Or not. There are no corn-based, angry, red-eyed gods making you do anything around here.

I’d like to introduce myself and welcome everyone to the shiny, brand-spanking-new website of Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers — and to this blog, Heathen of the Corn. My name is Robert Cook, and I am the Activism Chair of IAF. This blog is where I (and others — I’m certainly not doing this all by myself) will talk about atheist and humanist related news, update you on IAF events, and inspire you to feats of activism and kindness.

I see ACES as the core philosophy of this blog. ACES — Activism, Community, Education, and Social — is a program devised by American Atheists and adopted by IAF. It is a way to grow IAF membership by focusing on the needs of the diverse community of atheists, freethinkers, and humanists where we live.

The goals of the ACES program are:

1. Grow and sustain a broad base of support and membership by appealing to the diverse

community of atheists in your community.

2. Increase the visibility of your group by engaging in high-impact activism and

partnering with other local groups to accomplish activism goals.

3. Combat negative stereotypes about atheists and atheism by demonstrating your

involvement in your community through service, community building, collaboration, and educational programs.

4. Expand the scope and reach of your group by building and maintaining a large and diverse membership and a network of community partners and allies.
5. Increase the financial stability of your group by growing membership, utilizing corporate matching or rewards programs, and other revenue streams.

As I said, I am the Activism Chair. The other Chairs are: Bill Shackleford, Education. Joyce Shackleford, Community. And Kai Gillespie, Social.

I love the ACES program. I accepted the Activism Chair a almost a year ago because I want to make the world a better place before I die, at least better than it would be if I had never lived. It feels like the world is catching on fire all around me. Theocrats were — and are still — gaining more power in this country than I have ever seen in my lifetime. They encroach on my ability to live as a non-believer a little more every day even as the population of Nones grows to unprecedented numbers.

We have to do something folks. We have to push back, organize, educate ourselves, and take advantage of our numbers to preserve our rights, lives, and livelihoods. I joined Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers to make a difference, and ACES is our strategic plan to make that difference a reality.

That is the vision I have for the Heathen of the Corn and for Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers. If you feel the same way, please join IAF and help us make Iowa, the United States, and the world a better place.

And thanks for checking out this blog, even if you don’t have a supernatural horror looking over your shoulder.

By Robert Cook

Activism Chair