Cambridge Humanist Group Programme of events 2007

Monthly meetings
Monthly meetings are held in and around Cambridge, sometimes at the Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane, sometimes in members' homes, usually in the evening. Typically there's an invited speaker and always an opportunity for conversation and discussion.

Visitors are welcome at meetings. Please enquire about time and location from the appropriate contact.

Informal social gatherings
Informal gatherings (not listed below), are currently at held at the Free Press pub in Prospect Row at 8 pm, (currently the first Tuesday of the month)

Other social events
As well as the monthly informal gatherings, two or three social events are held each year. Recently these have been picnics, garden parties and winter weekend lunches in a pub. From 2007 there is also a list of walkers, groups of whom go for country walks.

Here are the events so far organized for 2007

(Different pages show previous events for years 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000)

Month	Day, time & venue	Title, topic or activity	Speaker or organizer	More about the speaker, organizer or event
January	Sat, 6^th,12 for 12.30 The Unicorn, Church Lane, Trumpington	CHG Yuletide lunch, AGM	Organized by Gavin Moulton	Lunch and AGM at The Unicorn pub, Church Lane, Trumpington. If you intend to attend the lunch, please inform Gavin as soon as possible and let him have a cheque for £12.50 payable to "Cambridge Humanist Group"..
January	As above	The Multi-Faith Chaplaincy at Cambridge Regional College	Speaker: Robin Martlew	After the AGM, Robin Martlew, the Humanist Associate Chaplain at Cambridge Regional College (CRC), will give a report on the CRC Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, including its Inaugural Meeting and his role as Humanist Associate Chaplain.
January	Sun, 14^th Meet at Milton Country Park car park	Short walk	Organized by John Harris	Very short-notice walk as John starts organizing the CHG walkers' list
February	Sun, 4^th Meet 10 am at Wicken Fen car park	Country walk (4.5 miles) followed by light lunch at NT café	Organized by John Harris	First properly organized walk for those already on the CHG walkers' list. (Later: turned out to be a very successful walk with nine people and good luck with the weather, all nine lunching at the NT café.)
February	Thu, 15^th 7.45 for 8.00 pm Aldren Wright Room, (upstairs) at Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane	Global Warming	Speaker: Dr William Connolley	Dr Connolley is a Climate Modeller at the British Antarctic Survey and an administrator of the Wikipedia. Since 1990 Dr William Connolley has been a a climate modeller, working in the Physical Sciences Division (which employs 75 people) of the Britisha Antarctic Survey (BAS). BAS employs some 400 people, is based in Cambridge and supports three stations in the Antarctic. Dr Connolley's work involves many aspects of the variability in the Antarctic climate, a major theme being the warming recorded around the Antarctic Peninsula. Dr Connolley is also an administrator for the Wikipedia, the most used on-line encyclopedia on the World-Wide Web, to which anyone can contribute. Dr Connolley will talk about the evidence for global warming and the contribution of human activity, as well as what climate modelling involves and what it can and can't tell us about the need to reduce our emission of greenhouse gases. We have also asked Dr Connolley to talk a little on a different topic, Wikipedia, of which he is an administrator.
February	Sat, 24^th Meet 10 am at car park OS Ref. 33.90 (Eastings) 69.00	Country walk (2 to 2.5 hours) followed by lunch at Three Tuns pub	Suggested and led by Brian Wallis and organized by John Harris	Walk near Fen Drayton through nature reserve and along disused railway line towards St Ives, past lakes with plenty of bird life to see.
February	Sun, 25^th from 1 pm Christine Bondi's house (see newsletter)	Pot luck meal	Organized by Martin Pearson and Dr Christine Bondi	Bring one dish (any main dish, salad, or dessert is fine) suitable for everyone to share while chatting in the convivial atmosphere of Christine's house. No need to book - just turn up. If you want some ideas on what to bring or any other information, contact CHG Programme Secretary, Martin Pearson or Christine.
