Nathan Hevenstone has started a petition to get American television stations to air some of Richard Dawkins’ documentaries on American television.

If you’re interested in signing the petition, please visit his petition page.

The American Atheists billboard is now up, on rt 495 @ Kennedy Bvd (on the NJ side of the Lincoln Tunnel). The purpose of the billboard is threefold:
1) To address those atheists who “go along to get along”, and to encourage them to come out of their closets
2) To attack the myth that Christianity owns the solstice season
3) To raise the awareness of the organization and the movement.

For more information, visit our Xmas page or watch our Viewpoint!

Hi All,

I am compiling a video montage for the web page, and I need your help! Please create a video of yourself saying “I am an American Atheist” and send it to videos@atheists.org. I will be posting the montage on the web soon, hopefully before Thanksgiving. 5 random winners will receive a free Dawkins DVD.

Hurry, and THANKS!

Dave Silverman
President

* Sending the video implies consent to posting and conveys ownership of the clip to American Atheists.

While this is a slight departure from our usual practice, I am reposting this plea for support from our friend Margaret Downey, former president of Atheist Alliance and founder of the Freethought Society. This is not an official American Atheists position.
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The Chester County Commissioner’s Office is considering passing “Resolution 58-10” which will “revoke” and rescind all private unattended winter holiday season displays on the Chester County Historic Courthouse property. A vote will be taken on the morning of Thursday, November 18, 2010.

The resolution expresses the Chester County Commissioners’ desire to “own, erect and maintain its own seasonal holiday displays to celebrate the traditions of the holidays.” The resolution states that the Commissioners desire “to celebrate peace and foster and promote commerce.”

The passage of Resolution 58-10 would authorize the “County to acquire such holiday decorations and displays and erect and maintain such decorations and displays as it determines appropriate on the grounds of the Chester County Historic Courthouse consistent with and as otherwise constitutionally permitted by applicable law.”

The problem is that it is highly unlikely that the secular/nontheist community will have any representation at all in a display supervised and implemented by the Chester County Commissioners. A future display of the Freethought Society’s (FS) Tree of Knowledge, therefore, is in jeopardy.

Over the last three years, many citizens in Chester County have appreciated the presence of the Tree of Knowledge as a positive and beautiful symbol of what is important in their lives.

The FS Tree of Knowledge display conveys to passersby that there exists in America a strong united minority of nontheists which include Freethinkers, Atheists, Secular Humanists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Rationalists, Ethical Culturalists and Humanists.

Similar to most citizens, winter is a special time for the secular community to celebrate family, the beauty of the natural world, the changing of the seasons, our community culture and the power of knowledge. The Tree of Knowledge represents the many contributions nontheists have made to society and has become an anticipated tradition.

FS has only one day to rally voices of concern. The Chester County Commissions must hear from as many people as possible that Resolution 58-10 should not pass. The Commissioners must hear from you before the end of business Wednesday, as they intend to vote on this resolution on Thursday morning.

A few talking points are:

1. Ask the commissioners NOT to pass Resolution 58-10, which will unfairly exclude many different groups

2. Ask the Commissioners to keep the Tree of Knowledge as a participant in the Holiday Display in order to include all citizens of Chester County.

Send email messages to:

Carol Aichele – caichele@chesco.org
Terence Farrell – tfarrell@chesco.org
Kathi Cozzone – kcozzone@chesco.org

Phone calls can be made to:

(610) 344-6100

For further information, contact:

Margaret Downey
Founder and President
The Freethought Society
Secular Officiant
Phone: (610) 793-2737
Fax: (610) 793-2569
Cell: (610) 357-9432
Email: Margaret@ftsociety.org

American Atheists
http://atheists.org
North Alabama Freethought Association
http://thenafa.org

American Atheists, in association with the North Alabama Freethought Association presents…

Southeast Regional Atheist Meet (SERAM)

The SERAM will be held on January 29th and 30th in beautiful downtown Huntsville, Alabama at the Holiday Inn Downtown across from Big Spring Park and the Huntsville Museum of Art.

The SERAM is designed with an emphasis on local groups and local atheists. The speakers, workshops, panels, and more are designed with YOU in mind at the local level. If you live in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina… or anywhere for that matter, then the SERAM is for you! You’ll hear from a great lineup discussing items of great interest to the local atheist and local atheist groups.

SPEAKERS:
Dave Silverman: President of American Atheists
Edwin Kagin: National Legal Director for American Atheists and author of Baubles of Blasphemy
Sean Faircloth: Executive Director of Secular Coalition of America
Brother Richard: Director of Atheist Nexus and co-host of the Atheist News Podcast
Blair Scott: Communications Director and National Affiliate Director for American Atheists
Paul Provenza: Actor, comedian, and filmmaker
Local Leaders: Local leaders from across the region will participate in panels discussing the issues important to YOU.

General Admission: Only 250 seats are available, so purchase your tickets now! Tickets are only $40 ($30 for members of American Atheists)! Purchase tickets online.

Fund-Raising Dinner: On the night of January 29th we will be hosting a Fund-Raising Dinner where ticket-holders will be able to dine with Paul Provenza, Dave Silverman, Edwin Kagin, Sean Faircloth, Brother Richard, and Blair Scott. Tickets are $100 and include your meal. There are only 25 seats available, so order your Fund-Raising Dinner tickets now! Purchase tickets online.

Tentative Schedule (Details coming!):
January 28th: 7 p.m. – Early Registration and hang out in the hotel bar for drinks and conversation.
January 29th: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Speakers and panels.
January 30th: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Workshops, panels, live podcasts, and more!

HOTEL: The SERAM will be held at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Huntsville, Alabama. The hotel is across the street from Big Spring Park and within walking distance to the downtown square with bars and restaurants. There is plenty of parking at the Holiday Inn Downtown, so if you want to stay at another hotel somewhere else to save money and drive in both mornings you can certainly do so! You can make reservations online.