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[Man Who Spurred Cedar Rapids Library's Construction Dies at 96By George C. Ford, Reporter, Cedar Rapids Gazettehttp://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/07/27/cedar-rapids-philanthropist-whipple-dies-led-effort-to-build-libraryJul 27, 2010]

Man Who Spurred Cedar Rapids Library's Construction Dies at 96
By George C. Ford, Reporter, Cedar Rapids Gazette
http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/07/27/cedar-rapids-philanthropist-whipple-dies-led-effort-to-build-library
Jul 27, 2010
CEDAR RAPIDS -- William Whipple, a longtime Cedar Rapids civic leader and philanthropist, died Tuesday at Meth-Wick Community at the age of 96.

Whipple was president of the Hall-Perrine Foundation in 1981 when, after Cedar Rapids voters had voted down five bond referendums to finance a new public library, he announced a $6.8 million challenge grant.

The community, including school children contributing their pennies, raised $1.3 million to match the grant — the largest ever made by the foundation — and the city’s public library became a reality.

Friends and associates spoke about that kind of leadership and community involvement as they remembered Whipple.

“Bill Whipple has been a beacon of leadership to The Hall-Perrine Foundation for over 36 years,” said Jack Evans, president of the Hall-Perrine Foundation. “His example in life is a model we aspire to emulate. We will miss his keen insight, gentle grace and can-do spirit.”

Friends remembered Whipple for his integrity, modesty, and wit.

“He had an incredible ability to put you at ease,” said Coe College President James Phifer.

Whipple had been on the college’s board for nearly 30 years when Phifer arrived as dean of faculty, but was the first to make him feel welcome a s a member of the college community. He described Whipple as “one of the rocks that this college rested on.”

“He was a remarkable man,” Phifer said. “He had just ironclad integrity, and yet he was devoid of self-righteousness. He embraced life without judgement.”

Whipple was an agnostic who did not presume to know the powers that be or their will, Phifer said.

Phifer said Whipple’s agnosticism was an outgrowth of his character, which placed a high emphasis on integrity and despised arrogance. Whipple believed that it was arrogant to presume to know the powers that be or their will for mankind.

Jean Hunnicutt was the longtime partner of William Quarton, another civic leader who was best friends with Whipple. She said their frequent dinner conversations often included agnosticism and things that could be done to improve Cedar Rapids.

Whipple enjoyed reading about important leaders in history and collecting art, Hunnicutt said. Much of Whipple’s art collection was devoted to the works of Cedar Rapids-born artist Conger Metcalf.

“He was always a gentleman,” Hunnicutt said. “He had the highest standards of integrity and honesty.”

Whipple, a retired insurance executive, was the oldest surviving member of the original Meth-Wick Community board of directors. He played a key role in the completion of The Manor at Meth-Wick when funds ran out in 1960 as the building sat half finished.

Whipple, chairman of the Frank B. Hall Iowa insurance agency until he retired in 1974, was able to persuade Northwestern Mutual Insurance Co. in Milwaukee to loan the needed money.

Whipple was born on Nov. 1, 1913, in Cedar Rapids. He was educated in the Cedar Rapids public school system, graduating from Washington High School in January 1932.

Whipple continued his education at Coe College, graduating with honors in 1935 with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and finance. He captained the 1935 Midwest Conference Championship track team and ran the quarter mile for Coe in 1933, 1934 and 1935 at the Drake Relays.

After his retirement in 1974, Whipple was asked by his close friend, Cedar Rapids attorney Beall Perrine, to assist with the operation of the Hall-Perrine Foundation. Whipple became the first executive director in November 1974, managing the foundation’s operations from grant applications to investments.

Whipple was elected president in 1978 and was named chairman in 1996.

During his life, Whipple supported the arts, particularly artistic friends like Marvin Cone and Conger Metcalf. He was associated with many corporations and organizations, serving on the board of trustees at Coe College for 23 years, including three as chairman.

In 1996, Whipple received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Coe and was awarded the “Founder’s Medal” in 2001, the highest award granted by Coe.

Niles note - the above article, from the Cedar Rapids Gazette on the web, is quite different from the article in print, in the Gazette the following day.  The print edition eliminates the references to agnostic.

Whipple remembered for leadership
By George C. Ford
Cedar Rapids Gazette, July 28, 2010, Page 1

CEDAR RAPIDS - After Cedar Rapids voters had voted down five bond referendums to finance a new public library, William Whipple, president of the Hall-Perrine Foundation in 1981, announced a $6.8 million challenge grant.

