I have 4 interesting things to tell you.

1. Vote for November’s video presentation
2. Last months presentation available online
3. Discussion group
4. Richard Dawkins’ new book available at next meeting
5. Humanist social / meet-up

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1. Vote for November’s video presentation

The November presentation and AGM is coming up it less than two months. We will be having a video presentation and want you to vote on which short video we will use to start a discussion on November 25th (that’s next month). Please respond to this email with your selection of one of the following three videos:

a) *Jonathan Haidt* on secular morality

Associate Professor of Psychology Jonathan Haidt, author of /The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion/ discusses where innate morality comes from in a secular, naturalistic world view. Also, how morality intersects with politics on the left and the right as well as with religion.

b) *Dan Dennett* on dangerous memes

Starting with the simple tale of an ant, philosopher Dan Dennett unleashes a devastating salvo of ideas, making a powerful case for the existence of memes — concepts that are literally alive.

c) *Julia Sweeney* on letting go of God

This video features Julia Sweeney (of Saturday Night Live fame) giving a sample of her one-woman show ‘Letting Go of God’. This delightful and thought provoking video intertwines a young ladies coming of age story and humour and Julia Sweeney discussions he deconversion from the Catholic faith.

Please respond to this email before October 26th to make your vote count, only a few weeks away.

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2. Last months presentation available online

You can now download last months presentation of the psychology of bahaviourism from our website in MP3 form and the slides. Go to the following website:

http://www.cohumanists.ca/2009/behaviorism-and-daily-life/

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3. Discussion group

At the last meeting I told everyone that we had started an email discussion group. We now have 6 people signed up, and they are interesting people! We have been talking about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and what the proper etiquette for people who don’t believe in gods actually is. Is it more respectful to sit in silence while others pray out loud? Is it mocking their beliefs to pretend to pray or accept communion? Is it disrespectful to not sit down until the hand-holding grace-saying pre-meal festivities are over? What if you are the host and religious people are coming to your house?

Sign up and take part in future conversations. We are inviting all atheist, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers and otherwise Humanist-friendly people in the area and beyond to join the discussion. You don’t need to be a member.

Email shawn @ cohumanists.ca to be added to this email distribution list so you can participate or just listen.

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4. Richard Dawkins’ new book available at next meeting

We are pleased to announce that at this months presentation we will have copies of Richard Dawkins’ new book ‘The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution’. This book is a return to Richard Dawkins’ first interest, evolution. Rather than a critical look on religion this is a biology book. A minimum donation of $20 to COHA is required for you to pick up this book at our next meeting.

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5. Humanist social / meet-up

A bunch of us are getting together at William’s Coffee Pub on Bryne Dr. on Wednesday, October 20th, 2009 at 7:30 PM. If you would like good company come on down and hang out with us. Everyone is welcome to join. This is behind the south-end Wal~Mart.

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Have a good October!

Our annual COHA Summer Solstice Picnic and BBQ will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2009 from 3 pm on, with the official kickoff at 4:30 (so Unitarians have time to get to our party). Family and friends are most welcome!

Teresa Amado and Armando Perez have again graciously offered their home and BBQ — at Snow Valley Estates (Ski Resort), 53 Eder Trail — see directions below. To ensure we have enough food for everyone, please RSVP to Teresa Amado at 733-1679 or tereamado@gmail.com . We need to know how many are coming, so please get back to Teresa now, if not sooner!

Pot-luck salads and desserts are welcome, but to avoid duplicates do let Teresa know what you plan to bring. COHA is providing the hamburgers and whatever else we need, except you bring your own spirits, liquid and otherwise – COHA isn’t into spirits.

Lots of Fun:
Each year we play a game guaranteed to get everyone to know each other better. This year we play “How Delusional Are Secular Humanists?” As usual, come armed with jokes to be told after the BBQ. And this year there will be another surprise event.

Things to Bring for your Group:

• Liquid refreshments.
• Lawn chairs — last year rain forced us indoors, but we are eternal optimists.
• Jokes!

Directions to Teresa and Armando’s Home:

As soon as you cross the RR tracks to enter Snow Valley, turn left on Eder Trail (if you miss the turn you will see the hills and the parking lot), after passing the pond, turn left again and you will find the house at your left (number 53). It is the fourth house, a red brick bungalow with black shingles.

