A society for atheists, rationalists, secularists and humanists
Getting up at 6am, after a night out painted as a blue Avatar is never easy. The excitement of meeting other students from around the country, with the same obsession I have made it a lot easier. After a somewhat eventful journey down south and then through the enlarged rabbit warren Londoners call the tube, I arrived at St Ethelburga's where the first NUS Interfaith Forum was due to take place.
The forum started off with a welcome from Ben Whittaker, NUS Vice President for Welfare. This was followed by an introduction by Kat Luckock, NUS Student Inter-Faith Coordinator. She went though why the forum has been set up and forum guidelines.
We then got into small groups and discussed what Interfaith is, what we have been involved with personally and issues and challenges that we have faced. My group had four faiths represented, with varying experience in interfaith work from a strong interest to someone that set up a coexist society at Warwick and someone that organises interfaith football at Bath. Each group presented their discussions to the rest of the room. One thing that became startlingly apparent was the Leeds Atheist Society has arranged and been involved in more and a wider variety of Interfaith events than any other group present, including interfaith/coexist societies!
After a lovely lunch Campusalaam trained us in the FlashPOD method. This is a way to record a deep discussion of a specific event or issue and then share it online.
The day lived up to my high expectations. After almost two years of arranging Interfaith events mostly through Leeds Atheist Society, meeting other people with the same goal was invaluable. We shared stories of problems we had encountered and how we had over come them.
It was great to see that it is not just Atheists who believe in the importance of Interfaith. The forum was made up of mostly Jews and Muslims and I met one Sikh and one Baha’I too.
The forum is going to meet with the Minister for Universities, David Lammy on 4th March. How this is going to be ran was discussed by the forum.
Amongst the project aims the six Interfaith Forums will help the members to develop a strong inter-faith collaboration and enhance campus cohesion by creating space for interfaith dialogue and activities.
I believe it is already doing this. By using the FlashPOD method my group discussed why certain faith societies are less than enthusiastic about supporting interfaith events run by Leeds Atheist Society. I found this extremely insightful. Apparently people of faith feel they have nothing in common with Atheists and the idea that we want to spend time with them is greeted with suspicion as they think that we think they are stupid. I at least managed to dispel the popular myths about atheism.
Many of us that attended the forum have added each other to facebook so we can keep in contact until the next forum meeting. It was defiantly worth travelling 400 miles on Valentines day to attend.
I hope that the future forums will include more networking and small group discussions. These will facilitate the sharing of ideas for how to arrange successful interfaith events and discussion of problems that arose when staging these events. There is also need for training and a sharing of know-how on how to word things, as these are contentious issues and insensitivity benefits no-one. It would be terrible to unintentionally offend two faith societies on campus within minutes, wait that might have already happened!
I have suggested Leeds SU as a venue for the next forum and have sent in an article similar to this to the NUS, which will hopefully be appearing on their website shortly.
Oh and I think Leeds Atheist Society are officially entitled to the title ‘King of UK Interfaith.’ :D
Leeds Atheist Society is now entering into its fourth year of existence and its fourth committee are embarking on an exciting and challenging programme of events and campaigns.
One of the effects of the society reaching the grand old age of four is that many of our members in the first three years have graduated university, moved away from Leeds or have simply lost touch with the society. This is something the society would like to rectify and to achieve this A-Soc is launchin an alumni programme to help maintain contacts and develop a longer term association with our past members.
As the almuni co-ordinator, I would like to extend an invitation to all our previous members to get in touch via the Contact Us page. The scheme is free and open to all past members.
Benefits of joining the alumni programme include a termly news letter, access to society events and socials, a dedicated section of the website and the opportunity to take part in a discretionary donation sceheme.
I hope to hear from as many of you as possible, if only to let us know how you are getting on since leaving the society.
The following post is likely to cause some readers a bout a of serious, deep depression but for those like me who are aching to get back into the full, term-time swing of A-Soc it will casue untold joy!
There are only a few weeks left until term starts again and the diary busting level of events we all love to take part in will be upon us again!
I am unable to provide much insight into the events the new committee have in store for us, but having worked closely with most of them for the past year (or years in some cases :P) I am convinced we will see the same high standard and immensevariety of events that A-Soc regulars have come to expect. I am also sure that Sophie's presidency will see some new and fresh ideas bursting on to the scene.
I have high hopes for the coming year as the society is now breaking even financially and has an experienced and dedicated leadership team in place which all bodes well for us normal members.
I would also like to send a message to all our alumni, students and staff that have left the society over the years to get in touch with us and let us know what you are up to now. We are always interested in hearing from our members both old and new.
Following on from the recent AGM, it is with some sadness that I write what is likely to be my final post as President of Leeds Atheist Society.
The past year has been a great experience for me, both as an atheist and as president. I have been a part of one of the strongest years the society has had performance wise - with our membership roster now approaching the hundred mark and our finances looking healthy for the first time in three years.
I have also had the pleasure of meeting some great new friends and future leaders of the society. Many of our new committee are just finishing their first years of study at university. In fact, this is by far the youngest committee we have ever had, yet strangely also one of the most experienced! I look forward with great interest as to the future direction of the society under my successor, Sophie Stringfellow. I wish her and her new executive all the best.
Fortunately for me, I have kept a small finger in the A-Soc pie as I was returned as the new AHS Representative for the society, taking over the reigns from Tom. I hope that I can continue to serve the society's bets interests on the national stage.
