AMERICAN ATHEISTS To members and Supporters of AMERICAN ATHEISTS… Dear friends, I want to take this opportunity to tell you about some of the important changes now taking place at American Atheists. Following over 13 years of outstanding service to American Atheists and the cause of State-Church Separation, Ellen Johnson is no longer President of the organization.. Her tenure in this position was marked by some of the most amazing and historic events in our movement’s history. She stepped in following the tragic disappearance of our founder, Madalyn Murray O’Hair and her family, and oversaw the relocation of the American Atheist Center and Charles E. Stevens American Atheist Library and Archives (CESAALA) to New Jersey. She organized the Godless Americans March on Washington, and brought together our nation’s diverse and sometimes fractious community of Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and other nonbelievers. She testified twice before the National Commission on Civil Rights, and made hundreds of media appearances on prime time and cable news TV programs. Ellen also mobilized Atheists and other secularists throughout the nation to speak out on the vital First Amendment issues of our time. And with all of this, she managed to coordinate the hectic daily activities here at the American Atheist Center. In the spirit of obtaining all that she (and any other Atheist) can from one life the elegant, energetic and outspoken Ms. Johnson will now focus her passions on anew adventure. Just what that might be we do not yet know. We know, however, that it will be something splendid! Ellen, who will remain on the Board of Directors, is succeeded by long-time member Frank Zindler. There have been three presidents of American Atheists since its founding over four decades ago — Madalyn Murray O’Hair; her successor and son, Jon Garth Murray; and since 1995, Ellen Johnson. They left, as the saying goes “big shoes to fill.” We are confident that Frank is fully prepared for this new challenging role. He has a distinguished academic career as a former biology professor, linguist and bible-era historian. He has authored numerous books and articles dealing with a wide range of subjects, everything from the alleged historicity of Jesus to the on-going controversy over teaching creationism in our public schools. His tenure as an activist with American Atheists goes back over 30 years. Frank is a nationally-recognized speaker and debater, and has served as an eloquent spokesperson for our organization. Frank Zindler will serve as President Pro Temp until a suitable replacement for this office is found. The day-to-day operations at the American Atheist Center will continue — and so will our activism! Other Officers and Directors will be staying on as well. Dave Silverman, who has done an outstanding job as our Communications Director, will continue to be the “public face” of American Atheists, working closely with Frank to make sure that our message gets out to the media and others who shape public opinion. Board member Edwin Kagin will remain in his important post as National Legal Director, The American Atheist magazine and all of the other benefits of membership will continue. And so will our efforts to represent you in the important fight for state-church separation, Reason and the civil rights of Atheists. We’re hitting the ground running, folks! The baton is passed — and we’ll continue our all-important work. Thanking you in advance for your support! The Board of Directors, AMERICAN ATHEISTS