To enter the building you need to be let in. We will have someone
opening the doors between 5-5:30. Please try to make it in as close
as possible to this time. There is no way to get a message to the
room afterward. We will be checking the door from time to time
between 5:30-6.

If you can’t make this time please contact Shawn<removed, it’s over!> to
arrange for a specific time or cell phone contact information.

Event:
COHA Winter Solstice Party
Potluck Dinner
Where:
<removed, it’s over!>
When:
5PM on Sunday, December 21, 2008

RSVP to this invitation: Let Teresa know if you are coming and what
you will be bringing to the potluck.
<removed, it’s over!>

Drivers can park in any of the Victoria Village parking lots off Ross
St. as well as on Ross St. itself. Parking is free in the evening.

Please arrive so that you can be let in between 5-5:30. There is no
buzz code for the Grand Parlour, so you won’t be able to gain entry
other wise. Please contact Shawn@cohumanists.ca if you will be in
after that time.

The 2008 annual COHA Summer Solstice Picnic will be held on Sunday, June 22 from 3 PM on. Teresa Amado and Armando Perez have graciously offered their home and BBQ at Snow Valley Estates (Ski Resort), 53 Eder Trail, phone 733-1679. Family and friends are most welcome!

Lots of Fun:
There will be a mystery game guaranteed to get everyone to know each other better, and back by popular demand: our annual Joke Contest. This year we will award bonus points for Humanist jokes, and the winners of the best and worst joke prizes will be determined by secret ballot.

More good news:
COHA and our President will jointly supply the food. To ensure everyone can eat their fill, please RSVP your guest count to Paul.Bassett@sympatico.ca, or call 705-722-3599.

Things to Bring for your Group:

• Liquid refreshments.
• Lawn chairs.
• Jokes!

Directions to Teresa and Armando’s Home:

As soon as you cross the RR tracks, turn left on Eder Trail (if you miss the turn you will see the hills and the parking lot), after passing the pond, turn left again and you will find the house at your left. It is the fourth house, a red brick bungalow with black shingles.

Please call Sylvia at (705) 835-6605 and tell her if you are bringing an
entrée, salad, or desert.

Friday, December 21, starting at 6 pm
Sylvia & Warren Adrews’ House
12 Nordic Trail, R.R. 1
Shanty Bay, ON

Last year several guests contributed to an after dinner solstice celebration
programme and you are again invited to come prepared to share your words or
music (or whatever) with us.

Monday, September 10, 2007, at 7PM EST
William’s Coffee Pub
501 Bryne Dr., Barrie, ON

Click for a map of William’s Coffee Pub. The Central Ontario Humanist Association’s Social meets on the second Monday of the month at 7PM. Please visit our website or join our mailing list for exact dates and locations.

Location: 421 Big Bay Point Road, Barrie
Date: Sunday July 15, 2007
Time: 2:00 pm

We will enjoy a fun day by the pool (bring your suits if you plan to swim). Also, please bring your sense of humour and a good joke and a chair to sit on. A special prize is awarded for the best joke of the day. If you would like to sing, dance or otherwise entertain us … come on down. We serve delicious hamburgers and hotdogs plus all the fixings. Fruit and cookies for dessert. Please feel free to bring your favourite libation.

Please rsvp to Tom Cooke at tom046@sympatico.ca to help us plan for meal time.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the Big Day.

Monday, June 11, 2007, at 7PM EST
William’s Coffee Pub
501 Bryne Dr., Barrie, ON

Click here for a map of William’s Coffee Pub. The Central Ontario Humanist Association’s Social meets on the second Mondays of most months at 7PM. Please visit our website or join our mailing list for exact dates and locations.

5 pm at The Spoke in Sandy Cove
Jack’s Friends and Neighbours Day
Jack Wallas (705 436-5075 jwallas@csolve.net) will provide lasagna, soft
drinks, tea and coffee. Please bring a salad or dessert to share and a
folding chair if the weather is good.

Please call or email Jack if you will be attending.

THE SPOKE AT SANDY COVE
Travel the 400 HWY to the Mapleview exit.
Go east on Mapleview to Bayview.
Turn right on Bayview and go (1.3 km) to the end.
Turn left on Lockhart Rd. Go about 12 km.

At the community of Sandy Cove you will see a pedestrian crossing and strip
mall on the left. At the end of the mall, turn left onto Main Street.

Go north till you see a barn on the right. This barn is the Spoke. Park and
come inside.

Sideroad 17, north of Highway 89 and west of Shelbourne.