What is Tampa Bay Skeptics?

Founded in 1988, Tampa Bay Skeptics is a nonprofit educational and scientific organization devoted to the critical examination of paranormal and fringe-science claims, and the dissemination of factual information about such claims. In 2004, TBS became a Special Interest Group of the Center For Inquiry/Tampa.

Particular areas of interest to TBS include UFOs, "psychic" power, astrology, fringe science & medicine, purported miracles and other New Age claims. Our interest in religion is restricted to claims that can be objectively tested and potentially verified, such as "weeping icons" or miraculous healings.

TBS conducts its own investigations, follows the activities of other skeptics groups, monitors the press coverage of the paranormal, and publishes a quarterly newsletter, Tampa Bay Skeptics Report, which is also distributed gratis to members of the press and to many other skeptics groups around the world. TBS also makes its representatives available to local and national media to provide a skeptical voice as a counterweight to the irrationalism and superstition that is increasingly prevalent in the television and print media.

TBS does not reject claims out of hand, but rather is committed to objective and critical inquiry. In this vein, we share the philosophy of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) -- formerly known as CSICOP -- publisher of Skeptical Inquirer  magazine, an international organization that has nurtured the growth of local skeptics groups (such as ours) all over the world.

  TBS's "$1,000 Challenge"

Whenever possible, TBS attempts to put claims to the test. Since 1989 we have had a standing $1,000 Challenge available to anyone able to provide TBS with verifiable scientific proof of any paranormal phenomenon. No one has yet succeeded, but we remain open-minded (though highly skeptical) and desirous of subjecting testable paranormal claims to objective scrutiny. Should anyone ever succeed in a test for TBS, we will arrange for a test by the James Randi Educational Foundation for its $1,000,000 Challenge.

  TBS Executive Council

Terry A. Smiljanich, J.D.  (Chairman)
Jack H. Robinson, Ed.D.  (Vice Chairman)
Gary P. Posner, M.D.   (Founder, Exec. Dir., TBS Report  Editor)
James W. Lett, Ph.D.  (Council at Large)
William W. Hall  (Council at Large)

  Membership in TBS

We encourage those who wish to help further the cause of skepticism to join TBS! You can take your first step, and make a statement about irrationality and superstition at the same time, by writing a check for $15 to cover your first year's dues. Annual membership includes four issues of Tampa Bay Skeptics Report, each snailmailed to you in advance of our quarterly meetings (last Saturday of every March, June, September, and December). Members also receive a 30% discount on any Prometheus Books purchased through TBS.

Make your $15 check payable to "Tampa Bay Skeptics" and mail to: Tampa Bay Skeptics c/o Center For Inquiry/Tampa 5201 W. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 124 Tampa, FL 33609

Or want to simply join our TBS e-mail list(s)? Or order TBS T-shirts? Or join CFI/Tampa?

  TBS Quarterly Meetings

Tampa Bay Skeptics quarterly meetings are generally held on the last Saturday of every March, June, September and December (barring special circumstances) and are open to the public.

Next TBS Quarterly Meeting:

When:
Saturday, September 27, 2008
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.


Where:
Center for Inquiry/Tampa
Bridgeport Center
5201 W. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 124
Tampa     [ Click for Directions ]

Scheduled:  Open Forum/Discussion, video (including parts of Virginia Levy's 1998 "$1,000 Challenge"), plus other fun stuff

. . . And after the meeting, join us for an optional lunch at a local restaurant.

  Contact Us!

Send questions, comments, claims, criticisms, and reports of defective web links to TBS office (see right)
or personally to:

Gary Posner  (Executive Director, Webmaster) Terry Smiljanich  (Chairman)

Phone: (813) 849-7571 Fax: (813) 849-7572