Things have been sort of dead here recently, and I totally understand! I feel guilty...I havent been on here in like a month. But who wants to be on their computer when they can enjoy the VT weather that won't last much longer!
However, I enjoyed the meeting I went to, and do hope we can throw some more together.
Seems everyone wants this group for different reasons (intellectual discussion, debate, support, community, staying current, friendship, secular support) and I hope if we get more organized, we can offer something to everyone by having a structured meeting.
A couple ideas I have to help address everyones needs is by dividing the meeting up and have some sort of schedule. This may not work for every meeting, but its just an idea.
Start with a greet, introduction, order food/drinks of appropriate, how are you etc.
Next have some sort of supportive discussion, where people can talk about problems, stories, plans, related to their atheism/skeptic views.
Then perhaps addressing any local Vermont news that relates to our group, if applicable.
Then we could have a couple of preplanned topics to discuss/debate (so people can research if they desire). For example, I would like to discuss is religious cults/groups and their impact in vermont (like twelve tribes).
Finally, a wrap up could be discussing the actual group. Changes, plans, schedules, conflicts, ideas, next topics, etc.
I could be overthinking this, but if anyone else is interested in this sort of structure, has other/better ideas, or is at least STILL ALIVE... post here. Even if just to say, hello, so I have some idea of how many people are still active.