March	Sun, 11^th Meet 10 am at the car park at Wandlebury Country Park	Country walk (about 4 miles) followed by lunch at Six Bells pub, Fulbourn	Suggested and led by Christine Bondi and organized by John Harris	Walk through Wandlebury Country Park and Roman Road
March	Mon, 26^th,7.45 for 8.00 pm Ann Docwra room, Friends' Meeting House, Jesus Lane	Belonging to a community	Speaker: Dr Graham Spinks	Graham Spinks came to Cambridge as a postgraduate student and stayed here after completing his PhD in philosophy. He now runs a multimedia company that specializes in training packages for customers such as the NHS. He was not brought up as a Quaker but went to a Quaker school. Although not a member of the Quaker religion, Graham has found much to admire and identify with in the Quaker way of life and has become drawn into the Cambridge Quaker community, a community he values very highly. CHG member, John Harris, would like to see the CHG grow into more of a community and has been impressed that Graham, who shares much in terms of beliefs and values with the CHG, finds so much of value in the Quaker community that he has become very much part of it. John has asked Graham to help us understand what are the things that he sees as important in the community that has been created by the Cambridge Quakers.
April	Wed 25^th 7.45pm for 8.00 pm, Ann Docwra room, Friends' Meeting House, Jesus Lane	Quiz Night	Organized by Martin Pearson	A fun quiz with a broadly humanist theme (and some unusual BHA prizes for the winners!) comprising rounds on everything from the erudite to the trivial. Just turn up and we will organize the teams on the night.
May	Tue 15^th. 7.45 for 8.00 pm Ann Docwra room, Friends' Meeting House, Jesus Lane	Multi-Faith Chaplaincy and Humanism: talk and discussion	Speaker: Robin Martlew	CHG member Robin Martlew is the Humanist Associate Chaplain at Cambridge Regional College, which has a Multi-faith Chaplaincy. Robin Martlew will give an update on his role as there. This is also an opportunity to discuss how CHG can raise awareness of Humanism at CRC by celebrating a day or event particularly relevant to Humanism.
June	Wed 6^th 7.45pm for 8.00 pm, Ann Docwra room, Friends' Meeting House, Jesus Lane	Science Horizons		Think ahead to the year 2025. Will we want our fridge to tell us when we are running low on milk? Will it be considered preferable to use robots instead of cheap migrant labour? Will we only be prepared to meet prospective partners after having being "compatability matched" online? This DTI project is our chance to tell the UK government what we think about the future direction of technological development. Using the Science Horizons discussion pack provided, we will hold small group discussions on various possible scenarios for the year 2025, before filling in and submitting a response form summarising our opinions.
June	Sun 17th 2.00pm to 5.00pm,	Voice Dialogue	Led by Lorna Knox	Lorna has kindly offered CHG members an opportunity to participate in a "Voice Dialogue" session at her house. Voice Dialogue gives participants an opportunity to discover more about themselves and their relationships with others. For further information on what Voice Dialogue is, it's purposes, and how it works, see www.voicedialogue.com. Members are asked for a £5.00 donation. This session is limited to 12 participants, so please contact Lorna on 01223 245068 as soon as possible.
July	Sat 7^th at Cam Sailing Club	11^th Annual riverside picnic at Cam Sailing Club & short sailing trip (weather permitting)	Organized by John Harris	John is a member of both the CHG & CSC. Members receive an information sheet about this event. If you want to come and don't receive one with the newsletter, please contact John Harris. If you are intending to come, please let John know.
July	Sat, 14^th Meet at 11.15 at Bottisham Lock, Waterbeach	Walk, sail and riverside picnic	Organized by John Harris	Bring your own picnic, though you won't have to carry it. John Harris will take the picnics and a crew of a few of those attending on his sailing boat and the rest will walk along the river bank to a picnic site about 2.25 miles downstream from the Bottisham Lock. A different crew can come on the boat on the way back. If there's time we can go further in the afternoon, perhaps stopping at the Five Miles from Anywhere pub.
