- Thomas Paine's Reasonable Nature HikeSilverwood Park, St Anthony, MN
"As I walked out one morning, to breathe the air around Tom Paine's..."
- Bob Dylan, "As I Walked Out One Morning" from John Wesley HardingThe location of each hike will be different and I will announce the location two weeks in advance. This hike will be at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony. Lunch to follow, at Sarna's Classic Grille in Columbia Heights. It's an urban hike.
St. Anthony is a bit less strenuous than Interstate State Park, and has several art installations and displays around the park.
Some people like to sleep in on Sundays, but I never really do. I like to get outside, stretch, and breathe the air. I want to commune with Nature, the cathedral that evolved on this 3rd rock. Minnesota and Wisconsin have so much natural beauty, that sticking to the cities is as bad as sticking to a single congregation. So, let's get out, and walk and look around!
I joined a hiking Meetup group when I returned from Arizona to Minnesota and there are several weekly hikes available; but I found that hikers in those groups tend to Power Hike. That's fun for many people who see hiking as their main aerobic exercise. But it does seem to me to be ableist. Many people with joint pains, or who rely on canes, or just need to be able take a more relaxed pace, are left out. In order to accommodate both the slow stroll, as well as the fast hikers among us, I like the idea of setting a hike by time rather than distance and we will meet back at the cars at a specific time.
I also like to explore different places so the idea is to choose hikes within a two hour driving distance but at varying locations. So, while we may go to Nerstrand/Big Woods one month, the next will be in another location such as the Kinnickinnic State Park trails in Wisconsin. There are paved trails in Minnesota, and I would love to hike those along with members who rely on wheelchairs or otherwise might avoid trails. As the hike grows, we can find more locations.
Some warnings and caveats:
Bring water, comfortable shoes, a rain poncho or some other thing that will protect you in case of downpour, insect repellent and a band-aid or two will be a good in case you get a scrape. There are no medical professionals in the woods waiting to stitch you up. Don't forget sunscreen, something to snack on if you need it. I have a hiking stick that looks like a wizard's staff in case anyone tries to tell me I shall not pass and on some trails I have found that a staff is useful for maintaining balance. If you wear hiking boots, I recommend a pair of sandals or sneakers; something to change into after the hike.
If there is interest, I think that a lunch following the hike is a great way to get to know people, too. For the first hike, I will probably leave my dog at home, and then we can talk about whether to make it a pet-friendly hike.
Since some of the hikes will be in State Parks with fees, car-pooling is a great option to save money and also a chance to chat on the way.
- Flying Spaghetti Monster Dinner (lunch) at Yarusso'sYarusso Bros Italian Restaurant, St Paul, MN
Join us for our 5th Sunday Flying Spaghetti Monster Dinner at St. Paul's oldest family owned Italian Restaurant, Yarusso Bros.
We are holding this one on Saturday, due to them being closed on Sunday for Easter.
Due to limited hours at Yarusso's, doing a lunch instead of a supper seems to work best. They have switched to ordering at the counter, so you may order when you arrive or after saying Hi to the group. I expect food will come out a bit staggered, but that's alright.
Yarusso's has a free parking lot, affordable prices, friendly staff, great atmosphere, and custom recipe meatballs which would make the Flying Spaghetti Monster proud. The website even shows a patron with a cullender on her head!
If you're scratching your head right now, it means you've yet to meet a Pastafarian. Fear not, this web site will explain it all: http://www.venganza.org/
So why the tradition of doing this on 5th Sundays? Well, it started as a fundraiser for our Atheists Talk Radio Program. Listen to past episodes at: http://atheisttalk.libsyn.com/ A 5th Sunday meant an extra program we had to pay for that month. We have taken a break from producing this program so we will ask for donations to our general fund. We will pass an envelope around for you to donate if the Flying Spaghetti Monster moves you to.
Please RSVP, indicate the number in your group, and keep your RSVP up-to-date. This will help with keeping our reservation up-to-date.
Carbo diem!
