Members present : Duncan Pollock & Alan Stuart (Berkshire), Danny Collman (Birmingham), Robert Stovald (Brighton & Hove), Don Langdon & Sue Lord (Bromley) Leslie Bracken (Croydon), Jane Bannister, Denis Bannister and David Warden (Dorset), Maggie Adams & Alex Hill (Ealing), Caren Jennings & Margaret Rogers (East Kent), Phillip Beeton (Essex), Alec Leggatt & George Harlow (Guildford), Valerie Leggat (Observer from the soon to be established Farnham Group), Nigel Barnes & Edwin Savitt (Hampstead), Rosemary Bennett & John Rayner (Harrow), John Bosley (Huddersfield & BHA Trustee), Bob Tee (West Yorkshire – Leeds), David Broughton (Isle of Wight), Mike Hutchinson & Anne Toy (North London), John Hemsley (Norfolk), Denis Cobell & Terry Liddle (Lewisham), Barrie Berkley (North East), Roy Adderley & Nick Mahtani (Reigate & Redhill),Dan Bye & Mike Granville (Sheffield), Anne Bothwell & David Bothwell (South Hampshire), Michael Imison (Suffolk), Audrey King (Sutton), John Catt (Family Network), Chris Butterworth (BHA Chair), Hanne Stinson (BHA executive Director), Justine Brian ( BHA Membership Services Officer) , Josh Kutchinsky & Barrie Berkley (GRAM Organisers)

Apologies: North Staffs/ South Cheshire Humanists, Devon Humanists, Belfast Humanist Group, Leicester Secular Society, Nina Boyd (BHA Trustee & Huddersfield Humanists), David McKnight (BHA Trustee & Berkshire Humanists)

# 1. Josh Kutchinsky (GRAM organiser)   welcomed the representatives from local groups and the BHA

Josh asked for a volunteer to take the minutes of the meeting.

#2. John Catt (Family Network) volunteered to take the minutes.

#3. Nigel Barnes (Hampstead) took the Chair for the first session

#4. Barrie Berkley (GRAM organiser & N.E. Humanists) tabled and introduced the report "Relations between the BHA and Local Humanism (also between local humanist groups themselves).
The aim of the report was to identify ways of :
        - jointly promoting humanism
        - exploiting the potential of local groups
        - feeding new members to the BHA
        - linking humanism to local communities
        -  promoting new membership. There is considerable potential for increasing numbers in local
           groups. Once local groups increase their membership there is every chance this will feed
           through to increased BHA membership
        - sharing best practice by learning from successful groups such as the NE Humanists, who
          have gained 40 new members already this year, and  Bournemouth who have gone from
          approximately  19 to 54 members   since last year.
The report was based on previous reports and documents such as the BHA 1996 Strategy document, agreed protocols and 1989 document on running a humanist group produced by Jane Wynne-Wilson.
A discussion paper had been issued in May 2003 and a constructive dialogue had taken place between the BHA and the individuals (from 41 groups) that subscribed to the E Group.
What was now required was to agree the way forward and then act upon it. Barrie pointed out that Humanism was even receiving some free publicity from the DTI, which was including Humanism along with religions in its anti-discrimination advertising campaign. Hanne pointed out that this was in large part due to the work and lobbying that the BHA had put in with government departments on this issue.

#5. Hanne Stinson (BHA Executive Director)   on behalf of the BHA welcomed the report commenting that the most positive output of the 2002 GRAM was the groups decision to take it over. The perception of both the groups and the BHA of each other was changing, with recognition that whilst different there are important common aims the most important of which is "promoting humanism".  Promotion of humanism can be of mutual benefit and working independently but in parallel is very important.  Hanne said she was here to listen rather than talk but would be happy to contribute as and when required.

Nigel Barnes thanked Hanne and the BHA on the behalf of the groups for their contribution to the report and for their hospitality and sponsorship of GRAM with particular thanks to Justine Brian.

#6 General discussion of the report and the recommendations.
Nigel proposed that general comments about the report should be made initially and that as rapidly as possible the meeting move to reviewing the recommendations. This was agreed.

General Comments
John Hemsley (Norfolk Humanists) said that whilst his group was affiliated to the BHA and generally supported it, it was also affiliated to the National Secular Society. The Norfolk group would prefer to see meetings between all the groups and all of the humanist organisations that operate at the national level.

Comments on the report's recommendations
            1. That the BHA should set up a dedicated working party to plan (i.e. review option and make recommendations)              for a membership drive for national and local humanism (this working party would benefit from having local group             participation)

Barrie Berkely (North East) proposed that a working party be set up. It was agreed that membership and ways of working would be established via the E Group. Much of the work and liaison could be carried out using E Mail.

Sue Lord (Bromley) said that we would be taking the wrong path if we judged ourselves simply on the criteria of membership. We need to understand why we want members and whom we want as members.

