During lockdown, the Publications Department of AAI has become increasingly tech savvy. We now have a modest studio and production capability and I am enjoying using it!

I interview our new executive director, Michael Sherlock, here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArNfi80jFWc&t=21s

That interview is our first podcast, look out for more on our youtube channel, which will be advertised on our Patheos site here:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/secularworldbyaai/2020/04/aais-new-exec-is-michael-sherlock/ 

Our first live-streamed event, on The Resurrection, can be seen here as a podcast:

:https://youtu.be/Y3hYZqytOtc

Vice President, Bill Flavell and I have made some ‘Atheism in Minutes’ videos putting right some of the common theistic misconceptions, and we plan to do more live streaming soon so you will be able t

I’m very pleased to announce that we have appointed a new Executive Director! 

Following a rigorous selection procedure, out of a long list of very well qualified applicants, we have selected Michael Sherlock. Michael has a fantastic record as an atheist activist going back many years. He has a Masters in Theology and seven books on religion and atheism already published. On top of that, he is located in the Antipodes, thereby strengthening our global reach in that part of the world. 

We have more very good news to pass on.

Updated Bylaws
We have been working the past few months on revising our bylaws to make us more democratic, transparent and efficient. They have now been approved. The changes include significantly increasing the role of our growing list of Affiliates; they are a vital component of AAI whose voice will shape our future. They may propose amendments to our bylaws. They may propose and vote on motions at General Meetings. They will elect our Board of Directors and they may nominate candidates for At-Large and Regional Board roles. 

Individual Members may propose motions for General Meetings and nominate themselves for Board positions. 

Re-stated Values
With so much going on, we thought it important to articulate the values that define how we approach our work. See AAI - Our Values below.

Right to be Secular
We continue to attract signatures for the Right to be Secular campaign. We have signatures from individuals in over 50 countries … and that number grows every day. We will be presenting this to the UN Human Rights Council when those meetings are again permissible.

If you haven’t signed our petition, please do so now! You’ll find it here:

https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/the-right-to-be-secular.html

30th Anniversary
We are planning a fun anniversary bash in 2021 to celebrate our 30th anniversary as a constituted organization.

Campaigns
We continue to fund campaigns supporting atheists in need around the world.

New Affiliate in Peru
We have another affiliate in South America in the shape of Asociación Peruana De Ateos-aperat. Welcome!.

Michael Sherlock
Back to the headline announcement, Michael Sherlock is now fully on board as our new Executive Director and we couldn’t be more excited about this. Michael brings all the qualities and abilities to move us forward in ways we never have before. He brings us an exciting and passionate new voice to our operations. Let’s all give him a big welcome!

president@atheistalliance.org

AAI is the oldest, largest, most global and the most influential organization representing the interests of atheists. Accept no substitutes! We are the only atheist organization with UN consultative status and October 2021 will see our thirtieth birthday. 

Maturity has inspired us to restate our values in an easily consumed form:

• Integrity. We do the ethical thing even when it’s the hardest thing.
  
• Inclusion. We welcome everyone equally regardless of their gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, age or any other factor over which people have no control.
  
• Democracy. We give all members the right to influence the organization’s direction.
  
• Collaboration. We will work in a collaborative way both within AAI itself and between AAI and other organizations with whom we share a common purpose.
  
• Diligence. We are persistent and take care of the small details as much as the grand strategy.
  
• Leadership. We represent atheists at the United Nations and other forums and will lead international campaigns.

The graphic above encapsulates what we hold most dear. The full text of our values can be seen on our website here: