Happy Solstice and more!

Today I want to wish everyone in the Northern Hemisphere a happy Winter Solstice and everyone in the Southern Hemisphere a happy Summer Solstice!  Sometimes we forget that the Southern Hemisphere is celebrating the Summer Solstice while the Northern Hemisphere is celebrating the Winter Solstice.   So, today I want to include everyone around the world by saying, 'Happy Solstice!'

On that international note, I would like to announce that the SECULAR Center now has over 300 supporters in almost 10 different countries around the world!  We really appreciate everyone's support and are working hard to ensure that your donations, volunteer hours, and other forms of support are going toward important and much-needed secular charity programs. 

To date, we are working with other communities in Texas such as Dallas and San Antonio; as well as Ames IA, Portland OR, Kansas City KS, Los Angeles CA, and more to get SECULAR Center programs underway and coordinate non-theist volunteer and charitable efforts.  Look for some exciting announcements about these programs after the New Year!

In Reason,
Noelle

And We're Back!

Wow, I can't believe that it's been almost a month since I have blogged!  So much has been happening both with the SECULAR Center and in my personal life.  I got married on November 27th to my partner of 3 years, Keith.  We had a small secular ceremony on the Star Cruiser Yacht out of Kemah, TX.  Our families traveled from Washington, Ohio, Italy, Massachusetts, Washington DC, and New Mexico to be there and we all had a wonderful time.  If you're interested in seeing pictures, friend me on Facebook.

Lots of exciting things have been happening with both the SECULAR Center and the Houston/Texas freethought community.  I'm going to separate out the news into different posts and backdate some of them so that they are relevant, so expect to see quite a few posts from me in the next few days.  For now, I will tell you that we are wrapping up editing on the new SECULAR Center video!  It's a one minute and thirty second video that talks about the SECULAR Center and what we do.  As soon as it's up on our website, I will blog with more info about how to find it.

My new husband and I leave tomorrow for Seattle for 10 days for the holidays.  I hope all of you are having a great holiday season full of laughter and joy.  Please don't forget to give whatever you can during this season since there are so many in need out there.

Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Noelle

Halloween Run/Walk Volunteering

Please join the SECULAR Center from 6-10am on Halloween morning for our most fun event yet! We will be volunteering at the Monster Mash Fun Run in Sugar Land - they need our help with the following activities: manning the registration table, running course setup, runners aid stations, handing out water, and cheering the runners/walkers on at the finish line.

The great thing about this event is that for each of you who donate your time at this event (up to 30 people) the hosts will make a donation to SCUSA. We could be eligible for up to a $500 donation! This is a wonderful way that you can help us begin our own atheist volunteer programs in the Houston community such as tutoring students, computer education, and support groups for those who have recently joined the Freethought movement.

The best part about the run is: you can dress up! Volunteers are encouraged (but not required) to dress up in family-friendly Halloween costumes for the event.

Please visit our Events page for RSVP details.

Freethought Day, etc.

Happy Freethought Day! Freethought Day is celebrated by secularists to mark the end of the Salem Witch Trials. For more information and history about the holiday, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freethought_Day or http://www.churchoffreethought.org/library/36-lectures-and-sermons/288-a-holiday-for-facts-and-reason. In honor of the day, I am going to start a series of posts of an article about critical thinking.

Each week on Monday, I will post a part of the article. I will continue this for 5-7 weeks until the article has been posted in its entirety. The article is titled, They Think; Therefore They Know? The title is an adaptation of a famous quote, by Rene Descartes, usually translated in English as "I think, therefore I am".