Stopping separation of church and state violations, ensuring religious and non-religious freedom, protests, etc. - the victories in both the social and legal circles.

Getting on the news debunking some local nonsense, like Bigfoot stories (we offered a $50,000 reward to anyone who would bring him in).

Making new friends

They are very good people and very good friends.

Camaraderie and some good discussions

Seeing people who almost cry when they discover the group because they thought they were the only atheist in the world.

Meeting other people of like minds.

Meeting interesting people

Meeting others of like mind and being able to be open about our concerns regarding religion.

Meeting people with similar point of view

Meeting wonderful people.

The meetings help people to clarify their views about religion and non-religion.

The meetings also provide an excellent social outlet for non-religious people.

Building social network and learning opportunities.

Strength and friendship in numbers.

The support of our members and their willingness to donate generously to keep our activism going.

Finding others of a like mind.

Meeting other freethinkers, Sharpening my reasoning skills, Learning how to be a leader

I think the success of our HumanLight program is the most

important development. Please see our web-site (www.humanlight.org)

By far, meeting with other atheists to build a local community has been rewarding. We're now no longer suffering from isolation or invisibility; I am still a voice for the local atheist community.

Our best speakers have drawn audiences of 50 or more and favorable comment.

Great discussions, good Friendships

Establishing a community of humanists and freethinkers

Creating atheist community

Learning about a lot of subjects "communion" with people

But, on the other hand, when things work right, and there is a good lively crowd, it’s always a lot of fun. Some of the public protests where we've had a big turnout were great.

Helping get information out to other freethinkers that they might never have heard of without our help.

The best experience has been seeing this group grow to what it is now after 4 years of really seeing a lot of people throw themselves into it.

Having a place to meet and talk to others who have similar beliefs each month

The comfortable atmosphere for free expression and the great people!

Best is chance to get media attention and educate people

I would say the best experience was the networking and the overall improvement of community understanding of the Atheist life stance.

An invited US Congressional candidate showed up to a meeting as a guest.

Made many friends, and I am closer to these friends than I am to most of my family

Fellowship

Sense of community

FELLOWSHIP AND SUPPORT

Getting to Meet Other Atheists

Our annual Charles Darwin Day event. Discussion at a book store café of Darwin and his accomplishments.

Showing dozens of local atheists that they're not the only non-believers in the heart of the Bible Belt.

Getting a chance to participate in all kinds of new experiences with interesting people, particularly the media stuff (TV, audio); Hearing people say that they never knew there were other atheists out there.

Best experience is meeting others who are free from religion like you.

As one of the four co-founders, it has been very rewarding to know that we have changed the lives of many hundreds of Freethinkers in the area and around the world by proving that Freethinkers deserve and should have a church of their own, without all the superstitious baggage of faith-based religions.

Growth of the chapter. We started out small and have increased steadily

Getting to know people with a similar out look.

Best experience—having a religious community to belong to.

Hooking up with folks like me who are atheists.

Meeting with others who share the same beliefs

Best experience is the friendship of non-superstitious friends who are not easy to find without the group. Our speakers include people of views opposed to ours.

Meeting like minded people

Personally - knowledge, followed close by community (able to meet with like minded individuals)

Our failed attempt to start a Darwin Day - it was a total failure and set many people back on a willingness to try again.

Getting rained out of a festival

None

Getting involved with another local Humanist group which ended up in my

husband getting sued for hurting someone's feelings. (Long story...)

The suit was dismissed, but not before it cost us personally a fairly large

amount of money.

The same as most of these groups. Christian bashing and discussion of terminology such as atheist, humanist, freethinker, etc.

Watching George Bush and John Ashcroft shred the establishment clause.

One regular has dominated the conversation, thus causing another regular member to stop attending meetings.

Getting people to assume responsibilities for projects they recommend undertaking

Speakers not relevant to our interests

Meeting difficult people.

We allow the public to attend our meetings. Sometimes, religious whacko shows up and tries to put us down, tells us we're going to hell, etc.

Having a no-show speaker.

Former president who did not respect democracy and split off to form atheist cult.

The hostility of one of the leaders of another atheist group who opposes criticizing the religious right or admitting atheists are discriminated against, and considers what we do "destructive."

Being infiltrated by argumentative Biblethumpers.

Negative attitudes of some freethinkers

I think the first two years when sometimes myself and my co-conspirator were the only ones to show up for a meeting.

The worst part was trying to create a group and also adhere to the rules set up for me as a staff Member of American Atheists. The local atheists did not agree with the ideas or methods of AA's national leadership and I personally found that I could not "sell" memberships to the AA organization. Also, my involvement as AA Staff kept people AWAY from me: those people who already knew (as I do, now) That AA policy is that AA is an "anti-theism" group… Now, I have to start all over in the formation of an independent local group That is not necessarily an AA Chapter (per se, as AA no longer has chapters).

The discussion meeting was dying until we announced topics and selected a moderator.

Disappointing lack of active membership

All the work involved!

Arguments during discussions; minimal donations of labor/money

Not sharing load, blabber mouths

It’s always a bummer when you go to the trouble of setting up some meeting or event, and hardly anyone shows. I've "guest-hosted" for both local groups a couple of times, when it almost fell-through.

Trying to get noticed by the general public. One newspaper editor asked me if the name of the group was "a joke."

The worst experience is has been those times what I was the only one advertising and planning events, and when only 3-4 people came to meetings.

Not having the resources to have a building of our own or the ability to advertise in the media.

Two separate issues with individual members where tempers flared and the person ended up leaving the group. It's uncommon, but painful when it happens.

Worst is trying to keep enthusiasm at a poorly attended event

The worst experience would be dealing with egomaniacs and complainers (people who do no work, but like to sit around and complain).

None

Dealing with religious people who want to be considered "freethinkers" and therefore part of our group  

Complacency

OCCASIONAL CRAZY PERSON

Not Enough Interest in Political Action

The murder of one of our members in his home by a renter of his. [Not related to the group or being a non-believer]

Occasional political nonsense and gossip. Nothing recent, though.

Dealing with political stuff during board elections.

Worst experience is GETTING others who are free from religion motivated into ACTION. Not getting enough money for publicity - being stoned walled in publicity - by the local Public Radio. Stonewalling by business when attempting to BUY publicity.

The closed-minded reaction from other so-called 'Freethinkers' who dismiss our success because of the use of the perfectly descriptive and sensible word, 'Church,' in our name.

Haven't had any really bad ones!

Nothing comes to mind

Realizing that many members are happy to have the social interaction and are not nearly as interested as I am in reacting to issues.

TECHNICALLY, WE ARE A NON-THEISTIC RELIGION. PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD RELIGION AND WON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH US BECAUSE OF TRADITRIONAL DEFINITIONS OF RELIGION.

Getting people to actively participate.

No bad experiences so far.

Frustration at lack of involvement of members

Petty battles between strong willed people