From the Office of Blair Scott
National Affiliate Outreach Director &
Alabama State Director, American Atheists, Inc.
PO Box 41, Ryland, AL 35767-2000
Office: (256) 701-6265     Cell: (256) 503-1123
bscott@atheists.org www.atheists.org/al/

December 8, 2009

To American Atheists’ Affiliates

American Atheists’ Affiliate of the Year, 2010

Each year American Atheists gives out an award for Affiliate of the Year at the American Atheists Convention held over Easter weekend. This year the American Atheists Convention is being held April 2-4 in Elizabethtown, New Jersey.

In prior years, the award was given away to a random Affiliate. In 2008, as the National Affiliate Director, Blair Scott changed the criteria for Affiliate of the Year to mean something: an award for hard work and dedication to the cause of Atheism: even if that means the same group gets it multiple years in a row.

This year, while the criteria remain basically the same, Mr. Scott made a few adjustments. Mr. Scott made the changes because there are simply too many Affiliates to go to each group’s Web Page and check calendars, newsletters, etc. This year, groups that are interested in participating will send Mr. Scott a “résumé.” For groups that do not want to participate, please do not hesitate to nominate a fellow Affiliate group that you think is deserving of the award.

Instead of doing a standardized form where American Atheists has to worry about software compatibility issues, we are simply going to list what is needed from participating groups.  Groups can send their résumé to Blair Scott via email at bscott@atheists.org or alabamaatheist@gmail.com (Mr. Scott will send you a verification of receipt).

What do the judges look for?

1. Events, activism, or programs that promote a positive image of atheists and atheism (public events, parades, editorials, etc).
2. Events, activism, or programs that advance science and reason (Darwin Day, etc.)
3. Charitable works or some other social programs or events (such as blood drives, feeding the homeless, donations, etc.)
4. Provides a social outlet for local atheists (in addition to regular monthly meetings – unless they are exclusively social)
5. Activism for the separation of church and state and civil rights of non-theists (protests, demonstrations, letter-writing, action alerts, etc)

Groups do not have to meet all five criteria to qualify. Judges will be looking for groups that do as much as possible or the best job of doing a few of them.

Qualifying events, programs, activism, etc. should be between the months of April 2009 through December 2009. Packages should be delivered to Blair Scott no later than January 15, 2010 (submit to bscott@atheists.org or alabamaatheist@gmail.com).

What needs to be submitted?

1. Group name
2. Group point of contact (who American Atheists should contact directly if the group is chosen): name, telephone number, and email address
3. Whether or not there will be a representative from the group at the American Atheists Convention in April (representatives do not have to be present to receive the award, but it is always nice to be able to give the award to someone that represents the group (this can be a general member and does not have to be someone of leadership in the group)
4. Please provide a separate listing for each of the five criteria (it is understood that some events will qualify for multiple criteria, but explain how the event did so). Be specific and list as many details as you can.

American Atheists is honored to count all of the Affiliates as friends and allies in the fight for the separation of church and state and civil rights for non-theists. The judges are looking forward to receiving each group’s résumé and seeing everything that is being done across the United States.

Posted by Blair Scott

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