Generations of ServiceMurderer Dies in PrisonSomething OldSomething NewSo Help Me Nobody -- Court affirmationsSix Myths about MMOHSeparation of Church and State, A RebuttalSchool Prayer FAQsSchool Prayer Decision (Madalyn Murray O’Hair)Spirits, Souls, and ClonesSponsor the ShowSusan B. AnthonyTestimony to US Civil Rights CommissionTexas State PageThe 10C's V. NeutralityThe Atheist: Madalyn's BiographyThe Battle is JoinedThe Battle of PhiladelphiaRushdie Missing from Book FairRock of Ages and the Age of RocksRobert OwenMythicist PrizeNativity - The origins of the Birth of JesusNazareth, Faith, and the Dark OptionNo More Ham -- A look at several Black Atheist LeadersNoahs Flood -- DebateOdd InquiriesOn WeddingsOther Gods that Look a LOT Like JesusPledge of AllegiancePledge of Allegiance - Dave's LetterPre-Christian Christmas Stories with Other GodsRaising Children Without GodRed Herring Rushdie IRed Herring Rushdie IIReligion Tax Office OpenedRoadside CrossesRobert G. Ingersoll The Black Atheists of The Harlem RenaissanceThe Cons of Charitable ChoiceTo Bash or Not to BashTom Cruise Pushes for FBI Funding for ScientologyTop Ten Atheist MythsVolunteers NeededWas Jesus a Jew?Was Jesus InventedWatch the Words!Wedding VowsWhat is the object of life? by Grant AllenWhat is Wrong with a Few Harmless Prayers?What to ask Preachers and MissionariesWhere Jesus Never WalkedWhite House Expands Faith-Based InitiativesWho are the freethinkers?Why I am an Infidel: Luther BurbankWhy is Religiosity so Hard to CureWhy the Truth About Nazareth is ImportantTill Death Do Us Part?Thomas Alva Edison: An Introduction by Frank Zindler Thomas Alva Edison: 1911 Columbian InterviewThe Creator BillThe DisappearanceThe Enlightenment, Freemasonry, and The IlluminatiThe Final Taboo: Electing AtheistsThe Good Old DaysThe Hon. Atheist Governor: Culbert L. Olson.The Inconsistency of TheismThe Kiwi QuestionThe Logic of Death by George J. Holyoake The Myth of Nazareth, Does it Really Matter?The Question of Atheists HospitalsThe Roots of AtheismThe School Prayer DecisionThe Science of CreationismThe Wild World of CreationismTheopolitics of the Rushdie CaseThomas Alva Edison 1910 NYT InterviewWinning an Unwinnable DebateChristianity, Its Nature and Influence on Civilisation by Charles Watts Christians in UniformCircuit Court Rules for "Aphorisms"Congress Rushes to preserve Clergy Tax BreaksContradictions in the BibleConvencion en espanolConvention 2010 ScheduleCourt Probing Parsonage TaxCowardice of the WestCreation Science and the FACT of EvolutionCreationism: Reversing ScienceCreator Bill TextDave's Favorite Biblical InconsistenciesDebate: Is Creationism Science (Zindler / Gish)Did Jesus Exist?Edwin C. Walker: American AtheistErnestine Rose: A Troublesome FemaleCharles WattsCase is Solved12 Further Fictions from the NTA Declaration of Mental Independence, by Robert Owen Abner KneelandAgainst the 10 Commandments in PublicAgnosticism: The Basis for AtheismAims and PrinciplesAlabamaAmerican Atheists Legal PhilosophyAn Atheist's Guide to MohammedanismAtheism by O'HairAtheism: Madalyn Murray O'Hair 1962 speechAtheist Director Wins Creche CaseAtheist MusiciansAtheist StationAtheist WeddingsBiblical ContradictionsBigotry Worst Against AtheistsEthics Without GodsFCC Religion HoaxMoslem Violence in BrittainInterview: Douglas AdamsJames Lick Jesus MythKeep Politics Out Of The Pulpit or Lose Tax-Exempt Status: Opinion Kentucky Homeland Security LawsuitKersey GravesLessons from The Satanic VersesmaMA Church Dismayed over DisplayMaculate Deception: The "Science" of CreationsimMangasar Magurditch Mangasarian Mary Faker Eddy -- Christian ScienceMOMormonismInaccurate Founding Father QuotesHurricane Katrina Boosts FBIGod on OUR MoneyFree WillFrom the Mouths of CreationistsFundamentalismFunerals - Dying an AtheistGeorge J. Holyoake - The last man in England tried for Atheism George J. Holyoake by Madalyn Murray O'HairGod in OUR PledgeGrant Allen How Jesus Got a LifeHang the Commandments -- All 30 of ThemHubert Henry Harrison: The Black Socrates aboutlawatheismFaith of the Founding Fathersreligionpoliticsyouth & familymilitarymediaLibraryeventsStoreJoin & Supportorphans
Ellen Johnson has been a great president and will be missed.
I’m happy that she will remain on the board of directors.
