Happy New Year

2010 was an amazing year for M.A.S.S. We received our 501(c)3 approval. We finished our new logo (with big thanks to Dan and Russ). Our T-shirts are made. Our bi-weekly Discussion Group (organized by Bill) is going strong and (thanks in part to James) has found a permanent home downtown. Several of our members were able to successfully challenge the church service at the County Fair and got it moved to an appropriate private venue.

And last but not least, we now have a sharp looking newsletter. You can sign up here. The primary newsletter, "Critical M.A.S.S." will go out about once a month, and if you sign up for any of the other available lists (such as for Volunteer/Outreach Opportunities), we'll send you notifications only as appropriate.

With all of that, one might wonder how we can top ourselves. What on Earth could we possibly have in mind for our 2011 News Year's Resolution? Well, how about a billboard?


Don't forget, Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch is this weekend, January 2nd, 10am at The Stone of Accord on North Reserve in the meeting room. If you're not sure where to go, just tell the hostess you're with the group in the meeting room and she'll show you the way.

Final Brunch of 2010

Many of us are taking a trip to Big Sky this weekend for an event hosted by the Bozeman Freethinker's, but unfortunately, not everyone is able to go. Therefore, the tradition of Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch will go on as scheduled. So come on out of that cold closet and join those of us still in town for some warm and friendly unsupernatural conversation.

When: Sunday, Dec 5th, 10am
Where: The Meeting Room at Stone of Accord, 4951 N. Reserve.

If you're not sure where to go, just tell the hostess you're with the group in the meeting room and she'll get you to the right spot in a flash.

"Frozen Food" photo (c) Lamoix Designs

The Biology of Stem Cells

The Missoula Area Secular Society is hosting another free public lecture.

When: Thursday, Nov 18th, 6:00pm
Where: Missoula Public Library, Large Meeting Room

Embryonic stem cells hold great promise for replacing cells in damaged tissue, even brain cells, but significant challenges remain before this can be realized. Not least of challenges is that stem cells may form tumors. It is difficult to cause stem cells to differentiate into exactly and only the type of cells needed for therapy.

The ethical and political considerations about research using stem cells require a clear understanding of stem cell biology. Research on stem cells is not human cloning, which should not be attempted, yet fear of human cloning is raised to prevent research on stem cells.

The Missoula Area Secular Society is proud to host Professor Mark Grimes for a free public lecture on the biology and politics of stem cell research. The lecture will be held in the Missoula Public Library in the large meeting room downstairs at 6:00pm.

After the lecture, some members of the Missoula Area Secular Society will likely migrate to a downtown restaurant to continue the discussion over food and drink, and cordially invite you to join them. Stick around after the lecture for details.

November Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch Meeting

Another month has flown by, Fall is officially here, and that means it's time for yet another Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch.

When: Sunday, November 7th, 10am
Where: Stone of Accord Meeting Room ( 4951 N. Reserve )

Need we say more?

"Snowy Leaves" photo (c) Janie Jones

Your Inner Fish

Neil Shubin, author of Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body, will be speaking at the University Theater at 8pm tonight.

Neil is best known as one of the discoverers in 2004 of the fossil that revealed a missing link in evolution between fish and land animals. He will discuss his 2008 book, Your Inner Fish, which tells the story of evolution by tracing the organs of the human body back millions of years, long before the first creatures walked the earth.

The event is free and open to the public.

Some members of the Missoula Area Secular Society will be meeting at about 6:45 at Food For Thought for dinner and then walking over to the theater at about 7:30. You are invited to join them, if you wish.

Welcome!

If you have just heard about us through our recent Montana press coverage, welcome to our website.

The Missoula Area Secular Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to foster a community of non-theistic individuals and to promote and organize educational programs focusing on secular ethics, science, history and critical thinking for our members, their children and the public at large.

If you would like to join us, keep an eye on this website for announcements on upcoming events, and/or join or burgeoning Facebook group, or follow us on Twitter. We meet up regularly for a variety of educational discussions and lectures.

Membership dues are $20/year, which allows you to vote for our board of directors and on any issues the board puts to the members for a vote. Most of our events, however, do not require you to be a dues paying member to attend. All you need to do is show up.

