilbert Dumont Philosophy Scholarship at American River College. Friends wishing to send comments for a memorial booklet, please do so to helendumont@comcast.net. Memorial services to be announced.

---

Ernie Conrad

November 22, 2005—Ernie Conrad died at age 74 on Sunday, November 20, following open-heart surgery. He was the second member in a week to die of this cause. Although he had not attended meetings in several years, Ernie was a longtime HAGSA member. In fact, he was an honorary AHA/HAGSA lifetime member. Below is his death notice from the Sacramento Bee. Ernie and his wife, Lorine, were Mormons at the time of their marriage, 53 years ago, and the LDS Church in Rancho Cordova offered their facilities and help in arranging the celebration of Ernie's life and the following reception. Lorine has invited HAGSA and UUSS members to attend both the celebration and the reception, noting that they will be warmly welcomed.

CONRAD, Ernest C.
On a beautiful autumn Sunday morning, Ernie completed his journey and passed away on November 20, 2005, following complications from open-heart surgery. Born July 31 1931, in San Francisco to Clever Conrad of West Virginia and Hilma Marie Hendrickson of Sweden. Sisters Helen and Rosemarie, nephew Melvin Hansen of Eureka, wife of 53 years Lorine Marie, daughter Coleen Marie, son-in-law Walter Lucas, and grandchildren Erin Marie and Kurtis George. He graduated from Eureka High School and served during the Korean War on board the U.S.S. Yorktown as a combat medic. He graduated from University of Utah, then taught 40 years for Grant Union School District at Don Julio and Rio Linda Senior High and was "Teacher of the Year, 1994." He established curriculum in anthropology for high school, originated the "Knowledge Bowl" and presented "character" discussions of WWII events. In summer, worked as a Park Ranger/lecturer at Lassen and Mesa Verde National Parks. Received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to work at the "Flower Dew One Hundred" project in Virginia excavating early colony settlements. In October this year, he co-authored a McGraw-Hill supplemental college textbook, "Readings in Physical Anthropology." He was a rabid Cal fan who lived to see Cal win the Big Game on Saturday. He was a scholar and very funny man who will be missed. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ernest Conrad Memorial Scholarship Fund, Rio Linda Senior High School. A Celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 26, at 10:30 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2400 Cordova Ln, Rancho Cordova (between Zinfandel & Coloma Rd.) Reception to follow at the church. 

---

Anatole Lubovich

November 18, 2005—Anatole Lubovich died at age 68 on Wednesday, November 16, following coronary bypass surgery.

He will be missed, especially by those of us who have enjoyed his considerable erudition and his delightful poems, many of them very funny, at HAGSA meetings and other events.

On May 22 of this year, along with some of his fellow members of the Sacramento Poetry Center Workshop, Anatole put on a program of his poetry and music. He and they played to a packed room and a very appreciative audience.

Anatole was also a HAGSA Board Member.

Arrangements for a meeting to celebrate Anatole's life are pending.

Click here to see the report of the May 22, 2005 meeting.

Revised November 21, 2005.

Freethought Day 2005
Stand Up for Reason!
Reported by Jerry Bachman

November 3, 2005—The Fourth Annual Freethought Day celebration was held at charming Waterfront Park in the heart of historic Old Sacramento on Sunday, October 9. The annual event commemorates the end of "spectral evidence" in the 1692 Salem witch trials. But the spirited program was not without its own magic. The audience was spellbound as the many performers mixed a cauldron of joyous entertainment, including inspiring speakers, talented musicians, comedic skits … even a magician and a ventriloquist.

Event Chair, Beverly Church, energetically opened the program at noon with a warm welcome to the visitors. Mel Lipman, nationally renowned president of the American Humanist Association (AHA), broke the ice with an amusing joke and a poem. To a respectfully silent audience, well-known activist Jerry Sloan read with powerful articulation the Mayoral Proclamation declaring October 9, 2005 as Freethought Day in Sacramento. Don Knudsen, president of AOF, appealed to all to "think of life in an optional capacity." HAGSA president, Bill Potts read from the Humanist Manifesto. Freethought Day had officially begun!

