CENTER FOR INQUIRY€¦ · Book: Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought,...
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Center For Inquiry of Portland | contact us at [email protected] 1 The CFI Community of Portland is an educational nonprofit organization that seeks to advance reason, science, and freedom of inquiry in all areas of human endeavor and to present affirmative rational ethical alternatives to the reigning paranormal and religious systems of belief. We promote critical thinking and humanist values through education, outreach, and social services. We are a community where like-minded individuals can meet, exchange ideas and experiences, and make friends. We have a vibrant community of families where parents can find support in raising children without religion. CENTER FOR INQUIRY Community of Portland January 2009 There’s Something For Everyone Thank you to all of the respondents to our call for volunteers. We can always use more! There are many, many ways to contribute. Do you have great organizational skills? Are you proficient with the computer? Do you have unique skills and experience? Do you have valuable connections? Do you have your own ideas? If you see a need for a program or activity you can support, or you want to contribute an idea, just let us know! Some examples of the opportunities available are producing press releases, developing fundraising strategies, coordinating events, scheduling speakers, posting our events to community calendars, and coordinating with other CFI Campus groups. There are still positions to be filled on the CFI Advisory Board: Campus Outreach Chair, Development Chair (Tom Licata acting), Programs Chair (Sylvia Benner acting) and IT Chair. Nothing makes you feel a part of your community more like digging in and becoming a part of the action, helping to make it grow, and shaping its future.
Transcript of CENTER FOR INQUIRY€¦ · Book: Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought,...
Center For Inquiry of Portland | contact us at [email protected] 1
The CFI Community of
Portland is an educational nonprofit organization that seeks to advance reason, science, and freedom of
inquiry in all areas of human endeavor and to
present affirmative rational ethical
alternatives to the reigning paranormal and
religious systems of belief. We promote critical
thinking and humanist values through education,
outreach, and social services.
We are a community where like-minded
individuals can meet, exchange ideas and
experiences, and make friends. We have a vibrant
community of families where parents can find
support in raising children without religion.
CENTER FOR INQUIRY Community of Portland
January 2009
There’s Something For Everyone Thank you to all of the respondents to our call for volunteers. We can always use more! There are many, many ways to contribute. Do you have great organizational skills? Are you proficient with the computer? Do you have unique skills and experience? Do you have valuable connections? Do you have your own ideas? If you see a need for a program or activity you can support, or you want to contribute an idea, just let us know! Some examples of the opportunities available are producing press releases, developing fundraising strategies, coordinating events, scheduling speakers, posting our events to community calendars, and coordinating with other CFI Campus groups. There are still positions to be filled on the CFI Advisory Board: Campus Outreach Chair, Development Chair (Tom Licata acting), Programs Chair (Sylvia Benner acting) and IT Chair. Nothing makes you feel a part of your community more like digging in and becoming a part of the action, helping to make it grow, and shaping its future.
Center For Inquiry of Portland | contact us at [email protected] 2
EVENTS
RATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL
NEW LOCATION Beaverton Resource Center 12500 SW Allen Blvd Beaverton, OR 97005
January 11th
Mike Mitchell is teaching the 4 to 9-yr-olds about rights and responsibilities, and legal and ethical dilemmas.
, 10:15am - noon
Sylvia Benner is facilitating the tween
group’s ongoing human rights curriculum utilizing
their very own superheroes.
Watch the Secular Parenting Meetup calendar for information regarding lesson plans for January 25th.
FREETHINKERS BOOK CLUB
Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. Beaverton, OR 97005 January 7th
Book: Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought, by Pascal Boyer
, 7pm
DISCUSSION GROUP
Java Vivace 2287 NW Pettygrove St. Portland, OR 97210
January 12th
, 7pm
Topic: Is there any kind of dangerous secular humanist we should avoid becoming?
Free to CFI members, $2 for non-CFI members. All are welcome.
PORTLAND SCIENCE PUB
Mission Theater & Pub 1624 NW Glisan St. Portland, OR 97209
January 27th
, 6pm Doors open 5pm, event starts 7pm)
Join other CFI members for OMSI’s monthly public event. This month: Snowflakes, Stress, and Semiconductors: Do You See A Pattern Here?”
BEAVERTON ATHEIST MEETUP
Moonstruck Chocolate Café Beaverton Town Square 11705 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy Beaverton, OR 97005
January 28th
, 7pm
Center For Inquiry of Portland | contact us at [email protected] 3
“Planting, pulling, working hard—this was a great way to utilize all that pre-teen energy we have!” --- Joy Licata
CFI’s Great Kids Who says kids raised without religion don’t have a moral compass?
Aside from Rational Sunday School, Secular Parenting Meetup’s tweens have started a community service program. Of course, these kids aren’t volunteering to make a good impression. They just want to have fun.
Their first event was helping our environment. They joined other local volunteers at Cedar Mill Park, pulling out invasive species and planting native plants. Parents joined their kids for a dirty and laughter-filled morning.
The tweens’ next event is strictly for fun. If you have a child between the ages of 10-14, please join them for this month’s movie night, 6pm on January 16th. They get together once a month at a member’s home. Check the calendar for this month’s location. Feel free to bring a snack to share. A little secret: Parents enjoy these evenings as much as the kids!
Right: Logan (12) and Justin (12)
work together to plant a species
better suited to the park’s habitat.
Left: Ryan (11) makes sure this
salamander is safe.
Center For Inquiry of Portland | contact us at [email protected] 4
Did you know that you can stay informed on CFI Amherst activities? Sign up for E-Mail Updates on CFI’s home page, and click on “Subscription Management Page” to select News and Updates, Public Policy Alerts, Podcasts and also for Portland e-News.
If you’d like to contribute to this newsletter, or have any comments or questions, please email Dani Tofte @ [email protected].
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
As of January 2009, our most recent membership count is 52 active members. We have one new member from Vancouver, Washington, and one renewal from Corvallis, Oregon. Our Membership Committee - Mona Bodo and Tammy Pounds - are working on developing a survey that will be electronically distributed to all our members and prospective members. The exact date TBA. Please, don't forget to mention our community and our activities to any of your friends whom you think might be interested. As you well know, "word of mouth" is still one of the most powerful tools we have, and is free! A very warm welcome to all of our new members. Mona Bodo, Membership Chair
