Category: Monthly Gathering

The originally scheduled program, The Disappearing Separation of Church and State, has been cancelled.

Updated Program Live and via Zoom, 7:00 pm (EDT) Saturday, June 21, 2025:

The Black Legion was a domestic terrorist militia active in the late 1920s into the late 1930s. Founded in Bellaire, Ohio in 1924, it spread across multiple states, including Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, throughout the Great Depression.

It was explicitly political, and despite overwhelming evidence that Black Legion members violated federal laws, Federal law enforcement failed to launch a proper examination of their activities. During the investigation of one particularly gruesome Black Legion execution, a member broke their code of silence and publicly revealed details of many of their heinous crimes. The backlash in the wake of these revelations helped eradicate the organization; however, their legacy stretches into the 21st century.

Despite the sensational news coverage at the time and the atrocities of their crimes, the Black Legion remains a relatively obscure historical flashpoint, which may be due to the fact that prominent industrialists and elected officials were implicated in their crimes.

As political violence escalates here at home and abroad, it is imperative that we understand what helped defeat the Black Legion as well as why the extent of their activities was downplayed by Federal investigators at the time they were active. 

Join us at 7:00 P.M. (EDT) on Saturday, June 21, when Christy McGillivray will lead us in a discussion of some of this country’s least-known and most sinister history. 

Christy McGillivray is the Legislative and Political Director of the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club. She began her career as an environmental advocate after graduating from Sarah Lawrence College in 2004. Her areas of expertise include solid waste policy, Great Lakes water quality problems, including PFAS and other toxics, agricultural policy, and the intersection of public health and environmental policies at the state legislative level. She has an MSc in Environmental Education from the University of Edinburgh and has worked as an adjunct professor at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, and Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. Her past roles include Campaign Director for Clean Water Action, STEM education coordinator for the Farmington Hills Nature Center, and organizer for the American Federation of Teachers in Michigan. In politics, she’s worked continuously to get environmental champions elected and to keep them acting to benefit the environment once they are in office. Before taking her position with the Sierra Club, Christy was teaching chemistry and physics at Eastpointe High School. 

Live Presentation

If you are able to attend the live presentation, you have the opportunity to mingle with your fellow Mensans and guests at our usual location:
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 6:30 pm (EDT). The program begins at 7:00 pm (EDT).

Ticket prices
Members 13+ years old: $5 or buy a strip of 4 tickets for $15.
Guests 13+ years old: $7
Members and guests 12 & under: Free
Exact change is appreciated!

Following the presentation, please join us for dinner at:
Buddy’s Pizza
31646 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 38334

Virtual Presentation (Zoom)

If you prefer to to attend virtually, pre-register:

• click tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-Gathering
• choose “June 21, 2025 6:30 pm” from the drop-down box
• fill in your name and email address
• click the “Register” button

The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT) for mingling. The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising costs, your donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated.

• click PayPal.com
• log in (or sign up)
• click the “Send” button
• Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@webmaster
• click the “Next” button
• enter payment amount ($5 is recommended, but feel free to send any amount)
• fill “What’s this for” with “SEMM Zoom Presentations”
• click the “Next” button
• select your payment method
• click “Send”
• bask in our appreciation

Program Live and via Zoom, 7:00 pm (EDT) Saturday, May 17, 2025:

Come and explore the intellectual roots of atheism — from Epicurus to today — while addressing common misconceptions, highlighting key moments in American atheist history, and examining current trends and challenges.

Join us at 7:00 p.m. (EDT), on Saturday, May 17, when Chris McLaughlin, the State Director of the Secular Alliance of Michigan and President of Michigan Atheists, will lead us in our examination of atheism, secular identity, and the broader cultural and civic landscape of non-belief in America.

Chris, a lifelong atheist and activist, speaks regularly on atheism, secular identity, and the growing influence of nonreligious Americans in public life. His talk will trace the intellectual and cultural roots of atheism from ancient Greece to the modern atheist movement in the U.S., while debunking myths and offering insight into who atheists are today.

