Calendar of Events
June 2007
Crossroads
- The Path Not Taken
Speakers
Session - Tampa, June 16, 11 am: Craig Alldredge will speak at
our June meeting on “The Human Face of Crime.” He has some
thoughts to share about how the Bible has influenced our criminal
justice system, not for the better.
A
former news reporter, Craig Alldredge has been an assistant public
defender in Hillsborough County and Pinellas County. He also served
with the Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Florida.
He has represented over one hundred men and women accused of
homicide. Alldredge has written and lectured on the subjects of
mental health defenses and homicide.
Topic:
Most Americans believe that people who commit murder are
inherently evil. The image of an intelligent, calculating, merciless
killer is flashed on our television screens nightly. Alldredge, who
has represented serial killers, mass murders and even homicidal
maniacs paints a different picture, a picture of intellectually
impaired, brain damaged, mentally ill men and women who often kill
under stress of poverty and the influence of alcohol. The victims(far
from being strangers in the night(most often are their families,
friends and neighbors, some of who sought in vain to get help for
their impaired kin or friend. Why should we look at homicide as a
social and psychological problem rather than a passion play of good
versus evil? Alldredge not only asks the question, he may help with
some of the answers.
RSVP
info@cfiflorida.org
or 813-849-7571
$6 prepaid/non-members.
Message from Executive Director:
A Summer of Connecting
Our Tampa Bay community is concluding its spring season on a strong note with a presentation by Craig Alldredge, former assistant public defender in Hillsborough County and Pinellas County.
In September we’ll kick off our fall season with attorney Carol Mehlman, a speaker we always look forward to hearing. Then in October, we welcome back our popular Professor Bill Hall. You can see we have an excellent line-up to whet our interest.
Between these events, traditionally we do not have our monthly lecture series during July and August. So this time period presents a great opportunity to enhance social and community interaction. I suggest we promote small get-togethers: some focused, some strictly social. Some small groups could meet at a member’s home. Or we could meet at a local library … a restaurant … a park, beach or other outdoor venue … just put on your thinking caps for ideas.
We could discuss a particular topic, current news event, a book or books … view a video and discuss it (see videos available from CFI below) … or just converse, chat, confabulate (however you wish to say) in a relaxed setting.
The Center will offer promotion and assistance to help. Pick a date, a venue, a theme or activity--call us and we’ll work with you to publicize it. Let’s look back at 2007 as our summer of connection, comfort and confidence.
CFI FL - DVD Lending Library
A
Brief History of Disbelief [3 1-hour programs]
Shadows
of Doubt [1st hour]
Noughts
& Crosses [2nd hour]
The
Final Hour [3rd hour]
Banned
Books of the Bible [2 1-hour programs]
Banned
Books of the Bible II [2 1-hour programs]
Hauntings
[1/2-hour
program] a PBS program
including
Paul Kurtz, Toni Van Pelt and Gary Posner
John
Kieffer on Flashpoint [approx. 1/2-hour]
a
debate on the Flag Protection Act
Paul
Kurtz: What Is Secular Humanism
Toni
Van Pelt on Kathy Fountain Show
Know
Doubt Show: Interview with Portia Westerfield
(Hemlock
of Florida) on Hastened Death
The
Humanist Perspective: Programs produced by
Council
for Secular Humanism [1/2-hour
each]
And
more--just
check out the lending library!
Take Pride! Volunteers Needed
Tampa Bay
friends: The 5th annual St. Pete Pride celebration has a
full lineup of events, including a CFI book booth/fundraiser
at the parade. This is one of our “meet & greet” events, plus
we sell books, magazines and socialize .... WE
NEED YOU to share in the fun. Opportunities: lend CFI an
hour or two helping load up the materials on Friday, June 29;
or on Saturday, June 30 , help set up, sell and promote
CFI & TB Skeptics, later reloading remainders. We have enjoyed
the company of friends at such events over the years, and hope
several of you will be taking part again. A full schedule of Pride
events is available at www.StPetePride.com.
If you will help CFI, please let us know what time slot you can fill
by e-mailing info@cfiflorida.org
or call 813-849-7571.
Florida Science-Education
Standards Committee
Our
children are our future. It is important that they learn the
basic principles of science and apply these principles to their
lives. To do this, we have to start with the science education
standards that govern what the state of Florida teaches about science
in the public schools. The purpose of the Florida Science
Education Standards Committee is to educate the public on the need
for first class Florida science education standards.
WE
NEED YOUR HELP NOW! Learn more about the committee
and help us improve science education in Florida,.Go to our
website at
http://flasciencestandards.org.
Send an e-mail to info@flasciencestandards.org
with the word “subscribe” in the subject line (omit the
quote marks) to get on our mailing list, or “your own subject”
to contact Curtis Wolf, Chair.
“Save Our Selves”
(SOS) Sobriety Meetings
SOS
is an alternative recovery method for those who are uncomfortable with the spiritual
content of widely available 12-step programs.
DAYTONA BEACH SOS
Sundays at 3 p.m. at the City Island Library (Board Room)
***Please call 386-671-1921
weekly to verify time & place.
Thurs. at 7 p.m. Volusia County Correctional Facility, inmates only.
Daytona
Beach SOS contact information:
Bob Stevenson, Coordinator
386-671-1921
DaytonaCFI@aol.com
Tampa Bay Skeptics
Community info: www.tampabayskeptics.org/
Visit the Website for
late-breaking news and events!
Next TBS Quarterly Meeting:
Saturday,
March 31, 2007, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
At Center for Inquiry-Florida ofice [Click for
Directions]
Speaker: [To be announced] Plus “Open
Forum” and video clips of TV shows. And after the meeting, join us for an
optional lunch at a local restaurant.
Note:
Most events
held at Center for Inquiry-Florida
are free for CFI members with
current membership cards, and the press. The standard attendance fee for
non-members is $6.00 paid in advance,
non-refundable. RSVPs, only if
attending, are appreciated for all events.
...Also Announcing...
The next Tampa Bay Skeptics
“Between Meetings” Dinner/Snack/Discussion:
Friday, May 18, 2007, 7:00 p.m.
Village Inn, 215 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa
(Just north of Kennedy Blvd.) [ Map ]
(RSVPs preferred)
