Golden Gate Objectivists (GGO) is an informal association of individuals interested in promoting Ayn Rand's ideas in the local community. We believe that Objectivism provides a rational, principled stand in contrast to today's supposed alternative of liberal or conservative ideas. We are convinced that we can make a difference in getting rational ideas heard locally by working together to impact the local culture.

We believe in and support the Ayn Rand Institute's mission of using philosophy to bring about a Second Renaissance. As such, we are not a political organization – but rather a group of intellectual activists aiming to promote Objectivist viewpoints in the San Francisco Bay Area.

(While we support the Ayn Rand Institute's mission, we are not affiliated with it nor do we claim to speak for ARI.) If you are fan of Ayn Rand and want to work with like-minded people to promote Objectivism, we want to hear from you.

Please read the rest of this Statement of Purpose, in which we outline our goals and planned activities, as well as ways to get involved.

If you are interested in learning more, feel free to contact me at goldengateobjectivists@yahoo.com.

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Golden Gate Objectivists (GGO) is an informal association of individuals joining together to promote Objectivist ideas in our local community. Our goals include:

• Spreading Objectivist ideas locally through outreach activities, for example:
  • Promoting the invitation of Objectivist intellectuals to speak at general forums such as the Commonwealth Club and similar organizations.
  • Organizing systematic Letter–to–the–Editor campaigns to local newspapers.
  • Becoming known to local media as 'go–to' people on specific topics of interest to, and in the expertise of, group participants.
  • Selectively advocate an Objectivist perspective on local community issues through ad-hoc activism.
• Providing a structured forum for local Objectivist part–time intellectuals to improve their understanding of Objectivism – to strengthen their ability to be local intellectual activists.
• Increasing the support by San Francisco Bay Area Objectivists for the Ayn Rand Institute – through financial and intellectual means.
• Creating a forum for local Objectivists to connect with each other for mutual support and socializing.

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We are starting Golden Gate Objectivists because we believe the time is right to take Objectivist intellectual activism to local communities.

Over the past two decades, through the efforts of ARI and others, Objectivism has made great strides towards becoming a cultural force. University departments are headed by Objectivists, a growing cadre of young professional intellectuals are entering the market, and the mass media are taking note – inviting ARI speakers to speak on key topics on national TV and publishing OpEd pieces in record numbers.

In parallel, many Objectivists who are not professional intellectuals – doctors, lawyers, business people – have gained a strong education in Objectivist ideas through campus clubs, summer conferences, ARI online lectures and taped lectures sold through the Ayn Rand Bookstore.

Around us, many important issues need to be addressed – from how to combat terrorism to dealing with social security, from improving education to standing up for free speech in the face of Islamo-Fascist intimidation. The Left is dying as a compelling moral force, offering nothing but short–range pragmatism. The Right is picking up strength almost by default – as the only mass movement offering a moral perspective on critical decisions we need to make as individuals and as a country.

We believe that many honest people outside of Objectivism struggle to find compelling, principled answers – non-religious, moral guidance for their lives. Objectivism is ideally positioned to fill this intellectual vacuum.

In this context, GGO's aim is to bring the Objectivism message to our local communities. We believe we can achieve multiple goals by organizing an outreach–focused community group:

• Engage honest local non-Objectivists in discussions about Objectivist ideas.
• Leverage local knowledge and exposure to have Objectivist intellectuals speak before local groups.
• Gain exposure in local media – from newspapers to TV and online forums – by being local advocates on national topics and becoming involved in local topics with philosophical aspects.
• Re-engage and provide a forum for Objectivists who are passionate about spreading Ayn Rand's ideas but are unable to pursue intellectual activism as a full–time career.
• Serve as a catalyst and forum for local Objectivists to educate themselves in Objectivism and to socialize with like–minded people.
• Broaden the support for ARI – by reactivating 'inactive' Objectivists and by exposing financially qualified, honest non–Objectivists to the right ideas and to ARI speakers.

As this list of goals illustrates, GGO aims to go beyond the 'traditional' community group activities of discussion groups and social events. We believe that a clear, long–range purpose of promoting Objectivism in our local area will help keep participants excited and engaged, whether or not they become friends and want to spend social time together.

We believe we need a core group of 4–10 people in the San Francisco Bay Area willing to co–lead this effort – and that there should to be a dozen or more people willing to contribute their specific skills and interests.

Over the next 2–4 months, we will organize several initial activities to test our hypotheses. We invite you to come and volunteer your efforts if you are interested – and to pass the information on to others who might be interested.

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Outreach can take as many forms as the interests of our participants. Some ideas we would like to pursue:

• Speaker programs
  Through our connections and local knowledge, we can facilitate speaking engagements for ARI intellectuals before general, non–Objectivist audiences. By being active in professional groups and local organizations like the Commonwealth Club, we can identify opportunities not visible to ARI and can organize for Objectivist speakers to give talks.
• Letter–to–the–Editor campaigns
  We believe there must be at least a handful of Objectivists in the San Francisco Bay Area who are passionate about certain topics and are comfortable expressing them in writing. GGO can bring together these individuals and help facilitate a high–impact effort by:
  • Sharing reading assignments to identify letter – writing opportunities, both for local writers and for ARI.
  • Create a list of GGO writers with their topics of passion and expertise – and match them to opportunities.
  • Provide a forum to discuss ideas – and to help edit and improve draft letters.
• Intellectually guided activism
  While we are not a political group, we can facilitate and help with ad–hoc activism. As an example, over the past two years Quent Cordair has led an effort to defeat a 'Business Improvement District' in Burlingame, which was forcing merchants to pay taxes for what should be a voluntary merchant organization.

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We understand that as full–time employed, productive people, time is limited. We welcome any level of involvement – from those wanting to attend already organized activities, to those wanting to take a leadership role. Particularly, we are looking for individuals interested in participating in some specific activities:

• Letter writing. If you like to write and are passionate about certain topics – please let us know.
• Promoting speakers to local groups. If you have any insight into local or professional groups who might be open to inviting an Objectivist speaker give a talk, we welcome the information – and your help in making the talk happen.
• Hosting group meetings. We are looking for people with larger homes (or business facilities we could use) to host meetings where we organize our outreach activities.
• Alerting others to GGO. We are looking for exposure both to other Objectivists and to other rational individuals who might be willing to help us achieve our goals.

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