300 of the Congress delegates have been enjoying a convivial dinner meeting at which awards were presented to leading Humanists.

Mel Lipman, President of the American Humanist Association, began the proceedings by introducing Louis J Appignani. Mr Appignani called for coexistance with religions and said that Humanism offered the most "bang" for the philanthropic "buck".

He announced that he had pledged $1 million in matched funds to AHA and he handed over a check for $250,000 to AHA executive director Roy Speckhardt as what he called a "down payment". The assembled delegates greeted this announcement with a standing ovation.

The Humanists of Greater Portland received the AHA chapter of the year award. The AHA Humanist distinguished service award went to Maryland state senator Jamie Raskin, who spoke both wittily and thoughtfully in acceptance.

Winner of the main AHA Humanist of the year award was Rep Pete Stark. Among Rep Stark's distinctions are his status as the most senior openly non-theist elected official in the USA and his steadfast public opposition to the Iraq war.

In accepting the award, Rep Stark spoke amusingly of his "accidental" career and how he became a US congressman in 1972. He said, "for politicians, it has never been about God: it's been about power." He was proud to say that there had been no hate crimes in his electoral district since September 11, 2001.

He concluded by expressing his thanks for the award and then took questions.

A delegate noted that Mr Stark was one of only eight members of the House who had opposed public funding for the Boy Scouts.

In answer to a question, he said that his lack of religious belief had never come up in discussions with his constituents.