AAI Puts Out the Call for Volunteers
Written by Brian Parra   
Monday, 11 August 2008 17:38
On May 14th, members of Atheists United gathered upstairs at CFI West for the 2008 AAI Convention Volunteer Kick-Off Meeting led by Margaret Downey, President of Atheists Alliance International.
On the agenda was coordinating the need for volunteers for the upcoming convention, titled "Unsinkable Atheism," and hosted at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA, scheduled for September 25 - 28.

The convention promises to be a first-rate event with notable speakers including Michael Newdow, Lori Lipmann-Brown, PZ Myers, Scott Cozza, Eddie Tabash and beyond those who are scheduled to speak, the convention will be a veritable who's who of atheism attracting prominent atheists from all over the world. There will be music, workshops, kids activities, socializing, weddings (yes, weddings!), a blood drive, theatre, and so much more.

Of course, required for this convention to go off without a hitch is a small army of eager and friendly volunteers from Atheists United and other Southern California-based atheist groups to welcome attendees, assist with technical productions, be errand gophers, tend to the needs of the speakers, set up displays, coordinate meals, and pick up guests from the airport. In addition to work needing to be done at the conference, volunteers are needed for special work dates before the convention to assemble welcome packets and programs.

Convention registration fees will be waived for volunteers up to the full amount depending on the responsibility taken on, making this an excellent way for our local atheist contingent to get into this conference to see a national event like this up close, from the inside. It's a not-to-miss opportunity for college students to get involved in the atheist movement and connect with others from all across the nation.

In addition, volunteers will receive snacks, a complementary convention DVD and magazine. They will also be given a Captain's Hat that will identify them as volunteers during the convention.
In all, it's estimated that we'll need over 50 people to come forward to volunteer to make the convention go off without a hitch. Ingemar Hulthage, vice president of Atheists United, is the volunteer liaison between AU and AAI and will be coordinating the convention needs by communicating through a Yahoo group set up specifically to organize volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering to work the 2008 AAI Convention at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, please join the Volunteer Yahoo Group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AAIConv