- Freethought Toastmasters HYBRIDLarpenteur Estates Party Room, Saint Paul, MN
You’re invited to attend Freethought Toastmasters (http://freethought.toastmastersclubs.org/), a club of Toastmasters International (http://www.toastmasters.org/). Build your leadership and communication skills in a supportive, freethinking environment; a place where you will find familiar faces you know from Minnesota Atheists. (most club members do not RSVP on Meetup since they attend most meeting and coordinate through the 'Toastmaster' of the evening if they cannot attend, so don't let the low RSVP numbers dissuade you from attending)
Join us IN-PERSON or join us ONLINE! This meeting will be HYBRID, but we expect most participants to be there in person. For those wishing to join us on zoom, please use this ZOOM URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89851371791?pwd=WFZmcHgxZkw4bFJidWQ2c05kbEQ4Zz09
We open the party room at 6:00 PM for socializing before the meeting. We encourage zoom participants to join the meeting between 6:15 and 6:25 to socialize and iron out any technical issues. Use the meeting url to access the meeting, this will allow you to join via your computer or smartphone zoom app and will use your devices built in speakers/microphone/video. Message us or comment below if you need the call-in alternative.
Schedule:
• 6:00pm - The party room opens for in-person attendees, a meal is provided
• 6:15pm - Join the Zoom meeting for a pre-social
• 6:30pm - Freethought Toastmasters Business Meeting
~6:40pm - Toastmaster calls the meeting to order
~6:50pm - Scheduled Speeches
~7:25pm - Table Topics: impromptu speaking opportunity
~7:40pm - Evaluations
~7:55pm - Closing
• 8:00pm - Meeting Ends, optional post-social
The roles for this meeting are as follows:
Toastmaster
General Evaluator
Speaker #1
Speaker #2
Speaker #3
Evaluator #1
Evaluator #2
Evaluator #3
Timer
Grammarian
Ah Counter
Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. While in many other Toastmaster Clubs the culture deters any mention of religion, so atheists feel guarded and often stay "in the closet," this club provides not only training in public speaking, but also continuous education in topics of interest to atheists.
This club offers the opportunity to talk about a wide range of topics. We welcome people of all worldviews, but of course our members tend to be non-religious. We take current events seriously, but our politics range from capitalist to socialist, from liberal to conservative. Our ages run from the 20s to the 60s (and beyond).
If you decide to join, you can learn to be a better, more confident speaker. No matter what our worldviews, we are committed to mutual respect, tolerance, honesty, encouragement and constructive criticism. If you become a member, you will have the opportunity to prepare and deliver speeches regularly, and receive constructive evaluations of your speeches. It’s a great place to become comfortable as a speaker. With the help of other members, we learn to prepare and present effective speeches on a wide range of topics from humorous to serious. We also learn to think fast during our "Table Topics" sessions (impromptu speeches). We never know quite what to expect from our speakers, but we can always count on an interesting evening together.
As a club of Toastmasters International, we charge the standard rate with no additional club dues. To join Toastmasters, it costs $45 per six months (prorated depending on when you join) plus a $20 new member fee. The new member fee pays for the educational program and the general membership fee pays for district events (local educational sessions for the greater Toastmasters community), general overhead, and a Toastmasters magazine members can opt to receive in the mail.
- Theatre In The Round Players: "God of Carnage"Theatre in the Round Players Inc, Minneapolis, MN
Thursday, April 4, 2024, 7:30 pm
Theatre in the Round Players (TRP)
245 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis MN 55454"God of Carnage"
Written by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher HamptonJoin us for the final dress rehearsal of "God of Carnage". The cost is $5.00 at the door (cash preferred). No late seating.
Play Description:
In this dark comedy, a playground altercation between eleven-year-old boys brings together two sets of Brooklyn parents for a meeting to resolve the matter. As the evening progresses, their civilized façade quickly crumbles and their conversation quickly descends into chaos as tensions rise and secrets are revealed. With its biting satire and hilarious dialogue, this play offers a witty and thought-provoking commentary on human nature and social decorum.Content Warning: Simulated vomit & Strong Language, including derogatory insults with some racist and homophobic terms.
At the box office you can get a voucher for a discount at the parking ramp of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 1500 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55454.
There is always a small chance that a performance might be cancelled at the last minute, so call TRP that afternoon to check 612-333-3010, and also check Meetup messages for this event.
Note: Even though I set this up, I will not be able to attend. Instead, I will go to the Monday, April 15 pay-what-you-can performance. - August Berkshire
Please help support Minnesota Atheists by becoming a member or by making a donation.