Reconstructionist Religion

Would you like to enhance your creativity, confidence and increase your awareness? We’d love you to join us to Thoughtstorm® the topic International Day of Education in the warm, friendly environment of the Yarraville Community Centre. How Thoughtstorm came about Thoughtstorm is a technique developed from a seed of speculation: are there more effective (rational, cooperative, compassionate) ways of thinking? Methods whose long-term consequences will not lead to oblivion. This is the genesis of Thoughtstorm. What is it? For anyone with an interest in leadership, deeper conversations or creative problem solving, something much more than a group discussion occurs. What is experienced in Thoughtstorm is a forgotten sensory ability - mind-linking. An evolution in human thinking and learning. The direction moves from a narrow range of possibility into discovering corecepts, when individual minds merge into a much more powerful collective awareness and experience a deeper, more compassionate comprehension of reality. Corecepts trigger intuitive recognition and agreement by the group, a ‘Why, of course!’ reaction. New insights guaranteed! Because this process taps into abilities already present in the human mind and into aggregates of consciousness straining to express themselves, very little practice is required. Would you like to see and understand things in a way that is new for all of us? Would you like to develop your consciousness and your creative intelligence? Would you like to be inspired to create positive change? Then come and join us to Thoughtstorm together. If it’s your first time to Thoughtstorm, please RSVP early to give plenty of time to arrange a brief prep call on Zoom to go over the Thoughtstorm procedures so we can all get started on time together. **Agenda:** 6.30pm - Arrive, meet and greet, read over Thoughtstorm instructions 6.45pm - Begin the Thoughtstorm 7.45pm - Finish When you RSVP we will be in touch with the details. We look forward to seeing you there! Thoughtstorm® is a registered trademark of Star's Edge, Inc. All rights reserved.

We will be at Il Mercado Centrale Melbourne. Find us on the 1st floor. **American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Bird and Sherwin** Oppenheimer, more than any other scientist alive or dead, is the embodiment of modern scientific man confronting inadequately what science can produce. His story, told here in its entirety for the first time, is one of extraordinary scientific success, wedded to disheartening political failure, followed by redemption both personal and political. It is the story of the son of Jewish immigrants, who was raised in the comfortably well-off style his parents had achieved. At Harvard he studied theoretical physics as well as humanities he did graduate work at Cambridge and in Germany, where he earned a Ph.D. under Max Born and met many of the leading theoretical physicists of the time. Here, is the always exciting tale of the race to split the atom, with the charismatic Oppie at the centre of an amazing array of scientists, keeping them focused, keeping the Army’s intelligence forces and the FBI at bay long enough to get the job done. And here, too, is the difficult decision to drop the bomb and the growing post-war debate on how to stop an arms race that culminated in the famous Security Hearing of 1954. A world-scale biography, filled with oversized characters and events that still determine our lives, told in a readable and compelling fashion. See less

BOOKING NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT ! Games start 7 pm at Melbourne High School South Yarra (entrance from Chapel Street) \*ALL LEVELS WELCOME\* This event is for adults only! (18+) The fee is $17 payment by card on spot. Membership available Become a IVC member - get cheaper fees for camps, insurance + IVC game jersey - ask for more info today! [#International](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/international?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) [#Volleyball](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/volleyball?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) [#Club](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/club?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) [#Melbourne](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/melbourne?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) To be protected by International Volleyball Club Member Protection Policy and covered by our Personal Accident Insurance, everyone participating in a International Volleyball Club event or with a International Volleyball endorsed club, association, or provider is required to maintain an active membership at the appropriate level with International Volleyball Club. For more information message us

**January Meetup: AWS re:Invent re:Cap (Panel)** 📍 NAB Events Hub – 395 Bourke Street, Melbourne 📅 Wednesday 28 January 2026 🍕 Food & Networking from 6:00pm 🙏 A huge thanks to **Mantel Group** for their continued sponsorship of the Melbourne AWS community. 📺 This event will be **live-streamed on YouTube**, as always, for those who can’t attend in person. *** **🚀 Event overview** AWS re:Invent 2025 was packed with announcements, launches, and big ideas. Now it’s time to step back and look at what actually matters as we head into 2026. Join us for our **annual AWS re:Invent re:Cap**, featuring a panel discussion hosted by AWS Hero Stephen Sennett, joined by local community members who attended re:Invent and followed the announcements closely. Expect honest perspectives, practical insights, and time for audience questions. *** **🎙 Host & Panel** Host: **Stephen Sennett – AWS Hero** Panelists: * **Christina Chen,** Senior SRE @ Mantel Group — AWS Community Builder * **Dale Orders**, Software Engineer @ Five9 — AWS Community Builder * **Tony Zhang**, Principal DevOps Engineer @ Versent *** **🗓 Agenda** 6:00 pm – Food & Networking 🍕 6:30 pm – Introductions 👋 6:40 pm – What’s New in AWS ☁️ 6:55 pm – AWS re:Invent re:Cap Panel Discussion 🎤 7:55 pm – Marketplace (Who’s Hiring) 💼 8:00 pm – Close 👋 *** **🎤 Want to speak at a future meetup?** We’re always looking for new speakers and fresh perspectives. If you’ve got a technical talk, architecture story, or lesson learned you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you. 👉 Submit a talk: melb.awsug.org.au/speak/ *** **🤝 Sponsors** A huge thank you to our sponsors, Mantel Group and Cevo, for supporting the Melbourne AWS community.

