Blair Scott

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Blair Scott

• National Affiliate Director (AA)
• Alabama State Director (AA)
• Facebook MySpace Coordinator (AA)
• Founder, North Alabama Freethought Association
  current Public Relations Director
  
• Director, Alabama Atheist
• Founder, Operation Foxhole Atheists

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American Atheists Affiliates

• How To Increase Membership In Local Organizations

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Increasing Membership

• Online Resources
• MySpace
• Facebook
• Craigs List
• Meetup
• Atheist Forums Web Pages
• Offline Resources
• Advertising in print, LTE, etc.
• Fliers, etc.
• Diversification Cross-Pollination

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Online Resources
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MySpace myspace.com

• Create a MySpace Page for your group.
• MySpace Calendar to advertise events.
• MySpace Bulletins make announcements.
• MySpace Blog posts items of interest.
• Current Mood provides quick updates.
• Finding Local Atheists.

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Create A MySpace
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Use MySpace Calendar
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Use MySpace Bulletins
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Use MySpace Blog
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Use Current Mood
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Finding Atheists In Your Area
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Click the Advanced Tab
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The Advanced Search Screen
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Select Both Sexes
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Change the Age to 68
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50 Miles From Zip Code
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Deselect Name/Photo Only
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Choose Agnostic or Atheist
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Sort Results by Distance
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Click the Update Button
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Search Results
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Facebook facebook.com

• Create a Facebook Group.
• Use Create Related Event Publish
• Setup Officers
• Setup Admin

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Create a Facebook Group
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Example 2
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Use Create Related Event
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A Finished Event
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Setup Officers
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Setup Admin
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Craigs List craigslist.com

• Used to create Events that are available across
  the entire network.

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Login or Create Account
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Post to Classifieds
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Click on event
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Click on events
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Insert Information in Form
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Verify Information Continue
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Enter CAPTCHA
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Tada!
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Meetup atheists.meetup.com

• Why Meetup?
• Check for a group in your area.
• Utilize the Calendar
• Send a note to new members.
• Advertise regular Web Page on Meetup.
• Get American Atheists Sponsorship.

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Why Meetup?

• Heavily used by people looking for groups.
• 30 of members come from Meetup.
• Ready-to-go Web Page tools.
• Automatic communications with members.
• Pages can be personalized.
• Online Forum or Message Board
• Links to Facebook for RSVP

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Check for a local group
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Utilize the Calendar
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Send a Note to New Members
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Advertise Web Page on Meetup
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American Atheists Sponsorship
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Atheist Forums Web Pages

• Get the Word Out and Advertise as Much as
  Possible!

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Atheist Nexusatheistnexus.org
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Freethought Discussion Boardfreeratio.org
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Secular Webinfidels.org
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RichardDawkins.Net
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Offline Resources
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Advertising

• Newspapers expensive but effective if used
  properly.
  
• Weeklies cheaper and targeted audience.
• Classifieds cheaper and less effective.
• Write LTE about an issue and use groups name in
  letter.
  
• Ex Im glad there are groups like the San
  Francisco Atheists to counter creationism.
  
• Indoor Advertising (bus stations, urinals, etc)

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Power of Fliers

• Free Speech Zone at local University.
• Coffee Shops (use business cards, too!)
• Leave at dentist and doctors offices.
• Bulletin Boards where you can find them.

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Diversification of Events

• Diversify Your Meetings
• Picnics draw more families kids
• Coffee Socials draw more college students
• Movie Nights draw more people
• Special trips to science-orientated events, etc.
• Special Events targeted toward families,
  students, teenagers.
  
• Wine Cheese vs. Kegger
• Social Events vs. Activism

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Cross-Pollination

• Work with other groups
• Advertise their events and promote them
• Cross-promotion means more members from other
  groups.
  
• Joint events with other groups in your area or
  state
  
• Group dynamics the three goals
• Separation of Church State
• Civil Rights for Atheists other Non-Theists
• True Freedom of Religion (AKA Freedom from
  Religion)