2. That the BHA ask local humanists to volunteer, in association with the BHA, to design a leaflet specifically conceived to promote membership of the BHA to local group members.

Dan Bye (Sheffield) stated that a leaflet would be a good idea provided it makes clear who we want to recruit and why. It must also give the impression of an active organisation.

Bob Tee (West Yorkshire) said that care was needed as some humanists tended to rationalise their memberships and chose between the local group and the BHA.

Alec Leggatt (Guildford) on the issue about who we are to attract said that as an officiant he was often asked what a humanist is. He normally gave an answer along the lines of "morality without theology" and quite often gained the response that "I suppose then that I'm one". Do we want such uncommitted people as members?

Anne Toy (N. London) said many officiants do not link up with their groups which was a pity. Unless people of like mind band together the "religious" will have their way. We will not succeed in increasing membership if we are too selective.

Duncan Pollock (Berkshire) said his group had so few members that communication would normally be face to face. Survival was their main issue and "new blood" the highest priority.

Sue Lord (Bromley) commented that inactive supporters were not a problem, but you could recruit members who would oppose taking action.

Leslie Bracken (Croydon) Need to consider need for more than one type of Humanist Group. Some may wish to campaign whilst others wish to put the emphasis on social activity. There is a need to support groups such as students and mothers and toddlers.

3. That local humanist groups having affiliated to the BHA should promote the BHA and other humanist organisations. Literature supplied by the BHA should be made available to their membership and mention of the BHA and the other national organisations should be made whenever possible and appropriate.

Jane Bannister (Dorset) said she would welcome brevity in the document. Suggested sections 2 and 3 could be combined.

4. That the BHA (an organisation whose resources we accept are constrained) should give serious consideration to all reasonable suggestions received from its members and from affiliated local groups. The BHA has confirmed that this is its policy and that no suggestions will be dismissed simply because of lack of resources.

Hanne Stinson (BHA) believed this to be quite an important statement.

5. That Local groups together should devise a method of receiving and reviewing suggestions from their membership for submission to the BHA for the following reasons:
   - A suggestion put to the BHA in this way would inevitably carry greater weight.
   - The risk of the BHA incorrectly evaluating a suggestion due to pressure on resources will be reduced.
It would be a good idea if the BHA were to be informed and consulted about any proposal at the earliest possible stage so as to avoid a situation where time and effort are devoted to a proposal only to have it rejected by the BHA. Clearly the BHA would always retain the right to organise its own priorities, in the interest of its members.

Michael Imison (Suffolk) was concerned that this could introduce a new level of bureaucracy. There is a need to keep communications as direct as possible.

Michael Imison (Suffolk) proposed, seconded by David Warden (Dorset), that "should" be replaced in the recommendation by "might". This was agreed "nem con".

6. That the BHA ensures that local groups are promoted in every edition of Humanist News. We understand that in the new format there will not be a full listing of groups. However Humanist News will carry a prominent invitation to those interested in knowing about their nearest local group to contact the BHA or visit a dedicated web page which will provide a listing of all affiliated groups.

Dan Bye (Sheffield) made the point that this depended on groups providing news to the BHA.

David Bothwell (South Hampshire) asked what the current proposals are regarding information on groups in Humanist News.

Hanne Stinson (BHA) explained that the whole format was being revised and they would be moving to a new smaller folded news-sheet format that would enable the BHA to *increase the frequency of issues to 6 time each year whilst reducing costs which she said it actually would even though it seems counter-intuitive.

This would mean that it would not be possible to include details of all the groups in each issue and the intention is to send out a separate sheet containing details of the groups to all new BHA members and as an insert with some to the issues of Humanist News. Details of groups would always be maintained on the BHA Web site.

However the BHA would always aim to include some news of Group activities in each issue.

Anne Toy (North London) asked if the insert would go out at least annually. Hanne confirmed that this would be the case.

Sue Lord (Bromley) pointed out that she could set up a page on the web from her Website WWW.secularsites.freeuk.com from which group details could be printed off.

7. That the BHA provides a link from an item "Your local Group" on the BHA website's home page to a dedicated page providing a listing of affiliated local groups with contact details and other information as appropriate.

Hanne Stinson (BHA) stated that the BHA would like to have a link from its site to any Web Sites that the groups run.

Josh Kutchinsky (GRAM organiser) emphasised that the Groups would like to be a direct link from the home page of the BHA site (at present "Affiliated Groups" is a subsidiary link below under "About the BHA").

8. That the BHA will print a full listing of affiliated local groups containing, at least, the minimum contact details as requested by the individual groups. That this list will then be sent to all new members of the BHA and to existing members when thought appropriate and enclosed as an insert in Humanist News from time to time.

Covered under 6.

