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American Humanist Association, Florida
Also Known As: HFA
PO Box 1227 Bradenton, FL 34206

GENERAL INFORMATION

Who We Are

A state association of Humanist groups and individuals dedicated to Grassroots Activism.

• This organization is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity .
• This organization is not required to file an annual return with the IRS because it is a religious organization.
• Additional narrative information in this report was last supplied by the organization on March 3, 2005.
• It makes its audited financial statements available to the public upon request.
• Contributions are deductible, as provided by law.

How to Help

This organization is seeking funds from contributions and grants. These funds will be used for unrestricted operating expenses, special projects, building improvements and endowments.

Location(s) Served

• Florida

NTEE Code

• R01—Alliance/Advocacy Organizations
• R20—Civil Rights, Advocacy for Specific Groups
• W24—Citizen Participation

Chief Executive

Mrs. Jennifer Hancock

Chief Executive Profile

Education University of Hawaii at Manoa: Honolulu, HI August 1987 - May 1990 Major: Linguistics B.A. May 1990 East China Normal University: Shanghai, China June 1986 - August 1986 Intensive Mandarin Previous Employment: Pinnacle Towers Inc.: Sarasota, FL January 1997 - March 2001 Manager Acquisition Group Information (MAGI) Environmental Biotech, Inc.: Sarasota, FL February 1995 - June 1996 Franchise Development Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals August 1990 - October 1994 Director of Volunteer Services Volunteer and Related Work Experience MapWorld (International MapInfo Users Conference) May 1999 Presenter "Acquisitions - a look at how a major tower management firm uses mapping technology." International Conference of Volunteer Administration 1994 Presenter: "How to Train Volunteers to do the Impossible - Developing a Volunteer Training Program" Mote Marine Laboratory: Sarasota, FL June 1997 - present GIS Consultant Assist their dolphin research program with their mapping needs using both MapInfo and ArcView. Got MapInfo to donate a copy of their software to this research project. Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory: Honolulu, HI December 1987 - May 1990 Senior Dolphin Trainer, Research Assistant Languages: Mandarin (2 years), German (2 years), Japanese (1 year), Spanish (2 years)

MISSION AND PROGRAMS

Mission

We work to promote Humanism and to promote the use of reason and compassion in the solving of human problems. We also work to build a more humane society. We achieve our goals - through education, example, and progressive social action. The Humanists of Florida Association was founded to promote humanism in the state of Florida. We cooperate with other local, regional, national and international humanist organizations to advance a community of reason. Basic activities include: Grassroots Humanist Activism, Protecting and Promoting Human and Civil Rights and working to create a more Humane Society.

Programs

Grassroots Activism: We are one of the only Humanist groups in the country actively dedicated to working with the local humanist groups in a spirit of cooperation. We assist groups in Florida find interesting speakers, provide training in membership recruitment, help organize outreach events for the community, and of course, assist with the start up of new groups. Progressive Social Activism: Our philosophy is that Humanism should not be an arm chair sport. We are engaged within our communities and actively work to create postive social change in the following areas: Human and Civil Rights, Environmental protection, Education reform, Health Care Access, and Separation of Church and State. We have developed and spearheaded the creation of a Statewide Florida Progressive Information Network and are dedicated to working in collaboration with others to acheive our goals. Over the course of the last few years, we have become a central figure in Florida Progressive Organizing. Center for Humanism - Miami: We have developed a Center for Humanism in Miami, staffed by Torben Riise, PhD. The objective of the center is to bring educational opportunities to the community that are geared at improving the efforts of progressive activists. Additionally, we are in discussions with a local university of site a Center for Humanism on their campus in conjunction with the medical, business and ethics departments. Carl Sagan Academy: We have been approved to open a middle school charter in Hillsborough County. The school, which will service at risk middle school students, will open in the fall of 2005, and will be located in the USF catchment area of Tampa. Public Outreach: A major priority for us this year is to conduct public outreach on issues important to Florida Humanists. Our first event was a press conference in Feb 2005 in which we spoke out against the fear mongering and declaration of war made by Rev Kennedy of the Coral Ridge Ministries. Training and Development: We provide grassroots activist training to any group that needs it. The most popular programs that we provide involve Writing Letters to the Editor that actually get printed. How to get Publicity for Free, Strategic Planning progressive change, and how to mobilize and activate your group. We provide this training to any progressive organization who requests it.

