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.