Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 01 No 06 - 1992

Magazine Overview

Title: The Association For Rational Thought News
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 6
Date: March 1992
Publisher: The Association For Rational Thought
Focus: Practicing the art of clear thinking, investigating paranormal and pseudo-scientific claims from a scientific viewpoint, and distributing findings.

Organization and Mission

The Association For Rational Thought (ART) is a newly formed organization dedicated to promoting clear thinking across all aspects of life. Its core mission involves encouraging the responsible, scientific investigation of paranormal and pseudo-scientific claims and disseminating the outcomes of these inquiries to the public. The newsletter invites individuals to become charter members.

Upcoming and Past Meetings

The March 21st meeting was scheduled to be held at the Greenwich Tavern and Restaurant, featuring a presentation by Robert Baker, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Kentucky and Chair of the Kentucky Association of Science Teachers and Skeptics. His talk, titled "Not All Kentucky Spirits are in Bottles," was set to explore ghost theory and famous Kentucky ghosts, followed by an Executive Council Meeting.

The February 15th meeting was described as a "Non-Roundtable." The business meeting included a discussion about the possibility of incorporating ART, though no actions were taken. This was followed by a round table led by Bill Giles and Joe Gastright on effective communication with non-skeptics. The organizers apologized for the lack of discussion time due to the speakers' extended presentation and pledged to ensure future round tables are more inclusive and allow for ample discussion.

Volunteer Opportunities

ART is actively seeking volunteers to promote rational thought and assist with various office and committee functions for the upcoming year, starting in April. The proposed by-laws outline several officer positions, including President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Investigations Officer, and Publicity Coordinator. These officers are expected to serve on the Executive Council.

• Detailed descriptions are provided for each officer role:
• President: Prepares agendas, presides over meetings, supports other officers, and promotes organizational development.
• Vice-President: Assists the president and serves as acting president when necessary.
• Secretary: Records minutes of meetings and prepares the annual report.
• Treasurer: Manages financial records, collects dues, makes disbursements, and prepares the annual financial report.
• Membership Secretary: Chairs the membership committee, manages existing and new members, and maintains contact information.
• Investigations Officer: Chairs the investigations committee and oversees investigative projects.
• Publicity Coordinator: Chairs the publicity committee, informs the media about meetings, and distributes relevant information.

• Additional roles are also mentioned:
• Newsletter Editor: Publishes the monthly newsletter, manages mailing lists, and coordinates exchanges with other chapters.
• Meeting Organizer: Chairs the program committee and arranges membership meetings.
• Media Resources Coordinator: Chairs the scientific and technical consulting committee and maintains a pool of experts for media inquiries.

Several standing committees are listed, each requiring at least three members: Program Committee, Publicity Committee, Scientific and Technical Consulting Committee, Investigations Committee, and Membership Committee. An ad hoc Telephone Tree Committee also requires members.

Calendar of Events

• The newsletter provides an updated calendar of events:
• New Meeting Place: ART's new meeting place is the Greenwich Tavern and Restaurant, 2440 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati.
• New Meeting Day: The regular monthly meeting day has been changed from the second Saturday to the third Saturday of the month.
• March 21 (Saturday): Monthly Meeting at Greenwich Tavern and Restaurant. Robert Baker will speak on "Not All Kentucky Spirits are in Bottles." Executive Council Meeting follows lunch.
• April 18 (Saturday): First Annual Meeting, including election of officers for 1992-93 and adoption of By-Laws. Oren Dent, stage magician, will present "Similarities Between Military Deception and Stage Magic." Executive Council Meeting follows lunch.
• May 16 (Saturday): To be announced.
• June 20 (Saturday): To be announced, possibly a skeptical picnic.

Membership Drive

Members are urged to complete their membership drive calls before the March meeting and submit contact sheets to Joe Gastright. He will collate the information and report on the drive's outcome at the April meeting.

Current Officers

• The current officers, whose terms end in April 1992, are listed:
• President: Joe Gastright
• Secretary: Mary Pacinda
• Treasurer: Peggy Borger
• Program Committee Chair: Joe Gastright
• Newsletter Editor: Virginia Jergens
• Publicity Committee Chair: Porter Henry
• Telephone Tree Committee Chair: Peggy Borger
• Membership Telephone Project Chair: Peggy Borger
• By-Laws Committee Chair: Mary Pacinda
• Media Resources Chair: Richard A. Bozian

Call to Action

The newsletter concludes with an invitation to "Join ART Now!" It states that this is the last free newsletter and encourages members to pay their dues to continue receiving the publication, citing the costs of xeroxing and mailing as reasons for not maintaining a nonpaying mailing list.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the promotion of rational thought, skepticism towards paranormal claims, and the organizational activities of the Association For Rational Thought. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and evidence-based reasoning, as evidenced by the organization's mission and the nature of its planned events and discussions. The newsletter actively seeks to engage members in the organization's activities and growth through volunteering and membership drives.