Thank you Ellen for your service. Good luck in whatever you choose to to do now. I’m glad you will remain on the Board of Directors.
I’m sure Frank will make an excellent President Pro Temp. Thank you Frank, for stepping in. I think Frank, if willing, would be a good candidate for the permanent position. But I would be interested to know who else the board might be considering. I don’t suppose we will be privy to that info?
Thank you Ellen, Frank and Dave!
thanks Ellen glad to see you stay on the board,glad to see Dave will remain at post.Frank is a good choice.looks like a strong team is moving forward.
I’m sorry to see Ellen Johnson step down, but of course glad she’s staying on the board. As I read down the announcement I wondered who would step in, and I was pleased to see Frank Zindler’s name. I have the same confidence in Mr. Zindler that I had in Ms. Johnson.
Thanks to both of you for your past and future service!
Thank you Ellen Johnson, Frank Zindler, and Dave Silverman.
Thanks very much, Ellen, for your efforts on behalf of atheists everywhere. And good luck, Frank – I hope that you are successful in your search, and also in your leadership during the interim while you search for a new prez.
Good luck to all, and thanks for your service!
My thanks to Ellen Johnson for her past service. I would respectfully suggest that it is a good thing for any organization to have a change of leadership on a very regular basis in order to bring in new ideas and different perspectives.
I am not suggesting at all that this is the case with American Atheists, because I really don’t know anything about the inner workings…but…an organization, especially a membership type organization, that is led by “big shoes” can have the tendency to get off track or swayed too much by whoever is in those oversized zapatas. Just my two cents.
Thanks Ellen. I think that you were an excellent president.
This announcement was a bit of a shock to me. Could Dave elaborate?
Thank you for your service, Ellen! You did a very admirable job.
I was fortunate enough to be amongst about 10 other people to enjoy a dinner/meeting with her, one beautiful June evening. She was very gracious, intelligent, and everything you’d expect her to be. After I met her, I was reassured knowing she was at the helm of AA.
Personally, I think Frank will do a great job, trying to fill those ’shoes’.
What,
I’m not a board member, and so I have little knowledge as to “what happened”. All I know is that it DID happen, we’re all still friends, and Ellen remains on our board.
I also know Frank has some pretty big shoes to fill until we bring in Ellen’s permanent replacement — but Frank has pretty big feet!
Dave
Thanks. Please keep us posted if you get any reliable info about what happened.
OT
Americans are more willing to make sacrifices to stop the occupation than they are willing to make sacrifices to continue it.
Sorry to see Ellen go, but I’m sure Frank will do a good job.
Good luck in the future, Ellen. We certainly don’t see eye to eye on everything, but I think you did some very important work for AA.
I’m also excited about Frank. I’ve always enjoyed his articles.
Wow Dave…kind of modest…eh?
Comment from: What
Union workers taking a day off? And you’re impressed?
And you wonder why the NAFTA super highway is being forced upon us…
Doing the Freedom Walk is definitely a great way to end over thirteen years of service as president.
I was considering going to the ‘08 convention, but ultimately couldn’t go. I would have liked to hear Ellen speak. Hopefully she’ll speak at the ‘09 convention.
I’m new to the community, but as a marketing type, this is an awful announcement. The focus should be on the organization and the future with a polite note about the past. I’m sure Ellen did excellent work, but this release is a bit like Bill stumping for Hillary. It should be about where we’re going, not where we’ve been.
Is Mr. Zindler not a candidate to be Ms. Johnson’s permanent replacement?
vinny:
I disagree. Ellen was an excellent president and was in that position for a long time, so it’s perfectly appropriate to give an overview of her history with American Atheists.
I cast my vote for Dave Silverman to take over as the new official president. He would certainly be missed in his communications role, but he is EXCELLENT in that regard, (as well as obviously devoted to the atheist cause), and strong communication skills are a key (the key?) requirement to lead this organization, IMHO.
What do you think?
