Main meetings: normally on the last Monday of the month, upstairs at The Old Ship Pub, 3 King Street, Richmond, TW9 1ND.
Other venues:
Coffee mornings: normally on second Thursday of the month (excluding August), 11am at the Rose Theatre cafe, 24-26 High Street, Kingston KT1 1HL.
Pub lunches: From time to time, arranged ad hoc. 12.30pm at the William Webb Ellis pub, 24 London Road, Twickenham, TW1 3RR.
Since we launched in 2007, it's ranged pretty widely:
- “The God Delusion” - is Richard Dawkins an asset to Humanism? - The Ethics of Eating - Happiness is Overrated - Shariah Law v Human Rights (included raising money for the "One Law For All" campaign) - Humanism & Education - Is the Good Life Possible without God? - dialogue with a Catholic priest - Humanists Celebrants' perspectives of weddings, baby namings and funerals - Approaches to Interfaith Dialogue - Climate Change – An Inconvenient Truth - Ritual – are the Non-Religious Missing Out? - Faith and Atheism - Shared Values or Irreconcilable Differences? - Evolution versus Creationism: A Very American Conflict? - Ancient Chinese philosophy: a humanism for our time? - Can Humanists be Spiritual? - Africa - Is it just a basket case?
Running stalls at local fairs, and raffles at Group events, to raise money for our selected charities, which since 2008 have been: Practical Action and Uganda Humanist Schools Trust. Participation in local events including Interfaith Week and Remembrance Day.
We've also delivered a Humanist "Thought for the Meeting" for Richmond & Twickenham Council and contribute to the Kingston Council's Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education (SACRE) and the Richmond Inter Faith Forum.
We support British Humanist Association campaigns to counter religious privilege in areas such as education (for example, opposition to faith schools), bishops in the House of Lords and resistance to the introduction of Creationism and Intelligent Design into science lessons. And members are BHA Local Development Volunteers in Kingston and Richmond.
Social events have included walks, theatre and cinema trips, a visit to Darwin's home (Down House), summer party, party at Christmas, regular coffee mornings and pub lunches.
Agreed at AGM 25 June 2007
1. NAME AND OBJECTS: The Group shall be called the “South West London Humanists Group“ and shall have the following objectives:
Providing a means for like-minded individuals to meet, and a forum for the discussion of Humanist values, principles and relevant subjects.
Creating awareness of Humanism in the local community.
Campaigning for respect for those who seek to live ethical and responsible lives without religious or superstitious beliefs, and against religious privilege.
Carrying out and supporting appropriate charitable activities.
It will pursue these in a manner that is welcoming and tolerant.
2. MEMBERSHIP: Any person who agrees with the objects of the Group may become a member on payment of the annual subscription. There is no fixed geographical boundary of membership.
The Committee may refuse to admit as a member or terminate the membership of any person whose conduct is, in its opinion, inconsistent with the objects of the Group or its policies, as determined by the Committee.
3. HONORARY OFFICERS: The Honorary Officers shall be: Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. They shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
4. COMMITTEE: The Committee shall consist of the Honorary Officers, and up to five members each serving for two years. Any vacancy may be filled by the Committee subject to confirmation at the next Annual General Meeting. The Chairman of the Group shall be the Chairman of the Committee.
The general business of the Group shall be administered by the Committee. It shall meet at least once in every three months. A quorum shall be three members of whom at least two shall be honorary officers.
5. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS: An Annual General Meeting shall be held before the end of July in each year. It shall receive financial accounts and the reports from the Committee for the year ended the previous thirty-first of March. It shall elect the Honorary Officers of the Group and the members of the Committee.
At least twenty-one days' notice of the meeting shall be given to all members. Nominations, duly seconded, and notices of resolutions must be received by the Secretary at least seven days before the meeting.
6. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS: A Special General Meeting may be convened by the Committee or shall, on receipt of a request signed by at least fifteen percent of the members of the Group, be convened by the Secretary within six weeks of the receipt of such request. At least twenty-one days' notice of the meeting shall be given to all members. Only business stated on the notice convening the meeting shall be considered at such Special General Meetings.
The quorum at both of the above types of general meetings shall be ten members of the Group, including members of the Committee. In any dispute concerning the affairs of the Group, a general meeting shall be the final authority.
7. FINANCE: The income and property of the Group shall be devoted to the promotion of the objects of the Group. Honorary Officers and Members of the Committee may not receive payment for their services to the Group.
In the event of the Group having to be wound up, all funds after payment of liabilities shall go to the British Humanist Association.
The annual subscription to the Group shall be set by the Annual General Meeting.
8. CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS: The constitution may be amended by a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting. The notice of the general meeting must include notice of the resolution setting out the terms of the amendment proposed.
9. AFFILIATIONS: The Group shall maintain its affiliation to the British Humanist Association. Affiliations to other bodies may be sought by resolution of a general meeting.
All our meetings and events are detailed here:
