Texas Organizing Call Agenda
SCA Texas Chapter Organizing Conference Call
Call-in number: (530) 881-1400 Participant Access Code: 978895
Tuesday, July 24th at 2pm ET
Welcome message
Who is here and not here that needs to be here?
Explanation of conference call style and recording
The Secular Coalition for America is forming state chapters across the country. Our chapters will bring together secular Americans in each state to influence government officials, legislation, and regulations.
Our first step in forming these chapters is our monthly conference calls.
Goals/Stages of Chapter Development
Focus on setting up the structure, identifying leadership, identifying how the legislature in Texas operates and the best ways to meet the needs of the Secular Coalition for Texas. No one is required to speak up, but there will be opportunities to do so.
Future monthly calls will become a way to educate and inform: track legislation, coordinate lobbying efforts and coordinate secular organizations. Once your state chapter is organized, the leadership and a representative of the SCA will sign a memo of understanding officially recognizing the Secular Coalition for Texas and giving the group access to our resources (to be discussed in more depth later).
SCA Chapter model
A Secular Coalition for America state chapter is unlike any other nontheistic state organization-it brings together interested organization and individuals for the exclusive purpose of lobbying government officials.
Mission and Purpose of the Chapters:
Mission- The Secular Coalition for Texas and the Secular Coalition for America share the common mission to increase the visibility of and respect for nontheistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.
Purpose - The Secular Coalition for America and the Secular Coalition for Texas will accomplish its mission through cooperation between local groups and coordinated state lobbying activities.
Part of the Secular Coalition for America
Under our C4 tax exemption with full C4 Lobbying privileges
Resources
CQ Statetrack: full bill text and details, committee hearings calendar, customizable reports, automatic web publishing
Website:
Secular.org>States>Your State> Texas
Conference Call dates, time, numbers
Call replays
Agendas
Sign up to receive alerts
TX.secular.org subdomain hope to have running by next call
Facebook Page: already up and running, but now the official Secular Coalition for Texas
Issues/Events:
Texas Board of Education: all 15 seats up for election in November
Texas Republican Party Platform: blog post by our Government Relations Manager, Chris Lombardi
Texas Freedom Network: "Religion in the 2012 Elections" Symposium
Texas Freethought Convention
Executive Committee
Currently working on getting all the resources in place so leadership can take over administration of facebook page, website, etc.
Interested Individuals:
- Brian Walker
- Matt Dillahunty - media
- Kevin Butler - media
- Sam Elliott
- Drew Convery
- Olfa Hamdi
- Michael van Strien
- Brian Stacey
- Paul Elliott
If anyone else has any interest in leadership please email me, Kelly@secular.org
Next Conference Call Date and Time
Tuesday, September 25th at 3pm ET / 2PM CT; same call in number and code
Fourth Tuesday of the Month (except August and December)
What we are doing until the next call:
Getting resources pulled together
What you can do:
Contact us if interested in leadership
Sign up on our website to receive info and updates
Check out the state chapters page for updates
Spread the word about the next conference call!
My contact information:
Kelly Damerow
Research and Advocacy Manager, Secular Coalition for America
P: 202-299-1091 ext.204