Support a Community of Reason — Support the Center for Inquiry
Dear Friend:
In the past year, we have all faced many challenges, principally due to changes in the economic environment. The global recession has had a large adverse effect on nonprofit organizations, leaving many nonprofits struggling to continue their missions with decreased financial resources. Unfortunately, when the economic climate is unfavorable, the need for financial support is often the greatest.
Other changes have been more encouraging for us. As secular humanists and skeptics, we are happy to see the media—and even some politicians—pay more attention to the nonreligious and skeptical. Much of this attention has been quite positive, which in turn supports our own efforts to ensure that atheists, agnostics and humanists feel free to speak their minds and assert their rights. Even when this attention to the nonreligious takes the form of criticism, it serves a worthwhile function of giving more visibility to our movement. We may now have a better opportunity than ever before to promote a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values.
Within the Center for Inquiry, we have also had change. In support of the Center’s succession plan, Dr. Paul Kurtz, our visionary leader and founder, is now chair emeritus. This change will allow Dr. Kurtz time to concentrate on his writing and other activities.
Transition is challenging for any organization, but I am confident that the Center for Inquiry and its affiliate organizations, due in large part to the quality and dedication of their staff and volunteers, will face these challenges successfully. Indeed, the Center will become an even stronger and more effective force for promoting a secular society and advancing humanist values.
We are exploring new ways to convey our message to the general public—a message of reason, compassion, and hope founded on fact, not fantasy. Evidence-based reasoning, in which humans work together to address our common concerns, must supplant dogma and ideology if we are to succeed in resolving 21st century problems and build a global community in which the dignity and rights of all individuals are respected. We believe that our message will resonate with many, and will attract new supporters. But we cannot convey our message without the means to do so. The gifts of our friends and supporters provide us with these means. During these difficult economic times we are buoyed by the enthusiasm of our supporters. We hope that we can count on you to provide the most generous possible contribution that you can make at this time so that we can continue the work of the Center.
With best regards,
—Ronald A. Lindsay
President and Chief Executive Officer
P.S. All contributions are fully tax exempt as provided by law.
To make a donation by phone please call 1-800-818-7071, or click here to download a pledge form and fax the completed form to (716) 636-1733
or mail to:
Center for Inquiry
PO Box 741
Amherst, NY 14226
