“Hey! The website looks different!” That is just one of the many changes that have happened with the Iowa Secularists. Our organization has made a big step forward toward accomplishing our goals in Iowa. We have officially been recognized as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Iowa and are in the process of securing tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit! We have installed our first Board of Directors and elected executive officers.

What does that mean for you? A lot! First of all, it means the Iowa Secularists are working even harder for you to create a community of religion-free Iowans, educate the public about living without religion and actively keeping the Wall of Separation strong. Our new organizational structure lends us legitimacy and democtratic structure to ensure we continue our mission far into the future.

Second, it gives you a voice in the organization. Paid members can vote for openings on the Board of Directors and certain organizational issues.

Third, it provides an all-important fundraising mechanism. Your valuable dues and contributions will allow the Iowa Secularists to move forward and achieve a greater presence in Iowa.

“Cool! What do I do now?” Become a paid member of the Iowa Secularists to enjoy the benefits of membership and provide important support for our mission in Iowa. Click on the Join page for more information and to sign up!

The month of April will be full of activity for secularists in Iowa. A nationally-known speaker will visit the state twice. The Iowa Secularists will finish plans for our gatherings in May. I will be quoted in the Des Moines register and will be visiting the Unitarian Universalists Fellowship of North Iowa in Mason City! Here are some details for you:

Dan Barker in Iowa

Dan Barker co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation will visit Iowa twice this month. Speaking on his book Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher To Atheist, Mr. Barker will appear first in Ames on Thursday, April 14, 2005 at 7:00 p.m., in the Great Hall at the Memorial Union on the Iowa State University campus as part of the ISU Lectures Program. The ISU Atheist & Agnostic Society sponsor this event. His next appearance will be on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in Shambaugh Auditorium in the Main Library on the University of Iowa Campus. The U of I program is sponsored by the UI Freethinkers. Don’t miss these opportunities to hear a great and active advocate of the religion-free perspective.

Iowa Secularist Gatherings

The Iowa Secularists are planning some gatherings for this spring around Iowa. Some details are still being worked out. Click for details on what we have for sure at this point:
Iowa City - May 6
West Des Moines - May 14
Solon - June 25
Mason City - Late Summer TBA
Des Moines - Late Summer/Early Fall TBA

Activities of the Members & Directors

This Saturday, April 9 the Des Moines Register is doing an op-ed package on modern conceptions of heaven. The editor asked me to contribute a quote from the non-belief perspective for what will probably be a sidebar of various quotes. I haven’t seen a copy yet so I don’t know if the quote made it but it is at least a positive sign that I was asked in the first place!

Sunday, April 24 I will be in Mason City to meet with the Unitarian Universalists Fellowship of North Central Iowa to introduce the goals and mission of the Iowa Secularists. I’m very excited to meet with this group. The Fellowship includes some active IS members and I’ve heard great things about the group and its activities!

IS Members and Directors continue to put up posters for the Iowa Secularists and the Dan Barker lecture. Our efforts have been paying off. We have had an increase in interest in the group and more people have registered with the mailing list.

Monthly Online Meeting

The Iowa Secularists will have their monthly online meeting on Sunday, April 17, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. Check out our Calendar for details.

How Can I Get Involved?

Our members are our most important assets. The Iowa Secularists exist to serve the religion-free community in Iowa. On the Forum you can share your ideas and communicate to other religion-free Iowans. You can also get added to our email list by signing up on the About page. This will help you stay updated on important events in Iowa. Want to get to know us first? Feel free to participate in the Forum as a guest. You are also welcome to join us at one of our Gatherings listed above. If you would like to support the Iowa Secularists financially, you can make a secure PayPal contribution via our Contribute page. All donations go strictly to the operating costs of the Iowa Secularists. Volunteers donate all of the human resources used by the Iowa Secularists.

March promises to be an exciting month for the Iowa Secularists. This month we launch a drive to get the word out about our organization. The Iowa Secularists strive to create a community of people in Iowa with a religion-free worldview. Whether you are interested in actively pursuing church-state separation or just want to talk to other people like you, www.IowaSecularist.org is the place to be. By opening paths of communication across our state we can strengthen our visibility in Iowa and show others why our voices deserve to be heard!

