SUNDAY JANUARY 4, 1–3PM

FROM PRAIRIES TO RIVERS:

FLORIDA'S LIFEBLOOD IS WATER
HOBBY BUILDING EVENTS ROOM

 

Join us for a presentation by Lars Andersen, renowned outdoorsman, naturalist, and author of Paynes Prairie, The Great Savanna: A History and Guide. Drawing on years of experience exploring Central Florida’s rivers and prairies, Lars will share his knowledge of the region’s history, wildlife, and ecosystems and the role of water in Florida's story. He will also address the challenges posed by a changing climate and what it means for the future of the area’s natural resources.

 

 

SUNDAY JANUARY 19, 1–3PM

NATURAL BURIALS: PRAIRIE CREEK

CONSERVATION CEMETERY
HOBBY BUILDING EVENTS ROOM

Have you ever wondered if there is an ecological alternative to a conventional funeral or cremation? Surprisingly, we have a certified green burial site practically in our own backyard—well, in Gainesville. Heather Grove, Director of Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, will discuss natural burials and take us on a virtual tour of Prairie Creek. It encompasses 93 acres which are a larger part of the 606-acre Prairie Creek Preserve that is managed in partnership with the Alachua Conservation Trust. A key idea is conservation burial—not only is the body returned to the earth in a natural way, but part of the burial fee supports land protection, restoration, and management. PCCC is a not-for-profit organization.

 

 

DOING GOOD FOR GOOD’S SAKE

 

If you’re cleaning out your house and find camping gear, clothing, or food that you no longer need, please bring them to the next Freethinkers Sunday meeting.

Freethinkers Debby Levy and Roland Campbell will make sure these items go directly to people in need. They are part of a group that provides a weekly hot meal to the homeless in downtown Ocala—a project Debby has been a part of since 2016. What we aren’t using, others will treasure.

 

 

Freethinker Karen Henkel-Reeves supports the homeless by making water resistant sleeping mats. She crochets used plastic grocery bags into 6’ x 3’ mats, supplying them to organizations that serve vulnerable populations. A few crafty OTOW women have learned the technique. All that’s required is a “Q” crochet hook, plastic bags, and your time. You can take a class in mat-making in the Hobby Building Art Room from 9 am-12:30 pm on Wednesdays November 5, November 19, December 3 and December 17. The group is also looking for volunteers to help sort, cut, and roll bags.  For more information, contact OTOW resident Betty Webb at bettyscraftpalace@gmail.com. Bring your plastic grocery bags to Karen at any Sunday meeting.

 

LOOKING BACK AT DECEMBER

 

On December 7, Freethinker Domenica Genovese enlightened us about a continuing scientific controversy — The Shroud of Turin:  Separating Fact from Faith. During her studies for her degree in fine arts painting and photography in Italy, Domenica became fascinated by the Shroud, and we are grateful that she shared her research into this mysterious object with us.  The Shroud does not give up its secrets easily, and when you add religion into the mix, things get even more complicated.  Domenica helped us cut through the noise to help us draw our own conclusions about validity as the burial cloth of the human Jesus.

 

 

LOOKING AHEAD TO FEBRUARY

 

 

On February 8 we will welcome our old friend, Dr. Rod Broker, former Lutheran minister and academic (now a freethinker), who will delight us with a look at (un)Holy Humor.  Let’s take a mid-winter break from the serious to laugh! For our newer members, Rod has been with us several times since the inception of Freethinkers in 2023 to present on such topics as The Origins of Religion:  Did God Create Man or Did Man Create God? and Jesus Without God.

    And later that month, on February 22, Open Forum will be back—six tables, six topics, choose the one you are most interested in discussing. Roger Mack will be our moderator and will provide the questions most pertinent to a rousing discourse. Topics for each table discussion will be published in the February newsletter.

    For those voracious readers among us, we offer our Banned & Woke Book Club, coordinated by Mel Cox and Glenn Cohen, which is entering its second year. The selection for Monday, February 9, is The Giver by Lois Lowry. Originally written as a novel for young people, it has continuously been on the American Library Association’s list of most challenged books from 1994 to the present day. It is a dystopian novel about a seeming utopian society that has eliminated pain and conflict through “sameness” at the cost of emotion and choice. If you are not a reader, you might check out the 2014 movie of the same name starring, among others, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, and Taylor Swift.  Please email Glenn Cohen at gcohen608@troycable.net to register to discuss this provocative book or sign up at at Sunday meeting.

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

WELCOME COMMITTEE

 

Do you have a smiling face we can borrow for our Sunday meetings? The Welcome Committee could use 1-2 more people to greet members, direct first time attendees, distribute candy and attendance sheets for each table and collect the same after the meetings. Hours are 12:30–1 pm and 3–3:15 pm. Can you spare 45 minutes of your time? There is nothing better than making our members feel welcome. Email Kathy Bell at kbell4570@aol.com or text/call 863-455-6286. Must be available most meeting dates or if you prefer, you can volunteer to be a backup to the team on an as needed basis. Thanks!

 

The Freethinkers Florida Club at On Top of the World meets twice a month in the Hobby Building Event Room for presentations, discussions, and social time. If you are coming from outside On Top of the World, please email  FreethinkersFlorida@gmail.com for information on entry through the gate.

 

Both of our January 2026 presentations support the humanist commitment to environmentalism.

 

THURSDAY JANUARY 15, 6:30-8PM

SOCRATES CAFÉ COMES TO FREETHINKERS

HOBBY BUILDING EVENTS ROOM

Freethinkers will be offering a Socrates Café style monthly small group gathering to engage in thoughtful conversation on a wide range of topics. Socrates Café is a nationwide program, and you can go here if you’d like to learn more about it. Each session will cover a single topic for in-depth discussion.

 

On Thursday, January 15, there will be an introductory meeting at 6:30 pm in the Hobby Building Events Room. It is open to all club members. At this meeting you will learn how Socrates Café works and how you can participate in the monthly sessions that will begin in February. Anyone who wants to attend the regular Socrates Café meetings in February and beyond will first need to attend this introductory session.  Socrates Café is scheduled for the third Thursday of each month from 6:30-8 pm in the Hobby Building Events Room.

 

If you plan to attend the January 15 session, please send a brief email to Roger Mack ramack@hotmail.com so we can estimate attendance. This is not required but would be appreciated. We look forward to exploring great questions together!

 

 

 

HAPPY FESTIVUS!

As many religious groups celebrate their holidays this time of year, we like to remember that we Freethinkers have our own holiday too—thanks to Jerry Seinfeld.

Wishing you a very Happy Festivus…for the rest of us!