We also happily accept donations of any size. All donations are tax deductible and fund our educational and outreach programs. To become a paying member or make a donation, simply use the "Donate" button on the right, or bring a check to an event.

Annual Election Update

Our annual board of directors election on Sunday went well. Our two board members who's terms were expiring (Milo and Gina) were both reelected without opposition to new three year terms. Gina will continue serving as our highly capable Treasurer, and Milo will continue as our Member at Large. Next October Russ and Jon's terms will be expiring.

The Board of Directors met later, and created a non-board position of "Outreach Coordinator" and appointed Martha to the position. Martha will be investigating opportunities for M.A.S.S. to do charitable work within the Missoula Area and coordinating those activities.

Brunch Meeting and Annual Elections

It's time once again for our Monthly "Sunday M.A.S.S." Brunch Meeting and boy do we have an important one this time.

Our 501(c)3 application has finally been approved by the IRS. We're the real deal, now! We'll have some info on that at the brunch as well as where we go from here.

Also, two of our Board of Director's terms are expiring (Gina and Milo), and we'll be either re-electing them or voting in replacements for one or both. Whomever gets elected will be starting a 3 year term.

If you would like to vote, you must be present at brunch and up to date on your $20 annual membership dues. Those not up on their dues, or simply not interested in becoming a paid member at this time, are still welcome to attend brunch, observe the process, and participate in the rest of the discussions. You just can't vote for any directors. Anyone not yet a member who would like to become one may do so immediately before the elections. Just give Gina your dues and she'll give you a receipt and add you to the list. If you are a member but aren't sure when your membership expires, Gina will have your info and will be able to renew you if necessary. Also, remember that your dues are tax deductible.

Everything kicks off Sunday, October 3rd, at 10am at the Stone of Accord Meeting Room, 4951 N. Reserve. This might be a good one to arrive early for. Also, remember that we can seat up to 32 people in the meeting room (yes, really), so don't leave if it looks crowded. If for some reason we really do fill up the room and you would like to vote, just make sure Jon knows you're in the restaurant and he'll make sure you get included in the process, somehow. If you're not sure where the meeting room is, just ask the hostess when you come in the door and she'll get you to the right place.

Lastly, I'll also be accepting during brunch any contributions anyone would like to make towards a Missoula Downtown Association gift card I'll be purchasing for our attorney, without whom the 501(c)3 approval would never have happened, and who did it all for free. Unlike donations to M.A.S.S., contributions toward the gift card are not tax deductible and should be made separately.

Feel free to RSVP to the event on Facebook (not required).

"I Voted" photo (c) Kate Sumbler.

Snow Fun At Big Sky

Bozeman Freethinkers Aleksi and Kate are organizing the first of two "play in the snow" weekends in Big Sky, MT and are inviting members of the Missoula Area Secular Society (plus friends, family, and fellow-travelers) to join in the fun, December 4th and 5th.

Aleksi welcomes everybody to stay at her spacious house in Big Sky for this fun-filled weekend! You DO NOT have to be a good skier, in fact you don't have to ski at all; just come and spend some time relaxing in the mountains with some great people. Good skiers are welcome as well, of course :-)

If you'd like to ski, you should buy a $50 Frequent Sky Card from Big Sky Ski Resort ***before 9/30/2010*** (it goes up to $90 if purchased 9/30-10/31, after which it's not available). This card will get you a free ski pass for the weekend. Info on this card:
http://www.bigskyresort.com/Activities/Winter/Season_Pass-Sky_Card/Frequent_Sky_Card.asp,

This info page has a link to purchase the pass online. Think about it: $50 for even one day skiing at a world class ski hill is a Big Savings, since a daily lift ticket at Big Sky is $77 online/$81 at the window. Another Freethinker weekend is planned for April during another "free ski" weekend that you can use the card, so if you plan to attend both events and ski, then the card is an even better deal.

If you're inclined toward cross-country skiing, Aleksi's house is located on the XC trails for http://www.lonemountainranch.com/. There is a $15 fee to use the Lone Mountain Ranch trails.

On Saturday night we'll find an inexpensive local restaurant that can handle all of us.