9.That Humanist News will carry a "groups roundup" section in every edition. This has been expressed to us as the BHA's intention. It is clearly in part dependent on the ability of the BHA to gather this news (see the following recommendation).

This had for the most part been covered under 6.

Anne Bothwell (South Hampshire) asked if simple submission of the Groups newsletter was sufficient.

Hanne responded that this left selection of news to the BHA staff and involved them reading the whole newsletter which might not be a high priority. It was therefore preferable for Groups to submit particular items that they believe merit including in Humanist News.

10. That local groups (possibly by means of an e-Working Party) will consider how best to assist the BHA in gathering local groups' news.

Josh Kutchinsky (GRAM organiser) said that whilst the E Group was proving useful there were problems with the way it operated at present that needed to be sorted out.

Alec Leggett (Guildford) said he had given up on the Officiants’ E Group as he was overwhelmed by the duplicated information. The vast majority of communications should be one to one communications. There should be more discipline with members confining their points to matters of general interest.

John Catt (Humanist Families) suggested that either much greater discipline would be needed on the existing system or discussion is moved to a News Group/Bulletin Board type format that allowed "threads".

David Warden (Dorset) emphasised the need for people only needing to read E Mails relating to their area of involvement.

John Bosley (Huddersfield) suggest that this was not an appropriate forum for discussing Email protocol and asked if membership of the E Group was limited to one person per group.

Josh indicated that the E Group had been started on the basis that anyone from any humanist group was welcome.

Hanne Stinson (BHA) indicated that the BHA Web Site could offer facilities for "threaded" discussion groups and would let the Groups know when this is available.

11. That the BHA should actively promote local humanism on its website, in its leaflets and publicity. The BHA has stated its intention/willingness to put more group information on its website (meeting dates, places etc, as well as contact info). Further improvements to the way in which local humanism is promoted in BHA printed material needs to be considered by both the BHA and local humanism.

No Comments made.

12. The booklets Running a local humanist group and Setting up and running a Student Humanist group should be revised in consultation with local groups/individuals and published initially in e-editions freely available from the BHA and other websites. A hard copy ideally should also be available but could be printed in a low cost format in small numbers for distribution to BHA affiliated groups and members who are not online and as the need arises. Volunteers are needed to form a group to perform this task. (an offer to co-ordinate the revision of the booklet Running a local humanist group has been made by Jane Wynne Willson (Birmingham) who was responsible with others in putting together the original document in 1989)

Barrie Berkley (NE Humanists) stated that this should only require the establishment of a working group to produce a new document based on what had been used before.

13. That the local groups together should consider how best to make use of the Internet and how to provide information for use by the BHA's website in a most effective and cost efficient manner.

David Bothwell (South Hampshire) again proposed that "should" be replaced throughout the proposal by "might". This was agreed "nem con".

Rosemary Bennett (Harrow) said that a lack of the necessary skills was a problem. Her group had a web site established by a member who had now left the area. There was no one now able to maintain it.

Sue Lord (Bromley) said that she had made an open offer that was still available, to establish sites for Groups requiring assistance.

Denis Bannister (Dorset) asked if to be a humanist you need to be on Email?

Bob Tee (West Yorkshire) said that all his members were busy people and didn't have the time to acquire all the skills required.

Sue Lord (Bromley) said that Groups are about communicating. Email and the Web are probably the most efficient ways of disseminating information yet devised.

14. That local groups should develop and extend the current e-communications between groups for the purposes of mutual support, the sharing of ideas and skills and the active promotion of humanism.

No comment. General agreement.

15. That local groups should consider how to keep those groups not online onboard.

Josh made the point that Email is a very fast and low cost form of communication. Still, those who are online are concerned about the people and groups who are not. We need to look at ways of not leaving people behind.

16. In order to share good practice an account from local groups of their activities should be sought. The results should be collated and edited for publication in an e-edition. Some information about the activities of local groups has already been posted on the humanist groups' egroup. (Margaret Nelson has informed us that Suffolk humanists has offered to publish a BHA groups directory free of charge, if the BHA will pay the postage for its distribution - this directory will be based on the responses to a questionnaire and also available in an e-format)

Michael Imison (Suffolk) emphasised that his group were volunteering to create a handbook for Groups listing activities, forms of promotion and other matters of general interest.

17. That local groups decide what objectives should be set for the next GRAM and how they are to be achieved.

John Hemsley (Norfolk), on the behalf of Vincent Cheney suggested that representatives from all the national humanist bodies should be invited to the next GRAM.

It was agreed that this would need more consideration since some groups were affiliated to several of these organisations whilst some were only affiliated to the BHA or NSS.

There was then a fifteen minute break

#7.   David Bothwell (South Hampshire) took the chair for the second session

David introduced  the 5 minute presentations*.

Talk 1. Dan Bye (Sheffield) - "Book Stalls"*

Bob Tee (Yorkshire) asked how you go about finding out about events where you can set up a stall.

