The Humanists of Sarasota Bay (HUSBAY) began organizing with the leadership of Noel W. Smith in 1999. Six people attended the organizational meeting in 1999.
During that first and important year our founders began a lecture series open to the public which continues to the present day. In 2003 a switch was made from our Saturday morning breakfasts to weekly luncheons which grew in popularity, particularly when our Board added the special interest groups we enjoy today. More recently, our Board began two luncheons a month for those members who preferred informal luncheons with no special interest groups.
Other events to come along include our annual picnic recently named for Carl Sagan. In 2010 an annual luncheon celebrating Darwin’s Birthday was implemented and continues.
In 2011 we incorporated to make ourselves a tax-exempt organization. Which has resulted in some generous donations to HUSBAY.
Several years ago, the membership voted to implement a scholarship program, giving a scholarship of $2000 to a deserving college student who follows Humanist principles.
Our website eventually came along which improved our ability to reach out to those members from other parts of the US looking for a Humanist organization. The website covers in detail our activities and events and has led, along with our lectures and weekly special interest groups, to our growth. (www.husbay.org)
More recently, we became a chapter in the American Humanist Association.
Our founder: Noel Smith, President Emeritus, (deceased) and original organizers Len Leskinen, Robert Philipoff, and Fred Sargent all deceased.
Original members: Ernie Kinnie (deceased) Darwin Soder, Penny Upton (deceased) and Jack O’Sullivan (deceased) and Jacqui Kinnie (deceased) a past president.
We have had four presidents: Noel Smith (founder and deceased), Meigs Glidewell, Jacqui Kinnie(deceased) and the current president, David Helgager.