The joint Bozeman/Missoula camp-out this past summer was a big success, and a splendid time was had by all who attended. These ski weekends should likewise be terrific opportunities to have fun hanging out and hobnobbing with like-minded heathens and heretics. So come join in the merriment this winter at Big Sky. Be there or you will be forced to listen to a loop of Rush Limbaugh all day on Xmas day. This means You.

As the date gets closer, the Missoula group will organize a carpool/caravan and directions to Aleksi's house will be given out then. RSVP on the Facebook group is recommended.

September Sunday M.A.S.S.

It's time once again for our monthly brunch meeting that we affectionately call Sunday M.A.S.S.

Please join us at the Stone of Accord at 10:00AM on Sunday, September 5th in the meeting room. If you're not sure where the meeting room is, just ask the host(ess) and they'll get you there pronto.

Mr. Breakfast Photo (c) M@X

Perseids Event Cancelled

The weather for Ovando changed to thunderstorms and rain all evening, so it doesn't look like we'll have much of a view of the sky. We'll try again next time.

Perseids Viewing

The Earth is rapidly approaching the densest part of the debris trail of the comet Swift-Tuttle, the new moon will be providing plenty of darkness, and now the Western Montana weather appears to be cooperating as well, so...

Put in your vacation notice for Friday and come out with the Missoula Area Secular Society to spend Thursday night staying up into the wee hours far away from city lights learning about astronomy, or sharing what you know, while watching (potentially up to 100/hour) fiery meteors streak across the sky as they get clobbered by Earth's atmosphere.

Directions: Take Hwy 200 North up the Blackfoot approximately 38 miles. Half a mile *before* the junction with Hwy 83 (Giant Cow) there is a bridge over the Clearwater River and a fishing access site just past the bridge. You're going to want to turn left immediately *before* the bridge onto a dirt road.

However, you're probably going to miss your turn and go over the bridge (I do it all the time). In this case, turn around in the fishing access site, or go half a mile further up to the Giant Cow and turn around there. Then, on your way back, turn right immediately *after* the bridge.

Follow this dirt road north approx 1.5 miles to a point where the river gets wide enough for some people to call a small lake. Look for a giant TeePee style tent (about 12 feet tall) somewhere along the shore (should be there no later than 7pm).

The road in is not well maintained and can get heavily rutted, so use caution, but don't think that you're lost. Cars with low clearance should be able to navigate the road with little difficulty as long as they take it slow and watch where they're going.

Bring a tent to retire to once fireballs streaking across the sky are no longer enough to keep yourself awake. There will be LOTS of room to setup tents and even though you'll want to watch the stars the forecast low for the nearest town (Ovando) is 44 degrees and there may be an isolated thunderstorm or two. If you've got a good warm sleeping bag, you may try to sleep out under the stars anyway. DRESS WARM. I repeat, the forecast low is 44 Degrees!

Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch for Non-Campers

Those members of M.A.S.S. that are attending the Bozeman Freethinkers Camping/Lewis & Clark Caverns/Museum of the Rockies trip this weekend won't make it to brunch, but not everyone is going to Bozeman and we have a standing reservation at the Stone of Accord. So, brunch is still on.

In the absence of the entire board or directors who will be either camping or otherwise out of town, Martha has agreed to be our official M.A.S.S. representative for brunch (just in case there's a need for such a person).

If you're not going camping, please come out for brunch and keep Martha company.

Where: The Stone of Accord (4951 North Reserve Street), in the Meeting Room
When: Sunday, August 1st, 10AM

If you're not sure where to go, just tell the hostess you're with the group in the meeting room. She'll make sure you get to the right place.

M.A.S.S. Movie Date: COSMOS (Ep 4 & 5)

COSMOS: A Personal Voyage is a thirteen-part television series written by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan, and Steven Soter and first broadcast by PBS in 1980. As of 2009, it is the most widely watched PBS series in the world. It won an Emmy and a Peabody Award and has since been broadcast in more than 60 countries and seen by over 500 million people.

With special permission from Druyan-Sagan Associates, Inc., the Missoula Area Secular Society is proud to present two more episodes of COSMOS at the Missoula Public Library on Saturday, July 17th, at 3:30pm.