I’m glad to see Frank Zindler president pro temp and sorry to see Ellen Johnson go. Glad to know Ellen Johnson will still be on the Board of Directors. My thanks to Ellen Johnson and best wishes to Frank Zindler.
deleted
OT Alert
Everyday. As I have said here before John “Keating Five” McCain’s price for supporting the invasion of Iraq was the GOP nomination in 2008.
Whoopsy
davidmabus:
wtf are you talking about???
If I am not mistaken, you are very sick. Get some help.
Davidmabus is spamming the world with that crap. It has absolutely no value.
I hope the true story of Ellen’s departure is forthcoming.
She was capable in ways I can’t imagine any other Atheist individual could be in the position of President of American Atheists.
She is attractive, very bright, quick witted, pleasant, attractive, very intelligent, very well spoken, impeccably credentialed, caring, with a great sense of humor, attractive, dedicated and I can’t imagine a more perfect fit for the job. And, did I mention attractive ?
Is the Board required to release a statement as to the reason(s) for their action ? Anyone know ?
Comment from: dhappleby [Member]
I cast my vote for Dave Silverman to take over as the new official president. He would certainly be missed in his communications role, but he is EXCELLENT in that regard, (as well as obviously devoted to the atheist cause), and strong communication skills are a key (the key?) requirement to lead this organization, IMHO.
I second the nomination. Dave would make an excellent president.
(don’t kill me, Dave)
Ellen Johnson is one in a million. I was proud to be an American Atheist with her representing us in the media. She is smart, beautiful, well-spoken, quick on the uptake, stylish, empathic,and extremely intelligent. She is the image I want for women Atheists everywhere. Why can’t she stay on as spokeswoman for AA?
This new troll David Mabus is actually one Dennis Markuze from Montreal, QB and is a bat shit crazy Nostradamus believer who spams atheist sites everday claiming that Randi owes hima million dollars for proving that the supernatural is real. The only way to deal with someone of this magnitude of mental delusion is to ignore him totally.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/05/the_recent_mabus_incursion.php
Dave…in all seriousness…
Would you please post Ellen’s top 5 achievements since she became president of AA?
If I were to read between the lines, I’d say the board voted her out because of the declining membership and dues coming into AA…
Spinfusor, I respect your opinion on Ellen since as a newbie I have no basis to have one. But one of the things I hope to bring to the table is a view to improving our competitiveness in this marketplace of ideas in which we are greatly outnumbered in quantity (if not quality or sanity). I came across this post today on another blog. I think it does a much better job at expressing this point than I can. I’ve met Jeff a few times and I think he makes a very important point about marketing the “product”.
Atheist Ethicist: E2.0: Jeff Hawkins: Entrepreneurial Atheism
To reiterate the point, a press release is for external consumption and should be forward looking. Featuring Ellen first is better suited to the internal messaging like newsletters.
-vinny
oops… Here’s the link…
http://atheistethicist.blogspot.com/2008/05/e20-jeff-hawkins-entrepreneurial.html
@vinny:
But this is not a press release. Right at the beginning it says, “To members and Supporters of AMERICAN ATHEISTS.”(original emphasis)
As a member, I would much rather read a personal notice from the board than a press release.
The blog post you linked to was interesting, but the author made a remark (after the post in a comment) that troubles me:
Sorry, I forgot to put a / in the closing blockquote tag.
There I go making an ass out of myself again.
(Sorry, I forgot to put a / in the closing blockquote tag.)
I promise that this is the last time.
Comment from: phreedm
And you wonder why the NAFTA super highway is being forced upon us…
Actually, I’ve always wondered how anyone can believe that the NAFTA highway propaganda operation could be considered as being reality-based by a functioning human being. I guess now I know all it takes it a bit of that good ole pagan supersition…
If you were ever able to read through any lines, phreakshow, you’d realize that your opinions are absolutely worthless around here, and your condescending religious insanity about atheists is only good for amusement purposes. Oh – and that most of the people here think you’re a pompous a$$ who runs away from arguments like a bedwetting coward when anyone asks you to, you know, provide some sort of proof for your wild a$$ innuendo and unfounded allegations.
