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

In the worst possible weather — cold rain and sleet — About 100 people joined me in Trenton yesterday to brave the elements and protest in favor of gay marriage in NJ. We stood there and shivered, hovering under each other’s umbrellas while we heard stories from gay and lesbian couples, singles, and their supporters in an attempt to show our dedication to the cause of marriage equality.

The press didn’t show, and neither did most of the 400+ confirmed attendees, probably dues to the weather. I’m always disappointed when the press doesn’t show in a protest in the rain. It’s one thing to get 400 people on a nice day, but it’s MORE impressive to get 100 in the rain.

At any rate, we huddled together and did our thing. I can’t find any articles in any papers on the event. I really just hope we were heard.

Thanks to Garden State Equality for inviting me to speak.

Below is a snippet of the nearly-final draft of the speech I am planning to give tomorrow at the Marriage Equality Demonstration in Trenton.

…marriage equality is not JUST a civil rights issue, if there is any such thing as JUST a civil rights issue, it’s also a separation of church and state issue. The reason nobody is offering any logical reasons against marriage equality is because there ARE no logical reasons to be against it. The only reason that anyone opposes marriage equality is religion, and American Atheists, as staunch supporters of the separation of church and state, are eager to step in and do our best to make sure that religion doesn’t make laws.

Here are the details of the event:

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Location: In front of the State House
Street: 125 West State Street
City/Town: Trenton, NJ

The “Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act” (S1967/A2978) is likely to be taken up by the New Jersey state legislature in the coming weeks, and Governor Corzine has promised to sign the bill if it reaches his desk. Governor-elect Christie, however, has stated that he would veto any marriage equality bill. It is imperative that this bill be signed into law during the lame-duck session of the legislature; i.e., before January 19.

Opponents of same-sex marriage recently took to the streets in Trenton, grabbing the media spotlight on this issue.

THE TIME IS NOW to show our support for marriage equality in our state!

On December 5, join hundreds of LGBT rights activists and supporters in Trenton, NJ, to demand marriage equality!

After threatening to boycott the GAP because they had the audacity to mention the Solstice and Chanukah in their “happy holidays” ad, the AFA is now claiming victory because the GAP apparently succumbed to pressure from THEM.

Except they didn’t.

The new ad, launched by GAP subsidiary Old Navy, doesn’t mention these other holidays by name. This is at least true, but it does talk about ‘the holidays’ (it’s actually in the title of the commercial) and it stays very far from implying the bigoted exclusivity for which the AFA yearns.

And by the way, the old ad is still airing, so the AFA truly lost in their effort to own the whole season in the GAP’s eyes.

The AFA lost a battle it shouldn’t have started. Bigotry is on the decline, as is Christian hatred. This new ad is harmless and silly, and stays far from solemnizing the “true meaning of Christmas” like the AFA wanted.

The good guys won. The bad guys folded. Go Solstice.

Sign up now if you want to attend the New Jersey or Michigan Solstice events!

These Solstice parties are great and inexpensive ways to meet other atheists and reconnect with old friends. Membership is not required, so bring friends!