TSNh+ Organizing Guide version 1.0

[Ben Hyink]

Hi again, all.

I've mostly been preoccupied with school and undoubtedly will again once spring semester starts, but I've reached the conclusion that this group probably will just be spinning its wheels until a usable student organizing guide (for campus events and campus clubs) is created that can be posted on the Humanity Plus website.

When I'm not visiting family or friends between Dec. 14 and Jan. 9 I will try to complete a basic, no-frills organizing guide, version 1.0, that doesn't plagiarize off the guides of other institutions or require their stamp of approval. It is my perspective that helping students organize events and clubs is the single most productive thing this TSNh+ committee can do in terms of spreading awareness of, and increasing support for, transhumanism. We can put Natasha's lovely TSNh+ design on the title page. Other TSNh+ features like online discussion groups and chat sessions would be great too, but there already are related groups that offer such services (e.g. ImmInst). The most unique thing that TSNh+ can offer the transhumanist community is assistance in organizing itself and hosting events on college campuses where the population tends to be open-minded to perspectives endorsing development of emerging technologies in a human-friendly manner (which, in turn, can provide [sometimes profitable] speaking opportunities and publicity for transhumanists).

A designated campus organizer also could be very helpful in answering questions, offering advice, and eventually doing much more, maybe with some financial stipend in lieu of a full-time job (e.g. at CFI) - for now it's up to Michael Ferguson what he wants to take on - but easy access to a basic organizing guide is essential. The next most useful thing would be a recommended speakers list with preferred contact information collected in one document or web page.

Kristi, if you send me the version of the guide you were revising soon I can use that one. Otherwise I will just start a guide from scratch referencing the old guide for inspiration (and incorporating anything that was wholly my own work in it).
 
Once I finish a rough version 1.0 around the start of January I'll submit it to this list for revision before we ask the Humanity Plus Board to post it (ideally highlight it) in the volunteer organizing section of the Humanity + website.

Hopefully we will see the creation of several campus groups in the next few years like in the mid-2000s. Bear in mind they usually only last as long as the founders are on campus, so organizing emphasis should be placed on hosting events and getting and increasing number of students to start trasnhumanist groups on their campus (or otherwise become active contributors to the broader transhumanist community, e.g. through writing articles for related publications, contributing to AGI research projects, starting local DIY biohacking groups, starting local cryonics networks, etc.).


Best wishes and happy holidays!

Ben H.

On Fri, May 14, 2010 at 8:34 AM, Natasha Vita-More <nat...@natasha.cc> wrote:

Thank you Kristi for all your hard work, follow-through and generosity.  You have been a joy to work with!  My question is if you will still be involved iwth us even though you are not currently on the Humanity+ Board? 

 

Best,

Natasha

 

 Natasha Vita-More

 

---

From: tsnh...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tsnh...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Kristi Scott
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 5:38 PM
To: tsnh...@googlegroups.com
Cc: Marcelo Rinesi
Subject: Re: [TSNhplus] TSNh+ status update/check, incl. website

Thank you for sending this out Ben. You are a truly hard worker and self starter. I would like to make a minor, but important correction.

1) I am actually focusing on my PhD studies. I am still working with the IEET since it aligns with my specific research area, but this is not why I resigned from Humanity+ or what I left to focus on. My research, studies and family are my priorities :)

2) This draft was requested by David Orban and Alex Lightman. I was supposed to hear back from them, but hadn't yet as of the time of my resignation. The H+ Board liaison may want to get hold of them to find out what they were doing with the revised document so the student group can use it.

Other than that good luck!!! I know you guys are motivated and will do good things. Feel free to contact me with questions or just to say Hi. I love to hear how things are going.

Kristi

On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 4:13 PM, Ben Hyink <neurobi...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all,

There is a lull in activity right now but I thought I should just run down what has been going on lately to keep the members of this group in the information loop.

* 1) Kristi Scott has resigned from the Humanity Plus Board and is focusing on her [correction: PhD studies and family].
 
* 2) Before leaving Kristi completed a first draft of a revised student organizing guide and submitted it to the Board for review (a new draft was requested that was not a close adaptation of the Secular Student Alliance guide to keep TSNh+ as neutral on religion as possible). A revision of that draft will be needed someday soon for TSNh+ web pages.
 
* 3) We need a new Board Liaison and, if she is willing and able, it might be Natasha Vita-More, though another Board member also would be a welcome addition to the team.
 
* 4) Michael Ferguson is preoccupied with preparations for the Transhumanism and Spirituality seminar at the U. of Utah coming up early this autumn. I've told him I understand because major events tend to dominate most available free time of primary organizers as opposed to smaller ones that can be juggled with other work. I think it will be a great experience for Michael to draw on when he advises student organizers. I told Michael to just keep the Humanity Plus liaison (as well as us) apprised of his activities and availability.
 
* 5) Last I read, Michael wrote that MTA leaders would probably be working on a website for online student outreach (e.g. weekly chats, links to resources and activist outlets, etc.) if not TSNh+ proper. That sounds fine to me. However, in my opinion, given the decision Humanity Plus has made to "go its own way" and delete the affiliates page to assert greater control over content and operations, like the Center for Inquiry did 30 years ago, I think it should, like the CFI, host its own student outreach web pages.
 
That may not happen soon, but at some point I would like to see some commitment to doing that eventually if the potential of TSNh+ to grow the h+ movement (including functional roles like advancing the science and technology of anti-aging/life extension & uploading, "friendly" superintelligence utility functions, forward-thinking and pragmatically compassionate ["proactive"] governance policies, inspired aesthetics to enrich the public's imagination, etc, etc.) and the paying membership base of Humanity Plus is valued.
 
Again, this is what the CFI's mature student outreach program web pages look like:
 
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/oncampus/
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/oncampus/about/
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/oncampus/resources/
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/oncampus/groups/index/
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/oncampus/faq/
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/oncampus/events/calendar/events/calendar/2010/05/
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/oncampus/news/archives/
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/forums/
 
All pages are extensions of the main website: http://www.centerforinquiry.net/
 
 
That's all for now!  :-)
 
 
Best regards,
 
Ben

--
Kristi Scott, MA
Doctoral Student, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Program Director: Rights of the Person, Institute for Ethics & Emerging Technologies
email/ kns...@siu.edu
mobile/ 812-483-0916