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Hello Members and Friends!

Welcome to November!

Hope you all are ready to attend some excellent programs including another workshop!

Our programs include a speaker from Advocates for a Clean Lake Erie, a workshop on living secular in a religious dominated world, another of our popular Nooners, and a return visit to Holy Toledo! Tavern the day before Thanksgiving. We hope you can join us.

Did you want to join or renew your membership? We have a deal for you:

Donate $50 or more or pledge at least $5 a month and we will give you a free 1 year membership to the group. Visit our donation page and follow the FAQ at the bottom of the page.

SPECIAL DEAL

Upcoming Meetings and Events

The Third Battle for Lake Erie – Protecting Our Water Supply

Saturday, November 9, 2019 1 PM

West Toledo Branch Library 1320 W Sylvania Ave Toledo, Ohio 43612

"The Third Battle for Lake Erie" presented by Mike Ferner from Advocates for a Clean Lake Erie

On August 2, 2014 nearly 500,000 Toledo area residents woke up without drinking water.

The culprit? A large mass of phosphorus dependent cyanobacteria which produced toxic microcystins. A problem decades in the making could no longer be ignored.

Advocates for a Clean Lake Erie (ACLE) works as if the water emergency of August 2014 is ongoing, in order to vigorously safeguard the health of our lake.

We conduct public education and actions to expose the environmental threats caused by animal factories and other sources.

We pressure government officials to get an impaired watershed designation for Western Lake Erie, followed by a thorough cleanup, so Lake Erie will remain healthy for all the life that depends on it.

Mike Ferner is a long-time environmentalist, including his time on Toledo City Council when he sponsored the largest investment in energy efficiency for municipal buildings in Ohio. He served as a Navy Corpsman during the Viet Nam war and as national President of Veterans For Peace. Mike worked as a union organizer for the American Federation of State, Counties and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and as director of communications for several national non-profit organizations. He is a founding member of Advocates for a Clean Lake Erie and has lived on that lake's shore in Toledo for 35 years.

We will have light refreshments.

We will be in the Auditorium in the basement

This event is open to the public

Being Secular In A Religious Dominated World

Tuesday, November 19, 2019 7 PM

West Toledo Branch Library - 1320 W Sylvania Ave Toledo 43612

In this workshop, SHoWLE President Douglas Berger will offer suggestions and guidance on how to live a secular life stance in a world that is dominated and obsessed with religion.

How do we contribute to the well-being of ourselves and our loved ones while being true to our beliefs?

Through our group discussion, we can share practical hints and tips for being a productive citizen without compromising our Humanist principles.

We will also discuss the false narrative that Christians are being persecuted in the US and how falling for that untruth will in fact have serious consequences for the religious freedom of us all.

This is the 2nd in a serious of workshops about Humanism presented by the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie.

We will be meeting in the Auditorium located in the Basement of the building.

This event is open to the public

Humanist Nooner - Incorvaia’s Bene Italinao

Wednesday, November 20, 2019 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Incorvaia’s Bene Italinao 4751 Monroe St Toledo, OH 43623

Join host Doug Berger each month as he explores some of the fine eating establishments in the Toledo metro area for lunch.

Looking for a fun time without a boring meeting, then Humanist Nooners is the place to be.

Although the food isn’t free, the conversation will be and it is open to the public. Meet some other Humanists and Freethinkers. You can even ask questions about Humanism and freethought.

This event is open to the public

SHoWLE Bar Committee – Holy Toledo! Tavern

Wednesday, November 27, 2019 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Holy Toledo! Tavern 9 N St Clair St Toledo, Ohio 43604

Join us as we make a return visit to the Holy Toledo! Tavern in Downtown Toledo the day before Thanksgiving to eat, drink, and be merry.

This event is open to the public.

Holy Toledo! Tavern

More Upcoming Events

News & Notes

Congrats to our Board Members for 2019-2020

At our Members' Meeting on October 12th, we elected the following people to the SHoWLE Board of Directors:

Douglas Berger
Shawn Meagley
Margarette Webster
TK Barger
Mylinda Ogundipe

The Board will be selecting the officers, for the coming year, soon.

