reposted from: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bhascience/
Tom Rees has posted the following questions in the database of BHA Science. (to join this Yahoo group you must be a member of the BHA.
Tom, thanks for creating the four question Database table "What do you want from the group, what can you do for the group?" viz:-
1) Name
2) Where did you here about the group?
3) Why did you join the group?
4) Do you have a 'vision' for what you want the group to be?
Let me explain why I think the 'vision' bit is important for BHA Science group.
A vision should be a source of inspiration and will stretch the Resources and Capabilities of the BHA Science group. Because our Resources and Capabilities are not fixed our vision can be stretched a lot! For example we potentially have the resources of many science professionals of the honourary BHA associates, the capabilities of 7000+ BHA members and the BHA Philosophers group. We could get the help of some of the 17 Million people (MORI poll) in the UK that have a humanist outlook to life. We need to create a powerful BHA Science vision & mission that will encourage some of them to join BHA Science group in our venture!
We should aim for a BHA Science group statement of no more than one or two paragraphs which encapsulate our shared vision.
The vision is part of a strategic planning process which may include some or all of these steps (not necessarily in this order):-
* Vision - Define the vision after consultation with group members
* Set a Mission Statement with hierarchy of goals
o a Mission Statement tells you what the group is now. It concentrates on the present situation.
o because people have several goals - "Goal congruency" refers to how well the goals combine with each other. Does goal X appear compatible with goal Y? Do they fit together to form a unified strategy? "Goal hierarchy" consists of the nesting of one or more goals within other goal(s).
* SWOT - assess the current Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunites and Threats
o for example a Threat could be that a Steering Committee could be too controlling and dictatorial - losing motivation and commitment of many group members.
* Formulate - Formulate actions to be taken to attain these goals
* Implement - Implementation of the agreed upon action
* Control - Monitor and get feedback from implemented actions to more or less control the operation
BHA Science vision & mission statements should be part of the BHA culture & values and should re-energise the current BHA Vision & Mission Statements at http://www.humanism.org.uk/site/cms/contentChapterView.asp?chapter=333
BHA Vision
A world without religious privilege or discrimination, where people are free to live good lives on the basis of reason, experience and shared human values.
BHA Mission
The British Humanist Association exists to promote Humanism and support and represent people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs.
Thursday, 15 November 2007
BHA - British Humanist Association - Science Vision
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
British Humanist Association Science Group at Yahoogroups.com
Thank you for applying to join the group. Please Note *** (below
When you applied, we asked if you would compose a short statement of your thoughts on two things:
a) What you think science IS.
b) What you think religion IS.
It need only be a very short paragraph.. perhaps 150 words!
We have this as a very basic check of eligibility, which we keep on file as a record of our thinking before we join. (There is quite a range of opinions, which generate some interesting discussion). We MAY also hold a competition to decide the most effective explanation.
So we hope you'll take part - but no-one will be excluded from the forum simply for failing this request. Please tell me if you think that this is an unreasonable request and whether anything about the front home page is off putting.Be sure to find the Polls and File on the menu (You have permission to submit your own) and look back at old postings. We have need of more people to act as moderators, who will also be asked to join the steering committee.
***SEND the submission to me at the science.berkshumanists@ntlworld address
David McKnight
Description http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bhascience
No science qualifications are required to join this group but you will have to be a member of the British Humanist Association. It would help to have an overview of topical aspects of science and religion. This is a temporary home for the group whilst it develops aims, objectives and processes to allow the production of something overtly useful to Humanism. In the future it hopes to concentrate on helping the ordinary citizen appreciate the processes of science and how they might apply it more to problems in their own life. Also to help them dismiss harmful myths, guilt and unnecessary beliefs, as part of the Humanist aim to increase the sum total of human happiness.There are plenty of other science groups for general discussion and information, so this group intends to be different. We do not intend to duplicate the work of other groups with similar purposes.
Items suitable inclusion might be
1) Practical exercises to show how everyone can benefit from the sort of structured and critical thinking that science has used for a very long time.
2) The potential for science acting as a comforting agent and a controlled method of looking sensibly into the future.
3) How science can defend itself by methods for dismissing pseudo science.
These are amongst others that would be discussed and hopefully lead to an increase in the public understanding of science.
When you apply, we'd like you to compose a short statement of your thoughts on two things:
a) What you think science IS.
b) What you think religion IS.
It need only be a very short paragraph.. perhaps 150 words!
We have this as a very basic check of eligibility, which we keep on file as a record of our thinking before we join. (There is quite a range of opinions, which generate some interesting discussion). We MAY also hold a competition to decide the most effective explanation.
So we hope you'll take part - but no-one will be excluded from the forum simply for failing this request.
