All Freethinkers CLUB Meetings and Events are held at:
On Top of the World Hobby Building Event Room
9125 SW 98th Street, Ocala 34481
2025 Sunday Meeting Dates:
January 5th and 19th
February 2nd and 16th
March 9th and 23rd
April 6th and 20th
May 4th and 18th
June 8th and 22nd
July 6th and 20th
August 3rd and 17th
September 7th and 21st
October 5th and 19th
Novermber 2nd and 16th
December 7th
PROGRAMS FOR JUNE
SUNDAY JUNE 8, 1-3 PM
OTOW HOBBY BUILDING EVENTS ROOM
JESUS WITHOUT GOD
Our friend and freethinker Dr. Rod Broker returns to discuss Jesus Without God. As many of us will remember, when Rod was with us in March, it was a standing room only crowd, and we are promising more chairs. As an academic, a counselor, and former Lutheran pastor, who evolved to become nonreligious, Rod now identifies as a Christian Humanist. He has a unique viewpoint on how religion sometimes gets in the way of what is really important in life.
W GRAPHIC DESIGN INFLUENCES OUR EMOTIONS AND OUR DECISION-MAKING
Understand the hidden power of graphic design with our own Domenica Genovese, a co-founder of the design firm, Greatest Creative Factor, and former adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore. In this presentation, Domenica will demonstrate how design impacts our thinking and the decisions we make in daily life from the grocery store to the voting booth. Learn how design can help us understand complex issues, and how it shapes our opinions, feelings, and actions—often without us even realizing it.
SUNDAY JUNE 22, 1-3 PM
OTOW HOBBY BUILDING EVENTS ROOM
SPECIAL GUEST CHAT GPT WILL PARTICIPATE IN A
FREETHINKERS PANEL DISCUSSION
Rumor has it that Chat GPT will be visiting the Ocala Freethinkers on June 22. She will be participating in a panel discussion with some of our best and brightest Freethinkers. It is an open forum so we’re not sure where the discussion will go, but for sure it will cover the capabilities of GPT, the impact on the economy and jobs, the philosophical Implications, and perhaps most importantly how you can use GPT in your everyday life. Please plan on joining us and being amazed at how far computer intelligence has come. Also, please email us if you have any topic you particularly want discussed. See you then!
SECULAR DIRECTORY
Would you like to meet other secular people of like mind and interests? Do you want to find groups and organizations that can give you a larger voice in our culture? If so, please visit the Secular Directory. It is an extensive resource for news and events, projects, and services, and resources and reference for the secular community.
JUNE 23, 6:30-8 PM
BANNED AND WOKE BOOK CLUB
Let's get ready to read! Our next meeting is on Monday, June 23, 6:30-8:00 pm in the Events Room in the Hobby Building. Rachel Maddow's 2023 book Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism will be on the board for discussion. According to Penguin Random House, "Maddow traces the fight to preserve American democracy back to World War II, when a handful of committed public servants thwarted far-right plotters trying to steer our nation toward an alliance with the Nazis." For those familiar with Maddow, you know that you are in for a well researched chronicle about the growth of authoritarianism. The stakes were as high then as they are today, and the parallels to today's chaotic political environment are staggering. To register, please email freethinkersflorida@gmail.com with BOOK CLUB in the subject line. Last month we had 17 Freethinkers arranged in three groups, and we all wished we had more time to talk about 1984. Join us for this new selection! And you know the drill: get the book, read the book, take some notes, and get ready for an in-depth discussion!
SATURDAY JUNE 14, 6-10PM
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION DINNER DANCE and RAMAL FUNDRAISER
As part of our Freethinkers Club commitment to support local secular not-for-profit organizations, we are proud to once again participate in a fundraiser for RAMAL (Reach, Aim, Motivate And Lead), a provider of social services and educational assistance helping the underserved community in Ocala. RAMAL provides tutoring, advocacy, nontraditional scholarships, Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to families and seniors, help with utilities, gas, work uniforms and referrals. Allie Gore is coordinating the fundraiser, so if you would like to go and you have purchased tickets, please email her at otowfreethinkers@gmail.com so she can help with seating arrangements. Click here for tickets.
LOOKING AHEAD
SUNDAY JULY 6, 1-3 PM
HOBBY BUILDING EVENTS ROOM
SPEED MEETING!
It's time for Speed Meeting (like Speed Dating, but without the Dating part). Spend five minutes with ten someones you see regularly but don't really know —you might have a hobby, a Master the Possibilities class, or favorite local restaurant in common. It's a great way to connect with other Freethinkers on another level, and maybe even set up a coffee get-together at Sid's. It's easier than you think!
SUNDAY JULY 20, 1-3PM
HOBBY BUILDING EVENTS ROOM
LIBRARIANS SPEAK OUT
Thanks to Freethinker Pat MacMurray who is Freedom Library's most dedicated volunteer, a librarian or two from the Marion County Public Library System will be on hand to discuss our closest public library's growth and new building expansion, library programs (it's just not books anymore!), and, of great importance to Freethinkers, how librarians are dealing with the push toward banning books. Bring your questions...library card not required, but you might be prompted to get one!
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