Welcome to the Grand Traverse Humanists. If you value science, reason, and compassion and believe that humans are responsible for their own destiny, you have come to the right place. We are a community for the non-religious in the Grand Traverse area, offering a forum for discussing and advancing a secular worldview based on our common humanity. Our programs include monthly speakers and discussions, film and book groups, and various volunteer and social events. All are free and open to the public. Check out Upcoming Events below, or click on the calendar. Nontheists, agnostics, atheists, freethinkers, rationalists, humanists, and more…we welcome you to join us!
Upcoming Events
-
G.T. Humanists Solstice Party
Join the Grand Traverse Humanists for a celebration of the summer solstice! This will be a casual gathering at the home of Heather Kingham and Mark Elliott. Bring a dish to pass if you like. There will surely be music. Heather will also lead an optional bike ride from their house at 5 PM, which will go along East Bay, through neighborhoods and the college, and back. Hope to see you there!
-
Hungry Humanists: Little Italy by Nittolo’s
Our next Hungry Humanists will meet at the new Italian restaurant in town Little Italy by Nittolo’s on June 23 at 6 PM. RSVP to Bob Simon at 517-449-3432 so that we can include you in the reservation.
-
G.T. Humanists Book Club: James by Percival Everett
Our next Humanist book club selection is James by Percival Everett. The novel is a re-imagining of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, but told from the perspective of Huckleberry’s friend on his travels, Jim, who is an escaped slave. It recently won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Our next book club is July 13th, location to be determined.
-
G.T. Humanists Bike Ride: Farm Club
Our next Humanist bike ride will begin at Logan’s Landing/Medalie Park at 11 AM on July 6. We will ride along the TART trail to Farm Club for lunch (9.5 miles). If you don’t want to ride the whole 19 mile round trip, you can shorten the ride by joining us at Darrow Park or the Cherry Bend Road trailhead and we will pick you up along the way. It’s a fun, leisurely bike ride, and e-bikes are welcome. If you plan to meet up along the way, let Mark know by texting or calling 231-392-1215.
-
G.T. Humanists Meeting: The Science of GMOs and Glyphosate
For our July meeting: Dr. Eric Patterson will give a talk on GMOs in agriculture and the glyphosate (Roundup) controversy. Dr. Patterson is an assistant professor of weed science at Michigan State University. His research focuses on the genomics of weedy plant species as well as herbicides and how resistance evolves on rapid timescales in weedy species.
-
G.T. Humanists Meeting: Environmental Pollution and Cardiovascular Health
For our September meeting, Dr. Robert Brook will present a program on how environmental pollution affects cardiovascular health. Dr. Brook is a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Wayne State Medical School.
-
G.T. Humanists Meeting: Immigration in America
For our October meeting, Karen Segal will lead a program on immigration in America. Karen is a former diplomat for the U.S. State Department and works settling Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in northern Michigan.
-
G.T. Humanists Meeting: FishPass
For our November meeting, Dr. Daniel Zielinski will present a program on the Traverse City FishPass Project. Dr. Zielinski is the principal engineer and scientist with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and project lead on the FishPass project.
-
G.T. Humanists Meeting: Bird Flu
For our December meeting, Dr. Paul Coussens, Michigan State University professor of animal science, will present a program on avian influenza, aka bird flu. He will discuss the virus itself, natural reservoirs, spillover into mammals including humans, impacts on agriculture, eggs and chickens, and what we can do about it.