The first annual meeting of the Humanists of Utah was held February 20, 1992, and was attended by more than 50% of our membership. A brief history of the American Humanist Association was given by Ed Wilson, and the background of the founding of the Humanists of Utah was presented by Anne Zeilstra. Bob Green summarized the first year operations of our monthly Journal. Our Bylaws were reviewed and amended, and our first election of officers was conducted.

Edwin H. Wilson (Ed) told the fascinating story of today's American Humanist Association being the result of a schism in the Unitarian Church during the early years of the 1900's when several Unitarian ministers heading parishes in the western states began a movement to remove references to God from official Unitarian publications. He said the Unitarian officials in Boston referred to the movement as "The Western Problem." When Unitarian headquarters moved too slowly to resolve the dispute, the Western Unitarian leaders decided to call themselves humanists, but maintained a loose affiliation with the Unitarian Association. Ed became a leader in the humanist movement, and eventually left his position of minister to the Unitarian Congregation in Salt Lake City, and moved to Yellow Springs, Ohio where he founded the Fellowship of Religious Humanists, Inc. Ed's talk made us all more knowledgeable of the history of humanism, and he was encouraged by those present to write a book detailing the brief outline he presented.

A sense of isolation motivated Anne Zeilstra to get the Humanists of Utah started. He related his family's difficulty finding meaningful relationships upon moving to Salt Lake City. He said the people they met seemed to be totally involved in church related activities, making it impossible to develop significant communications with them. He told of contacting the A.H.A. and asking for a list of members in Utah. This led to his connecting with Ed Wilson, and the planning of a public meeting to see if local members of AHA and others were interested in forming a Utah chapter. Interest was generated, and today we have 46-members plus seven additional subscribers to the Utah Humanist journal. And the Zeilstra family now has many people with which they can have a relaxed friendship.

Bob Green told of his plans to solicit a variety of writers for future issues of our Journal, writers who will challenge us with issues of vital concern to humanists, and to a better understanding of humanism. Bob reports his making contacts at the University of Utah to find speakers who will explore humanistic ideas at our monthly meetings.

Amendments to our Bylaws were proposed, discussed and adopted that clarify the roles of elected officials and members of the Board. Annual auditing of the treasurer's books was made mandatory. Appointments by the board of an editor for Journal, an historian, and a librarian were approved, as were Standing Committees and Ad Hoc committees as needed. The nominating procedure was clarified and election by secret ballot was made mandatory. The open discussion resulted in Chapter Bylaws that could very well become a model of clarity for other chapters of AHA, as well as other organizations.

Officers elected for one year terms are: President, Florien Wineriter; Vice President, Bob Green; Treasurer, Anna Hoagland; Secretary, Anne Zeilstra; Board members, Richard Layton, Martha Stewart and Edwin Wilson.

The social hour following the business meeting provided an opportunity for members to get better acquainted and exchange ideas for attracting new members, and enhancing the influence of humanism in our local community.

--Flo Wineriter