This Week

In this message:

• Meet Our New Design Intern
• LLS Pizza Party Winners
• Service Projects

Meet Our New Design Intern

We are proud to announce Liz Dudek as our new graphic design intern for this summer. Liz grew up as a devout Christian around the area of Dallas, TX. It wasn't until she found the Secular Students at Collin College that she felt comfortable exploring her doubts and skepticism. She has her Associate of Science from Collin College and plans to attend the University of North Texas and major in either Public Relations or International Relations.

LLS Pizza Party Winners

The Secular Alliance at IU hosted a Flying Spaghetti Monster Feast as a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, raising $266 so far this year.. They are the winners of the free pizza party for their whole group. Congratulations! Secular activism is a rewarding experience.

While this incentive is over, it is still never too late to start your own Leukemia & Lymhoma Society/Light The Night fundraiser. Visit our Light The Night Walk page for information on how to start giving.

Service Projects

Service is something that every group should get involved in. If we're going to say we're good without god, we better do some good to back it up. Additionally, service projects build group solidarity, improve the image of freethinkers on and off campus, and make you eligible for awards from your school and the SSA.

Use our service projects activity packet for general ideas on how to complete service projects. You can also check out our service meta-packet which includes different activity ideas. More activity packets will be added related to service soon so keep an eye out.

Group Photo of the Week

Members from Secular Student Alliance at IUP tabling during Ask an Atheist Day 2013 lookin' spiffy!

Send us your photos!

In this message:

• American Atheists Seeks Public Policy Director
• Various Deadlines
• Update Your Group Leadership

American Atheists Seeks Public Policy Director

American Atheists is a non-profit and nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to the separation of religion and government and the equality of atheists. They seek a qualified individual to take a leadership role in the development and implementation of its public policy activities.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample related to public policy or a public policy issue to [email protected]. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until June 3, 2013. Learn more about this position.

Various Deadlines

You should know by now that registration for our Annual Conference this summer is going up in two days for both locations! Don't miss the early bird pricing of $39/student or $125 for a group of 5 students. Register for both locations here before May 15th.

The scholarship essay contests from the Freedom From Religion Foundation are coming up. Those of you in high school need to submit essays by June 1st. College students under 25 need to send their essays in by June 15th but graduate/mature college students can wait until July 15th. Don't miss this opportunity for free school money! Learn more about the contest at the FFRF website.

The SSA affiliate teams who held their first Light The Night fundraiser and told us about it, via Brag It Up Form, will be entered into a drawing for a pizza party for their entire group. Make sure to send us photos and let us know your Light The Night team information. The winners will be contacted May 15th, so make sure to get the form in by that date.

Update Your Group Leadership

It is important for us to know your group's current leadership's contact information so that we know the right people to send important information to relay to their respective group. If your group recently changed leaders, you can always use our Group Leadership Listings Update form.

You may also take the liberty to add any new leaders from your group to receive these emails. Simply enter their email(s) here.

Group Photo of the Week

Members of SSA at the University of California - San Diego (and Jesus) during their last supper at Round Table Pizza.

Send us your photos!

In this message:

• Light The Night Supplies Request
• Stay Active During Summer
• Join Leadership Space

Light The Night Supplies Request

The Light the Night fundraising materials are finally available! Please go here to request leaflets, posters, goal thermometers, and donation boxes for your team. You will have to verify your team with us to get the materials, so make sure you either create or join a team. You are always welcome to join the Secular Student Alliance National Team as well. Don't forget the drawing for a pizza party. If you hold a Light the Night fundraiser at your school and tell us via Brag It Up Form, you will be entered into a drawing for a pizza party for your group. Winners will be announced May 15th so get those forms in before then!

Stay Active During Summer

The summer solstice is fast approaching but luckily you don't have to waste the year's biggest and brightest days without the company of your group. Just because most of you are heading into your summer break, doesn't mean your group should go inactive until the fall. There are many ways to stay active over the summer.

Camp Quest is a great way to give back to the younger generation while also having fun doing outdoor activities. CQ is a network of camps for freethinking youth around the country. You can volunteer at CQ as a counselor or organizer. Your group can also go on a field trip. Search our activity packets for more ideas.

Dave Muscato has also written a beautiful article detailing many things your group can do to stay strong during the summer.

Join Leadership Space

Add your group's new leaders to the SSA LeaderSpace on Facebook.
One of the greatest services we offer is for our affiliates to get in contact with each other, so we started our Facebook LeaderSpace group. Join today and keep in contact with other SSA affiliate leaders all across the country. This service is a great way to get advice from your peers who have had much of the same experiences as you. This is also a great way to spread the advice of your own leadership experience.

Group Photo of the Week

SSA at WestTexas A&M University during an impromptu counter protest when a preacher invaded their campus shouting hateful things about women, homosexuals, minorities, and science. Read more about this story.

Send us your photos!

In this message:

• SSA Week 2013
• The Student Non-Discrimination Act
• We Are Atheism Campaign

SSA Week 2013

Help the SSA promote SSA Week! We have launched a full scale fundraising effort today through May 6th to help you! Help us help you by spreading the word about SSA Week on Facebook, Twitter (hashtag #SSAWeek), Reddit, Youtube, blogs and on other social media sites. We have tons of images to help.

If you write operate a blog, participate in blogathon! If you want to participate any other way or have an idea to help the SSA raise awareness and funds, please contact our Development Associate Jessica Kirsner for more information. 

The Student Non-Discrimination Act

We Are Atheism Campaign

Do you want to participate in a fun engaging group activity, express yourself and your identity and help others do the same? Then you should consider being part of the We Are Atheism campaign. On the website, you can upload a video or essay and see what other people have posted as well. We also built an activity packet for a group photo version of the We Are Atheism campaign (with contributions by DePaul Alliance for Free Thought). So check these resources out and start doing awesome things!

Group Photo of the Week

Members from SRJC Atheists & Skeptics Club at Santa Rosa Junior College after the When Are We Human Enough to Matter? debate between Dr. Malcom Potts and Scott Klusendorf.

Send us your photos!