If you could read between the lines after over two years of futilely peddling your sanctimonious occult nonsense here, that is…
Suck it, jeebus phreak!
Further to Spinfusor’s comment:
The phrase for a non-permanent replacement is “pro tem” – not “pro temp”. Please fix
cjn
Am I just being paranoid, or is it odd that the end of Ellen’s tenure as president of AA came when she was out in the middle of nowhere (sorry AL and MS) on the freedom walk – an endeavor that the AA board of directors decided not to fund?
I’m not to happy with the board’s decision about the walk. It may be something of a stunt, but it’s a pretty good one. I’ve been thinking about whether or not to renew my membership this year and the walk had me convinced to re-up. Until I found out the board was against it, that is.
And apparently the board didn’t bother to tell anybody but Ellen that she was on her own, because we were told on this blog that if we wanted to give money to help fund the walk we should just donate to AA. I did that and found out later that AA isn’t funding the walk after all. I’m pretty ticked off about that.
I know I don’t deserve a full explanation of Ellen’s departure from the AA presidency. I’m not important, I’m not active in the movement, all I do is pay my membership dues every year. But I do want an explanation, I think it is in AA’s best interest to provide one, and I’m probably done with AA if they don’t.
Are you all kidding? Obviously Ellen was fired and we will probably never know why, really. I wonder how long she’ll remain on the Board. It would be nice if the Board told us why she was so swiftly and unceremoniously dismissed but that is unlikely. A President Pro Tem is ok but Frank Zindler, while a wonderful man and dedicated atheist, is not the right person for this job. American Atheists needs a young, dynamic, new face.
I agree that Dave Silverman would be a terrific president but doubt he wants the job.
jeff_r:
My blockquote ability is inadequate. As is this explanation:
I’d think that if they didn’t force her out, they could have at least waited until she got back.
I can answer for all of the members of AA why Ellen is no longer President.
The truth is that she was fired by the Board of Directors while in the middle of the Freedom Walk. No warning was given, just that she was to either resign or she would be fired. There is no logical or good reason for this action. If anyone has any questions for Ellen you may email her at Elljhns8@aol.com. I dont think she is on the Board of Directors either.
As members of this organization, I would start asking a lot of questions of YOUR Board of Directors. Ellen decicated her life you all of you and brought this organization to where it is today, continually working on making it bigger and better for all.
This is the truth of the matter, please do not believe any other stories you may hear.
Folks,
Things here are in a state of flux — please be patient with the news updates. You’ll know when I know.
As of now, Ellen is still on the board and an active member at that.
Jeff-R I believe that was my mistake. Please contact me off-line with the details of your donation and I’ll fix it.
To the Board of Directors of American Atheists,
This e-mail is from one of your members who takes his atheism very seriously and who also has left christianity (intentional lower case “c”) and all other god-belief systems for many of the same reasons all of you most likely have.
That of a lack of ethics, a lack of truth, and a lack of personal accountability and responsibility for any wrong doing. It is with great sadness that I have to write this, as I am probably only one of a handful of members who are privy to the REAL TRUTH as to Ellen’s “departure” as your board so carefully and craftily worded it on your website.
I am making a personal plea to all of you to not do to Ellen Johnson what you are planning to do.
Since I do not have a “personal god” to appeal too, I call upon the memory of Socrates and Plato and yes, of Madelyn Murray O’Hair herself….. ALL WHO STOOD FOR UNQUESTIONABLE TRUTH AND ETHICAL STANDARDS.
Yes, I have learned the truth from a very reputable source that Ellen Johnson did not resign her position with American Atheists and that she was not asked to “remain on the board” and “agreed to remain”.
