Welcome


Welcome to the website for the Missoula Area Secular Society, or M.A.S.S. for short (pronounced Mass).

We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization who's mission is to foster a community of non-theistic individuals in Missoula, MT, and to develop and/or promote educational programs focusing on secular ethics, science, history, and critical thinking for our members, their families, and the public at large.

You are probably here because you saw or heard about our billboard on Russell St. We welcome you and invite you to browse around. Be sure to checkout our calendar for upcoming activities.

You can stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter, liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or adding us on Google+.

Press can download a hi-res version of the billboard artwork here, and the group photo at the billboard here.

Observatory Trip & Brunch


Our trip to the Blue Mountain Observatory has arrived.

We'll meet at 11:00pm, Friday night, in the parking lot for Peak Fitness at the corner of Blue Mountain Road and Highway 93/12. From there we'll drive up to the top of the mountain for the Blue Mountain Observatory's Public Observing Night. Bring a snack, a flashlight, a light jacket and wear long pants. The natural AC on top of the mountain can make un-prepared amateur astronomers quite chilly after midnight. You'll want your flashlight to find your way from the parking area to the Observatory, but once in the vicinity of the Observatory, please turn your flashlight off and leave it off until heading back to the parking lot. Lots of people (including us) will be standing around outside the observatory letting our eyes adjust to the dark to make it easier to see cool stuff through the big telescope and new arrivals shining their flashlights in everyone's eyes are not appreciated. More details ( including info about a possible private observatory night ) are available on the Facebook event page.

The following weekend, we'll have our monthly Sunday M.A.S.S. brunch on August 7th at The Stone of Accord ( 4951 North Reserve St ) at 10am in the meeting room. If you plan to attend, please RSVP on the Facebook event page for the brunch. The meeting room can fit 32 people, and we've come close to that a couple times. If it looks like we're going to exceed that this time, I'll contact the restaurant to have them move us out of the meeting room and to a far corner of the restaurant that can fit us all.

If you would like a M.A.S.S. T-shirt, we'll have them available for purchase at brunch. T-shirts are $20 and available in a variety of colors. Dues paying members who are up to date get a $4 discount on each shirt, and yes, you can pay your dues and buy a shirt at the same time to get your discount.

Annual membership dues are $20 for general members, $50 for Supporters, and $100 for Patrons (and we've even got some higher membership levels for those of you that are really gung-ho). However, becoming a dues paying member is not a requirement to attend brunch or most other events. Events are usually open to anyone interested in our cause.

Lastly, but not surprisingly, the "likers" of our Facebook page have grown considerably since our billboard went up and it continues to add new people every day. If you haven't "liked" us yet, please do so.

M.A.S.S. Camp Out 2011

M.A.S.S. Camp Out Twenty Eleven was a huge success and a lot of fun. Many of us camped for two nights while others came out for one.


On Friday night we celebrated the 3rd Anniversary of M.A.S.S. as an organization and talked about the upcoming billboard. Of course, food was cooked over fire and grill, smore's were available in plenty, and the weather was perfect.

On Saturday, a bunch of us drove down to the Clearwater Crossing Ranger Station and took a hike up the West Fork of Fish Creek to a beautiful lunch spot, and then returned to camp later that afternoon.

Saturday night we were privileged to welcome our neighbor campers and area residents to our campsite as we played host to Montana FWP Biologist Vickie Edwards. Vickie gave a fascinating presentation on elk ecology and specifics on the elk herds found in the Fish Creek area. She brought an elk hide and several antlers and even some scat (thankfully, the scat was fake), and graciously answered dozens of questions from the diverse audience.

Later Saturday evening, the rain came. We had plenty of sturdy shelter available though, so the rain was hardly noticed. In all, it was an enjoyable and educational event, and all participants are looking forward to the next.