Go  back      CFI_LI MEETING INFORMATION - updated March 7, 2004
       
CFI-LI MEETING INFO

Paul Grosswald on “Cults & Coercion”

Our guest speaker for our 7PM, March 19 forum at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, 999 Old Country Road, Plainview, will be Paul Grosswald on the topic of “CULTS AND COERCION: How Ordinary People Are Turned Into Extraordinary Fanatics.”

Paul Grosswald was recruited into the Church of Scientology during his sophomore year at Hofstra University.  During six months of intense indoctrination he became increasingly drawn to the group, until he ultimately dropped out of school, moved into the cult's Manhattan compound, and signed a one-billion year employment contract with Scientology's Sea Organization.  After finally breaking free from the cult's influence, he returned to Hofstra where he earned a B.A. in Communications.  Paul has discussed his experience in over 200 lectures and media interviews, in which he educates the public about the dangers of destructive cults and the techniques of coercive persuasion used by cult leaders.  In 2001, he received a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and is currently a litigation associate in a New York City law firm.

Don't miss this chance to hear it first hand from an ex-member!

The guest speaker for the Sunday, March 7 @ 11AM  Service at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 223 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, Nassau County, will be Gerry Dantone, the President of the Long Island Secular Humanists.  His topic will be "Humanism vs. Religious Morals."

Atheist Meetup!
Tuesday, Mar. 16, 7PM, Atheist Meetup, location to be decided.  For details go to http://atheists.meetup.com and enter your zip code.

Rockefeller Plaza Discussion Group
Friday, Mar. 26, 7PM, Center for Inquiry MetroNY, Discussion Group, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, #2829.  To confirm call 212 265 2877.

Harlem Discussion Group
Sunday, Mar. 28, 12:30PM, Center for Inquiry MetroNY, Discussion Group, 163 W. 125th Street, Harlem, NYC.  Call 212 265 2877 to confirm.
        
The bi-weekly Philosophical Discussion Group has been initiated, held typically @ 7:30PM on the first and third Tuesdays of the month in Patchogue. Svecial meeting for suvvorters onlv on Saturdav. Februarv 21. 2004 with a svecial guest sveaker! For all info call Warren Rothstein @ 631 363 8216 or email to Waremmy@optonline.net to reserve a place (required!) and for directions. It's free!
     
Book Discussion Club!
        The Book Discussion Club now meets the first Friday of the month at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library. Call Bill Wade for details @ 631 7652941. It's free!

Date: Friday 6 February 2004, Book: Richard Ellis, "The Empty Ocean: plundering the world's marine life."

Date: Friday 5 March 2004, Book: Jon Entine, "Taboo: why black athletes dominate sports and why we're afraid to talk about it."

Date: Friday 2 April 2004, Book: Michael Moore, "Stupid white men: -- and other sorry excuses for the state of the nation!"

Date: At the home of Warren and Mary Jane in Patchogue, Suffolk County.  Email for reservations and directions.  Friday 7 May 2004, Book: Patricia Daniels Cornwell, "Portrait of a killer: Jack the Ripper case closed".

Date: Friday 4 June 2004, Book: Jared Diamond, "Guns, germs, and steel: the fates of human societies".

   The Science Club

The Science Club will be providing LI Humanist Coalition members the opportunity to view outstanding science videos and participate in discussions.  Call for schedule of guest speakers!  A schedule of videos, all to be shown at Warren & Mary Jane's home, in Patchogue, 631 363 8216, as follows:
Sept. 9 - Cosmos 13 - Who Speaks For Earth?
Sept. 23 - Origins: Battle for the Planet

For further info or to confirm the location or schedule episodes contact Norm Roscoe at normrhum@aol.com  or Oleg Dei @ odei@palmbayimports.com  This series is open to all Humanist coalition members.  Hope to hear from you soon.
          
WBAI 99.5 FM Radio
EQUAL TIME FOR FREETHOUGHT!
Listen to the show for and by humanist, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, etc. on Sundays @ 6:30 PM, WBAI FM, 99.5 on the dial.

Be Sure to Watch
"Humanist Perspective"
hosted by Joe Beck, on Cablevision Public Access, can be seen Wednesdays @ 7PM on Channel 20 on the Woodbury, and Brookhaven systems and at 7PM, Thursdays on the Hauppauge system.

CFI-LI ON CABLE!
What is Secular Humanism?”
This is a CFI-LI one-hour self-produced show and will be shown on the Woodbury Cablevision system, @ 6:30PM Mondays and on the Hauppauge & Brookhaven Cablevision systems, Tuesdays @ 7:00 PM, on Channel 20.

Atheist Viewpoint
Featuring Ellen Johnson and Ron Barrier, it will be seen Thursdays @ 7PM on the Woodbury system and Mondays on the Hauppauge and Brookhaven systems @ 7PM, on Channel 20.
      
TIME TO GROW SOS!
        Recent NY State court decisions have created an extraordinary opportunity for SOS to grow in New York State.  Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) must move now to create an infrastructure to enable it to expand and meet the demand created by these decisions.

In Stefano v. Emergency Housing Group, the court ruled that no government-funded social service bureau or other agency in NYS can require clients to attend AA meetings due to their religious nature.  Overnight, the only way NY treatment centers could hang onto their AA groups at all was by having SOS groups right down the hall as a secular alternative!  New York can be the first state where SOS stands on equal legal footing with AA.  Unlike AA, SOS is appropriate for all persons regarding beliefs or non-beliefs.  The priority is sobriety not piety at SOS.

The Council for Secular Humanism is requesting donations specifically for SOS programs administration.

Send your donations to:

CSH, PO Box 664, Amherst, NY 114226, and note that the gift is for SOS - NY.
The home page of SOS is http://www.secularsobriety.org This web site has much information for downloading on running SOS groups
7:15PM, Fri., Sept. 19, Keith Taylor @ Plainview-Old Bethpage Library
7:30PM, Oct. 3, “Clean Money, Clean Elections @ EHSLI, Garden City
7:15PM, Oct 9, Joe Nickell@ Plainview-Old Bethpage Library

SOS (Secular Organizations for Sobriety/Save Our Selves), a support organization for people recovering from alcohol and drug abuse, has added a new local group.  Meetings will be held Thursdays at 7:30 P.M. at, 280 Suburban Avenue, #F, Deer Park, Suffolk County, NY.  Open to all persons who need sobriety in their life.  For info about this planning meeting or directions, contact Drew @ 631 242 2498.
 
           
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