Any Southern groups (US)?

[Piggy]

I haven't noticed any skeptic groups in the Southeastern US. Do they exist?

I live south of Atlanta. (For those unfamiliar with the area, that means I'm in the sticks.) Although my neighbors are mostly cows, chickens, trailers, and pine-board churches, I can get to the city easily enough.

Considering all the nonsense and b******t that goes on in this state, it can get pretty depressing. I can't even read the local paper anymore without risking rage-induced heart attack.

It would be a good thing to know that there are sane people nearby.

[Pauliesonne]

I live in Ireland, so you won't get any pity from me.

[Hagrok]

Well, there's this place called the "James Randi Educational Foundation". I think it's in Florida somewhere...

[Piggy]

Well, there's this place called the "James Randi Educational Foundation". I think it's in Florida somewhere...

Yes, a mere 640 miles from Atlanta. Maybe I'll drop by on my lunch break.

[Piggy]

I live in Ireland, so you won't get any pity from me.

None asked for.

[Hutch]

Well, I live in Northern Alabama and aerocontrols is relocating to this neck of the woods, so we're about 4 hours away. I know Cleon is in the Atlanta region (that narrows it down to about 4M folks) but you're right, us southern Skeptics appear to be well dispersed.

[Cleon]

There has been, in the past, a group called Georgia Skeptics that is now defunct. I've tried a couple times to resurrect it with no success (you really need someone to devote a lot of time to organizing it, and I just don't have it).

There is potential, though. Derek and Swoopy (of Skepticality fame) live in north Atlanta; last year the three of us did a couple of panels at DragonCon with the aim to establish a new group, the Georgia Skeptic Society. Unfortunately, this was shortly before Derek's illness. I haven't been in contact, so I don't know if they're still interested. We did get a lot of participation at the panels from local folks, though.

At its height, GS had several hundred members ("on paper" at least) and was a registered nonprofit corporation. Scott Lililenfeld, a CSICOP fellow, teaches at Emory, and there are sympathetic folks at Tech as well. I know some members of the GA Magic Club are avid Randi fans and Skeptical Inquirer readers as well.

The only thing keeping us from starting a new group in Georgia is someone willing to put the time and energy into organizing it.

[Miss Whiplash]

The North Carolina group is also gone. No one seems to have the time up here either.

[juryjone]

Well, I live here. But I travel for my job, so making regular meetings is hard enough without trying to organize a group. There are other JREFers in the Atlanta area as well, but I can't remember who they are at the moment.

[Piggy]

Well, the pop density seems small.... Maybe something informal would be possible tho? Will ponder....

[b33fj3rky]

Looks like the Space and Science track at Dragocon this year will have some good skeptic content, including the Mythbusters.

http://madscientist.org.uk/

"Space & Science

Director: Dru Myers

Do YOU enjoy the science in science fiction? Are you fascinated by the realworld potential of nanotechnology, manned space exploration and genetic engineering? Do you secretly harbor desires for global domination and the ruthless yet stylish elimination of all who dare oppose you?

THEN BOY DO WE HAVE THE TRACK OF PROGRAMMING FOR YOU!

MEET people who find new and exciting extrasolar planets to conquer and exploit, make antimatter for a living, build and launch working spaceships, and manipulate the very fabric of life itself!

WITNESS "psychics" and purveyors of the paranormal tremble in fear as we demonstrate the debunking powers of Logic, Critical Thinking and Empirical Evidence that run amuck through our enormous throbbing brains!

EXPERIENCE the wonders and glories of the universe in a veritable plethora of wavelengths and time exposures, as recorded by our faithful robotic probes, telescopes and orbital sensor arrays!

Plus, WE GOT FREE ROCKET POWERED FLIGHT SIMS AND MYTHBUSTERS, BABY!

All this and more can be yours! Simply grab a body (yours or someone else's, living or dead), drag it on down & donate it to the SPACE AND SCIENCE track for a while.

Satisfaction absolutely, positively and unconditionally guaranteed, or else.

PS - New mailing list. Upgraded message board. Preliminary schedule. Free beer."

[Keerax]

Tennessee here. Skeptics are few and far between. :\