Episode 4: "Heaven and Hell"

A descent through the hellish atmosphere of Venus to explore it's broiling surface serves as a warning for our world about the possible consequences of the increasing greenhouse effect. Then, Dr. Sagan leads viewers on a tour of the solar system to see how other heavenly bodies have suffered from various cosmic catastrophes.

Episode 5: "Blues for a Red Planet"

Is there life on Mars? Dr. Sagan takes viewers on a never-before-seen look at the red planet through the eyes of science fiction authors and then through the unblinking eyes of two Viking spacecrafts that have sent thousands of pictures of the stunning Martian landscape back to Earth since 1976.

This event is free of charge and open to the public. Families are welcome.

When: Saturday, July 17th, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Where: Missoula Public Library - Large Meeting Room (downstairs)

After the show, you're invited to join us at a downtown bar for further discussion. Stick around after the lights go up and introduce yourself if you're interested.

Independence (From Superstition) Day Brunch

If you're not headed out of town for the holiday weekend (or if you're headed to our area from points beyond), join the Missoula Area Secular Society for Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch to celebrate our independence from superstition and dogma.

We'll be meeting at the usual time and place for our usual lively and educational discussions on science, secularism, and superstition.

Where: The Stone of Accord, 4951 N. Reserve St. (in the meeting room).
When: Sunday, July 4th, 10am - Noon

If you're not sure where the meeting room is at the Stone of Accord, just ask the host(ess) at the door and they'll direct you to the right place.

Fireworks Photo (c) Michael Seljos

M.A.S.S. Movie Date: The God Who Wasn't There

The Missoula Area Secular Society is proud to present a free public screening of the critically acclaimed documentary, The God Who Wasn't There.

From exposing the hidden history of Christianity to lampooning the bloody excesses of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ (which caused Gibson to attempt legal action against the documentary), The God Who Wasn't There pulls no punches.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker (and former Christian) Brian Flemming, The God Who Wasn't There includes stimulating interviews with:

• Sam Harris, author of The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation
  
  
• Alan Dundes, Professor of Folklore at the University of California at Berkeley
  
  
• Richard Carrier, historian and author of Sense and Goodness Without God
  
  
• Barbara & David P. Mikkelson, authors of the Urban Legends Reference Pages at snopes.com

Join us for this free public screening at the Missoula Public Library on Saturday, June 19th at 3:30pm in the Large Meeting Room (downstairs). After the film, you are invited to join us for dinner & drinks to discuss the film at a downtown restaurant (location TBA at the screening).

June Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch

It's time once again to enjoy the bewildered looks on the faces of your friends and family when you tell them that you're going to Sunday M.A.S.S.

We've been seeing more and more people coming to our monthly brunch event, and if this keeps up we're going to outgrow the meeting room at the Stone of Accord soon. We look forward to the day that we move into the regular dining room and claim part of it as our own, but we're not there quite yet, and won't get there without *you*.

We had some people who thought the meeting room was full last month and declined to join us. So, allow me to say that, depending on how we arrange the tables and chairs, we can fit up to 32 people in that room. We re-arranged once last month as more people showed up and we would have happily done it again. Don't be shy, even if we look crowded. Too many people is our favorite problem to solve.

So, please join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM at The Stone of Accord (aka the *new* Sean Kelly's) at 4951 N. Reserve St. near Interstate 90. If this is your first brunch with us, just tell the hostess you're with the group in the "meeting room" and she'll show you the way.

Keep up to date on all of our other events by joining our Facebook group, following us on Twitter, and/or subscribing to this site's RSS feed. All of our events also get posted to our new calendar page long before they get announced anywhere else, so if you like to plan ahead, bookmark that page and check back often.

UPDATE: This month's Sunday M.A.S.S. will include a special all-ages sneak preview of Brother Sam Singleton's latest sermon. You don't want to miss this!

Waffle Photo (c) avlxyz

M.A.S.S. Movie Date: COSMOS

COSMOS: A Personal Voyage is a thirteen-part television series written by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan, and Steven Soter and first broadcast by PBS in 1980. As of 2009, it is the most widely watched PBS series in the world. It won an Emmy and a Peabody Award and has since been broadcast in more than 60 countries and seen by over 500 million people.