The community, including schoolchildren contributing their pennies, raised $1.3 million to match the grant - the largest ever made by the foundation - and the library became reality.

Friends and associates spoke about that kind of leadership and community involvement as they remembered Whipple, 96, who died Tuesday at Meth-Wick Community.

'Bill Whipple has been a beacon of leadership to the Hall-Perrine Foundation for over 36 years,' said Jack Evans, president of the foundation. 'His example in life is a model we aspire to emulate.

We will miss his keen insight, gentle grace and can-do spirit.'

Whipple, a retired insurance executive, was the oldest surviving member of the original Meth-Wick Community board of directors. He played a key role in the completion of the Manor at Meth-Wick, when funds ran out in 1960 and the building sat half-finished.

Whipple, chairman of the Frank B. Hall Iowa insurance agency until he retired in 1974, was able to persuade Northwestern Mutual Insurance Co. in Milwaukee to loan the needed money.

Whipple, who lived at the Manor for 20 years, was born on Nov. 1, 1913, in Cedar Rapids. He graduated from Cedar Rapids Washington High School in January 1932.

Whipple then attended Coe College, graduating with honors in 1935 with a bachelor's degree in commerce and finance. He captained the 1935 Midwest Conference Championship track team.

After his retirement in 1974, Whipple was asked by his close friend, Cedar Rapids attorney Beall Perrine, to assist with the operation of the Hall-Per rine Foundation. Whipple became the first executive director in November 1974, managing the foundation's operations, from grant applications to investments.

Whipple was elected president in 1978 and was named chairman in 1996.

Throughout his life, Whipple supported the arts, particularly artistic friends like Marvin Cone and Conger Metcalf.

He was associated with many corporations and organizations, serving on the board of trustees at Coe College for 23 years, including three as chairman.

In 1996, Whipple received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Coe and in 2001 he was awarded the Founder's Medal - the highest award granted by Coe.

The Gazette's Dave De-Witte contributed to this report.

? Comments: (319) 398-8366; george.ford@gazcomm.com

The Atheist Alliance International Convention is in Montreal, October 1-3
http://www.atheistalliance.org/

At that time, there will be a sneak preview of films and shorts
http://www.atheistconvention.org/

...which  will be part of the full Freethought Film Festival
http://www.freethoughtfilmfest.org/
The film festival is scheduled to take place in Tampa, Florida on Friday the 13th of May, 2011.

Just FYI, for anyone interested.  Unfortunately we will not be able to be at either of them.

[Here is the ballot bio that the AHA included.]

Here is the ballot bio that the AHA included.

Amanda Knief
Biography: I am a cofounder of Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers, a 501©(3) nonprofit community-based organization. My bread-and-butter job is legal counsel for the Legislative Services Agency, the nonpartisan division of the Iowa Legislature. I am a graduate of Drake University Law School and Iowa State University, and a member of the Iowa Bar. I copy edit for eMpirical, the Secular Student Alliance’s monthly e-newsletter. I am also a volunteer for the Central Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross disaster action response teams. I have been an open atheist advocate for the past five years.

Statement of Interest: For me, Humanism is a way of life. So being part of the AHA provides a connection to a large community of people and an organization with many of the same values, beliefs, nonbeliefs and ideals that I strive for and struggle with every day. It would be an honor and a privilege to serve as a board member for the AHA and its membership. I believe I can bring enthusiasm, a grassroots organization perspective, and ideas about how to keep the AHA membership growing, particularly in the younger demographics. On a local and state level, I have had great success with community outreach programs and networking with other organizations. I believe that the AHA’s tradition of working with other groups can be built on, and stronger coalitions with other minority groups, not necessarily religious, can be used to push for stronger civil rights protections for all people in the United States and abroad. I believe the AHA membership needs to be given easy and ample access to the resources that the AHA has to offer: for example, the Appignani Bioethics Center, the Appignani Legal Center, and the Feminist Caucus. The AHA should work to help affiliate and chapter groups foster ties and work together to perform community works and assist each other with projects and events. I am proud to be a member of the AHA and would be honored to serve as a member of the board of directors.

That's awesome...I'll spread the word around!

Yesterday, I received my ballot for Board members for the American Humanist Association.

To my surprise, one of the candidates is Amanda Knief. If you are a member of the American Humanist Association, and you have received your ballot, VOTE FOR AMANDA KNIEF.

Amanda is Assistant Organizer for the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers in Des Moines
http://www.meetup.com/Iowa-Atheists-and-Freethinkers/members/3726025/

There are other candidates, but who cares about them. 
 
