We have 356 members, but only about 30-50 who actually participate, either online or more importantly, coming to events. I'm looking for ideas to get more people to attend some of our events. I realize that not every event will appeal to all members, and schedules can and do conflict, but I'd like to have at least one event where we break our own meetup attendance record.

An idea for a picnic at a pavilion at Brackenridge Park is in the pipeline, and I'd like to get a big draw. What do you think it would take? Longer advanced notice, personal appeals, free beer....

I think a lot of people just sort of join up and forget about it. I know another meetup group I'm organizing we have 12 people in the group but only four active members. It's tough, I'm not really sure how to get others aboard except trying to contact them directly, but that pretty impractical for a group this size.

I'm not sure a 'bigger and badder' event will draw out more members. I don't want to seem negative here, I'm honestly curious on brainstorming some ideas, I'm just expressing my frustration with organizing too.

Any members who have friends or relatives that have been absent from the group lately should try contacting them and invite them out.

Like you said, I think a big bbq in the park would be fun and easy to organize.

(btw: if anyone is interested in hardware hacking, coding, open source, home fabrication, etc should check out SA Digital Fabricators sorry just had to throw that out there)

I can’t pretend that I’m not scared… like what if I am a bad atheist?
Will there be a quiz?

Then I started reading the food threads and analyzing my diet. Eeeee!

I mean… scheduling conflict!!

...and a bbq sounds like a great idea. =)

There are no quizzes; I promise. I know that it can be scary, not knowing what to expect, not knowing anyone, not knowing what is safe to talk about, but we are just people like you or anyone else. It is just that we, like you, don't believe in God.

Koda, dress up like a zombie, come to my party and make that "Eeeee" sound. It will be golden.

I'd be interested in attending ..something. A park bbq sounds cool. If it's on a weekend, I'd likely have my daughter. I'm not a drinker. I don't like to drive super far, or spend a ton of money. I'm a little on the shy/withdrawn side but it's not too bad. I'm not the most active kind of person online or in person. But all that aside, I would like to make some new local non-theist friends.

I agree with Matt. House parties are a great place to start meeting the people in this group. A house party was my first meetup event three years ago.

Our house parties are almost always very cool and Matt's place is perfect for a party. One of my first meetups was at his place and it was really cool.

Typically, there is a pattern that some new members follow. Some want to discuss atheism or non-belief and how they lost their faith, but by the second or third meeting, any novelty or fear about being an atheist or being at an atheist party wears off, and people starting coming just because they/we fun. In fact, pretty soon, at most events, we never discuss it at all. Simply being around people having a good time, without the pressure of worrying about offending a believer if something is said, is just cool, so it is rarely mentioned again - unless somebody just wants to talk about it.

Well I for one want to talk about the passage of HR 3590 at Zombeaster. Health Care guys...PARTY AT MATTS!!!!!!

Yes, we need health care for Zombies NOW! (If they aren't in need of urgent health care, who is?!)