Hudson Valley Humanists

09/20/2026

Sunday, September 20, 6:00-8:00
HYBRID: New Paltz Community Center and ZOOM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81762694975?pwd=bOubVPFKfWSFPDbJr0pMJB4hB79FKD.1

Presenteer: Andi Bartczak

Topic: What is Humanism


How do we find purpose in life? Some people find that in religion, which leads to community and a moral code. People who are not religious also need a place to socialize, people with similar views to talk to and a moral code to live by.
Andi will give a short talk to explain how humanism does the same without a supernatural being telling us what to do. She will also talk about the American history of humanism. Then she will ask the humanists who are present live or on Zoom to explain how they came to humanism.

As always, a light snack will be provided.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

01/26/2026

Let's keep ICE and DHS out of our state!!!
The New York for All Act (S2235-Gounardes / A3506-Reyes) will prohibit state and local resources from being used to carry out a cruel and inhumane federal deportation agenda. We must stop state and local law enforcement and government agencies from colluding with ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and all federal agencies conducting civil immigration enforcement.

05/18/2025

Sunday, May 18, 6:00-8:00pm

Topic: Black Jazz, part 2

Presenter: Gary Patrik

Hybrid: NP Community Center & Zoom

Back in March 2024, Gary Presented a very well curated list of Black Jazz.

What with one thing and another, including tech troubles, we only got half way through his list. Time to finish up.

Time to tap your toes, and maybe dance a bit too.

ZOOM MEETING NOTE:
If you have trouble joining the meeting
Please CALL me at 732-615-7236 (even if the meeting has started)

04/27/2025

Sunday, April 27, 6:00-8:00pm

Topic: Stoicism for our times

Hybrid: NP Community Center & Zoom

Can the princilpes of stoicism help us handle these trying times?

There will be ample time for discussion after the presentation

03/16/2025

Sunday, March 16, 6:00-8:00pm

Topic: Tribalism, etc.

Speaker: William Glass

Hybrid: NP Community Center & Zoom

Bill will speak on the causes & effects of: tribalism, polarization and globalism on America.

There will be ample time for discussion after his presentation

I hope you are enjoying the longer days

Still looking for volunteer presenters and/or suggested topics.

If you haven't joined a zoom meeting yet, reply to this newsletter and I will put you on the invitations list.
If you joined a meeting before, You are on the list (book club list is separate).

You can call me with any questions you may have (just not before 10:30 am)
732-615-7236

02/09/2025

Hybrid: NP Community Center & Zoom

9th Annual Darwin Day Symposium

Speakers: Student led panel facilitated by Prof. Glenn Geher, Ph.D. of the Evolutionary Studies Dept at SUNY New Paltz.

Topic: Evolution Everywhere!

We greatly enjoy hearing the students present their work. They are a lively and enthusiastic group

The presentations are followed by cookies and cake for Darwins 216th birthday. (apologies to you folks on zoom)

Darwin Day is an international holiday celebrated by Humanists worldwide.

_________________________________

If you haven't joined a zoom meeting yet, reply to this newsletter and I will put you on the invitations list.
If you joined a meeting before, You are on the list (book club list is separate).

You can call me with any questions you may have (just not before 10:30 am)
732-615-7236

01/19/2025

Sunday, January 19

Short Topics
Short topics

This meeting is ZOOM only ans will have a number of short subjects, hopefully submitted by our members. If you have something visual to share, please submit via email

Examples:
1. new years resolutions, (other than lose weight, eat right, exercise...)
2. misinformation that you would like to set straight or other thought you would like to get off your chest
3. what if you were kidnapped - how would you secretly let people know via social media,
4. Favorite joke/cartoon.
5. [Your idea goes here]


This meeting is ZOOM only. Email [email protected] for link or more detail

Longer days!
Still looking for volunteer presenters and/or suggested topics.

If you haven't joined a zoom meeting yet, reply to this newsletter and I will put you on the invitations list.
If you joined a meeting before, You are on the list (book club list is separate).

You can call me with any questions you may have (just not before 10:30 am)
732-615-7236

06/02/2024

Sunday, June 2
2:00-4:00 PM
At the Plaza Diner in New Paltz

Join other humanists for our monthly social get together

04/21/2024

HVH Monthly Meeting
Sunday, April 21,
6:00-8:00 PM hybrid

We'll meet in the NP Community Center and via Zoom

Topic: Do we have Free Will

Presenter: Richard Windecker


Robert Sapolsky's book Determined has triggered discussions by various humanist groups.

Richard has agreed to repeat his successful presentation to the Red Bank (NJ) Humanists for us. He has done research the field of "artificial neural networks" that has strong implications for how to think about free will.
His background is as a physicist and systems engineer.

If you haven't joined a zoom meeting yet, reply to this newsletter and I will put you on the invitations list.
If you joined a meeting before, You are on the list (book club list is separate).

You can call me with any questions you may have (just not before 10:30 am)
732-615-7236