Submitted by garyb on
APRIL 2025
Freethinkers of Colorado Springs
John Odlin (1978-2025)
This month we are remembering John Odlin.
Nineteen years ago John attended his first Freethinker’s Potluck social. He happened to sit down next to Beatte White and they struck up a conversation. That conversation lasted 19 years, until his unexpected death on March 20.
We will dearly miss his kind gentle presence. John was a Colorado Springs native who attended Fountain Valley School, before continuing on to earn a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts. He was an accomplished artist, most recently having shows at both the Manitou Arts Center and the Fine Arts Center. You can see his work at the following link: https://oehmegraphics.com/artists/john-odlin/about .
We know many of you have fond memories of John. Please share them with us! Add pictures if you have them! Email them to Becky@MRSSI.com and they will be compiled
“I had rather think of those I have loved, and lost, as having returned to earth, as having become a part of the elemental wealth of the world – I would rather think of them as unconscious dust, I would rather dream of them as gurgling in the streams, floating in the clouds, bursting in the foam of light upon the shores of worlds, I would rather think of them as the lost visions of a forgotten night, than to have even the faintest fear that their naked souls have been clutched by an orthodox god.” -
Robert Green Ingersoll
Ingersoll, was the best known advocate of freethought in the 19th-century, was born in Dresden, N.Y. The son of an impoverished itinerant pastor. Ingersoll traveled the continent for 30 years, speaking to capacity audiences, once attracting 50,000 people to a lecture in Chicago—40,000 too many for the Exposition Center.
Upcoming Lecture & Discussion Series Events
We are starting a new Lecture and Discussion series. Because no one wants to be lectured at without the chance for discussion!
Honoring Barry Weinhold & His Final Journey
APRIL 5th from 3:30-5:30pm at the Sand Creek Library (1821 South Academy Blvd). Learn about how our good friend Barry Weinhold made the arrangements for his final days.
FreethinkersCS invites you to a special discussion honoring the life and final journey of Barry Weinhold, a longtime member of our community. Barry was a dedicated educator, a professor at UCCS for several decades, and a passionate advocate for personal growth and understanding.
In this discussion, Barry’s partner, Siera, the Director of his final project, the Kindness Campaign, will share insights into his final days, the conversations that led to his decision, and the steps taken to ensure a peaceful transition.
This is an opportunity to reflect on Barry’s legacy, explore the topic of medical aid in dying, and engage in a thoughtful dialogue about choice, dignity, and compassion at the end of life.
Freethought Without Fear: Reporting Hate Crimes and Protecting Yourself
Retired FBI Special Agent and Freethought activist, David Condo.
MAY 4th from 1:00-3:00 PM at the UCCS Downtown center 130 S Nevada https://downtown.uccs.edu/parking-transportation
We’re excited to welcome David Condo, a retired FBI agent, who will share a fascinating overview of the FBI — addressing common misconceptions, explaining its role in hate crime cases, and offering practical guidance on how to recognize and report hate crimes to local and federal authorities. David will also discuss available resources for victims, lessons learned from past investigations, and provide valuable advice on how freethought and other marginalized groups can protect themselves.
David’s first experience with the secular community was attending the Godless Americans March on Washington in 2002, and he has supported multiple organizations over the years dedicated to the separation of religion and government. Before retiring from the FBI in 2024, he started an internal group for employees named Freethinking Feds.
Events are Free and Donation$ are always welcome and help us build a better lecture series!
Upcoming Informal Events
Sunday mornings ZOOM: Secular Morning Dialogue
9:30-11:00 AM every Sunday and beyond.
Contact Gary for details and log-in: 719-659-5075
This lively group has been Zooming since COVID-19 made in-person discussion groups risky. Our topics span a wide range, and our attendees come from distant shores!
Last week Marion Ceruzzi delivered an informative and encouraging presentation about new cancer research that is now reaching patients, and others still in the research phase.
On April 20 a presentation about reintroducing wolves to the wilds of Colorado is planned.
Meeting ID: 836 9570 2483 Passcode: 666666
Invite Link https://us02web.zoom.usj83695702483 pwd=YXZwdFdaRjF2OUpjd0plY2FPR08xUT09
It’s Potluck Time:
at the Chinook Center!