With special permission from Druyan-Sagan Associates, Inc., the Missoula Area Secular Society is proud to present two more episodes of COSMOS at the Missoula Public Library on Saturday, May 22nd, at 3:30pm.

Episode 2: "One Voice in the Cosmic Fuge"

Dr. Sagan's Cosmic Calendar makes the 15 billion year history of the universe understandable and frames the origin of the Earth and the evolution of life. We see the steps from microbes to humans. Our understanding of how life developed on Earth enables us to venture to other worlds for imaginative speculations on what forms life might take elsewhere in the Cosmos.

Episode 3: "The Harmony Of The Worlds"

Historical re-creation of the life and time of Johannes Kepler – the last scientific astrologer, the first modern astronomer, and the author of the first science fiction novel. Kepler provided the insight into how the moon and the planets move in their orbits and ultimately how to journey to them.

This event is free of charge and open to the public. Families are welcome.

When: Saturday, May 22nd, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Where: Missoula Public Library - Large Meeting Room (downstairs)

M.A.S.S. socializing at a downtown bar likely to occur after the show. Stick around after the lights go up and introduce yourself if you're interested.

Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch for May

Due to someone managing to reserve our usual room for the first Sunday in May before we did, our Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch this month will be on the Second Sunday (that's the one coming up now).

Hopefully nobody went to the usual place last Sunday. I meant to post something ahead of time warning people, but time slipped away from me.

Anyway, it's on again, like butter on toast.

When: Sunday, May 9th, 10 AM
Where: Stone of Accord (in the Meeting Room) 4951 N. Reserve St

If you're not sure where to go, ask the host(ess) for directions. It's literally right around the corner after you come in the front door.

Next month we'll be back on the First Sunday, and measures have already been taken to try to ensure this doesn't happen again.

Photo (c) Alasam

Camping with The Bozeman Freethinkers

Put in your vacation notice at work now. M.A.S.S. is taking a road trip at the end of July for our (1st annual?) joint camp out with the Bozeman Freethinkers.

When: Friday, July 30th - Sunday, August 1st

We'll head over the divide to the camping spot that the Bozeman Freethinkers will have picked out for us and stay Friday and Saturday night. On Saturday there will be a group trip to the Lewis & Clark Caverns, and (if there's enough time and interest), maybe a trip in to the Museum of the Rockies.

We have a CDL licensed driver on our Board of Directors, so we're planning on renting a bus to get everyone over there. This way everyone (except our driver) will be able to start having fun as soon as we roll out of Missoula, and we don't need to worry about anybody getting lost. Cost for bus rental and gas will be split among the participants.

I anticipate we'll have campers representing every generation, so feel free to bring your whole family.

Updates and additional details will be sent out regularly to those that have RSVP'd to the Facebook Event, and occasionally posted here as the time gets closer. If you're planning to attend but for whatever reason are unable to RSVP to the Facebook event, please email jon@secularmissoula.org with the number of people in your family that will be attending so he can add you to the list and contact you with any important updates.

Above photo (c) Isabelle Boucher

Movie Date: Creation

Change of plans!

Instead of Oceans on Saturday, we'll be attending Creation at The Wilma on Sunday at 3PM. Then we'll wander up to the Old Post for dinner and drinks.

Where: The Wilma Theater (downtown)
When: Meet under the tent in Caras Park at 2:30. We'll head up to the theater at 2:40.

If you can't join us for the movie, please feel free to meet us at the Old Post a little after 5:00.

M.A.S.S. Movie Date: Oceans

UPDATE: We'll be going to "Creation" at The Wilma on Sunday, instead. Click here for the details.

This month's M.A.S.S. Movie date will be on the big screen at the Carmike 10 instead of at the library. Come join us for "Oceans" on Saturday, April 24th in the afternoon. The exact time will be posted here later in the week once the theater posts their matinée times for the show.

Meeting ahead of time for a quick lunch or afterwards for dinner is likely depending on the movie times. Details on that will be announced here later when the official time is posted.