"Online voting will close at 5:00pm ET on October 6, 2010. Paper ballots will be mailed on August 16 to all AHA members who did not already vote online or do not have a valid email address on file. Paper ballots must be received at the AHA office by close of business on October 6. Our system will only allow you to vote once, online or by mail."

So, there is still plenty of time - vote for Amanda.

[Religion offers safe, trusting communityJun 24, 2010]

See the following letter to the editor in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, 6/24/2010:

Religion offers safe, trusting community
Jun 24, 2010

A June 20 letter reads, “The path to morality leads away from religion not toward it. That is one more reason more informed, moral people are turning away from religion.”

I wonder at the efficacy of eschewing the wisdom from the world’s religions and starting all over again in our search for morality. Religion, culture, science, politics and even reason/logic have been misused to express hate, start wars and engage in terrorism and genocide. People can misuse or manipulate any idea or belief to justify any harm.

All the world’s major religions advocate the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Should we toss out this belief? Logic and reason, while crucial, offer only some of the “answers.”

We must also explore our hearts as we make decisions, use our resources, and live in the world. And we need community to help us as we explore.

Religion and religious community can offer us an opportunity for deep introspection. They offer us a community, so we don’t become so narrowly focused that we can justify however we choose to behave. As the world becomes more complicated and our decisions have greater impact, we need trusted communities in which we may explore what we think and feel and believe.

The Rev. Tom Capo
Peoples Church
Unitarian Universalist
Cedar Rapids

The letter above, is in reply to the letter below:

Moral people turn away from religion
Jun 20, 2010

A June 9 letter said religion “is our only guide to decency and morality.” It is one of religion’s many outrageous lies to claim a monopoly on morality. There are secular guides to morality, and they work far better than religious ones.

Just consider the countless, incessant plagues of religion-inspired hatred, oppression, violence, war, terrorism, genocide and numerous other religious horrors. Then consider the lack of such atrocities by secularists.

The path to morality leads away from religion, not toward it. That is one reason more and more informed, moral people are turning away from religion.

Robert Green
Cedar Rapids

[Atheists offer alternative to Focus on the Family series at Iowa CapitolGroup reserved statehouse room for public discussion of evolution and 'intelligent design'By Lynda Waddington 3/4/10 12:28 PM]

From the Iowa Independent:
Atheists offer alternative to Focus on the Family series at Iowa Capitol
Group reserved statehouse room for public discussion of evolution and 'intelligent design'
By Lynda Waddington 3/4/10 12:28 PM

An Iowa organization dedicated to supporting non-religious individuals wants to ensure that a Christian educational series being shown in the Iowa Capitol does not go unanswered.

Dave Grzeshowiak, vice president of Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers, said his group learned that screenings of “The Truth Project,” a DVD series produced and marketed by the conservative group Focus on the Family, were being shown in the statehouse by reading about it in the Iowa Independent. In response, the group decided to present an opposing viewpoint.

Next Wednesday the group will bring Dr. Hector Avelos, professor of religious studies at Iowa State University, to room 103 at the statehouse for a discussion on evolution or “intelligent design,” which is one of several topics in the Focus on the Family series. The discussion will take place at noon and is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

“Our preference would be for this to be a non-issue and neither [event] to have been at the Capitol,”  Grzeshowiak said. “But, because one already is, we feel it is our responsibility to present both sides. We are also very grateful to have the opportunity to do so.”

In January, The Iowa Independent learned that a room had been reserved inside the Iowa Capitol by a legislator for the purpose of showing the controversial Focus on the Family DVD educational series. The meeting, despite being held in a public facility, was not subject to any public notification by the state.

The Iowa Independent has since learned that very few meetings or events of the same nature — held in the statehouse with the room reserved by a lawmaker — are openly announced to the public on calendars produced and maintained by Capitol officials. Due to the lack of transparency in the existing process, several open-government advocates have called for changes, and The Iowa Independent has filed document requests in order to learn more about the types of meetings that take place in statehouse rooms.

The meeting being planned by the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers is being openly announced by the organization, but is not required to appear on existing statehouse calendars.

Prior to the start of the legislative session, the Iowa group sent a letter to all Iowa representatives and senators asking them to end the practice of prayers that begin each legislative day. Chief among the group’s complaints is that the state pays the invited clergy a $10 stipend for the service as well as reimbursing round-trip mileage.

