Minnesota Atheists Meetup Group

This segment is a very doable two mile stretch with easy terrain and doesn't collect a terrible amount of trash. It goes from Highview Ave on the west to Foliage Ave on the east. Here’s a map of the stretch: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kw0Zls98xv-Vc9wM5g-s-YG_Q2U-rx_i&usp=sharing

In person and via Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85698937389?pwd=eafVTIn9hYaxL3Tb3XOB8JcNTdatAn.1
Zoom Meeting ID: 856 9893 7389; Passcode: 166449

Merriam Park Library
1831 Marshall Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
(There is a small library parking lot, but there is also free parking in the neighborhood.)

1:00-1:30 pm - Library opens. Social Time. Zoom starts.
1:30-1:50 pm - Business Meeting. (Open to the public.)
1:50-2:00 pm - Break
2:00-3:30 pm - Public Meeting: “Minnesota and National Elections and Civics in 2026” by Greg Laden
3:30 pm - Leave for Dinner *

* Longfellow Grill
2990 W. River Pkwy.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(1.4 miles west of the library, just over the Mississippi River, where Marshall Ave. in St. Paul turns into E. Lake St. in Minneapolis.)
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Minnesota and National Elections and Civics in 2026

Every election is different, but there seems to be one thing true of all of them: Every election is the most important election so far.

Also, almost every jurisdiction is different and every state is different, and this often leads to unproductive conversations in which untenable assertions drive the conversation. Talking about elections without a nuanced understanding of the process is a little like talking about evolution using the intellectual tools developed by creationists.

We will spend some time painting this year’s “most important election ever” at the national and state level, with a look at gerrymandering, election security, and what is happening at the extreme ends of the political spectrum, both of which seem to be extra important this year.

In addition, Indivisible West Metro set out years ago to put together a practicum on the multidimensional reality of how the political and electoral process works in Minnesota, which turns out to be very complicated. We’ll spend some time with a version of this material, exploring how a complex history has resulted in a uniquely complex system of boundary and districts, and what this means to each Minnesota voter and interested resident.

Greg Laden, in his other life when he is not an evolutionary biologist, is a co-leader of one of the area’s largest Indivisible groups, “Indivisible West Metro,” which supports democracy, fair elections, and education about civics. Greg has been a senior operative or manager for several campaigns at the local, state, and national level, and writes about Minnesota and national politics in his subtack, Auspicious Subtext.

Please help support Minnesota Atheists by becoming a member or by making a donation

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 meetings 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, send an email to George.Francis.Kane_AT_gmail.com to receive the new URL.

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

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 $60 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.