Thanks to all the members of Leeds Atheist Society and I hope to see many of you return as members next year. Remember, we are not just a stuident society and are open to all. We have a really good alumni scheme in place for all you graduates out there!
Luckily, my reign is not quote over and we have plenty of great events lined up for the rest of the year (and all summer too!) Check out our events listings for all the latest info!
Last night saw our 2008/2009 AGM. Those who were there will agree that we have really grown as a society over the past year and hopefully we continue this trend next year!
Congratulations to the newly elected committee, who are now as follows:
President: Sophie
Secretary: Tom
Treasurer: Zoltan
Vice President: Chris
Meetings Coordinator: Jonni
Courses Coordinator: John
Campaigns Coordinator: Laura
Interfaith Coordinator: Nicola
Humanist Chaplain: Rosie
AHS Representative: Norm
Name: Chris Worfolk
Position: Events Secretary
What has been the highlight of your on committee?
Rationalist Week! It hasn't happened yet but this is what my entire year has been gearing up to lol. London and AHS conference were also fantastic events to have been a part of.
What has been the hardest part of the job?
Getting up on Wednesday morning after a long night in the pub!
What skills do you think you have learned/developed?
I've focused on trying to learn everyone's name this year lol.
What are you responsible for?
Rationalist Week! Also any of our big awareness events such as Darwin Day, Galileo Day and other such events.
What advice would you give to your successor?
The more you metaphorically punch I-Soc in the face, the more they respect you as a society.
Name: Charlie
Position: Treasurer
What has been the highlight of your time on committee? Getting involved with a flourishing society. I have really enjoyed putting myself to the test with getting to grips with the society's finances. I love the socials too!
What has been the hardest part of the job? Committing enough time to the cause. Keeping track of who owes what to who is pretty tough too :P
What skills do you think you have learned/developed? My accounting and financial skills have definitely improved.
What are you responsible for? I keep track of the society finances. I make sure we don't spend (too) much more than we earn.
What advice would you give to your successor? Make sure you keep a written record of everything!
Name: Nicola
Position: Secretary/Interfaith Co-ordinator
What has been the highlight of your year on committee?
The highlight of this year has definitely been Perspective and Darwin Day! Perspective has been a massive success and despite my worrying that the speakers wouldn't turn up, they all did. Interfaith assassins was lots of fun too. Watching Atheist Society grow from a few loyal members to one of the bigger societies on campus has filled me with quite a bit of pride, definitely another highlight!
What has been the hardest part of the job?
Dealing with the emails! It is quite a feat to not let them get on top of you.
What skills do you think you have learned/developed?
I have really developed in terms of confidence and the ability to approach a vairety of pople and get them to do what I want. My ability to target my audience has also greatly improved.
What are you responsible for?
As secretary, I deal a lot with the Union and especially the ARC. My main duties are focussed around membership and other admin type roles. I also take notes and minutes at the meetings. I basically control all the society paperwork. The interfaith part of my job means I am responsible for co-ordinating all the itnerfaith events we do, both in terms of organising speakers and ensuring we maintain a good relationship with other societies on campus.
What advice would you give to your successor?
Learn to use Facebook! Everything the society does is on Facebook.
Name: Norman Ralph
Position: President
What has been the highlight of your year on committee?
The highpoint of my year as President was leading the society into the newly formed national umbrella organisation for atheist societies, the AHS. Leeds A-Soc was heavily involved in setting up the AHS and hosted their first AGM in November 2008 where both AHS representatives from Leeds were elected the the Exec.
What has been the hardest part of the job?
The hardest thing about president is trying to make sure that the multitude of events that A-Soc runs actually happen. Most of the plannign and organising is carried out by the various co-ordinators and secretaries, but it is still nerve wracking every time you turn up to an event and seeing if the hard work has come to fruition!
What skills do you think you have learned/developed?
I have definitely improved my committee and communication skills. Having to co-ordinate the communications that emanate from a large society like Atheist Society is quite a task! My organisational and time management skills have also been hugely increased.
What are you responsible for?
As president, I am ultimately responsible for everything that goes on in the society. On a day-to-day basis I am repsonsible for manageing the rest of the committee team, ensuring that everything is done to the same high standard our members have come to expect. I am also the main contact with the Union, so I deal with the ARC and our development co-ordinator on a regular basis. As an experienced A-Soc member, I also take responsibility for delivering a lot of the talks and for chairing the meetings.
What advice would you give to your successor?
Buy a diary! Then make sure you use it as your time can fill up pretty quickly some weeks.
Anything else?
I have served on the A-Soc committee for over two years now as both Secretary and President and I have thoroughly enjoyed both roles immensely. The friendships and relationships you build, both within A-Soc and with other societies, are incredible and I have seriously enjoyed the task of helping build A-Soc up from a handful attendees in the Green Action Zone to the successful society we are today.
Have you ever fancied running your own society? Have you ever been sat in a meeting and wondered "I could do this"?
Well, you can now have your chance!
The A-Soc Annual General Meeting is only a couple of weeks away now. The AGM is where we elect the officers to run the society for the coming academic year. So, if you have always thought you would make a good manager or leader, here is your opportunity.
Almost all employers look favorably on a candidate that has committee and leadership experience at university, so if you want that extra string to your bow then why not run for office?
All of our current committee positions are avaialble, plus a couple of new ones to reflect the growth of Atheist Society over the last few years.
We will be doing a small profile on all of the positions on the blog for the next few weeks and if you have any questions then just speak to an existing committee memeber or drop us a line at leeds[at]atheistsoc.org