Music, magic and mirth reigned in Waterfront Park for the remainder of the afternoon. It was something to behold! Local musical talents lit the air on fire with their original works. Ever-popular Roberta Chevrette's opening song was a passionate reminder to "live each moment for what its worth." Singer-songwriters Robert Pelletier and James Israel each in turn paid folksy lyrical homage to Freethinkers everywhere. Multi-talented Mynga Futrell led the audience in song with her reinterpretations of classic sing-a-longs enhanced with a refreshingly new perspective of reason. A variety of presentations continued seamlessly throughout the afternoon.

Accomplished magician, Richard Kowaleski, mystified the audience with a bag of tricks that defied explanation. Karen Scott, from the Interfaith Religious Liberty Foundation, reminded us of the history of the American tradition of Church-State separation established by Rhode Island colonist, Roger Williams. Ventriloquist Chris and her friend Derrick talked about Camp Quest, a summer camp that emphasizes critical thinking for kids 8 to 12. A young mid-town couple, who have been harassed for their outspokenness against the war in Iraq, shared their shocking experiences in a community that sometimes allows blind patriotism to ignore civil liberty. Local activist, Rena Lowry introduced her young daughter, Brieta, who has been subject to unconscionable discrimination by her public school for being a Freethinker.

Against the backdrop of artist Joel Pelletier's huge painting, American Fundamentalists, were many exhibits and booths. Popular booths included the Progressive Freethought Exchange, a newly formed internet social club represented by Al Ludtke; Sacramento Atheists and Independent Thinkers Alliance, an online think-tank which meets over pizza twice a month, dutifully manned by Brian Jones; Sacramento Organization of Rational Thinkers, a monthly round-table discussion club headed by husband and wife science writers, Kit Moser and Ray Spangenburg. Of course, local mainstays, AOF and HAGSA had a potpourri of Freethought paraphernalia distributed by the usual suspects Ken Nahigian and Wayne Luney (plus Bill Potts and Sheldon Ebenholtz), respectively. Notable participants were the Sacramento County Voter Registration, Kid's Science Center, and various organizations too numerous to mention. There was literally something for everybody.

The non-stop hubbub of well-organized activity was powerfully effective in reaching out to the community. A well-orchestrated Reason Revival invited everyone to "Stand up for Reason!" Curious passing tourists gravitated to the booths and activities, happily surprised to discover that a large constituency of positive rationality exists right here in River Town. Thanks to the hard work of all those involved, the success of Freethought Day 2005 demonstrated that the Rational Community is alive and thriving in Sacramento!

Highlights overheard:

• Dave Kong, California director of American Atheists: "These events are vital to raise the visibility and respectability of the Freethought Community."

• Jim Heldberg of the San Francisco chapter of American Atheists: "We're impressed with the work Sacramento is doing. We are happy to be part of it."

• Paul Geisert on 19th Century Freethinker, Robert Ingersoll, "He was a marvel of a man and a powerful speaker."

• Mynga Futrell, singing "What a friend we have in reason."

• Artist Joel Pelletier referring to his extensive research of his painting American Fundamentalists: "Understand your opponent."

• Ed Coleman, well-known Redding Freethinker, facetiously stated, "The whole place is full of fucking Atheists!"

Click below to see (or return to) the photographs of the event: 

Freethought Day 2005 Photographs

Marguerite Webb

July 18, 2005—Marguerite Webb, who, with her husband Ted, was a longtime member of both HAGSA and UUSS, died on Wednesday, July 6, at the age of 89. (Ted is also Minister Emeritus of UUSS.) Here is the notice that appeared in the Metro section of the July 10 Sacramento Bee:

WEBB, Marguerite Elfrieda (nee Wilson)

Died at home on July 6, 2005, surrounded by her family--husband Theodore; daughters Roberta Webb and Christine Webb-Curtis; sons Theodore Ford Webb and Noel Webb; daughter-in-law Jeanne Ford Webb; granddaughter and husband Renee and Jason Cahill; and great granddaughter Jade Cahill. Born in St. Stephens, New Brunswick, at the only hospital available to residents of Calais, Maine, on July 23, 1916, she grew up in Calais and became an accomplished pianist. She studied music at the University of Maine and Juilliard School of Music in New York. She met her husband of 62 years when she was accompanist and he sang in the chorus of the Bangor Theological School in Bangor, Maine. After living many years in New England and New York, she moved to Sacramento in 1971 where her husband served as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Society. She was active in church and community activities, especially the Women's Alliance and bridge clubs. She is survived by her husband and four children, 11 grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and cousins Lydia DiCenzo of Calais, Maine, and James Marratty of Derry, New Hampshire. Memorial service to be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2005.

