For Immediate Release - Contact Roy Speckhardt at (202) 238-9088
rspeckhardt@americanhumanist.org- www.americanhumanist.org

(Washington, D.C., October 20, 2008) In accordance with American Humanist Association bylaws, the AHA Election Committee met on October 9, 2008, at the AHA's national office in the Mary and Lloyd Morain Humanist Center to open and tally the ballots cast in the AHA Board of Directors election.  There were twelve candidates for eight openings on the board. A total of 1,939 ballots were received.

Elected to four-year terms were: Louis Altman, Rob Boston, Rebecca Hale, David Niose, Herb Silverman, and Kristin Wintermute. Elected to two-year terms were Raul Martinez and Jason Torpy. They will begin serving January 1, 2009. Continuing to serve on the board are: Beverly Church, Mynga Futrell, Susan Sackett, and Marilyn Westfall. Mel Lipman will continue to serve as the immediate past president in 2009.

The Election Committee consisted of the following AHA members in good standing, none of whom are paid employees of the AHA: Tony Hileman, chair, Nancie Gonzales, Steve Lowe, Mike Reid, and Mike Taft. The AHA thanks these individuals, as well as the members of the Nominations Committee---Woody Kaplan, chair, Amanda Metskas, Laurie Pallot, Lisa Smith, and Warren Wolf---for volunteering their time for these important tasks, and wishes to recognize the others who stood for election: Carl Coon, Charles Debrovner, Larry Jones, and Arnold Fishman.

We also thank all members who participated in this election, continuing the AHA's tradition of being the largest democratic humanist organization in the United States.

The next meeting of the board will be in Washington, D.C. on November 14-16, 2008. Following that meeting the newly constituted board will elect its officers.

The American Humanist Association (www.americanhumanist.org) advocates for the rights and viewpoints of humanists. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., its work is extended through more than 100 local chapters and affiliates across America.

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.