It’s that time of year again.

Although the  formation of NOSHA  has been marked as August, 1999, other birthday commemorations have been scheduled in September, or later. 

Somewhere around this time each year though, we recognize the resolve of the dozen or so dedicated freethinkers that saw the importance of establishing a forum for their contemporaries—in a city where a group openly touting religious heresies mixed with social and individual freedoms would have been unthinkable, or short lived at best.  David Schultz, one of that original group and former vice president, understood the value of keeping records of the activities of NOSHA, and recently sent me his account of its ambitious agenda during its first year. It gives one an idea of the amount of energy garnered toward the pursuit of truth—and it’s that same dedicated energy that has been powered on now for 25 years

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Marty B., Ed.

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 The New Orleans Secular Humanist Association (NOSHA) celebrated its first anniversary in August 2000. The group was founded through the efforts of Gina Cetodal, who, eager to meet like-minded persons in the community, contacted the Council for Secular Humanism about forming a local group. That organization then initiated a mailing which went out to subscribers of their publication Free Inquiry in the Louisiana-Mississippi Gulf Coast area. The initial group of respondents of 10-12 individuals has grown to 53 dues-paying members, with a total mailing list of 87 interested individuals.  A quarterly newsletter, “NOSHA News”,  reports on the interests and activities of the group. 

At early meetings of the organization, before board members and officers were elected, discussions were held in which individuals reported on their beliefs and convictions and what had brought them to a humanist philosophy.  From these early discussions, topics of discussion for future meetings were suggested and a statement of purpose has developed which reflects that of the national Council, i.e., “to establish a network of like-minded individuals who are interested in meeting and socializing, to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas, and to educate the general public about the ideals and aims of secular humanism.”

In the past year, NOSHA has successfully met most of those aims with continued group discussions on topics such as capital punishment, separation of church and state, and religion as an unnecessary component of morality.  Two members have made appearances on local television programs, both discussing the issue of church-state separation, and one member took the pro-evolution side of a evolution vs creationism debate a the Tulane University Philosophy Club.  Members have also met for three purely social occasions, an “Easter-eve” celebration, a country outing buffet lunch, and  an evening dinner at a local restaurant. On two separate occasions, NOSHA members have volunteered their time to assist the local public television station in their fund-raising and membership drives; on both occasions, our organization’s banner was displayed calling attention in small part to secular humanism.  Additionally, a new fledgling chapter of secular humanists has recently been established in the city of Baton Rouge, with our assistance, encouragement, and support.  

We have been successful in attracting outside speakers to our regular meetings covering a wide array of topics of interest to all.  Some speakers and topics have included the following:  Dr. Bruce Brower of the Tulane University Philosophy Department, Dr. Barbara Forrest of the Southeastern Louisiana University Philosophy Department, and Dr. Edward Johnson, Head of the University of New Orleans Philosophy Department, all spoke on varying aspects of morality and ethics; Dr. Catherine Loomis of the University of New Orleans English Department spoke on Shakespeare as a humanist; Patrick Murphy, an ex-Catholic priest from Ireland spoke on his conversion to humanism;  Mr. Ross Sloan, a lecturer and debater spoke on the need to disseminate humanist ideas; Dr. Gene Usdin, a well-respected local psychiatrist and member of the Hemlock Society spoke on physician-assisted dying; Mr. William Rittenberg, local attorney for various civil rights lawsuits, spoke on the risks and challenges to our right to privacy, and Mr. Michael Malec, representing the local chapter of the ACLU along with Mr. Joseph Billingsley, President of the Gulf South Booksellers Association, spoke on the history of censorship and banned books.

Perhaps NOSHA’s crowning achievement in its first year came after only six months, with co-sponsorship of its first annual Darwin Day celebration, in association with the Tulane University Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Geology.  With only two months of advanced planning, a program of two local speakers from Tulane University was held with approximately 75 people in attendance.  The success of  our first Darwin Day has been the impetus to organize for a second year.

With these accomplishments behind us in the first year of our existence, we feel we have successfully met our self-imposed goals and challenges and eagerly look forward to future accomplishments.

Dave Schultz

Lightly edited