HAGSA Business Cards
Now Available to Members

January 12, 2005—At the January 7 meeting, Bill Potts, HAGSA President, introduced the new HAGSA business card to the members who were present. Each person took a small number to hand out to other people who might be interested in HAGSA.

Here is what the card looks like.

The reverse side of the card contains the six points enumerated as bullet items on the home page of this website. So you won't have to return to the home page to see them, here they are:

• Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis.

• Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change.

• Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience.

• Life's fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals.

• Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships.

• Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness.

Members should feel free to add their name, phone number and email address to the blank area on the front of the card. A supply will be available on the literature table at all meetings.

HAGSA Member Wins Two Poetry Contest Prizes

April 26, 2004—Anatole Lubovich recently submitted three poems and won first prizes for two of them in the 78th annual Berkeley Poetry Contest.

One was for The Periodical Room, in the People category. The other was a for To My Road Hog (a poem he has read at a HAGSA meeting), in the Humor category.

Those who have heard Anatole read his excellent poems at some of our meetings will not be surprised by his success in the contest.

This item first appeared in the April 2004 issue of Human Interest.  

Park Service Continues to Push
Creationist Theory at Grand Canyon

February 27, 2004—Ignoring recommendations by its own senior scientist to withdraw approval for a creationist book now being sold in park facilities, the National Park Service appears to be supporting religious doctrine over sound science, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

"Based on our review, we recommend that the book not be sold in park bookstores because the book purports to be science when it is not, and its sale in the park bookstores directly conflicts with the Service's statutory mandate to promote the use of sound science in all its programs, including public education," states a January 25 memo sent by David Shaver, the Chief of the Park Service's Geologic Resources Division, to Headquarters.

Last summer the Park Service initially approved Grand Canyon: A Different View, by Tom Vail, for sale in park bookstores and museums one week after NPS Deputy Director Donald Murphy ordered the Grand Canyon Park to return three bronze plaques bearing biblical verses to the public viewing areas in the Canyon's South Rim.

The "appropriateness" of offering a book claiming that the Grand Canyon developed on a biblical rather than an evolutionary time scale was questioned by the Grand Canyon National Park superintendent in August.
Ignoring the controversy, top leadership of the Park Service has approved hundreds more copies of the book, is offering it for sale on the Grand Canyon Association's website as "natural history," blocked publication of guidance for park rangers and other interpretative staff that labeled creationism as lacking any scientific basis, and refused requests by the Grand Canyon superintendent, agency geologists and others for a ruling on whether the book violates Park Service rules.

"In order to avoid offending Christian fundamentalists, the National Park Service has been forced to adopt a position of geological agnosticism," said PEER Executive Director Jeff Runch. "On the same basis that public schools do not approve creationist books as science textbooks, the National Park Service has no business promoting Christian ideology masquerading as science."

From BushGreenwatch

HAGSA Member Wins Poetry Contest

January 6, 2004—Elizabeth Bernstein's poem, Urban Cowboy, has won first prize in the California State Poetry Society's June contest.

Another of Elizabeth's poems, Blind Faith, appears in the Society's Poetry Letter number 4, for 2003.

HAGSA Featured in Grass Roots News

December 30, 2003—Grass Roots News, the newsletter of the AHA Chapter Assembly, has a Chapter Highlight article in every issue, profiling an AHA Chapter. The January/February 2004 issue featured HAGSA. Here is the article, in its entirety:

To receive Grass Roots News via email, send an email message, requesting it, to grn@americanumanist.org. To send a message right now, click here. An email message composition window will open, with the request already indicated in the subject heading, and with clarification in the body of the message. All you need to do is add your name and click on Send.

Return to News page