“We did the same last year and received absolutely no responses,” Grzeshowiak said. “This year, however, we received a few replies and have met with a few legislators. They have been very productive and very supportive, which, honestly, was something of a pleasant surprise.”

The group also made waves recently for its ad campaign on public buses in Des Moines, which drew the direct ire of Gov. Chet Culver.

“I think [next week's Capitol event] is a large step toward the acceptance of non-religious people in society, which is really one of our main goals,” Grzeshowiak said.

Grzeshowiak declined to comment about which lawmaker made the room reservation on behalf of his group. The Iowa Independent has asked Capitol officials for the information but had not received a response by publication.

UPDATE at 2:40 p.m.: According to Mark Brandsgard, chief clerk of the Iowa House, the room that was reserved for the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers was done so by state Rep. Bruce Hunter, D-Des Moines, However, Brandsgard’s records have no indication of the purpose of the meeting or on whose behalf the reservation was made, only that Hunter reserved the room.

The Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers is sending out an invitation to an event at the State Capitol building. It is short notice due to problems with logistics in getting the room reservation at the Capitol. Here is the scoop:

Some Christian (very conservative types) have been showing a series of videos at the Capitol using a room and resources at the Capitol. It is called the “Truth Project” and was covered by the DM Register and other news sources. We are going to COUNTER their arguments and have a presentation at the Capitol to give a humanist world view to counter their narrow Christian world view.

So we have Dr. Hector Avelos of ISU going to give a presentation. The event will be on March 10th at noon to 1:00 at the Capitol. We are asking if any folks want to attend—it would be good to get a good crowd. It is over the noon hour and that may be difficult and it is one week from now so short notice.

Please spread the word around and let people know that they are invited. If any questions, let me know.

The above, from Randy Henderson, Assistant Organizer, Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers
http://www.meetup.com/Iowa-Atheists-and-Freethinkers/

For full information, See
http://www.meetup.com/Iowa-Atheists-and-Freethinkers/calendar/12776307/

[“Is There a Conflict Between Science and Religion?]

On Saturday, March 27, there will be an Iowa Secularists Spring Fling fundraiser at the Drake Municipal Observatory! We will enjoy the observatory, the company of other Iowa Secularists, and view the March 27th sky!

We will begin at 7:30 pm with a light dinner followed by a panel discussion titled “Is There a Conflict Between Science and Religion?” Panel participants include Tim Knepper, professor of philosophy at Drake University; Athanasios Petridis, professor of physics at Drake University; and Michael Thompson, professor of agronomy at Iowa State.  A tour of the observatory and viewing through the observatory telescopes will follow the discussion.

Please note that the telescope must be kept at cool temperatures, so the observation portion of the evening will be as cold as it is outside on March 27th.

For more information on the Observatory, please visit the website at http://www.drake.edu/artsci/physics/observatory.html. This website also includes a page with directions to the Observatory which is located at the Waveland Park Golf Course in Des Moines.

Tickets are $25 per person, or $45 per couple. To purchase tickets, please see http://iowasecularists.org/2010/iowa-secularists-spring-fling/ or send a check to Iowa Secularists, P.O. Box 883, Iowa City, IA 52244.

Though pre-registration is not required and payment at the door will be accepted, please try to register by March 19th so food may be planned accordingly.

Proceeds from the Spring Fling will go towards supporting local secular groups and secular student groups in Iowa, as well as seeding new groups around the state. 

Please email sfedler[at]iowasecularists[dot]org with questions!

[Learning To Be An AdultKaiser Health NewsBy Mary Agnes Carey, Phil Galewitz and Laurie McGinleyKHN Staff WritersNov 30, 2009]

I just found the following. Combine the various faith-based initiatives, above, with the item below - yikes.
Learning To Be An Adult
Kaiser Health News
By Mary Agnes Carey, Phil Galewitz and Laurie McGinley
KHN Staff Writers
Nov 30, 2009

Being a teenager is tough. The Senate wants to help with a provision allocating $400 million from 2010 to 2015 to help teens make the transition to adulthood.

The money goes to states primarily to set up sex education programs. But the money can also be used for "adult preparation" programs that promote "positive self esteem, relationship dynamics, friendships, dating, romantic involvement, marriage and family interaction."

In addition, the programs can teach financial literacy and other skills such as goal setting, decision-making and stress management. About $10 million of funding would go to "innovative youth pregnancy prevention strategies" in areas of the country with high teen birth rates.

The Personal Responsibility Education for Adulthood Training funding was approved as an amendment in the Senate Finance Committee. Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine joined all the Democrats in passing it.