What do we need to move forward as a community?

Research by Dr. Martin Seligman shows that being able to use and develop skills to provide service to others is one of the strongest sources of happiness and meaning in life. Fortunately, secular organizations offer many opportunities to contribute. Recently, members of the Humanist Community and of the Secular Student Alliance at Ohio State volunteered to support the Secular Student Alliance conference at The Ohio State University Ohio Union.

Attendance at the Secular Student Alliance conference has grown geometrically bringing student leaders from all over the United States and Canada to hear some of the best secular speakers and to get to know each other. The energy among those attending is inspiring. The conference provides an amazing opportunity to help ensure the future of secularism and takes many different skills to accomplish. For example, volunteers helped by providing rides to and from the airport, tabling, welcoming and guiding people, photographing the events, and even recording the conference speakers.

Those attending the conference have a chance to network and see that there are many opportunities to be involved with the secular movement beyond the university. Organizations like the Humanist Community welcome the contributions of dedicated young people and can even offer leadership positions. Many of the current members of the board of the Humanist Community were involved in Ohio State Students for Freethought now the Secular Student Alliance at OSU.

After graduation from college, Derrick Strobl joined the board of the Humanist Community becoming its youngest vice president and president. The dedicated Experience and mentorship of people like Larry Reyka developed Derrick’s leadership skills and the combination of Larry’s guidance, the dedicated service of many Humanist Community members and Derrick’s youthful enthusiasm pushed the Humanist Community toward new levels. Whether you are a student involved in a Secular Student Alliance group or a member of a community organization such as The Humanist Community of Central Ohio, there are opportunities for your skills and contributions to be appreciated. We all need each other to take the secular movement forward.