And lastly, our Secretary will be celebrating his birthday that evening, and his son's very talented funk band (Kung Fu Kongress) will be playing at the Top Hat as well. So, we may drag this out into an extended multi-venue event. Stay tuned.


Join our Facebook Group and RSVP the event, or follow us on Twitter, or subscribe to the RSS feed to this website to get notified later in the week when all the details are settled and announced.

Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch for April

To hell with hunting eggs! Break out of your shell and join us to eat a few (or, if you prefer, something less animal based) and wish a Happy Birthday to our favorite zombie.

Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch for April has arrived, and as usual it's guaranteed to be superstition free. Lots of friendly conversation will be had though about whatever people want to talk about. We had a new record attendance last month. Let's see if we can set another record this month.


When: Sunday, April 4th, 10:00AM
Where: Stone of Accord Meeting Room (4951 N. Reserve St)

Just tell the host(ess) you're with the group in the meeting room and they'll show you the way.

RSVP on Facebook if you'd like, and follow us on Twitter for the latest breaking M.A.S.S. news.

Photo by Ishikawa Ken.

M.A.S.S. Movie Date: COSMOS

COSMOS: A Personal Voyage is a thirteen-part television series written by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan, and Steven Soter and first broadcast by PBS in 1980. As of 2009, it is the most widely watched PBS series in the world. It won an Emmy and a Peabody Award and has since been broadcast in more than 60 countries and seen by over 500 million people.

With special permission from Druyan-Sagan Associates, Inc., the Missoula Area Secular Society is proud to present the first two episodes (with the rest to follow in coming months) of COSMOS at the Missoula Public Library on Saturday, March 20th, at 3:30pm.

Episode 1: "The Shores of the Cosmic Ocean"

At the beginning of this awe-inspiring cosmic journey, COSMOS host Dr. Carl Sagan takes viewers to the edge of the universe aboard the Spaceship of the Imagination. Through beautiful and accurate special effects, we witness quasars, exploding galaxies, star clusters, supernovas and pulsars. Returning to the Solar System, we enter an astonishing recreation of the Alexandrian Library, seat of learning on Earth 2000 years ago.

Episode 2: "One Voice in the Cosmic Fuge"

Dr. Sagan's Cosmic Calendar makes the 15 billion year history of the universe understandable and frames the origin of the Earth and the evolution of life. We see the steps from microbes to humans. Our understanding of how life developed on Earth enables us to venture to other worlds for imaginative speculations on what forms life might take elsewhere in the Cosmos.

This event is free of charge and open to the public. Families are welcome.

When: Saturday, March 20th, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Where: Missoula Public Library - Large Meeting Room (downstairs)

M.A.S.S. socializing at a downtown bar likely to occur after the show. Stick around after the lights go up and introduce yourself if you're interested.

Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch for March

Surprise! It's that time of month again! Time to gather together to share in good food and even better conversation with your fellow non-theists of Missoula.

What: Sunday M.A.S.S.
When: March 7th, 10AM
Where: The Stone of Accord Meeting Room (4951 N. Reserve St)

If you're not sure where to go, just tell the restaurant hostess that you're with the group in the meeting room and she'll show you the way. It's literally right around the corner after you come in the front door.

Fruity Foto by Hamed Saber

Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch, February Edition

Yet another month has raced by, and it's once again time for Sunday M.A.S.S. Brunch. We'll be gathering at the Stone of Accord on North Reserve in the meeting room. If you're not sure where that is, just tell the host(ess) you're with the group in the meeting room and they'll show you the way.

When: Sunday, February 7th, 10am
Where: Stone of Accord (4951 North Reserve) in the meeting room.

Omelet Photo by Gergely Németi

Event: Wanderers In The Sky

As you may already know, the second part of the Missoula Area Secular Society's mission is to "develop and/or promote programs focusing on secular ethics, science, history, and critical thinking for members, their children, and the public at large as alternatives to the supernatural interpretations of the human condition."

In accordance with that, we are very proud to host "Wanderers In The Sky", a presentation by Professor Diane Friend from the University of Montana Dept. of Physics and Astronomy.

