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• Blount County First Wednesday Meet-up

  • When
    08/05/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Peaceful Side Brewery, 106 Everett Ave, Maryville, TN 37804

  Come Join us at the Peaceful Side Brewery, 106 Everett Ave, Maryville, TN 37804

  If you enjoy looking at menus ahead of time, check out this link: 

  https://peacefulsidebrewery.com/taproom-menu/
  

  This will be a monthly event on the First Wednesday. 

  Please disregard the notice below about forwarding this email. If you know of others who would enjoy this event, please share. 

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• TVUUC Movie Night

  • When
    08/08/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    TVUUC-Elandria Williams Room

  RET has long wanted to have a regular Movie Night. While we don't have the resources to arrange one, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. We can join the folks at TVUUC for theirs. 

  Science Fiction Club Movie Night

  When: Saturday, August 8, 2026 6:00pm - 9:00pm

  Where: Elandria Williams Room
  Building/Room: Elandria Williams Room

  Every 2nd Saturday of the month a different film is offered by the club. We share snacks and conversation and usually take a collection to provide pizza for those interested. No need to RSVP, please join us.

   Contact Person: Janette Kennedy, janettemkennedy@gmail.com

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• August RET Book Club

  • When
    08/09/2026
  •  
    4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Escape from Capitalism: An Intervention

  by Clara E. Mattei

  Capitalism isn’t inevitable, scientific, or natural—it's a relatively young system that can be replaced.
  
  We live in a world where cuts to social programs are deemed necessary, unemployment is considered natural, and rising living costs are accepted as normal. We’re told that change isn’t possible—the markets know best and there’s no alternative to capitalism. But what if mainstream economics itself is the problem?
  
  In this groundbreaking manifesto, economist Clara E. Mattei shows us how the dogma that rules our economies is not only delusional but also detrimental to our societies and livelihoods and fundamentally hostile to working people. Pseudoscientific models are used to justify enduring problems such as poverty and inequality in order to support a system that unfairly rewards people who already have the most resources.
  
  Today’s economic institutions, from the Federal Reserve to the International Monetary Fund, wield immense power over monetary policy yet are shielded from democratic scrutiny. All the major problems we face—from a health care system that prioritizes profits over well-being to the rise of ultranationalism—are rooted in an economic system that fails to serve the common good.
  
  Why should we accept this? In this urgent intervention against capitalism, Mattei shows how escaping this system begins with understanding the economy from a fundamentally different perspective. The time has come to challenge the broken economics of our modern age—to achieve true economic freedom and finally escape from capitalism.

  
  

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• Movie Night

  • When
    08/11/2026
  •  
    7:00 PM
  • Location
    Central Cinema, 1205 N Central St Knoxville, TN 37917

  Free Screening of Bad Faith 2

  NOTE: New time!!!

  The newsletter posted that the movie would be at 6:00. We learned that it had been moved to 7:00. 

  There will be a panel discussion afterward. 

  While the movie is free, try to purchase concessions to help pay for renting the venue. 

  Disregard the notice below about sharing the email. If you now of others who might be interested, please forward to them. 

  
  

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• August Third Sunday Meeting

  • When
    08/16/2026
  •  
    10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Location
    PSCC, Hardin Valley Road

  Rocio A. Huet, MD, FACP, DABOIM, will give a presentation on "Living Longer, Living Better Strategies for a Healthier, Happier Life."

  This will be a practical, evidence-based look at healthspan - exercise, nutrition, supplements, genetic testing, environmental toxins and more.

  We meet in Room 1017 of the Haslam Math and Science Building on the Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State. The room is just to the left of the main entrance of the building.  Here is a  PSCC map, which shows the location of the building and parking. You can park in the F1 or O8 lots and enter at either X. The room is located where the red dot is.There will be Rationalists of East Tennessee signs directing you to the entrance. 

  Please note that there is construction at the campus entrance off Solway Road, making it inaccessible. It is best to enter the campus from Hardin Valley Road.

  Coffee and other hot beverages will be available. Bring a snack to share if you wish. 

  For those who wish to join us via Zoom, the link will be available in the newsletter and in the event notifications. 

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• August Reflections

  • When
    08/23/2026
  •  
    4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  August Reflections

  In these times where we tend to find ourselves in groups that have a divide between them, communication becomes more important. This month let's look at The Surprising Power of Conversations to Change People’s Minds—Including Our Own.

  New research suggests that discussing differences of opinion on politically charged topics can bring us closer together in our viewpoints.

  Here is a link to the article of the above title. At the end of the article are additional links for further reflection. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• Knox County Fourth Wednesday MEET-UP

  • When
    08/26/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Corner 16, 9637 Kroger Park Dr
Knoxville, TN 37922

  Come join an informal gathering for food and conversation at the Corner 16 Restaurant, 9637 Kroger Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37922 near Pellissippi and Northshore.

  If you are interested in seeing the menu beforehand, you can check it out here.  

  Disregard the notice below about forwarding this email. Feel free to share with others who may be interested. 

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• TVUUC Movie Night

  • When
    09/12/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    TVUUC - Elandria Williams Room

  RET has long wanted to have a regular Movie Night. While we don't have the resources to arrange one, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. We can join the folks at TVUUC for theirs. 
  

  Science Fiction Club Movie Night

  When: Saturday, August 8, 2026 6:00pm - 9:00pm

  Where: Elandria Williams Room
  Building/Room: Elandria Williams Room

  Every 2nd Saturday of the month a different film is offered by the club. We share snacks and conversation and usually take a collection to provide pizza for those interested. No need to RSVP, please join us.

   Contact Person: Janette Kennedy, janettemkennedy@gmail.com

  Show details
• TVUUC Movie Night

  • When
    10/10/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    TVUUC-Elandria Williams Room

  RET has long wanted to have a regular Movie Night. While we don't have the resources to arrange one, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. We can join the folks at TVUUC for theirs. 
  

  Science Fiction Club Movie Night

  When: Saturday, August 8, 2026 6:00pm - 9:00pm

  Where: Elandria Williams Room
  Building/Room: Elandria Williams Room

  Every 2nd Saturday of the month a different film is offered by the club. We share snacks and conversation and usually take a collection to provide pizza for those interested. No need to RSVP, please join us.

   Contact Person: Janette Kennedy, janettemkennedy@gmail.com

  Show details