No, the TRUTH IS that Ellen Johnson was contacted via phone call from the Board on a “conference call” while she was completing a Freedom Walk FOR AMERICAN ATHEISTS and was unceremoniously FIRED from her position as President of the Organization.
I ASK THIS BOARD ON THE NAME AND ETHICS OF MADELYN MURRAY O’HAIR, SOCRATES, PLATO, AND……ROBERT INGERSOLL, THOMAS PAINE, CLARENCE DARROW, RICHARD DAWKINS AND THOMAS HUXLEY AS WELL:
WHY WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO HURT ELLEN IN THIS MANNER?
WHY ARE YOU DOING WHAT IS UNETHICAL AND UNCONSCIONABLE?
Ellen was walking tirelessly on that Freedom Walk all the way from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Jackson, Mississippi on behalf of Atheist Bill Moore who was murdered before he could finish that walk.
Ellen was taking the stand that she has always done for all of Atheists. Again and again she has been the VISIBLE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN ATHEIST.
How can any of you in good conscience, call Ellen and FIRE HER over the telephone as she was being the VOICE OF YOU AND HELPING THE ATHEIST CAUSE??
Then you LIE TO THE MEMBERS OF AMERICAN ATHEISTS AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AS WELL?
Ellen DID NOT resign. How DARE you tell lies!
YOU TELL ME JUST WHO YOU ARE GOING TO FIND TO REPLACE ELLEN JOHNSON THAT WILL HAVE THE WORK ETHIC THAT WOMAN HAS, AND WHO HAS INCREASED THE VISIBILITY AND RESPECT, YES, RESPECT FOR ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS ACROSS THIS NATION?
WHO IS GOING TO ORGANIZE ANOTHER GODLESS AMERICAN’S MARCH ON WASHINGTON?
WHO IS AS COMMITTED AS ELLEN TO APPEARING ON HUNDREDS OF TELEVISION NEWS BROADCASTS EACH AND EVERY YEAR??
I suppose you will now withdraw my membership in your organization only because I am standing for the truth. So be it. I would not renew anyway, knowing that the woman who sacrificed 30 years of her professional and even personal life for this organization was mistreated in the way you are mistreating her.
Madelyn Murray O’Hair would have plenty to say to all of you.
With the withdrawal of my membership in American Atheists, my sponsorship of your television show will also come to an end as well.
Think very carefully about what you are doing, because THIS FORMER MEMBER WILL NOT BE SILENT.
Very sincerely,
Jack Richter
American Atheist
PS: FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION: *YOU WOULD ALL BE VERY WISE TO ADD ELLEN TO YOUR
ATHEIST ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL: STAFF IMMEDIATELY! I HAVE SEEN THIS ATHEIST
THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY: IN ACTION AND IN ACTIVIST MODE.
RICHARD DAWKINS FOUNDATION: SHE IS FEARLESS AND SHE IS SUPERB.
Dave
This is beginning to stink. Come clean now. You are risking my membership as well.
I want three things:
(1) To hear directly from Ellen if her departure was voluntary or not.
(2) If not then I want to know why she was booted.
(3) The board members names that booted her.
Board of Directors:
IF YOU PULL MY POST, THEN YOU WILL HAVE JUST CONFIRMED MY LOW REGARD FOR YOU.
I SUGGEST YOU LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS, BECAUSE PULLING IT AT THIS POINT WOULD BE LIKE PUTTING BIBLE READING BACK IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IF YOU INTENTIONALLY TAKE THE TRUTH OFF OF A BLOG IT’S THE SAME AS INTENTIONALLY PUTTING LIES INTO
SOCIETY.
Let’s not get too carried away here. I think I posted the first comment that Ellen was fired (an absolute fact), just so you know where I’m coming from.
However, resigning your membership doesn’t really help. It is more important than ever that we REMAIN members and keep the organization strong. Perhaps we want to consider voting in a new board? Let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater!
Where can one get info on Ellen’s march? There is nothing that I see on American Atheists website (not surprisingly!)?