The Bylaws allow us to have up to 7 members of the Board of Directors so if you are a voting member and would like to serve send us a note at contact_us@humanistswle.org

Building a Humanist Community in Toledo Campaign

SHoWLE has started a Gofundme campaign to reach people who may or may not live in Toledo but would like to support our efforts to build a Humanist community. Money raised would go toward operating the group for 2019-2020 so we don't have to raise money all year.

Visit the link and read our story and if you have like minded friends in Northwest Ohio or elsewhere who you think would help us out, share the page.

Campaign Page

We've adopted a family for the holidays

SHoWLE is participating in the Adopt-A-Family program through the Lucas County Children Services this holiday season for our fall service project. We've been given a family of three, a caregiver and two young boys. If you would like to help, which would include joining us in a "wrap" party before we deliver the gifts, give President Doug a call or text at 567-302-0209 or send a note to contact_us@humanistswle.org

Letter-to-the-Editor

SHoWLE President Douglas Berger had a letter to the editor published in the Columbus Dispatch on Tuesday November 5th:

"Hate to break it to The Dispatch, but the government isn’t allowed to decide what is and what isn’t a sincerely held religious belief. That violates the First Amendment. All religions are made up. Religious bias like that shown by the Ohio BMV is exactly why we need the First Amendment."

Read the letter

Winter Weather Reminder

As the temperature drops and we start to have snow storms this winter, here is a reminder:

SHoWLE is subject to the rules and regulations of the venues where we have events and meetings. For example the Toledo Public Library closes their branches during a Level 3 weather alert. If a venue closes due to the weather (or other non-scheduled issue) then consider any SHoWLE meeting or event scheduled at that venue on that date to be cancelled. Most likely the cancelled event or meeting won't be rescheduled.

We will try to send out notices as we know of any closings. You can find updated information on our website and our social media profiles.

Add Us To Your Kroger Plus Card

SHoWLE is now part of the Kroger Community Rewards program. Add us on your Kroger Plus card, using our group number XC299, and we get a small percentage of your total purchases donated.

Are you a member?

Joining the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie gets you the following benefits:

A nifty membership card to show off to friends and family
A monthly meeting with like minded people
Ability to guide and vote on the direction of the group
Serve in leadership positions and on our Board of Directors
Discounts on sponsored events and group merchandise
Regular communications about meetings, events, and other topics of interest to the group before the general public

We have two membership plans:

$10 for an Individual
$20 for a Household (two or more people at the same address)

Just see a Board member at our next meeting or event or click on the button below to pay online or to get information on mailing it in.

Join Now

Do you have a special skill or hobby? Do you have an idea for a program or event you would like to see hosted by SHoWLE??
Let us know!

Send us your idea for a program or event

If you are looking for meaning and solemnity to life celebrations, gatherings, and communities from a secular perspective, please contact Shawn Meagley at Secular Occasions. She is committed to helping humanists through the most important times in life including birth, love, loss, morality, and mortality. Each celebration or ceremony is personalized to be meaningful and professional with a humanist approach.

You can now donate to the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie

Please help us provide a supportive local community for humanists and other nontheists, while promoting ethical and reasonable secular world views through education, community service, outreach, activism, and social events.

You can use Paypal or a credit card. Donations are tax deductible.

Donate Online

You can always donate at one of our meetings or events or send your check or money order to:

Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie
PO Box 6433
Toledo, OH 43612-0433

We are also connected with the Amazon Smile program. If you choose SHoWLE as your charity then a portion of sales you complete will be sent to us. Use this link to choose us:

Amazon Smiles

Our Mission:

The mission of the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie is to provide a supportive local community for humanists and other nontheists, while promoting an ethical, reasonable, and secular approach to life through education, community service, outreach, activism, and social events.

We envision a Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan where secular people are respected and integrated in broader society, live values of reason and compassion, and enjoy a friendly humanist community.