Ellen Johnson is Leaving as President of American Atheists

[Synnical]

Received via e-mail from Edwin Kagin, Kentucky State Director, American Atheists, Inc.

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



I WAS BORN AN ATHEIST JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE



To Unidentified Recipients:

AMERICAN ATHEISTS


To Members and Supporters of AMERICAN ATHEISTS...

Dear friends,

I want to take this opportunity to tell you about some of the important
changes now taking place at American Atheists.

Following over 13 years of outstanding service to American Atheists and the
cause of State-Church Separation, Ellen Johnson is leaving her post as
President of the organization. Her tenure in this position was marked by
some of the most amazing and historic events in our movement's history. She
stepped in following the tragic disappearance of our founder, Madalyn Murray
O'Hair and her family, and oversaw the relocation of the American Atheist
Center and Charles E. Stevens American Atheist Library and Archives
(CESAALA) to New Jersey. She organized the Godless Americans March on
Washington, and brought together our nation's diverse and sometimes
fractious community of Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and other
nonbelievers. She testified twice before the National Commission on Civil
Rights, and made hundreds of media appearances on prime time and cable news
TV programs. Ellen also mobilized Atheists and other secularists throughout
the nation to speak out on the vital First Amendment issues of our time.
And with all of this, she managed to coordinate the hectic daily activities
here at the American Atheist Center.

In the spirit of obtaining all that she (and any other Atheist) can from one
life the elegant, energetic and outspoken Ms. Johnson will now focus her
passions on a new adventure. Just what that might be we do not yet know.
We know, however, that it will be something splendid!

Ellen, who will remain on the Board of Directors, is succeeded by long-time
member Frank Zindler.

There have been three presidents of American Atheists since its founding
over four decades ago -- Madalyn Murray O'Hair; her successor and son, Jon
Garth Murray; and since 1995, Ellen Johnson. They left, as the saying goes
"big shoes to fill." We are confident that Frank is fully prepared for this
new challenging role. He has a distinguished academic career as a former
biology professor, linguist and bible-era historian. He has authored
numerous books and articles dealing with a wide range of subjects,
everything from the alleged historicity of Jesus to the on-going controversy
over teaching creationism in our public schools. His tenure as an activist
with American Atheists goes back over 30 years. Frank is a
nationally-recognized speaker and debater, and has served as an eloquent
spokesperson for our organization.

Frank Zindler will serve as President Pro Temp until a suitable replacement
for this office is found. The day-to-day operations at the American Atheist
Center will continue -- and so will our activism!

Other Officers and Directors will be staying on as well. Dave Silverman,
who has done an outstanding job as our Communications Director, will
continue to be the "public face" of American Atheists, working closely with
Frank to make sure that our message gets out to the media and others who
shape public opinion. Board member Edwin Kagin will remain in his important
post as National Legal Director. The American Atheist magazine and all of
the other benefits of membership will continue. And so will our efforts to
represent you in the important fight for state-church separation, Reason and
the civil rights of Atheists.

We're hitting the ground running, folks! The baton is passed -- and we'll
continue our all-important work.

Thanking you in advance for your support!

The Board of Directors, AMERICAN ATHEISTS

I'm guessing and this is truly just a guess, that this has something to do with Ms. Johnson posting a video on the AA website urging people not to vote.

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

Edit to add prior post and provide info

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=263&topic_id=31202&mesg_id=31202

[Exultant Democracy]

1. not voting is pretty lame.

[Synnical]

2. Confirmed: Ellen Johnson left Involuntarily

Again, received via e-mail from Edwin Kagin

The carefully worded phrase, “Ellen Johnson is leaving her post as President
of the organization,” was designed, when written, to protect rather than to
deceive. Ellen Johnson did “leave her post as President of the
organization,” but she did so involuntarily. Since the foregoing was
published, Ellen Johnson has been involuntarily removed from the Board of
Directors of American Atheists. Edwin.

I have it on good authority that she was removed due to personal issues, not misconduct relating to American Atheists, Inc.

Ellen Johnson was an amazing President of AA, and I will personally miss her. She's a great spokesperson for atheists.

More from Edwin:

Ellen Johnson has been replaced as President of American Atheists. Frank
Zindler is the acting President. A far ranging search has been undertaken to
find a new President. Want to apply? You can find a form at www.atheists.org


Bart Metzler has resigned as American Atheist’s national coordinator of
state and regional directors. He has been replaced by Dave Kong, long time
activist and Florida {sic: Dave was California State Director, Greg McDowell is Florida State Director} State Director for American Atheists. We wish Bart
well, and we congratulate Dave who will do a splendid job.

There have been a lot of comments on our blog site about the changes going
on at American Atheists. Those most vocal in objection to the change in the
presidency of our organization opine in inverse proportion to their
knowledge of the facts of the situation and of the reasons for the actions
of the Board of Directors of American Atheists, a body on which your editor
is now honored to serve as a member. As a member of the Board of Directors,
I can, without violating confidences, assure you that the actions of the
Board were in the best interests of the organization.

Also from acting Pres Frank Zindler at atheists.org:

Let me make it absolutely, bluntly clear: Ellen had done nothing illegal or even close to being illegal leading up to her termination from office. Nevertheless the many issues in dispute were substantial and of great importance if American Atheists is to remain secure, stable, and positioned for growth. As I have observed in reply to several letters I have received concerning the circumstances of the separation, it is like a divorce “for irreconcilable differences.” Just as such divorces can nevertheless often be anguished and painful, so too is the present split. But it is also the case that even bitterly fought divorces can often lead to reconciliation after wounds have been healed by time. We earnestly hope that will be the case here as well.

There is, however, a remaining area of dispute of which readers should be made aware. The Board of the Atheist library corporation CESAALA is asking Ellen to return diaries of Madalyn Murray O’Hair and other memorabilia salvaged from the Murray-O’Hair home back in 1996 after the murder of the ‘First Family of Atheism.’ According to the terms of their joint will, all such personal property was to become the possession of CESAALA “with the stipulation that the library shall forever have the purpose of finding, preserving, and keeping Atheist and related books for research and enlightenment of Atheists.” The Board of Directors considers obtaining the diaries of its corporate founder a fundamental fiduciary duty. As this issue of American Atheist goes to press, no response from Ellen on this issue has been received.

I will miss Ellen, greatly. If you don't know, Ellen and Bart had/have? a personal relationship.

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

Edit to add Frank's comments from the AA website.