Comments on: Letter from Prez Zindler http://atheists.org/blog/2008/06/19/letter_from_prez_zindler A Blog of Atheist Thought Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:40:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RedLilac http://atheists.org/blog/2008/06/19/letter_from_prez_zindler/comment-page-1#comment-84726 RedLilac Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-84726 Thank you Frank, for taking time out of your busy hectic life and writing a letter for this blog. Thank you Frank, for taking time out of your busy hectic life and writing a letter for this blog.

]]> By: Chris B http://atheists.org/blog/2008/06/19/letter_from_prez_zindler/comment-page-1#comment-84729 Chris B Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-84729 There are a tiny handful of people in the world who have worked as hard for our cause as the past presidents of American Atheists. It's easy to see why they are heroes to many - they deserve it!<br /> <br /> Yet hard work only gets us so far if our strategy and tactics are ineffective. For example, I am concerned that the organization may be favoring 1960's era protest tactics at the expense of the networking/organizing/group building that has proven far more effective at leading to political change in the modern era. Maybe I'm wrong.<br /> <br /> In any case, the debate should be less about the individual chosen for this position and more about the direction we want to organization to take. I think we should...<br /> <br /> -make recruitment and growth a top focus.<br /> <br /> -have regularly meeting chapters of at least 10 people in every city in the US with a population of more than 100k.<br /> <br /> -develop a culture that can compete with what the megacult offers.<br /> <br /> -keep a big-tent culture where everyone feels welcome. There are a tiny handful of people in the world who have worked as hard for our cause as the past presidents of American Atheists. It’s easy to see why they are heroes to many – they deserve it!

Yet hard work only gets us so far if our strategy and tactics are ineffective. For example, I am concerned that the organization may be favoring 1960′s era protest tactics at the expense of the networking/organizing/group building that has proven far more effective at leading to political change in the modern era. Maybe I’m wrong.

In any case, the debate should be less about the individual chosen for this position and more about the direction we want to organization to take. I think we should…

-make recruitment and growth a top focus.

-have regularly meeting chapters of at least 10 people in every city in the US with a population of more than 100k.

-develop a culture that can compete with what the megacult offers.

-keep a big-tent culture where everyone feels welcome.

]]> By: flanonblvr http://atheists.org/blog/2008/06/19/letter_from_prez_zindler/comment-page-1#comment-84732 flanonblvr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-84732 kudos to the brave folks who have walked/walk in the AA president's shoes. it cannot be easy to take the reins of the "evil" atheist empire and be the chief representative of a group despised and distrusted by so many ignorant xtians and other religiously indoctrinated sheeple. <br /> <br /> so don't be so hard on yourself Frank. whether you would be Madalyn O'Hara's choice or not is irrelevant. you ARE the interim president of AA, so make the most of your opportunity. you may be in it for a while.<br /> <br /> some juju has been ordered up on your behalf. kudos to the brave folks who have walked/walk in the AA president’s shoes. it cannot be easy to take the reins of the “evil” atheist empire and be the chief representative of a group despised and distrusted by so many ignorant xtians and other religiously indoctrinated sheeple.

so don’t be so hard on yourself Frank. whether you would be Madalyn O’Hara’s choice or not is irrelevant. you ARE the interim president of AA, so make the most of your opportunity. you may be in it for a while.

some juju has been ordered up on your behalf.

]]> By: dhappleby http://atheists.org/blog/2008/06/19/letter_from_prez_zindler/comment-page-1#comment-84733 dhappleby Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-84733 Thank you, Frank, for writing such a clear and forthcoming account of what happened (and continues to happen) between Ellen and the board. In my opinion, honesty (even when the truth isn't as pretty and shiny as people would like) is a sign of a strong leader, and it seems clear that our organization is in very good hands. Thank you, Frank, for writing such a clear and forthcoming account of what happened (and continues to happen) between Ellen and the board. In my opinion, honesty (even when the truth isn’t as pretty and shiny as people would like) is a sign of a strong leader, and it seems clear that our organization is in very good hands.

]]> By: Spinfusor http://atheists.org/blog/2008/06/19/letter_from_prez_zindler/comment-page-1#comment-84734 Spinfusor Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-84734 I appreciate this letter, but it's just too late. It should have been posted forty-eight days ago.<br /> <br /> I have to question the judgement of any board member who played a part in the way this situation was handled. That (especially) includes Frank Zindler. I appreciate this letter, but it’s just too late. It should have been posted forty-eight days ago.

I have to question the judgement of any board member who played a part in the way this situation was handled. That (especially) includes Frank Zindler.

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