The Bylaws of the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie require a Board of Directors be formed to manage the day-to-day business of the group. The Board elects officers from among its members.
You can read our Board meeting minutes and view reports about our Treasury.
Our Current Board of Directors
Douglas Berger — President
Douglas is a co-founder of the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie. He is also host of the Glass City Humanist podcast and the Secular Left podcast. He also serves on the Board of Toledo Integrated Media Education that operates WAKT 106.1 FM Toledo’s community radio station.
He first got active in the secular humanist movement as a member of the Humanist Community of Central Ohio where he served as newsletter editor from 1996 to 2007, President in 2001 and 2002 and many other smaller roles over the past 20 years. HCCO named Douglas their Humanist of the Year in 2013. He also served as co-chair for Secular Coalition for Ohio from 2013–2018.
When not working, Douglas spends his time enjoying movies, music, reading books, and arguing politics on the Internet.
Shawn Meagley — Vice President
Shawn is a co-founder of Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie and champion explorer of rabbit-holes.
She found her way to Secular Humanism via typical childhood indoctrination with an encouragement to learn about the world. A mom of two adult children who share her secular perspective, Shawn has a passion for advocacy of those unable to advocate for themselves; a champion for the underdog.
Like many, the current climate of political and social tension has created a sense of urgency to be more aware and involved.
Edward Schaperjahn Jr. — Treasurer
I believe that there needs to be a healthy community for people to share and help each other in times of need without tying our actions to a religious institution. People are for the most part good and we should work together to better the community. I think I can bring an different outlook from others since I am a recent transplant from another part of the country. Being on the board would allow me to help further the interests of the organization and hopefully increase participation.
I owned my own business for over 15 years. During that time I had to teach myself accounting and managing the business using QuickBooks accounting software. As a result of that learning experience, I was asked to teach a basic accounting and use of QuickBooks course for the local SBA Small Business Development Center at the SUNY Oswego business campus in Oswego, NY. I also ended up helping my office partner, an enrolled agent for the IRS, with bookkeeping auditing and record cleanups for her business clients. Additionally, I have been preparing audits for a local volunteer fire department in Granby, NY to submit to the NYS Comptroller for the last 8 years. Also during my time as a business owner, I was a member of the board of directors of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce for 12 years serving as Secretary for two years, and a member of the board of directors of the Oswego Heritage FCU for 1 year and a member of the Supervisory Committee.
Anne Epstein
I joined the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie in an effort to find like-minded individuals who believed in helping fellow human beings without the need for religious doctrine and policies. Having grown up in a household where organized religion was eschewed, I despair at seeing the growing influence and weaponization of religion in society today. Increasingly restrictive policies based on religion have created a system where division becomes further entrenched rather than everyone being treated with dignity and respect. Since I joined, I have had an opportunity to learn about the many difficulties affecting society including pollution, curtailing of reproductive and civil rights, harm reduction and poverty. I have also been introduced to the organizations which address these issues and the services they provide. As a SHoWLE member, I hope to continue learning about the struggles humanity faces and the remedies offered through volunteer work.
Since I was in college, I have been interested in the issues facing women including lack of access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities. A recent online course I took offered by Stanford, examined these issues as well as the common plights of gender-based violence, sex-trafficking and poverty in old age. Due to this interest, I hope to one day take courses in human rights offered by the City University of New York. As an American, I feel I have an obligation to learn about those less fortunate across the globe and offer my services either in the form of volunteer work or charitable donations. I believe SHoWLE, on a local level, will be beneficial to furthering this goal.
Aside from the usual collection of dead-end retail jobs in college, I have twenty years’ of experience as a medical biller although I will be pursuing other career options in the near future. In addition, I have many hobbies including reading, bowling, stargazing, jigsaw puzzles, ushering and attending plays, traveling and taking pictures, going to the symphony and taking art classes. I have no interest in cooking and have told everyone I cannot boil water. Nobody seems to believe me.
Are You Interested In Being On Our Board?
We are able to have up to seven people on our Board of Directors. If you are a voting member and interested in joining the Board, send us a note using our contact form.