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.