**Recharge Your Soul – Join Our Absolutely Free Guided Meditation** Feel like hitting pause on the chaos of everyday life? Join us for a powerful, in-person meditation session where calm meets connection. This isn’t just meditation—it’s a collective experience of peace, presence, and inner alignment. When we meditate together, something beautiful happens: we rise higher, feel deeper, and tap into the energy that connects us all. What to expect: • A peaceful space to disconnect from the digital and reconnect with yourself • A warm, welcoming group of like-minded souls • Guided meditation suitable for all levels • The kind of inner stillness that lasts long after you leave Come a few minutes early to settle in and meet others. You’ll leave feeling lighter, clearer, and more connected. It’s free, but space is limited—RSVP now and bring a friend! Let’s meet, breathe, and rise. Together.

**How Islam acts in the world** Reflecting on the recent 2026 revolution in Iran, we will dig deep into the political, spiritual and power motivations of Islamic movements in the world. **VIDEO** Coming soon ... **Discussion Outline** Thinking about how muslims want to rule the world and the historical basis for their ambitions. Is Islam a peaceful religion or a conquering empire? What is the motivation behind terrorists and suicide bombers? Do a minority of muslims support terrorism? Are all cultures created equal? Are all religions the same? Is the western media wilfully ignorant?

Our sister group, The Philosophers Bazaar, is inviting you to their next event in Melbourne. Do you want to address society's biggest issues but not sure where you'd start? Or, perhaps you're idealistic but struggle with concrete planning? Or maybe you just want to make a positive difference with others who also want the same? In this event, our special guest, Usha (with support from Nick) will use her expertise to guide participants in a workshop on how we can use Design Thinking to address an issue in society. Attendees will be stepped through the process and come up with their own plan they could realistically implement to make their communities or the world a better place. After the participants (democratically) decide the social issue they wish to address, Usha will guide participants through the steps of Discovery, Definition, Development and Deployment to create a blueprint for action, prototyping and hopefully motivation to address that issue! There is also potential here for attendees to form a committed group to address the specific social issue, that could be reiterated upon, perfected and implemented to make long-lasting social change. We have allowed 4 hours, but we will still half way for snacks (BYO) and a break.

We’re hosting the first Functional Programming Melbourne meetup of 2026 at Factor House HQ on Thursday, 29 January. This will be a relaxed, meet-and-greet style event welcoming functional programming practitioners and enthusiasts of all levels, with light talks and community connection. Location: Factor House HQ, Northcote Doors open: 5:30pm (food & drinks provided) Please register via the FP Melbourne Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fp-melbourne/events/312721035/

✨ **Do you want to...** * 🫶🏽 Connect with like-minded people in your local community? * 🏋🏽‍♂️ Meet others who are passionate about growing, uplifting themselves, and supporting others? * 🌈 Share insights from your personal journey (or simply listen and learn)? * 🧘🏼‍♂️ Experience a simple yet powerful meditation practice to find calm and clarity? Or maybe you just want to... ☮️💟☯️ **Spend your Sunday evening in a peaceful, zen space and meet some amazing new people?** *** ### **Join us on Sundays!** Let’s come together, share positive energy, and build a warm, supportive local community. **Bring a friend (or two!) and let’s connect.** *** ### **What’s on the evening’s flow?** * **Open meet & greet** – connect and settle in * **Sharing circle** (totally optional!) – share your thoughts or simply listen * **20-30 min guided meditation** – for relaxation and deeper connection *** ### **Everyone is welcome!** All ages (with guardians for under 18), backgrounds, genders, and experiences – no meditation experience needed. The event runs for about **2.5 hours**, but you’re free to come and go as you need. *** ### **What to bring?** * **Donation:** A contribution of **$10 or more is recommended**. Your donations directly help us cover venue costs, provide resources, and keep this meditation community alive and growing. * **Warm jumper/jacket** (just in case!) * **Water** * **Any books/resources/inspiration you’d love to share** *** ### **Where?** 📍 **250 George St, Fitzroy VIC 3065** Enter through the church gates. You’ll see a small garden on the left and stairs on the right leading up to the **Dance of Life Yoga Studio (first door on your right upstairs).** *** ### **Important Notes:** * Spaces are **limited**, so if you can’t make it, please update your RSVP to “Not going” or send us a quick message. * **No-show policy:** To keep it fair for everyone, repeat no-shows without notice may not be able to RSVP in the future. * Attendees under 18 must have a guardian present.

**HAPPY NEW YEAR!** 2025 was wonderful and we've already got more good stuff lined up for 2026. The perfect way to kick things off again for 2026 - a leisurely picnic in the gardens. Good food, good friends, good times! **Date and Time:** 12.30-2.30pm or whenever, Sunday 1st of February **Location:** Fitzroy Gardens, near the Dolphin Fountain. It's a 10min walk from both Parliament Station and Jolimont Station. And it should be easy enough to find parking in the area on the day. **What to Bring:** Snacks and drinks, bubbles, something to share, veg options are always appreciated, salads, cut fruit, dips, crackers, club sandwiches, etc. Be creative! Also think about cups, plates, forks, fold-out chairs, and picnic blankets. Whatever is practical. And most important, bring your good self and good vibes. Feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program: Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there! Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel. Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger. Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life. Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.