Past meetings and events for freethinkers florida in 2025
Jan 5th, Sunday, 1 - 3 PM, Remembering January 6th
Bob Kraus
Jan 13th, Monday, 6:00 - 7:30 PM, Conversations That Matter: Death Café II
Hosted by Alan Merson and Kathy Bell.
Both Alan and Kathy have devoted a good portion of their life work experience in counselling and other related work. Their experience will be very valuable in Death Café. THIS SESSION IS ALREADY FULL.
OPEN FORUM LAUNCH A SUCCESS
The Freethinkers Open Forum kickoff was held on January 23 and was very well received! The next session will be held on Sunday, February 16. If you are really passionate about a topic and want to see it on the agenda, please volunteer to be a moderator on that topic, and the Open Forum Team will consider adding it to the agenda. Let Roger Mack at freethinkersotow@gmail.com know. Topics will be emailed about a week before the meeting so you can consider them.
The topic that seemed to generate the most controversy at the last meeting was Despotic Leaders. Good points were made that we are headed toward despotism in America right now. Others felt that by a historical comparison, we were nowhere near despotism in America at this time. Diverse opinions are valued by freethinkers!
The most thoughtful discussion was the transgender topic. Participants were sincerely perplexed on how to compassionately handle medical and social issues when it comes to children identifying as transgender. Perhaps this is a topic that we as Freethinkers would benefit from exploring further.
Again, please let Roger know if you have any comments or topics for Freethinkers Open Forum.
Several topics will be announced prior to the meeting and each subject will have its own table for an in-depth discussion, so you will be able to choose an issue of interest to you.
Feb 2nd, Sunday, 1 - 3 PM,
UNDERSTANDING LEGAL CHANGES IN INSURANCE IN FLORIDA
Tracy Fero of Fero and Sons Insurance will provide a powerpoint presentation and has advised that she is reserving most of the time for Q & A. So bring your questions of a general nature about vehicle and home insurance, the process of obtaining insurance and making a claim, flood and hurricane riders, liability, uninsured motorist, and more. Sorry, she will not be able to handles individual insurance matters at this metting.
Feb 16th, Sunday, 1 - 3 PM
FREETHINKERS OPEN FORUM RETURNS
Topics will be emailed around February 9.
MARCH 12
FIELD TRIP TO ROYAL RURAL HISTORIC DISTRICT
On March 12, interested Freethinkers will take a field trip to the Royal Rural Historic District near Wildwood, FL, to learn about the origins of Royal as a Black Homesteader Colony, only one of two surviving in the U.S. today. Descendants of the original freedmen who settled there still live on the properties granted by the Homesteaders Act of 1862. The community is now threatened by development and a highway expansion.
One of the ways the citizens of Royal are funding their battle with the State of Florida to retain possession of the land granted to their ancestors is to provide tours of their community while sharing their history. The donation is $10 per person, payable the day of the tour.
The tour will begin in Royal at 11 a.m. and will last about two hours. Carpooling is a possibility, so please note whether you are willing to carpool by driving or riding. We will meet in the OTOW Hobby Building Parking Lot at 10 a.m. We will be driving to the Alonzo A, Young, Sr. Enrichment & Historical Center, 9569 County Road 235, Wildwood (Royal), FL 34785.
As we celebrate Black History Month, let's make plans to learn more and support this important cause. You can register by responding to FreethinkersFlorida@gmail.com.
SUNDAY MARCH 9, 1-3 PM
Dr. Rod Broker, a retired academic and former clergy person, will talk about his journey “ From Christian Minister to Christian Humanist.”
SUNDAY MARCH 23, 1-3 PM
UNDERSTANDING A MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY
After watching two short videos featuring a biochemist and a medical doctor to give us some background, we will host OTOW resident Jill Carel, the president of our local PFLAG chapter and the mother of a 43-year old transgender man, to help us understand many aspects of this marginalized community.
MARCH 14-16, IN ORLANDO
FREEFLO (FREETHOUGHT FLORIDA)
Hundreds of humanists, atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, and scientific skeptics will attend the Freethought Florida conference. Proceeds from the FreeFlo Conference support scholarships for secular students in Florida. Follow this link for more information.