Atheist Alliance International is pleased to announce

 the Community Cooperation Award

The Community Cooperation Award (CCA) will grant a single award of $500 to one Freethought organization each year to foster cooperation, ethical awareness and positive images in the Freethought community.

Applicants must be Atheist/Freethought organizations listed in the current edition of the Freethought Directory published by Atheist Alliance International. The applicant organization need not be a member organization of the Atheist Alliance. The award money may be used for any purpose the organization sees fit.

To qualify for this award, applicants must submit a completed entry form, as well as information and evidence of their positive influence during 2005.  Examples include:

• Media coverage
• Community volunteer work
• Cooperation with civic or religious leaders in the community
• Listing with local Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance or other philanthropic guide
• Tapes or transcripts from meetings/events
• Relevant articles from the organization’s newsletter

The object of the award is to foster cooperation between Atheist/Freethought organizations and the larger communities in which they are based. Cooperation, ethics, and positive image are the elements which will be considered by the CCA committee during review of the applications. Consideration will be given to the size of the applicant organization relative to its achievements. It is our goal to motivate organizations to look for ethical means to solve problems, controversies or disagreements they may encounter, either within the organization itself or otherwise. Finally, the organization should project a positive image of atheists and freethinkers both as individuals and as a movement. Applicants are responsible for providing proof of claims.

To enter, fill out the entry form and submit it with all supporting documentation via postal mail before February 15, 2006.  Mail to:

Community Cooperation Award

c/o AAI

PO Box 967

Diamond Springs, CA 95619

Atheist Alliance International will choose the winner. The decision will be final, and the right will be reserved to withdraw the award after it is announced, but before it is paid, if there is substantial evidence of undesirable behavior on the part of the proposed recipient. A runner-up may also be chosen in case the winner is deemed no longer worthy. The winner will be announced in April.