American Atheists Names New Leaders

AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org



AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC., NAMES TWO NEW LEADERS

American Atheists President Ed Buckner announced today that the Board of
Directors has recently approved the appointment of two new leaders  for
the organization, Kathleen Johnson as Vice President for the Western
United States and David Silverman as Vice President for the Eastern
United States. Both Silverman and Johnson are already members of the
board of directors and active leaders of the organization, but their
elevation and new titles are expected to help the organization put
emphasis on vigorous new ideas, fresh approaches, and broadened
leadership for the group.

Buckner said, "I'm delighted to be able to share crucial leadership
roles with such powerful and appealing young activists. Silverman has
served admirably--and will continue to serve--as our National
Spokesperson and Communications Director, while Johnson has a
distinguished career in military law enforcement and investigation and
has long led efforts to educate Americans about the major contributions
of Atheists in the military." He added that both are effective and
engaging speakers who will represent American Atheists well, whether in
the media, in debates, or one-on-one with Atheists or others.

More about each:

David Silverman has been an AA member since 1996, was New Jersey State
Director for four years (State Director of the year, 1998), and was
Activist of the Year in 1999. He organized the first-ever Atheist
protest at the Republican National Convention in 2001 and originated the
post of Youth and Family Director, which now offers three scholarships,
and the Nogodblog, which gets 15,000 visits per day. He has appeared on
many television and radio shows on behalf of AA, including Hannity and
Colmes, The O'Reilly Factor, Scarborough Country, It’s Your Call, Fox
and Friends, Nick News, and on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and WWOR. He has also
been featured in a political ad for a U.S. Senatorial candidate. He has
written dozens of articles on-line and for American Atheist magazine,
including “Coming Out,” “Top 10 Atheist Myths,” and an interview with
Douglas Adams which was published after Adams' death in the Salmon of
Doubt and referenced in Richard Dawkins' book, The God Delusion. He was
named as Atheist of the Year 2008 and in 2009 was appointed as American
Atheists Vice President for the Eastern United States.

First Sergeant (Retired) Kathleen Johnson, a retired member of the US
Army and a lifelong Atheist, began her career as an Atheists' rights
activist in 1996 when she found an issue of American Atheist Magazine in
a library. After joining American Atheists and becoming an active
participant in Atheist causes, she searched without success for an
Atheist organization that catered specifically to the unique needs of
military personnel. In response to this need, she founded the Military
Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) and served as the
organization's first president. In 2001, she relinquished the
organization's reins to her successor in order to increase her
activities as Military Director for American Atheists. In 2008, she was
nominated to the American Atheists' board of directors and in 2009, was
appointed as American Atheists Vice President for the Western United
States. Her activities have included numerous speaking engagements,
media interviews, public appearances, and participation as a guest
speaker in the first Godless Americans March on Washington. She
continues to serve her country as a civilian employee of the US Army.

(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights
for Atheists, Freethinkers and other nonbelievers; works for the total
separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment
public policy.)

American Atheists, Inc.
PO BOX 158
Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel.: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402