The November/December 2011 Freethought Society Newsletter

The November/December 2011 Freethought News is now available for download or online reading at this link:

http://www.ftsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/November-December-2011-FS-Newsletter-1.pdf

Featured in this issue:

  • Freethought Society’s Sponsorship of 2012 Reason Rally
  • Tree of Knowledge 2011 Project Reportby Margaret Downey
  • The 2011 Holiday Banner Application Banner by Margaret Downey
  • Lunching with a Pastorby Vic Wang
  • Freedom From Religion Foundation’s Philadelphia Region Billboard Campaign
  •  The Freethought Society’s 2011/2012 Four-Month Activities Calendar
  •  Freethinkers of Haiti Report
  •  Community Service Projects (Jean Therapy, Sole Searching and Book Drive)
  • Freethought Society Committee Report  (Anti-Discrimination Support Network)

Celebrate HumanLight ~ an HAGP event

The Freethought Society is pleased to announce A LOCAL EVENT OF INTEREST TO FREETHINKERS - created and sponsored by the Humanist Association of Greater Philadelphia (HAGP)

December 18, 2011 Celebrate HumanLight!

HumanLight illuminates Humanism’s positive secular vision in late December. With Chanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa, it may seem as though the holiday season calendar is very crowded. But in Pennsylvania, non-theistic people will have their day too, when they enjoy their own gala holiday celebration of HumanLight on Sunday, Dec. 18 at the

Williamson Restaurant, 500 Blair Mill Road, Horsham, PA. (map and directions)

Schedule:

  • 12:30-1:00 Gathering and cocktails
  • 1:00-1:03 Joe Fox (Co-founder of HumanLight and HAGP Vice President) – Welcome and Introduction
  • 1:03-1:10 Opening remarks by emcee Patrick Collucci (Vice Chair of the HumanLight committee
  • 1:10-1:25 Candle lighting and HumanLight song
  •     1:25-2:15 Lunch 
  • 2:15-3:10 Wondergy Presents ElectriScience 
  • 3:10-3:30 Live music by Cantabile  
  • 3:30-4:00 Keynote speaker Fred Edwords, National Director for the United Coalition for Reason 
  • 4:00-4:10 Closing remarks and final song

Price: Tickets, which include the luncheon, are $30 for adults. People under 18 are admitted FREE if accompanied by an adult. For more information about how to purchase tickets online using PayPal visit the HAGP Meetup or the HAGP Facebook event page

***Make sure to add a note during purchase about # of children and if guests prefer chicken, fish, or pasta primavera.***

Or, mail a check (with food preferences) to HAGP, P.O. Box 161, Willow Grove, PA. Any questions call Martha at 330-242-4741. 

FS in the News; Nov/Dec 2011

  Chester County Ousts Christopher Hitchens, Carl Sagan and Darwin

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/evolution/Chester-County-Rejects-Christopher-Hitchens-Carl-Sagan-and-Darwin.html?&c=n

 

 

Video: Freethought Society Human Tree of Knowledge, West Chester, PA.; Sunday, December 4, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHEp41d1fSg

 

Atheists protest display decision; Sunday, December 4, 2011

http://dailylocal.com/articles/2011/12/04/news/srv0000015780413.txt

 

Margaret Downey will be on the radio (WCHE 1520 AM) on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 9:00 AM.

A live stream can be found at: http://www.wche1520.com/  The call in number is: 610-701-WCHE (9243)   The topic will be the Tree of Knowledge issue. Please call in with your comments and/or questions.

 

Tree of Knowledge article, by Kathleen Brady Shaw;  Philadelphia Inquirer 12/29/11 

Read it here: http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-28/news/30450718_1_christmas-tree-holiday-lineup-historic-courthouse

 

No Tree for Atheist Group at Courthouse; Daily Local News – Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011 

Chester County commissioners received a letter last month from Margaret Downey of Pocopson, the president and  founder of the Freethought Society, continue reading here: No tree for atheist group at courthouse

Sunday, help erect a Tree of Knowledge in Philadelphia

Phila Ethical Humanists and Freethought Societies erect holiday display

 

Please RSVP via our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/134829439959200/?context=create  or the Freethought Society Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Freethought-Society-Meetup/events/42621742/

For more information on these groups, please visit:  The Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia at www.PhillyEthics.org and The Freethought Society at www.FtSociety.org.

Human Tree of Knowledge rally and dinner

Saturday, December 3, 2011, 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Sts., West Chester, PA

 The Freethought Society continues to demand the right to display a holiday Tree of Knowledge on the grounds of the Chester County Courthouse, alongside Christian, Jewish and Santa displays. We believe that the non-theist community deserves the same treatment as religious groups when using overnment property.

A 2011 display request will very likely be denied, therefore, supporters must be prepared to conduct a “Human Tree of Knowledge” event/protest rally. The event/protest rally schedule will included the distribution of ornaments and participants will be invited to say a few words about how much certain books meant to them. Please plan to participate on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at the Chester County Courthouse located at the corner of High and Market Streets (2 North High Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania). The event will start at 3:00 PM and will include speeches, singing, photo opportunities and a press conference.

2010 Human Tree of Knowledge, West Chester Courthouse
2010 Human Tree of Knowledge, West Chester Courthouse

Please email FS to volunteer (volunteers@FtSociety.org) for one of many jobs that need to be done ahead of time (new ornaments, press releases, media training, etc.).

Should the FS petition to include the Tree of Knowledge in the 2011 display be approved, FS supporters will be notified by email, and a notice will be posted on the Freethought Society websites/meetup. An actual tree will be decorated in that case.

A 5:30 PM “Dutch-Treat” post-event dinner and get-together will take place at Kildare’s Irish Pub located at 18 West Gay Street, West Chester,  Pennsylvania, 19380. The restaurant is located just around the corner from the Chester County Courthouse.

For directions to the restaurant call (610)431-0770. To reserve dinner seats, please call the FS office at (610) 793-2737 or email margaret@ftsociety.org  by December 1, 2011.

 PLEASE RSVP via our meetup or Facebook pages.

Meetup:  http://www.meetup.com/Freethought-Society-Meetup/events/41411862/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=220480284692245