At the annual membership meeting in February of this year, President Flo Wineriter appointed a special committee and charged it to "create some public relations materials that will succinctly define humanism." Former Board member Nancy Moore agreed to chair this ad hoc committee consisting of all present Board members with the exception President Wineriter.

Much information was circulated among committee members. Finally, a meeting was set for Saturday, September 17, 1994, at Nancy's home in Provo.

In preparation for the meeting, we studied and thought and wrote down our own ideas for everyone to read. During our discussion, we first discarded the word "Mission" and rejected anything negative. Then, we put the phrases and words together that we could all agree on and the result is our new Statements of Belief and Purpose of the Humanists of Utah. At the Board meeting held September 22, 1994 the Statements were approved and adopted as written.

Belief Statement

Humanism is a natural way of life that promotes living joyfully and compassionately in the present, using innate intelligence, science, the humanities and experience as the methods for discovering truths.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of Humanists of Utah is to offer an affirmative educational program based on developing one's natural inner strengths in order to practice the art of living; to promote meaningful activities and compassionate service that champion humanism; and to be an association where all can have a sense of belonging to a larger community that supports a positive philosophy of reason, integrity and dignity.

--Bob Green