SA-NYC: What happened?!?

[Michael Dorian]

Hi All,

I'm writing to say how surprised I am at what went on during the
recent board meeting by phone last night. Honestly, I'm not even sure
what exactly happened. Apparently, some board members suggested a
split that would divide the existing SA-NYC team into two separate
camps, possibly doing two separate shows on different Sundays. And if
I have it right, at least two board members resigned from the existing
board, maybe three. This came as news to some of us and I'd like to
clarify (or reiterate) my position here.

I was asked last night to state my "vision" of SA-NYC and I said, as I
have consistently done throughout, that I thought SA-NYC could and
should be a fun, high-energy, thought-provoking show that appealed to
a BROAD audience of non-believers, "nones", and religious people who
wanted to be part of a new godless (but not anti-God) congregation. I
also stated very clearly (or so I thought) that booking non-atheist
speakers was a good idea in order to give our show balance and
potential appeal to this larger audience. I happily backed off
booking anyone for October and left that task to others who wanted to
contribute in that way so that I was not pushing us too hard or too
far in any one direction. I was actually looking forward to
everyone's input here and was hoping for the best.

I feel that dividing the team we have had in place is very premature,
especially considering all the time and effort that many of us have
already invested in trying to make SA-NYC a successful, ongoing
endeavor. I can't imagine that splitting the group is somehow
beneficial to the overall goal of bringing SA's message to a larger
crowd. I have honestly felt that compromise and a more all-inclusive
approach to our speakers, our show, and to our potential audience was
coming into focus and that a more collective vision was becoming
attainable. I think many of us would still be willing to try to
reconcile any differences in order to keep this ship afloat.

To that end, I suggest that we re-schedule our proposed meeting on
Monday to Wednesday night. I know that Erik said he cannot make it
Monday, but that Wednesday was good for him and for the rest of us
when we initially tried to pick a night for that meeting. We can do
it at my place, unless people want to do it elsewhere. I don't think
it's fair to have such an important meeting without all the team
members present. I'm hoping for a resolution and think it's in the
best interest of SA-NYC not to divide or give up on this.

Michael

[Erik Campano]

Hi! I wouldn't be able to make it Wednesday night until 9:00, because my organic chemistry study group meets then. Next week, I could alternatively do Friday night at 9, or Saturday during the day.

Peace out

E

Michael





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[Justina Walford]

Michael, most conversations moved over to the Facebook group, so this is still on for Monday in that arena. Could you voice your need to move to Wed there? I tagged you in the thread, I think. If I didn't I will now.

[Scott E. Weiner, Ph.D.]

1. Not being there, I have no idea what went on, nor have I spoken with anyone. My only info is Michael's email. Michael's summary in his email sounds like a good, fair, fantastic compromise to me. (that's the best version I've ever heard from Michael, bravo!)

 

2. We are so few organizers with a small audience, I don't see how dividing up is going to help--if that is the way to go, then a compromise might be to stay as one big group, same board/organizers, but alternate approaches on Sundays that is announced way in advance to the audience, so audience knows what to expect and can attend either or hopefully both.

 

3. I would definitely sign myself up as one of those (in Michael's words): I think many of us would still be willing to try to reconcile any differences in order to keep this ship afloat. I really thought that most of us have very similar views about freethinkers/agnostic/atheist movement and have some disagreements about how SA fits into that (both strategically and tactically), but I didn't think we had unbridgeable differences about SA, especially as there are OTHER groups in NYC that can fulfill other functions for us that SA might not. (Specifically I am thinking if SA is not overtly atheistic or activist enough, there are atheist activist groups in NYC that can fulfill that function for folks. I am not sure if there is another group that is really about celebration of life, but maybe Ethical Culture, maybe UU comes somewhat close.)

4. On a smaller note but important--please clarify if meeting is tomorrow, which I can make but would Skype, if it includes organizers.  For those who think being a consultant is a free wheeling fun life, just happens that this Wednesday is one of my roughest work days: having to get up at 5:30 Am to do 6-8 hours on interviewing of clients in NJ, and probably not back until 7-8 pm at earliest and probably barely awake, so if the meeting Michael is talking about is open to organizers, I'd prefer a day other than this Wednesday.

 Best Wishes, Scott

 

Scott E. Weiner, Ph.D.

Cognitive Engineer

Thinking | Talking | Feeling | Acting | Life ReDesign

ScottEWeiner.com

scott_e...@yahoo.com

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