Chris has founded multiple secular initiatives in Michigan, and leads efforts to build inclusive, evidence-based communities grounded in a naturalistic worldview. He has a background in business and economics and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Live Presentation

If you are able to attend the live presentation, you have the opportunity to mingle with your fellow Mensans and guests at our usual location:
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 6:30 pm (EDT). The program begins at 7:00 pm (EDT).

Ticket prices
Members 13+ years old: $5 or buy a strip of 4 tickets for $15.
Guests 13+ years old: $7
Members and guests 12 & under: Free
Exact change is appreciated!

Following the presentation, please join us for dinner at:
Buddy’s Pizza
31646 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 38334

Virtual Presentation (Zoom)

If you prefer to to attend virtually, pre-register:

• click tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-Gathering
• choose “May 17, 2025 6:30 pm” from the drop-down box
• fill in your name and email address
• click the “Register” button

The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT) for mingling. The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising costs, your donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated.

• click PayPal.com
• log in (or sign up)
• click the “Send” button
• Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@webmaster
• click the “Next” button
• enter payment amount ($5 is recommended, but feel free to send any amount)
• fill “What’s this for” with “SEMM Zoom Presentations”
• click the “Next” button
• select your payment method
• click “Send”
• bask in our appreciation

Program Live and via Zoom, 7:00 pm (EDT) Saturday, April 19, 2025:

Enigmatic mediums, murders, monsters, and more are all part of our mysterious and sometimes supernatural history. For example, the will of Detroit’s first millionaire, Eber B. Ward, was hotly contested because he took the financial advice of spirits. Marian Spore Bush, Bay City’s first female dentist, moved to New York City, where she became a psychic wonder–and a secret philanthropist. And according to Amberrose Hammond our speaker this month, old witchcraft superstitions drove a Midwest family insane and caused another man to murder his godmother. All this and other notable occurrences that took the headlines throughout the U.S.

Join us at 7:00 pm (EDT) on Saturday, April 19, when Ms. Hammond will bring to light strange and unusual tales from our colorful and exciting past. For more than two decades, Amberrose Hammond has been delving deep into our eerie and unconventional past. As a passionate lover of history and cemeteries, she has traveled across Michigan to spread the word about the state’s weirdest and most off-beat tales. Through compelling lectures and historical cemetery tours, Amberrose has captured the imaginations of thousands with her infectious enthusiasm for our spooky side. With her expertise and deep knowledge of the paranormal, she has authored “Ghosts & Legends of Michigan’s West Coast” and “Mysterious Michigan” as well as two true crime books, “Wicked Ottawa County” and “Wicked Grand Rapids”. For those who want to explore the strange and unusual even further, Amberrose invites you to check out her website “Mysterious Michigan” and subscribe to “Ghostly Talk”, the podcast she cohosts.

Please note that this program will be presented live and on Zoom. You can attend the live presentation, for a chance to also mingle with your fellow Mensans and guests, at our usual location:
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 6:30 pm (EDT). The program begins at 7:00 pm
(EDT).

Ticket prices for the in-person program are:
Members 13 years old+: $5 or buy a strip of 4 tickets for $15.
Guests 13 years old+: $7, Members and guests 12 & under: Free
Exact change is appreciated!

Following the presentation, please join us for dinner at Buddy’s
Pizza, located at 31646 Northwestern Highway, in Farmington
Hills, just northeast of Middlebelt Road.

If you can’t join us in person, the Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm
(EDT) for mingling.

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising
costs, (Meetup charges alone went up 70% in the past year!) your
donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated. Please donate $5! To
donate go to PayPal.com, login, and click on the “Send” button.

Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@nullmensadetroit.com, click on
“Next”, fill in your payment amount, and in the “What’s this for”
dialogue box enter: “SEMM Zoom Presentations.” Click “Next”,
select your payment method, and click “Send”.

