Atheist Leaders Ousted by Group

[rug]

The action came Sunday at an Atheists of Florida board meeting.By Rick Rousos

The Ledger
Published: Monday, November 7, 2011 at 9:19 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, November 7, 2011 at 9:19 p.m.

LAKELAND | Lakeland residents EllenBeth Wachs and John Kieffer have been ousted from their managerial positions with Atheists of Florida — and as members of that statewide organization.

Posted on the website Monday: "Both have been expelled from the membership for seriously obstructing the organization's business, misappropriating the organization's name, misappropriating the organization's funds and acting in a way that discredits the organization."

Those accusations are fiction, Wachs and Kieffer said.

"That is categorically 100 percent untrue and defamatory," Wachs said.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20111107/NEWS/111109489?Title=Atheist-Leaders-Ousted-by-Group-

Sounds likev another lawsuit.

[Walk away]

1. I've been an Atheist from the age of five.

Why would anyone need to join an organization?

[tibbiit]

3. I was thinking the same thing

I dont want anything to do with anything like organization or church substitution.
tib

[dmallind]

6. Because 100 people complaining about establishment together are louder than one? nt

[cleanhippie]

7. Because its easier to defend ourselves from the onslaught of xtian theocracy when in a group?

Maybe you don't seem to feel the effects of the continual push by the religious in this country to legislate and promote their religion onto everyone else, but nonetheless, they are...and they are organized...and they have money....and they have influence....and they get laws passed (personhood in Mississippi, anyone?)



Yeah, why WOULD anyone need to join an organization? :shrug:

[MineralMan]

2. I've never been a member of any organization of atheists.

I've been an atheist since 1965. I can't imagine why I'd join such an organization.

[MarkCharles]

4. Looks like this group doesn't want to have "militant" members

misappropriating funds, or obstructing public meetings.

Good for them.

[struggle4progress]

5. Maybe there's some sort of power struggle here

The Ledger article, in the OP, indicates Kieffer and Wachs were removed by board vote

Kieffer seems to echo that in a post in the organization's online forum:

Post by John Kieffer on Yesterday, 1:28 am
This thread is for posting comments about the November 6, 2011, Board of Director's removal of AoF officers John , President, and EllenBeth Wachs, Vice-President ...
http://free2think.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=1500

But the organization website currently says:

President and Vice-President Resign
November 6, 2011 EllenBeth Wachs and John Kieffer resigned today from their elected positions as AoF Vice-president and President, respectively. Their announcements were made within minutes of the start of today’s Atheists of Florida Board of Directors meeting in Tampa. Walking out with Wachs and Kieffer were former AoF Executive Director Rob Curry and disenfranchised Orlando Chapter Director/board member Jessica Parrish ...
http://atheistsofflorida.org/index.html

There's a lot of noisy accusation, like this (from the Ledger): ...Wachs and Kieffer said Gollobith was intent on selling the building he owns where the atheists meet ... and saw them as a threat ...

Meh. It's a tiny 135-member organization several states away from me, so I'm not inclined to sort it all out