Presenting the group -- what I am specifically referring to with this category is how we present the group to the campus via media and our advertising efforts.
This includes the choice of poster and display materials we use when tabling -- both in Turlington Plaza and at the IDEAL student org fair in the fall semester. It also includes the distribution of flyers or handout materials, (e.g., business cards) that we have here. I think some of our group's materials and designs are completely innocuous and wouldn't offend even the most sensitive person -- this handout comes to mind. But then there are those images and phrases that will raise hackles no matter how we frame the context, and some of which are calculated for exactly that response in order to impel dialog (e.g., this one). What we have to do is strike a delicate balance between promoting our values and outlook with generally appearing militant and inviting controversy. This is a problem faced by all freethought groups. We aren't evangelical in nature, but we want to be an organized voice which we feel needs to be heard on social and political issues.
This includes the choice of poster and display materials we use when tabling -- both in Turlington Plaza and at the IDEAL student org fair in the fall semester. It also includes the distribution of flyers or handout materials, (e.g., business cards) that we have here. I think some of our group's materials and designs are completely innocuous and wouldn't offend even the most sensitive person -- this handout comes to mind. But then there are those images and phrases that will raise hackles no matter how we frame the context, and some of which are calculated for exactly that response in order to impel dialog (e.g., this one). What we have to do is strike a delicate balance between promoting our values and outlook with generally appearing militant and inviting controversy. This is a problem faced by all freethought groups. We aren't evangelical in nature, but we want to be an organized voice which we feel needs to be heard on social and political issues.
Group presentation also includes putting together a simple set of "talking points" about our purpose and activities to broadcast ads via UF media, esp radio (850AM, 104FM, 89FM/90FM) and TV programs (WUFT-TV), as well as programming external to campus. The simplest (and likely best) talking points for AAFSA come from our constitution, which states our purposes as:
I'm very proud of our impact in the media. Most people have read about us in the campus paper, or heard about us via word-of-mouth from that resource, from a LTE we've gotten published.
It is important to remember that newspaper op-ed sections are an important way to communicate our message and group with the community. We all need to try to make some contacts with the Alligator and Gainesville Sun editors to make sure they know about us if they ever want to present alternative views on religious and political pieces. I encourage you all to submit letters to the editors regularly in response to issues involving church/state separation, religious pseudoscience, etc., in the news. We need your help here, as no one of us has the ability to solely represent our views collectively, nor to submit as many letters as we all can together. LTEs and op-eds are probabilistic in nature, and so the larger the value of n, the more likely we'll get one published. There are two alternative/progressive publications that I'm aware of in Gainesville -- The Iguana (where we are already listed in the directory), and Satellite Magazine. These sorts of outlets would be much more accommodating to host columns and op-eds from our members, and so it is important to use them whenever possible.
The major way we are going to get known on-campus aside from these media sources is through tabling at Turlington Plaza and at IDEAL's SOF. Our literature from organizations like the CFI, SSA, AA, etc., at the table pretty well represents our group and views. Also important to have there is our working schedule for the fall and a sign-up sheet for interested parties.
1. To provide an open and supportive environment for, and enhance the educational experiences of, local freethinkers.I recommend that we use #2 & #3 as our major purposes, and thus our talking points. When someone asks a question such as, "What is GF about?" I think #2 best represents our group's purpose, but connotes some intrinsic negativity, while #3 is a more positive message. A solid reply to, "What is GF about?" would fall along the lines of,
2. To promote the examination, discussion, and advocacy of: freethought generally, philosophical issues related to the existence of god(s) and skepticism towards supernatural claims.
3. To promote ethics through secular humanism, responsibility, science, rational thought, critical inquiry, and the worth of the individual.
4. To ensure the separation of church and state.
"We exist to promote the voice of reason and secular humanism at UF. We are a positive group, affirming the success of applying the scientific method and naturalistic worldview to all areas of human affairs -- ethics, politics, religion, and so forth."Something to that effect. We aren't a group that is going to demand a canned response, but it is just important to be able to explain and frame our group's purposes and intents in a positive and concise manner in the media.
I'm very proud of our impact in the media. Most people have read about us in the campus paper, or heard about us via word-of-mouth from that resource, from a LTE we've gotten published.
It is important to remember that newspaper op-ed sections are an important way to communicate our message and group with the community. We all need to try to make some contacts with the Alligator and Gainesville Sun editors to make sure they know about us if they ever want to present alternative views on religious and political pieces. I encourage you all to submit letters to the editors regularly in response to issues involving church/state separation, religious pseudoscience, etc., in the news. We need your help here, as no one of us has the ability to solely represent our views collectively, nor to submit as many letters as we all can together. LTEs and op-eds are probabilistic in nature, and so the larger the value of n, the more likely we'll get one published. There are two alternative/progressive publications that I'm aware of in Gainesville -- The Iguana (where we are already listed in the directory), and Satellite Magazine. These sorts of outlets would be much more accommodating to host columns and op-eds from our members, and so it is important to use them whenever possible.
The major way we are going to get known on-campus aside from these media sources is through tabling at Turlington Plaza and at IDEAL's SOF. Our literature from organizations like the CFI, SSA, AA, etc., at the table pretty well represents our group and views. Also important to have there is our working schedule for the fall and a sign-up sheet for interested parties.
Davy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for thinking ahead. Yeah we can pair up people at the meeting, as I don't want people to have to be alone at the table (though it may be unavoidable at times). I'll be able to throw in some time out in Turlington as well. See you Thursday.