The last two decades have seen a renaissance in astronomy as new technologies have opened exciting new windows into the universe. The last 15 years have been an especially exciting time for planetary science with the discovery of new worlds both within our own solar system and beyond. These new worlds have led scientists to rethink everything from the definition of the word “planet” to theories of planetary system formation and evolution over time.

This talk will start with ideas about what constitutes a planet in our own solar system and progress to a discussion of the amazing richness, variety, and abundance of planets we have found orbiting other, nearby stars.

When: Monday, February 1st, 7pm
Where: Missoula Public Library, Large Meeting Room (downstairs).

This event is free to the public and open to all ages. Please come out and give Diane a very warm welcome as the first professional educator to help us fulfill this challenging part of our mission. Bring a friend or two.

(Solar System Picture above (c) Jules Stoop)

M.A.S.S. Movie Date

Come join the Missoula Area Secular Society as we host The Meaning Of Life (as explained by Monty Python).

In this social satire, the satirical six have taken up the monumental task of explaining the meaning of life. The results are pungent, acidic, and priceless views of sex, religion, birth, war, and death. Monty Python tackles life and wrestles it to the ground in this savagely hilarious film. Rated R.


When: Saturday, January 23rd, 3:30pm
Where: Missoula Public Library (301 East Main) in the Large Meeting Room

Admission is free of charge (donations will be gratefully accepted).

After the movie, for those interested, we'll move to a nearby downtown bar for drinks, dinner and dialog.

Feel free to RSVP on the Facebook Group Event and follow us on Twitter for event update notifications.

Thanks To All Of You! Here's To A Wonderful 2010.

In the January edition of the newsletter for the Minnesota Atheists, President Jeannette Watland had some comments that I would like to share with you. I feel as if Jeannette reached inside my head and pulled out many of my own thoughts about M.A.S.S. and put them into words. I cannot find a page on their website that has her column to link to, so I'll paste it directly from the newsletter here.

President's Column

By President Jeannette Watland

Christmas day saw me sitting around a table eating Dim Sum in a Chinese restaurant with about nine other atheists. At one point during the meal, one of the diners told the table that this has been the first Christmas in awhile that has actually meant something. I’m lucky enough to have a family that supports my atheism, but the sad reality is that many of us do not. Providing an alternative on a religious holiday normally shared with family not only gives us something to do when everyone else is out, but is also an example of community in Minnesota Atheists.

I recently had an email correspondence with a member who was dismayed at the apparent pride some atheists take in the “herding cats” mentality. Honestly, it dismays me too. I can understand the reasons people don’t like to organize. It can feel too much like church or other organized religions. People feel like they will lose individualism if they band together with a group. I can understand these things, but I still think the benefits of joining and participating in an atheist community outweigh the downfalls.

One of Minnesota Atheists’ missions is to educate the public on atheism. The more the public is educated the more we will build tolerance. If the public could see how many of us there actually are, and how normal we look, the stereotypes begin to break down. When we band together we can also make a larger wave in the world of politics. We are going to make more progress in fighting for the separation of church and state if we act as a community. Already our numbers at the Day of Reason are beginning to rival those of the Day of Prayer.

Finally, creating a close community is just in our human nature. Humans are social beings. It is good for us to be around other people. For many of us, being around other atheists is an invaluable experience. I love the Minnesota Atheist community and hope that every single one of our members has a chance to experience it. It is a place where we can discuss our lack of belief without fear of offending someone. We can come out of the atheist closet and be ourselves without fearing discrimination. We baby-sit each others children, celebrate weddings, welcome new babies, comfort the sick and lonely, and mourn the loss of members. We maintain our individualism and offer our services to benefit others. I am truly proud to be part of such a caring group of people. Minnesota Atheists has become like a second family to me. I hope it means as much to our members as it does to me.

Thank you Jeannette for putting many of my exact thoughts into words so eloquently. Thank you also to all of our active M.A.S.S. members. I didn't even know most of you this time last year, and now I feel like you are a second family to me, as well. 2009 was an impressive year for us in terms of growth and organization, thanks in no small part to your participation and generosity. I have great confidence that 2010 will be equally impressive for us and I am looking forward to many new faces appearing (and re-appearing) at our upcoming events and get togethers.