Dan explained that there is ofter a local network of people involved with various causes. He suggested a good starting point would be the local authority or its Web site.

Talk 2. Jane Bannister (Dorset) "The Resurrection".*

Talk 3. David Warden (Dorset) "Twinning".*

Talk 4. John Hensley (Norfolk) "Burston School Strike Fare".*

Terry Liddle (Lewisham) said that his group was usually represented at the Annual Levellers Day Celebration! They would be attending again on Saturday May 15th 2004, Burford, Oxfordshire. It will be the 30th Annual Levellers Day Celebration with Tony Benn addressing the attendees. All welcome to join them. www.levellers.org.uk

Talk 5. Barrie Berkley (North East) "Library Displays".*

John Catt (Humanist Families suggested that the Word documents and images would be ideal for putting on a web site.

Denis Bannister (Dorset) said that Bournemouth libraries refused to display "religous" material.

David Bothwell (South Hampshire) confirmed that they had no problems with this in their area.

Bob Tee (West Yorkshire) indicated that they had had problems and it largely depended on the library staff's attitude.

Talk 6. John Bosley (Huddersfield) "Reasons for Starting a Group".

John gave a very humerous presentation about the 3 member Huddersfield Group that he has established. Hopes to grow but being able to claim a local organisation is useful when dealing with the media.

Michael Imison (Suffolk) said that they have a stall at the local crematorium open day which at least promotes the Group and local celebrants to the funeral directors.

Anne Toy (N. London) said that Groups could raise their profile by undertaking pastoral work and this had been successful in their area at a multi faith hospice. The local humanist group featured in the hospice promotional literature. It is appropriate to donate humanist books to hospice libraries.

Sue Lord (Bromley) said that a similar approach had proved successful in Bromley. Humanists need to campaign for similar hopices, suitable for all life stances, in all areas.

#8 The Future of GRAM

John Hemsley (Norfolk), on the behalf of Vincent Chainey sought clarity on why representatives from all the national humanist bodies were not invited to GRAM.

It was agreed that this would need more consideration since some groups were affiliated to several of these organisations whilst some were only affiliated to the BHA or NSS. At present GRAM is hosted by the BHA for its affiliates.

Duncan Pollock (Berkshire) felt the format of the current meeting was much superior to what had gone before and had proved useful in providing new ideas.

Nigel Barnes (Hampstead) was not in favour of a diffused meeting. This should remain a meeting of groups affiliated to the BHA.

Alec Leggatt (Guildford) said on recruitment that groups need to make clear what they are offering to potential members. He found that he had gained much from membership in terms of mutual support and believed we have a positive message to put across.

Danny Collman (Birmingham) said that Jane Wynne Willson had asked him to let the meeting know that she would be prepared to co-ordinate updating the document on setting up local groups and would welcome any ideas.

Danny also raised a concern that the Birmingham group had not been consulted at an early stage in arranging the last conference. Jane Wynne Wilson was to have been the contact point but had heard nothing. Hanne said there may have been a failure of communication and she would discuss with Jane.

The Birmingham Group was also concerned about the content of any proposed leaflets on local groups.

Sue Lord (Bromley) made the following points :-

·        The BHA and the Groups need to sharpen up their ethos and its presentation to the wider public.

·        Need to maximise the use of the communication channels available to us to gain the greatest possible impact with the public.

·        She urges the BHA and the other national humanist organisations to look again at national advertising possibly on a joint basis.

·        Run a humanist information technology workshop to educate members in how to take advantage of the benefits made available by the Web and Email.

Nigel Barnes (Hampstead) suggested that consideration be given to a joint chairmanship of GRAM with the BHA. He also believes that the Groups need a secretariat to be effective.

Jane Bannister (Dorset) felt it important that more groups attended and this needed to be encouraged.

Josh (GRAM organiser) felt that bearing in mind distances, the attendance was very good. When the value of the meeting is fully appreciated then others may attend.

Alan Stuart (Berkshire) felt that whilst advertising is important it needs to be linked to campaigns such as faith based schools.

Danny Collman (Birmingham) asked if the previous communications group had been dissolved. The answer was yes.

Sue Lord made the point that it is unethical to use ceremonies for overt recruitment.

Danny Collman  suggested that GRAM might be held biannually.

Josh said this was something that could be debated within the E group.

The meeting recorded a vote of thanks for all the work that Josh and Barrie had put into producing the report and organising the meeting and to the BHA (in particular Hanne and Justine) for hosting the event.

It was suggested by one representative that attendees could bring their own sandwiches in future and save the BHA money.

End   of GRAM 2003

NOTES

*The intention is to try and provide a transcript of these talks. At present only the  talks by Dan Bye and John Bosely are available -  go to talk 1 &  talk 6.