What’s in it for me?
If you are new to the Iowa Secularists you will discover a number of benefits to our group. Every day, members of the Iowa Secularists and visitors log on to our Forum to share their ideas and plan activities. The Forum provides you an opportunity to speak your mind. By signing up on the About page you will receive email updates on issues that are important to you. These messages are kept at a minimum and include updates on important legislation, activities in Iowa and other important news. You can also participate in our monthly online chat meetings. Each month we meet in the Chat Room where you can discuss administrative matters with the Co-Directors. You can use our Links page to find sites of interest or to find a group that meets in your area. We also offer book reviews, news updates and opinion articles to keep you informed.

So what do I do next?
If you would like to participate in the Iowa Secularist community, you can start by signing up under the “Join” section of the About page or by registering on our Forum. We will only use your contact information to communicate with you directly about the Iowa Secularists. Your information will never be shared with anyone without your express individual permission.

What if I’m not ready to sign up?
Perhaps you would rather “lurk” for a bit and see what we are all about. We welcome lurkers! You can participate anonymously in our Forum and access all of the information on our site. When you are ready to receive our email updates, just sign up on the About page. We respect your privacy and strictly guard your personal information.

What can I do to help?
The participation and contributions of people like you are the lifeblood of the Iowa Secularists. Without your support we would be nothing but a lonely website! The best way you can help the Iowa Secularist grow is by participating in the Forum and attending meetings of a local organization in your area. Collectively we will have a stronger voice in Iowa. You can also write letters to your elected officials and the editor of your local paper when relevant issues arise. Let others in your community know about the Iowa Secularists by putting up posters. If you are interested in supporting us financially, you can go to our Contribute page and make a secure PayPal donation.

The Iowa Secularists are committed to helping you secure a future in Iowa where free inquiry and freedom of conscience prevail. Together we can make our vision a reality!

–BJS

A year ago IowaSecularist.org went live with little more going for it than some big ideas and a very small handful of committed members. Today, our community has grown considerably and continues to grow. The vision of that small ground-breaking group is starting to come to fruition! For the Iowa Secularists, 2004 was marked by exciting growth, a renewed commitment to our mission and a more refined organizational focus. Our second year promises to be just as rewarding if not more so. Here’s what we have planned for 2005:

• Make the resources of IS available to more Iowans
  In March we will launch an informational campaign to let people know who we are and what we do. We will also continue to inform our family, friends and neighbors about our group through word-of-mouth.
• Create connections between secular organizations in Iowa
  We will meet with other secular groups in Iowa to offer the resources of the Iowa Secularists to help develop their local organizations. This will create a much needed communication path for our groups and strengthen our effectiveness.
• Lobby the state government on relevant legislation
  We will register a lobbyist and use our Statehouse connections to make our voices heard when the separation of church and state is on the line. We will also inform you when important legislation is pending and let you know how you can take action.
• Be known as an advocate for the secular viewpoint in Iowa
  We will make the public aware of our views and their importance. When appropriate, we will issue letters and editorials to Iowa newspapers. We will also organize service and social events to improve our public exposure.

Success in 2005 will require persistence and participation. The forces that oppose reason are stronger than ever. We need your help to meet our goals. Here are just a few things you can do to help the Iowa Secularists have a great 2005:

• Tell others about our organization and encourage their participation
  We have greater power in numbers and we continue to grow! Do you know someone who might be interested in our group? Invite them to check out our website and encourage their participation.
• Share your thoughts and ideas in our Forum
  Let us know what is on your mind. Our Forum includes participants from many parts of the state. The more we communicate the more influence we will have in Iowa.
• Contribute to the Iowa Secularist Operating Fund
  Contributions to our Operating Fund help keep the Iowa Secularists going. Your contribution, however large or small, helps pay for the website and Forum, stationery for communicating with elected officials and local newspapers, and marketing materials. All human resources are donated by members.

Together we can improve the standing of the religion-free worldview in Iowa. Our growth in 2004 is a testament to the power of reason and 2005 will be an important year. Help us help you protect your freedom of conscience and the Wall of Separation. Get involved with the Iowa Secularists and help us grow in 2005!

–BJS