November 2009 Freethinker Meeting

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Dardedar
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November 2009 Freethinker Meeting

Post by Dardedar »

Yes, it's time for our November meeting of the Fayetteville Freethinkers. Gobble, gobble!

This will be our last freethinker meeting of the year (not counting our Solstice Dinner on December 19th). Another year has come, and almost gone. Can you believe it? We started this year with about 220 on our email list and now we have over 300! An increase of 35%.

At this month's meeting, Darrel Henschell and Doug Krueger will discuss the "theory" and practice of dowsing. Dowsing is the time-honored method of apparently finding water and other materials by using rods, pendulums, or forked sticks. Does it work? Our government has spent thousands of dollars on dowsing materials.

Doug Krueger will also share some insight on the first Thanksgiving. How much of the story is true? Did Pilgrims and Native Americans really sit together in peace and have a big feast? Or is the famous story just a whole lot of stuffing?

We will watch a short and instructive video clip on open mindedness vs. critical thinking, learn a little about shopping skeptically, and as usual watch some insightful funny clips.

See you at the meeting!

***
Freethinker Meeting Details:

When: Saturday, November 28, 2009.

Where: The Fayetteville Public Library. 401 W. Mountain
St. (two blocks west of the town square). Library phone: 571-2222.

Time: 2:00 pm

Room: The Walker Room. This is the main meeting room. Go in the front
door, through the lobby and go to your right. You can bring a snack or coffee from Arsaga's in the library lobby.

Map: http://tinyurl.com/b3sfgf

We'll decide a dinner location after the meeting.
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Dardedar
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Re: November 2009 Freethinker Meeting

Post by Dardedar »

Meeting Summary and Announcements:

Once again the Fayetteville Freethinkers will be celebrating the solstice with a feast. We will also be coordinating this with the HumanLight celebration, a nontheistic-oriented holiday celebration invented by Joe Fox and Gary Brill, members of the New Jersey Humanist Network.

From the HumanLight website:

"HumanLight presents an alternative reason to celebrate: a Humanist’s vision of a good future. It is a future in which all people can identify with one another, care for each other, behave with the highest moral standards, and work together toward a happy, just and peaceful world."

http://humanlight.org/

What this means is that we're going to get together and enjoy one another's company, and eat some good food.

Where: Powerhouse Seafood and Grill
112 N University Ave
Fayetteville, AR 72701-5032
Ph. (of restaurant) (479) 442-8300

MAP

When: December 19th, 6:30pm.

We have a private room reserved. Ask for the Fayetteville Freethinker party.

We have negotiated a very nice meal package with a good variety of dishes and each person will be able to eat, drink and be heretical for a little less than $25 total. (If you want to be "merry" it'll be a bit more for booze).

Contact person: Doug Krueger 479-443-2867

*****
Free Seminar

There is a Public Relations Training Seminar presented and hosted by Fred Edwards of United Coalition of Reason (United CoR). Fred represents the organization that will be sponsoring our local billboard and media program. There is no required fee and it is open to all freethought group members. Please arrive on time.


Place: Sprindale Public Library
Date: Sunday, Dec 13th
Time: 1:15pm ( the seminar will conclude by 4:45pm)


Thanks to Randall "Doc" Fleck over at freethoughtnwa.org for coordinating this event.


***
November Fayetteville Freethinker Meeting summary:

Dr. Bill Harter was the recipient of a prestigious Fayetteville Freethinker Award for his years of due diligence in teaching science, critical thinking and swatting down the nonsense that permeates our society.

If you didn't make the meeting, you missed the live presentations of course but here are links to the videos we played.

We watched this ten minute clip about skepticism and open mindedness.

We tried our hand at dowsing with negligible results (too many skeptics around). The short and sweet two page summary about dowsing that Darrel highly recommended can be read here: The Matter of Dowsing

We also watched this five minute video about dowsing by Richard Dawkins.

And this short one by James Randi.

For our Bible study portion we watched the first half of The Bible according to Zach: It's all about the foreskin. If you like that one, check out his many other clips on youtube.

This meeting was video taped and may even show up on CAT-TV in the future.

So to summarize:

--United CoR training seminar Sunday December 13.

--Solstice "Humanlight Dinner" at Powerhouse on December 19.

As usual, there will be no Fayetteville Freethinker meeting in December. Our next meeting will be January 30, 2010.

All the best to you and your family from the Fayetteville Freethinkers.

fayfreethinkers.com
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Re: November 2009 Freethinker Meeting

Post by juju »

If anyone missed the November meeting, you can view it online here:

Part 1:
http://blip.tv/file/2977355

Part 2:
http://blip.tv/file/2978215

Part 3:
http://blip.tv/file/2975897


Also, here's the first Freethought NWA show we shot earlier this month:
http://blip.tv/file/2974937
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Dardedar
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Re: November 2009 Freethinker Meeting

Post by Dardedar »

Wow, great job!
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Re: November 2009 Freethinker Meeting

Post by RobertMadewell »

Sadly, I will not be making it to the Humanlight dinner.

I do have some good news, though. My wife has landed a job in Fayetteville. We will be moving in Janurary. Looks like we'll try to get an apartment off of Zion St. real close to where my wife will work. See you guys at the end of Janurary when I'll be from Fayetteville too!

Anyone want to take a 12 pound nuetered male black cat that looks like a miniture panther? He's real friendly.
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Re: November 2009 Freethinker Meeting

Post by Dardedar »

[Robert moving]

DAR
Wow, that's great news Robert. No more long drives to the meetings. And we have a lot more secularism going on here, than in Harrison.

Hey, I have a rental house in Fayetteville coming available in January. Send me a note if you're interested.

D.
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