Leadership Changes Announced by the Center for Inquiry

[salvorhardin]

Got the news a couple of hours ago and thought this would be of interest to the denizens of this group. I'll cross post in A&A and R&T too.

CFI is the parent organization of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP) and the Council For Secular Humanism. It's a press release, meant for widespread distribution, so I'll post the whole thing.

The Center for Inquiry and its affiliate organizations, the Council for Secular Humanism and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, announced today that in support of its two-year succession plan Dr. Paul Kurtz, the visionary leader and founder of all three organizations, will become chair emeritus. Kurtz in this capacity will continue as a voting member of the boards of directors for the balance of his terms ending in 2013. In his new role Kurtz will have time to concentrate on writing and numerous public speaking engagements on behalf of the Center for Inquiry as the founder and face of the organization.

Dr. Ronald A. Lindsay remains chief executive officer and president of the three corporations, with all rights and responsibilities associated with those positions. “Transition is challenging for an organization, but I believe because of the strength and resources of the Center for Inquiry and its affiliate organizations, including most importantly the quality and dedication of the staff, we will be able to carry out these changes successfully,” Lindsay said. “Indeed, I believe that these changes will ultimately strengthen the organization.”

Board member Richard K. Schroeder has been named chair of the three boards, and board member Jonathan Kurtz has been named to the new position of vice chair of the three boards. “I look forward to working with the new board chair, Richard Schroeder, and the new vice chair, Jonathan Kurtz,” added Lindsay.

The Board reaffirmed the goals of the organizations, which are to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values, and to promote critical investigation of controversial and extraordinary claims through the use of responsible, scientific inquiry. From this point forward, the Board will take a more direct role in overseeing their policies and overall direction. Three new committees will be formed within the Board: a Policy Committee, a Nominations Committee, and a Compensation Committee.

The Center for Inquiry/Transnational, a nonprofit, educational, advocacy, and scientific-research think tank based in Amherst, New York, is also home to the Council for Secular Humanism, founded in 1980; and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP), founded in 1976. The Center for Inquiry’s research and educational projects focus on three broad areas: religion, ethics, and society; paranormal and fringe-science claims; and sound public policy. The Center’s Web site is http://www.centerforinquiry.net.

Source: http://www.centerforinquiry.net/newsroom/leadership_changes_announced_by_the_center_for_inquiry