Dear members and friends,

If you’ve followed the broader secular movement over the past few years, it may feel like “the air has been let out of the balloon.” Even though studies continue to show the decrease of religiosity throughout the country (especially among younger people), nonbelief no longer seems to be the unifying force it was just a few years ago....

You may have noticed that many popular secular blogs and podcasts have faded away. Many atheist, humanist, and skeptic conferences that were once able to sell out on an annual basis have been discontinued or have seen a considerable drop in attendance. Some people once respected as leaders in our community are now mired in controversies that divide our ranks, and our current political environment in the U.S. continues to focus our attention on matters of grave concern that aren’t easily solved by people simply turning from faith to reason.

However, while our “movement” might be more fragmented these days, many people are still working hard (and effectively) around the globe to fight theocracy, promote reason and the scientific method, defend civil liberties and human rights, and provide communities for nonbelievers dedicated to these efforts. As president of Lehigh Valley Humanists, it is my privilege and honor to lead a dedicated and talented team of directors and volunteers in providing a thriving example of one of these communities.

One of the reasons I am so proud of LVH is our full and active calendar of events. When American Humanist Association Executive Director Roy Speckhardt visited us in May, he was impressed to learn that his lecture was the first of eight events LVH was hosting that month!

However, what really sets us apart isn’t how often we meet, but what we do when we get together. It would be easy, and certainly very tempting, to meet up just to congratulate ourselves for choosing the path of reason and science over faith, and place all the world’s problems on everyone else.

Instead, we practice our Humanism by looking inward and working hard to better ourselves. We attend lectures to learn more about our natural world and hear important perspectives on our interactions as human beings. We discuss current events and other concerns to better understand each other’s passionate perspectives. We read and study thought-provoking books to challenge ourselves in our practice of Humanism. We get in touch with nature and keep ourselves fit by hiking and biking through scenic parks and preserves. We give our labor to clean up the local community, our blood to those whose lives depend on it, and even our time on Christmas Day to feed our neighbors. And of course, we get together often to enjoy each other’s company as friends.

Our directors and volunteers (including each of you who help at our service projects) spend hundreds of hours each year to make all this happen. And while we’re happy to provide our time and talents, it also takes a little of our treasure. Even though LVH has no paid staff, the costs of providing our programs and running the organization exceed the amounts we collect in membership dues and cash contributions at our events.

And so, on behalf of our board, I’m asking for your financial support to help raise $2,000 by our annual meeting on January 6^th. 

The funds will be used to support our ongoing mission as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to promote Humanism and foster a vibrant community dedicated to a positive ethical life-stance in the Lehigh Valley.

If everyone reading this donated just $10, we would more than double this goal.

The easiest way you can help is to click this link to make a donation through our website,or click this link to begin or renew your membership in LVH. You can also make a donation at any of our lecture events or mail a check or money order payable to “Lehigh Valley Humanists” to our address at 522 West Maple Street, Allentown, PA 18101.

On our calendar page, you’ll see a list of just some of the events currently planned in the coming months that your generous donation will help support. I hope to see you at one of them soon! And there’s one last way you can help us out…