National Ask An Atheist Day
National Ask An Atheist Day is an opportunity for secular groups across the 
country to work together to defeat stereotypes about atheism and encourage courteous dialogue between believers and nonbelievers alike. The event is intended to be an opportunity for the general public - particularly people of faith - to approach us and ask questions about secular life. It is our hope that encouraging participation on a national level will raise awareness of the event and We're encouraging all SSA affiliate groups to participate at whatever level they are able!
This day occurs every year on the 3rd Thursday of April. This Year it's April 19th.
Groups can participate in National Ask an Atheist Day however they like. We leave the details of the event to you and your group - you'll come up with bigger and better ideas than we ever could. Here are some ideas that some of our affiliates are already planning to help you get ideas of your own:
- Request Ask an Atheist stickers from the SSA (or print your own) and have your group's members wear them around campus
- Set up Ask an Atheist Day Flyers around your campus
- Table with stickers, posters, flyers and other information (Get SSA's "What is an Atheist?" brochures to help!)
- Flyer your campus to get people thinking in advance about the big day
- Flyer your campus with Atheist FAQ's
- Hold an "Ask an Atheist" panel event
- Get on the campus radio with a live "Ask an Atheist" session where listeners can call in their questions
Finally, Check out our activity packets for Ask An Atheist panel and Ask An Atheist Tabling to get further ideas on what your group can do. Or, come up with your own projects and ideas!
Get "Ask An Atheist Day" Stickers!
There are two ways for your group to get snazzy Ask an Atheist stickers:
- Print Your Own - Fortunately, you can still print your own. To do so, download a PDF of the sticker design and print on Avery 5395 Name Badge Labels (or any equivalent).
- Send Us a Request Form - If you are interested in requesting stickers (we promise we'll get them get them to you by April 19th), you can do so at our Tabling Supplies Request Form in the "Special Interest Materials" section.
RSVP via the Facebook event page, and help spread the word!
If your group can't participate on the actual date, move your celebration forward or back a day. For example, Students for Freethought at Ohio State holds their meetings on Thursdays - and that's when they're holding their Ask An Atheist panel. So they'll be wearing stickers and tabling on that day to advertise for the big event.
Got great ideas? Let us know - we'd love to share! Have flyer designs? Submit them for the Exchange so others can use them. Need help with publicity? Contact our Communications Director Jesse Galef (jesse@secularstudents.org) for help. Got questions? Ask!
We'd love to see pictures of your event, publicize media attention you get, and hear how it went! Contact us and let us know, or post to our Facebook page!
Together, we can work towards a more peaceful world, free of the prejudice that so often plagues nonbelievers. Join us in celebration, and there's a distinct possibility you'll be able to look back on this and say you participated in the first ever National Ask An Atheist Day -- the event that started it all!
Our thanks go out to Karthik, Becca and the Illini Secular Student Alliance for taking the initiative to get this project started, and for the excellent Ask An Atheist sticker designs!
Submitted by Lyz on Fri, 03/04/2011 - 20:31