Please remember that all attendees need to pre-register by
clicking on the following link: https://tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-
Gathering. And choosing “April 19, 2025 6:30 pm” from the drop-
down box. The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT)for mingling.
The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

Even in re-runs, something astonishing keeps cropping up on
TV’s “The Big Bang Theory” and its highly successful spinoff,
“Young Sheldon” – namely, actual science. What’s so hilarious
about Schrodinger’s cat, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, and
glow-in-the-dark jellyfish? Though both shows are comedies,
they’re peppered with real-life scientific references: Characters
chat about cutting-edge and classical experiments; historic
formulae adorn living room whiteboards; and famous techno
luminaries and science educators guest-star as themselves. The
Big Bang Theory, which is still watched regularly on at least ten
different local stations, cable channels, and streaming services
around the world, features an assortment of very smart characters
wisecracking about these and other real-life high-IQ concepts —
and now you’ll be able to, too.

Join us at 7:00 pm (EDT) on Saturday, March 15 to learn why
CBS became PBS… sort of. This month’s guest speaker, science
humorist Dave Zobel argues that the two hugely popular “funny
nerd” shows still fill a vital (if nontraditional) role in popularizing
science: Their subtle celebration of scientific inquiry draws
viewers into conversation about science, technology, math – even
philosophy. And that’s a gift to every science geek … or science
denier. Part one-man colloquium, part comedy routine, Mr. Zobel’s talk just might show you enough of what’s fun and funny about
science to earn you a spot on Sheldon’s couch!

Dave Zobel has appeared on the TV channels G4 and Discovery
and has penned segments for the radio shows “StarDate”, “Day to
Day”, “Says You!” and “The Loh Down on Science”. For the LA
nonprofit “T4T” (Trash for Teaching), he designs STEM teaching
kits out of rescued and repurposed manufacturers’ discards.

Please note that this program will be presented only via
Zoom.

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising
costs, (Meetup charges alone are up 70% this year!) your
donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated. Please donate $5! To
donate go to PayPal.com, login, and click on the “Send” button.
Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@nullmensadetroit.com, click on
“Next”, fill in your payment amount, and in the “What’s this for”
dialogue box enter: “SEMM Zoom Presentations.” Click “Next”,
select your payment method, and click “Send”.

Please remember that all attendees need to pre-register by
clicking on the following link: https://tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-
Gathering. The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT) for mingling.
The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in
1960, and are widely regarded as the most influential band of all
time. Whether you liked them or not, they were integral to the
development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of
popular music as an art form.

The Beatles were a cultural tsunami that forever changed fashion,
manners, humor, media, values, and style while influencing
musical genres and future musicians long after the group’s
demise.

Join us at 7 pm (EST) on Saturday, February 15, when Kansas
University’s “Professor of Rock”, and lifelong educator Steve
Lopes will lead us in a review of the Beatles’ origin story and
Beatlemania, and how they became so fabulous. Participants
wishing to do so will also have an opportunity to engage in a trivia
quiz and a discussion of the “Fab Four’s” legacy.

Steve Lopes was a technology educator for fifteen years before
becoming a union organizer. After 30 years with the Kansas
National Education Association, he returned to teaching, this time
leading history of rock classes for Lifelong Learners at the
University of Kansas, University of Missouri- Kansas City, and
Washburn University. Steve enjoys researching Rock ‘n’ Roll
history and sharing it with his students. He also donates his
organizing skills in support of progressive causes and candidates.

Please note that this program will be presented only via
Zoom.

The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EST) for mingling. The
program starts at 7:00 pm (EST). 

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but due to rising
costs, (Meetup charges alone are up 70% this year!) your
donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated. Please donate $5! To
donate go to paypal.com, login, and click on the “Send” button.
Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@nullmensadetroit.com, click on
“Next”, fill in your payment amount, and in the “What’s this for”
dialogue box enter: “SEMM Zoom Presentations.” Click “Next”,
select your payment method, and click “Send”.

Please remember that all attendees need to pre-register by
clicking on the following link: https://tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-Gathering.