This Week

One Week Left to Renew!

The Spring 2013 Affiliation Renewal is over in a week - you only have until April 1st to renew!  Only about one-third of our groups have filled out the renewal so far, which means that a lot of you still need to renew.  Don't wait until it's too late!

We need each and every SSA affiliate group to renew, so lend us about 20 minutes to get your affiliation renewed.  Groups that don't renew will be have their affiliate status revoked!  Learn more, check outstanding groups, read the FAQ, complete the renewal form and more at www.secularstudents.org/renewal.
 

Freedom From Religion Foundation Announces 2013 Essay Contest Topics

Every year, the Freedom From Religion Foundation offers over $20,000 to students through their three scholarship essay contests.  The three categories of high school, college and graduate/age 25-30 each have their own essay topic and offer prizes up to $3,000.  Each category has its own deadline, starting June 1 for high school contestants.

Learn more about the contest, check out previous winners, and get submission details at the FFRF website. 

2013 SSA Annual Conference T-Shirt Designs Announced

We're super excited to show off the designs for our Annual Conference T-Shirts!  Since we have two conference locations, we have two shirts, designed specifically for this year's events.  You can preorder your shirt when you register, or you can preorder them separately from either our Columbus or Vegas conference location webpage.  Shirts are only available via preorder, so grab one before they're gone!

Other conference reminders!  We're still taking applications for Leadership Travel Aid if you need funding to attend.  Registration is now open for Columbus and Vegas locations.  Check out our conference website for information about fundraising, FAQs, housing, travel and other details.

Group Photo of the Week

The University of Michigan Secular Student Alliance volunteered at a local ice rink putting on fun activities for children in the area.  They braved the cold and had a blast!

Send us your photos!

Conference Schedule

I'm sure you've already heard about the fact that we're hosting our conference at two amazing locations this year, and that the speakers are announced, but did you know the schedule is already up? If you're attending SSA West in Las Vegas, you can view the schedule, and if you're attending SSA East, you can also view the schedule.

You can even view it on a mobile device! In fact, it's optimized for that! This will help make it easier to know what's going on during the conference when you can't look at a computer. What are we gonna do, print the schedule on paper? What year is it, 1997? (Although yes, there will be a printed schedule—we like living in 1997! :)

Regionalization

The SSA has been expanding at an outstanding rate! To provide groups with a consistently high level of awesomeness, we have split the country up into regions.

There might be a region already in your area, or maybe you can start one! Go to our Regionalization Page to learn more about our regions!

Affiliation Renewal

It's almost time to re-affiliate your group! Our affiliation renewal will start next week Monday, so take a look at your schedule for next week and set aside a time to fill out the Affiliation Renewal! It's the Spring Renewal, so it should take about 30 minutes or so (it's longer than the Fall Renewal).

You should also review with your group what you've accomplished this past year, and what you're still planning to do in the upcoming semester(s). That way, the Affiliation Renewal will go nice and smoothly for you!

Group Photo of the Week

The Secular Alliance of Indiana University tables for Ask an Atheist Day!
Send us your photos!

New Group Running Guide

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our 2012 interns, Ellen Lundgren and Dave Muscato (who is the new American Atheists' Public Relations Director!), we are able to present to you: the updated Group Running Guide! This is the book group leaders get when they apply for a Group Starting Packet, or newly affiliate with us.

You can download your own copy of the Group Running Guide in .PDF form, or you can request a physical copy. Either way, this book was created from the combined experience of many people who have run their own secular groups. Treat it as your group's bible (ha).

Take a look at it! We guarantee you'll learn something! 

Speakers Bureau Page Update

You know our Speakers Bureau? We have over 80 national speakers (and that's not even including our student speakers or our regional speakers) on our Speakers Bureau...in fact, we had so many speakers, our Speakers Bureau page was getting a little cluttered! So, we updated it!

Check out our new /Speakers page, where you can learn all about the Speakers Bureau, how to get someone at your school, how to apply for funding, and many other things!

Good News Club Documentary

Katherine Stewart (a member of our Speakers Bureau) wrote a book investigating the Good News Club, which is an Evangelical Christian club that focuses on children ages 5-12. One of the founders of a Secular Student Alliance affiliate group investigated the Good News Club and made a 30 minute documentary about it on YouTube. This would be a great idea for a meeting, because it allows time for discussion afterward. We're very proud to see our students being activists and publicly showing what they've discovered and accomplished.

Group Photo of the Week

The Secular Student Alliance of University of Nevada-- Reno. They had some interesting conversations and a few odd looks, but also about 10 new members!
Send us your photos!

Ask An Atheist Day

It's back! Ask An Atheist Day 2013 is coming up-- fast! Time to start planning.

How many times have you met someone who thought a really silly thing about atheism, like that we have no morals, or that we hate god, or that we eat babies? (Even though that last one is totally true.) It's time to change that! Public perception of atheists can only change when people come out and declare their nontheism, and when they are willing to actually engage with people about it.

We've put together a lot of resources for Ask An Atheist day, like an activity packet, a tabling training guide, a sample press release, a Facebook event, and other things! Check it out and start planning how your group can help change the world this Ask an Atheist Day!

Funding Finder

You know how the SSA offers all sorts of really awesome funding opportunities for students to do great things? Project grants, travel grants, Leadership Travel Aid...it can be hard to keep them all straight! That's why we've created the Funding Finder! You answer a few questions about what you need money for, and presto! You're at the right form.

Go ahead and give it a whirl (or at least bookmark it for when you do need it)!

Last Chance!

There's so much happening in the atheist world right now! That's why we're reminding you of certain opportunities that have deadlines, so you don't miss out!

• Regional Campus Organizer (deadline: February 28th)
• Texas Regional Organizer (deadline: February 28th)
• Speak at our Conference (deadline: March 1st)
• Camp Quest Program Manager (deadline: March 17th)

Even if you aren't sure if you're qualfied, it's worth applying, just in case! Spread the word to your friends and group members about these opportunities!

Group Photo of the Week

Students from Aviation High School Secular Student Alliance at a meeting.
Send us your photos!