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 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 at 4 p.m. at the home of Karen Kuehlhorn. RSVP to Karen at kkuehlhorn@hotmail.com or by calling or texting 231-649-0735.
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.