July	Wed 11^th7.45 pm for 8.00 pm. Ann Dowcra room, Friends' Meeting House, Jesus Lane	'Paying back' or 'doing good'? Understanding restorative projects in prisons	Mark Liddle	Mark Liddle is a leading academic who has been involved in research and teaching in criminology for about 25 years. His research team has recently been looking at "restorative projects" which involve prisoners across England and Wales delivering services or goods to disadvantaged groups, and have been investigating how these projects bring about positive changes in prisoners' attitudes and outlook. In this talk, Mark will present his findings, and field our questions on this most fascinating of topics.
August	Sun 5^th 3.00pm	Garden Party	Edith Schlossmann & Gavin Moulton	Once again CHG member Edith has very kindly offered her hospitality for this year's summer garden party. Members and friends wishing to attend this event please contact Gavin Moulton in advance so that we can give Edith an idea of numbers to expect. On the day, please bring sandwiches, cakes or/and drinks.
September	Sun, 16^th Meet at 11.00 at Bottisham Lock, Waterbeach	Walk, sail and riverside picnic	Organized by John Harris	Bring your own picnic, though you won't have to carry it. John Harris will take the picnics and a crew of a few of those attending on his sailing boat and the rest will walk along the river bank to a picnic site about 2.25 miles downstream from the Bottisham Lock. A different crew can come on the boat on the way back. If there's time we can go further in the afternoon, perhaps stopping at the Five Miles from Anywhere pub.
October	Tue 23^rd 7.45pm for 8.00pm Ann Dowcra room, Friends' Meeting House, Jesus Lane	Living by Secular Values	Norman Rides CEO of The Social Enterprise People	How do we devise a value framework for Humanist life? CHG member Norman Rides will look at the example of the Co-operative Movement. Norman is the Chief Executive Officer of The Social Enterprise People, which was previously Cambridge Co-operative Development Agency
November	Weds 21^st 7.45 for 8 Ann Docwra Room, Friends' Meeting House, Jesus Lane	Debate on the motion, "This House disagrees with denominational schools"	Proposer: Robin Martlew Opposer: Revd Canon Tim Elbourne	We are fortunate to have as our guest the Revd Canon Tim Elbourne, who has been the Ely Diocesan Director of Education and Training since 1998. He is on the Council of The National Society for Promoting Religious Education. CHG member Robin Martlew is Humanist Chaplain to Cambridge Regional College. He has taught religious education in schools and served a councillor in local government, where he served on various committees, including ones with educational responsibilities.
December	Wed 12^th 7.45pm for 8.00pm Ann Dowcra room, Friends' Meeting House, Jesus Lane	The origins of modern Christmas How many influences have combined to create the modern festival?	Jane McLarty Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge	Jane McLarty is Admissions Tutor and Director of Studies, Theology at Lucy Cavendish College
December	Sun 16^th 1.00 pm. Ian Alexander's house, (see newsletter)	Pot luck meal	Ian Alexander	Ian has kindly offered to host an informal gathering at his house. Bring a dish (any main dish, salad, or dessert is fine) suitable for everyone to share while chatting.
	Prearranged for 2008
January	Sat 12^th Venue TBA	CHG Yuletide lunch, AGM
February	Weds 13th 7.45 for 8 Ann Docwra Room, Friends' Meeting House, Jesus Lane	The Work of the Atheist Centre in Andhra Pradesh	Dr Christine Bondi	Dr Christine Bondi is the President of the Cambridge Humanist Group. She writes, "While most of the world has heard of Mother Theresa, very few have heard of the work of the Atheist Centre. That work has many aspects such as health, education, social work, in particular improving the lot of women in Andhra Pradesh, and very importantly breaking down the superstitions that have done a great deal of harm to the least privileged in that area. The Centre has earned great respect in India and speaks in the name of Atheism in a way seldom seen elsewhere. Not surprisingly, caste plays no part. The founders were colleagues of Gandhi although they differed from him on religious issues. It is time that we did more to make their work known."

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Page updated 24 October 2007