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Donna Pang -- Administrative Assistant
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2012-2013 Board of Directors

Richard Koral (Westchester) -- President

Scott Walton (Chicago) -- Vice President

Tom Weishaar (New York) -- Treasurer

Jan Broughton (N.C. The Triangle) --  Secretary

Karen Elliott (Baltimore)
Carol Bartell (St. Louis)
Laura Stark Steele (Washington, D.C.)
Hank Gassner (Northern Virginia)
Ken Karp (Bergen)
Jone Johnson Lewis (Northern Virginia) -- NLC President
Anne Klaeysen (New York) -- NLC Vice President
Lisel Burns (NLC) -- NLC Liaison Alternate

Tyler Lurie-Spicer -- FES Representative
Emily Newman -- FES Representative Alternate
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The Eighteenth World Humanist Congress was the most diverse humanist congress in the International Humanist and Ethical Union's six decade history. More than 500 Humanists from 50 countries and six continents met in Oslo for a series of meetings from August 10 to 15. During the congress, IHEU held a two-day leadership training course, four day-long workshops for Humanist professionals and activists, plus its annual General Assembly.

The main congress theme of "Humanism and Peace" was given increased focus and poignancy by the July 22 attacks that killed 77 Norwegians, and damaged the congress venue. But the congress also drew on the proud Norwegian heritage of peace-building, with meetings held at the Nobel Peace Center and at Oslo City Hall, where the annual Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony takes place.

After three days exploring the origins, effects, and potential for conflict and peace, the congress issued the Oslo Declaration of Peace. The congress also issued resolutions on the pastoral support of non-religious military personnel and on corruption.

The congress saw the International Humanist Award presented to the Dutch Member of the European Parliament Sophie in't Veld. IHEU Awards were also given to P.Z. Myers, Narendra Nayak, David Pollock, and V.B Rawat. More on the 2011 IHEU Awards here.

Congress speakers included: ex-Muslim writer Taslima Nasrin; UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Heiner Bielefeldt; founder of the anti-corruption group, Transparency International, Peter Eigen; sociologist and founder of the discipline of Peace and Conflict Studies, Johan Galtung; social anthropologist and expert in peace building, Judith Hand; and author of State of the World 2010, and Worldwatch Institute senior fellow, Erik Assadourian.

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