By Mitch Thompson
Mitch made these remarks at HMN’s annual meeting in May.
I often wing these moments—but with four very important board members leaving, I figured I better write something down. So here we go.
A board member from nearly a decade ago recently said something to me that really stuck. They said: “You know, I left the board because I wasn’t sure the organization was on the right path. But after seeing all the success that’s happened and how much HumanistsMN has grown, I must admit — I was wrong.”
To me, that’s the mark of a true humanist: someone who can reflect honestly, analyze a situation with clarity, and — most importantly — have the humility to recognize when something has changed for the better.
Because growth is hard work. It takes humility to have your ideas debated — or even shot down — and still come back to the table, ready to collaborate, ready to build. And that kind of humility — quiet, steady, and strong — is exactly what we’ve seen in the four people we’re honoring today.
Jerry, Ellie, Suzanne, and Nick have each brought not only their skills and leadership, but also a deep sense of humility to their work. They’ve listened. They’ve adapted. They’ve welcomed new voices and perspectives. And they’ve never let ego get in the way of progress. That’s a big part of why this organization has thrived.
And indeed, over the past six to eight years — the time frame that covers their service — HumanistsMN has experienced remarkable growth. That growth didn’t just come from new ideas or bold initiatives — it came from the willingness to reflect, to evolve, and to work together with openness and respect.
Membership has grown significantly. Our programming has become more diverse, more visible, and more vibrant. We’ve seen new faces, new voices, and new energy infuse our community with purpose and momentum.
And we’ve seen our stature grow in the broader community — our voice, our values, and our presence more widely recognized and respected than ever before.
In fact, we’re now on track to be named the American Humanist Association Chapter of the Year. That’s a huge honor—and it’s a direct reflection of the leadership, creativity, and commitment that these four individuals have brought to our organization.
This transformation didn’t happen by accident. It happened because of leadership. It happened because of vision. And it happened because of the dedication of board members like the four we are honoring today.
Jerry has been instrumental in shaping our financial health and strategic planning. His steady hand in budgeting and finance has kept us grounded, while his leadership in programming — especially through his Think! discussion series — has kept us intellectually engaged and curious. On top of that, he’s organized cleanups and bike rides, helped coordinate speakers, and served on the Board nominating committee. Jerry has been everywhere — and always with a calm, thoughtful presence.
Ellie has served as board president for three, diving headfirst into everything from governance to social media. She helped design our Christian nationalism billboard, which sparked an incredibly successful Reddit post reaching tens of thousands. She became a key liaison with the national American Humanist Association board — where she was just elected, by the way —and often carried the burden of helping us update our thinking from a more “youthful perspective.” Her leadership has been bold, strategic, and deeply human.
Suzanne has been the quiet engine behind so much of our communication and outreach. She ran the newsletter, organized the website, and was a lead force behind the Day of Reason. She also helped establish our inaugural National Religious Freedom Day and played a key role in helping get the Secular Caucus at the Minnesota Legislature off the ground. Her work has helped define how we present ourselves to the world — with clarity, consistency, and care. And she has always been a kind but persistent taskmaster — reminding us of things that need to get done, and offering gentle nudges to follow through on the things we said we would do.
Nick has been the ultimate utility player. He served as treasurer for several years, always ready to jump in wherever needed — even if that meant picking up the pizza, like today. At his very last meeting in April, he stepped in as secretary without hesitation. Nick’s reliability, good humor, and willingness to help have made him an indispensable part of this team.
It has truly been an honor to serve with this bunch. And I have to admit — it’s a little scary to see all of this knowledge, leadership, and skill stepping away at the same time. But I know they’ll still be around. And I also know that they represent a moment in time when this organization truly shone bright.
To Jerry, Ellie, Suzanne, and Nick — thank you. You’ve helped shape what HumanistsMN is today, and your legacy will continue to guide us forward.
And to the five new board members joining us — you’re stepping into some big shoes, but I have every confidence that together, we’ll keep this momentum going and take HumanistsMN even further.
Mitch Thompson is vice president of HumanistsMN.
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