The Ohio Valley Skeptics News

Magazine Overview

The Ohio Valley Skeptics News, Vol. 1, No. 3, published in November 1991, is a newsletter from a new organization committed to encouraging critical thinking and the scientific investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims. The publication aims to distribute the results of these investigations to the public and invites readers to become charter members.

November Meeting: Nineteenth Century Paranormal Beliefs in Cincinnati

The November meeting of the Ohio Valley Skeptics (OVS) was held at the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. OVS President Joe Gastright presented "The First New Age: Paranormal Beliefs in Cincinnati, 1840-1880." His research, compiled from numerous index cards, detailed Cincinnatians' engagement with pseudoscientific activities popular in the nineteenth century, such as phrenology, mesmerizing, and sarcognomy. Gastright illustrated his lecture with diagrams and models, explaining how body and head shapes were believed to predict character and personal traits. For example, a well-developed left forearm in women was thought to indicate "combativeness," and a muscular right upper arm suggested "ambition." The presentation highlighted the common confusion between science and pseudoscience, and the prevalence of unsubstantiated mystical claims unchecked by traditional religious or scientific authority, noting that this was as common in the nineteenth century as it is today.

Following the presentation, attendees enjoyed an informal lunch and conversation at a nearby restaurant. Special thanks were extended to Richard Davis and the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History for providing the venue.

December Meeting: Richard McGrath on Near Death Experiences

The December meeting was scheduled for Saturday, December 14, at 10:00 AM, at the Museum of Natural History. The agenda included a business meeting to address finding a permanent, no-charge meeting location and to discuss a potential name change for the organization. Members were encouraged to identify suitable venues (public libraries, schools, community buildings) with parking and nearby inexpensive restaurants, and to bring this information to the meeting or share it with President Joe Gastright. The newsletter noted that some members felt the word "skeptics" in the name might deter potential members, suggesting alternatives like "critical thinking," "rational thought," or "scientific thinking," which are used by some organizations affiliated with CSICOP.

The featured speaker for the December meeting was the Rev. Richard McGrath, a faculty member at Thomas More College who teaches a course on death and dying. He was set to speak about near-death experiences and their meaning for those who undergo them.

January Round Table on Satanism

The newsletter announced an upcoming topic for discussion: "Satanism." It described satanism as an ill-defined phenomenon viewed by the religious right as a societal threat and by social scientists as an unsubstantiated claim. To help members inform themselves, the newsletter recommended "The Satanism Scare," edited by James T. Richardson, Joel Best, and David G. Bromley, a collection of scholarly and popular articles examining the development and dimensions of satanism as a social problem, available from Aldine de Bruyter.

Calendar and Meeting Schedule Changes

The regular monthly meeting day was changed from the second Saturday to the third Saturday of the month, effective January 1992.

• December 14: Monthly Meeting at Cincinnati Museum of Natural History, featuring Rev. Richard McGrath on "Near Death Experiences." Informal lunch to follow.
• January 18: Monthly Meeting. Location to be announced. Round Table Discussion: "Satanism: What Is It? Why Is It So Feared?" moderated by Virginia Jergens.
• February 15: Monthly Meeting. Place and moderator to be announced. Round Table Discussion: "Reinventing the Wheel, or Does Each and Every Weird Claim Deserve Debunking?"
• March 21: Monthly Meeting. Place to be announced. Bob Baker of the Kentucky Association of Science Teachers and Skeptics will present on "Ghost-Busting in Kentucky."

Officers

The elected officers, serving until the first annual organizational meeting in April 1992, were listed as: Joseph Gastright (President), Richard Shepherd (Treasurer), Virginia Jergens (Newsletter Editor), Porter Henry (Publicity Chair), and Richard Boznian (Media Resources Chair). Members of the Media Resources Committee included Chuck Rodway and Carl Bunde. Members of the By-Laws Committee were Dick Shepherd, Mary Pacinda, Chuck Rodway, and Holly Norton.

Share Your Stuff!

Members were encouraged to bring skeptical clippings, cartoons, or books to share at meetings. The November meeting's highlight was Joe Gastright's collection of phrenological items, including busts marked with personality locations, available at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County shop.

Contributions and Organization Philosophy

Readers were invited to submit book reviews, letters to the editor, articles, cartoons, or other contributions to the editor. The newsletter reiterated that Ohio Valley Skeptics is an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization aligned with the philosophy of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). OVS plans to sponsor public lectures, establish a media expert panel, and investigate local paranormal claims. Annual dues were $10.00 for regular members and $5.00 for students, including a subscription to the newsletter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes critical thinking, scientific skepticism, and the rational investigation of paranormal phenomena. It provides information on OVS meetings, discussions, and resources for further research on topics ranging from historical paranormal beliefs to contemporary issues like satanism and near-death experiences. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and debunking unsubstantiated claims, while also being open to discussion and exploration of controversial topics from a critical perspective. The organization's affiliation with CSICOP reinforces its commitment to scientific inquiry.