Saturday 12 APRIL 5:00 pm.
Location: 2551 airport rd #107, colorado springs, co. 80910 (it's on the back/south side of the Airport facing strip mall)
Questions? Call 719-659-6075
You know the drill! Please bring a food dish to share (salad, main, casserole, vegetables, or dessert) Make it yourself or stop by the grocery, we don’t judge!
If you drink beer or wine, bring it along to share! Water and Tea will be provided.
Looking ahead:
We are exploring using the Chinook Center as our home base. April’s social is an opportunity to have everyone come experience it and then give us your feedback.
The May 10 social will be at Becky and Gary’s.
The June 14 social will be at the Manitou Arts Center (MAC ) Everyone is welcome! Come with a readiness to share your thoughts
Community Engagement Offerings
Nothing brings a community together like sharing food, time, events and fun!
This month we are sharing a night of scientific laughter with Science Riot at Ivywild
Saturday April 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM “Real funny, like a TED talk with but with laugh cramps. .. come enjoy a night of fun and off-color adult humor”
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/science-riot-at-ivywild-tickets-1260308780489?aff=oddtdtcreator
The Pueblo folks are busy! They have a meeting with a speaker every second Thursday at 7:00 PM (APRIL 10 will be “The Truth About Wolves”) and a Freethought social on the Fourth Friday you are invited to join them! call 720-235-2345 for details or email pueblohumanists@gmail.com
This spot is for sharing things you think others would enjoy. We’ve shared a poem, a recipe and now events. Is there something you would like to share?
Membership!
Are you already an active paid member? No?
Get ready, the opportunity is coming your way! Become a paid member and together, we can make a difference in our community.
The new board is working on membership fees and hoping to hear from you in informal chats. Do you have suggestions to help us move the Freethinkers into a more active and supportive community?
Look for a board member name tag at the next social and let us know what you would like to see the group do in the year ahead and beyond! We need to hear from you!
Remember to keep current join and check out MeetUp page https://www.meetup.com/freethinkerscs/?eventOrigin=your_groups
April National Organization Spotlight: The American Humanist Association https://americanhumanist.org/
The American Humanist Association (AHA) is the national organization representing and supporting humanists throughout the United States.
Humanism is defined in many ways by numerous organizations, as well as by each individual humanist! Unlike atheism, which tends to be defined by what is not believed, Humanism focuses on what is accepted as a “life stance”. Humanists International defines Humanism as, “a democratic and ethical lifestance which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethics based on human and other natural values in a spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.”
The AHA has many areas of focus, they have local community based chapters, the Apiggnani legal center to represent non believers in church state separation actions, an education center that has education across the lifespan and a graduate degree, as well as a political action arm, The Freethought Equality Fund, that identifies and supports candidates for political office. They also produce the Humanist Magazine and the Humanist.com.
The AHA’s 84th annual conference is in Chicago from June 27-29, 2025. Everyone is welcome to attend and you’ll find many opportunities to meet new friends and enjoy lively talks and discussions.
Changes to our Newsletter are coming
Help Us Use Our Resources Wisely!
To keep receiving a printed newsletter, send us a note at:
������ P.O. Box 25514, Colorado Springs, CO 80936-5514
Or, if you'd like to switch to email delivery, simply text us your name and email at (719) 332-3907 and we’ll make the change! Thanks for helping us stay connected while using our resources wisely!
Have you ever dreamed of writing a newsletter? If so, please reach out to Becky 719-332-3907, she would be ever so happy to hand this Newsletter off to someone with better skills!
Freethinkers of Colorado Springs
We are a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the separation of church and state. We champion a worldview grounded in secular values, logic, mathematics, and science—enriched by compassion and a deep appreciation for human creativity and awe.
We value knowledge verified through critical thinking and empirical evidence over beliefs rooted in authority, emotion, dogma, or tradition. We believe in the power of interpersonal dialogue and constructive debate, fostering open conversations on complex issues to promote understanding and progress.
Join us in our commitment to a rational, fair, and equitable world, grounded in pragmatism, compassion, and the celebration of human creativity and wonder.
Become a member and together, we can make a difference. https://freethinkerscs.org/
Freethinkers of Colorado Springs
PO Box 25514
Colorado Springs CO 80936
