At the Minnesota Atheists meeting today, I was nominated for the position of Associate President for the coming year. Since I was the only person nominated for the position, I’ll be starting in March, even though the elections aren’t for a month.
I wasn’t expecting this, even as recently as a month or so ago. I volunteer, particularly with the radio show, and I talk shop with board members. Still, I didn’t see myself becoming one. Then, “Would you consider running for the board?”
…and I discovered I had things I wanted to do and resources that could help. After the last year, I know a lot of people in the broader atheist community, and I’ve had a lot of discussions about where people and organizations have set their priorities. I think those kinds of talks (and these people) are interesting, but they also turn out to constitute networking. In an situation where we have lots of organizations with overlapping goals and constituencies, this turns out to be useful.
I also want to work on membership. Minnesota Atheists has plenty of participants in our various events, but our paid membership is much smaller. This isn’t surprising, as we’ve rarely told people about the value of membership–or offered one. We can fix this, and we can do it without adding cost for people who aren’t members because they can’t afford to be.
Then there’s the conference. It’s ambitious to put on our own conference just a year after hosting one with American Atheists. We can do it, though. We’ve already started talking about how to open it to new audiences…and how to keep from competing with SkepTech, which will be only four months before. Save the date: August 10 for the conference, August 9 for the baseball game. Both will be fun. Both have something new to offer this year.
Finally, as far as my current priorities go, there is always the radio show. We’re working on ways to create steadier funding, so both we and the station can plan for the future.
So expect to see more Minnesota Atheists business here on the blog. Not only am I excited for the next year, but this is going to take free time I don’t really have. If I’m going to keep up the blog, there will have to be some multitasking. 
15 comments
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Pteryxx
January 20, 2013 at 9:33 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congratulations! (and conga rats, if you’re a fan of rats.)
I’m interested to see your writing about how the business actually gets done.
Miriam, Professional Fun-Ruiner
January 21, 2013 at 12:23 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congratulations! *hugs*
Fizzing thru da Fizzics
January 21, 2013 at 1:33 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Woohooo, and a few extra woos. Congratulations from down here as well.
F [nucular nyandrothol]
January 21, 2013 at 3:45 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Fantastic!
Giliell, professional cynic
January 21, 2013 at 3:47 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congratulations!
sheila
January 21, 2013 at 5:45 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Way to go! I think you’ll do a great job.
left0ver1under
January 21, 2013 at 7:10 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
With the position comes the power to influence policy for the better (re: the nonsense going on at JREF). No doubt SZ will put it to good use.
glodson
January 21, 2013 at 9:12 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congratulations!
theobromine
January 21, 2013 at 10:32 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congrats! (What’s with all these women in leadership positions of atheist organizations anyway? I thought it was a “guy thing”.)
Steve Caldwell
January 21, 2013 at 11:03 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congrats!!
edithkeeler
January 21, 2013 at 4:06 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congratulations!
smhll
January 21, 2013 at 7:07 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Yeah, if you make paid membership more obviously appealing, then when the economy turns around and people have spare money you’ll probably see a delayed positive movement in membership rates.
sisu
January 22, 2013 at 8:52 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congrats, Stephanie! The conference date is saved. And about membership…
I’ve donated to the radio fund in the past, but yeah, this describes me. I look forward to having you change my mind about the value of official membership.
kaboobie
January 22, 2013 at 9:42 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congratulations, Stephanie! I am sure you will achieve good results and help make your organization a model for others.
chasstewart
January 22, 2013 at 3:13 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congratulations! I bet this will be a very rewarding position. I love your ideas for the convention and baseball game (hope you flesh that out later. Is it a fundraising idea or just community?) and wish you the very best luck. If it wasn’t for a creative individual like yourself (William Poire) Oklahoma would still be without a convention and probably no one would see the need for it but it’s been a smashing success so far. That leads me to believe that Minnesota will be incredibly grateful for being so bold. May you encounter the least amount of headaches as possible along the way.