Additional Comments from the Organization

We are one of the premier Humanist organizations in the country, with a solid international reputation for innovative Humanist outreach. We operate from a strategic plan that has been created through a democratic process. This plan is available on our website or a copy can be sent to anyone requesting it. We re-organized in 2001 from an all volunteer organization that organized an annual conference into a professionally run organization that has a solid reputation within both the Humanist communities and progressive communities. · HFA has become a one-of-a-kind Humanist chapter. o It is internationally recognized as leading the way in building an organization and a movement that has accomplished much (see list below). These accomplishments were not believed to be possible for a local chapter. We have achieved these milestones because we had the guts to raise expectations and the foresight to specify short and long-term quantifiable objectives within a strategic plan developed and approved by its membership. · HFA now is a central player in the Florida Progressive Movement. o We have been successful in partnering with respected progressive organizations around the state. This has been accomplished by unleashing the creative, profound and diverse talent of Humanists in the state. Never before has a Humanist chapter evidenced the credibility and growth to justify it being an integral part to setting a state agenda for progressives. · Continued growth requires increased financial support from our members and supporters. o The strides that have been made so far are largely the result of employing a professional staff to implement the membership's plan. Yet, this staff is only part-time and retaining it and changing its status to full-time will be imperative for further HFA strides. · Donors need to consider long-term funding. o This includes a commitment to renew donations annually o And, to consider HFA in its estate planning. § This will enable HFA to have continuity and sustainability. It will provide staff with the knowledge that their excellent performance is worthy of job security. It will also encourage young Humanists to consider working as professionals for an employer that provides highly meaningful and noble work. HFA Accomplishments that justifies donations! Membership has increased from 40+ members to 600+ members during the first three-year strategic plan. Funding has gone from $8,000 annually to over $60,000 in the same time period - thanks to our generous donors. A strictly volunteer organization has been transformed to a professionally run organization, with highly competent staff in-place. Public Humanist charter schools, Community Centers, and other outreach projects are currently being developed. A statewide Florida Progressive Information Network is being formed through collaboration with other groups to mobilize over 500,000 progressive voters to provide a strong voice for social justice and protection of our freedoms in Florida. We are now a central resource for both Humanist and Progressive related activities in Florida.

GOALS AND RESULTS

Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2004

1. Again doubled the size of our membership base. We are now the largest local Humanist organization in the country with over 1,200 members and a mailing list of about 2,400.
2. Was approved by the Hillsborough County School District to operate a middle school charter, called the Carl Sagan Academy. We were approved for a 5 year charter, which is unheard of.
3. Opened our Center for Humanism in Miami.

Objectives for Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2005

1. Carl Sagan Academy: Our main priority is to get the school up and running for a Aug 2005 opening. We have already hired the school's director and appointed a board for the school and are currently working on grant applications and site selection.
2. Florida Progressive Information Network: The Florida Progressive Information Network (FL-PIN) will be a non-partisan communication system designed to help link progressive organizers with progressive activists. This network is currently in programming and should be up and operational by the end of March 2005.
3. Center for Humanism: The center has already hosted its first event with 3 more events scheduled. The director has given presentations on Humanism to 6 high schools in the area and is developing a positive working relationship with the school board (which should help us when we apply for a charter school in the area.) The center is also working to produce a major international conference in Feb 2006. The conference will be themed: The Future of Human Rights, answering the question of "What does a society the respects Human Rights look like."

Self Assessment

The following is a midyear assessment of our current strategic plan: Strategic Plan Update Membership Development - We have achieved the growth we wanted this year, but we will need to do more to achieve the numbers we have set for ourselves. - We need to do more outreach, achieve more visibility and provide more services that will attract members. Staff and volunteers are needed if we are to increase our outreach and visibility objectives. Services provided by the Association and Community Centers will help us with this as well. Association Formation - We already have achieved part of our year 1 objectives (by exceeding the number of groups we thought we would have in the association) - but have not set up the task force yet. We need to develop a strong task force that will develop services for the humanist community and assist with the implementation of the Community Center plans. Charter Schools - hit major snag - may need to revise this section of the plan to accomplish a related educational goal - or perhaps roll educational support into the association service activities. We did however, do what we wanted to accomplish in year 1 - which was to research the feasibility of a charter school and develop a plan for such a school. Community Centers - on track and should have a draft plan by the fall board meeting - needs the association to assist them with implementation. Fundraising - we are already behind in this area of the plan. Our plan calls on us to establish an endowment, research additional grants and attract more donors. We need more horsepower behind this as the only 2 people working on this for the past 2 years have been the Executive Director and the former Treasurer and new President Jerry Lieberman. If we are to accomplish our fundraising goals - we need another 2 hard workers willing to roll up their sleeves and get this work done. Staff/Offices - on track - but future success depends on Fundraising activities for success PSAP - we are looking good on this, and are on track to accomplish our objectives for the year. Publicity - again - looking good, on track and already accomplished objectives for the year. If we use this mid-year assessment to target the efforts of the board and advisors, we should be able to shore up our weaknesses in implementing our 5-year plan. We need to have a vibrant association task force to help with a lot of our other objectives. And, we should make sure that we come away from the Sunday meeting with this task force assigned and ready to go. We also need at least 2 dedicated people to assist with the fundraising efforts in order to achieve our goals. Jennifer Hancock Executive Director

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