Conventions & Events
2009 National FFRF Convention
32nd Annual Convention
Red Lion Hotel
Fifth Avenue
Seattle, Washington
The Weekend of November 6-8, 2009
Freedom From Religion Foundation32nd Annual ConventionNov. 6 - 8, 2009 |
Visit our 2009 convention page
Ron Reagan, self-described “unabashed atheist,” well-known radio host, Seattle resident and son of Pres. Ronald Reagan, and legendary Sci-Fi writer Ursula K. LeGuin will headline the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s 32nd annual national convention in Seattle on the weekend of Nov. 6–8, 2009.
The Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue, with an ideal location in downtown Seattle, is the site. The Foundation is returning to the venue of its 2004 Northwest Mini-Convention.
The Foundation plans an upbeat gala event.
Speakers also include author and former missionary Daniel Everett, William Lobdell, Jennifer Michael Hecht, Barry Kosmin, & sociologist Phil Zuckerman.
Note: The Red Lion Hotel ballroom has seating limitations. Please plan ahead! Every year there are members disappointed they did not reserve their hotel room in time. Area FFRF members are also invited to register early so FFRF can juggle space requirements. Hotel rooms may be reserved while they last at the Red Lion Hotel, Fifth Avenue, Seattle, for $159.00 single or double occupancy, $179.00 triple occupancy and $199.00 quadruple occupancy. Phone 1-800-504-3909 or 206-971-8000 identifying yourself with the Freedom From Religion Foundation to receive the group rate, by no later than Oct. 16, 2009. Call now! There is no guarantee rooms will last! There will be no registrations at the door do to space limitations.
The convention begins at 7 pm (registration opens earlier) on Fri., Nov. 6. A complimentary dessert reception follows the Friday night opening. The convention continues through Saturday. The annual membership and Board of Directors meetings take place on Sunday morning. Convention emcees are Foundation co-presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor.
Two optional group meals will be offered (a nice way to socialize): the traditional Saturday Non-Prayer Breakfast (closed), and the Saturday night banquet. (See menu below.) Per membership vote, there will be a 2-hour midday break for lunch/sightseeing on your own.
Menu
Registration Saturday's Nonprayer Breakfast is now closed. No meals may be ordered at the door.
Saturday’s banquet dinner starts with the Red Lion House Salad (mixed seasonal leafy greens, diced apple, candied spiced almonds and shredded carrot with choice of dressing), and features Chicken Chardonnay, tender sauteed chicken topped with a Yakima Valley Chardonnay wine sauce, artichoke hearts and fresh mushrooms. Dinner includes chef’s choice of starch, artisan breads and butter, freshly brewed coffee or decaf, hot or iced tea. (A vegetarian entree is available.) The meal concludes with Truffle Ganache: chocolate chiffon cake and Belgium semisweet chocolate ganache. $50 includes the 20% gratuity.
FFRF Convention 08
Click here for speeches, videos, etc. from the 31st Annual National Convention, Oct. 10-12, 2008, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Upcoming Events & Appearances
November 14, San Antonio, Texas
Dan Barker will speak at the 2009 Texas Freethought Convention in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, November 14 at the Alzafar Temple from 12-8pm. For more details, contact FACT.President@freethinkersact.org.
November 15, San Marcos, Texas
Dan Barker will debate Kevin Cauley of the Southwest School of Bible Studies on the topic "Can we be good without God?" from 3:30 to 5:30 pm in the ALK Building, Room 250 (across from the Texas State Library). Moderator Rebecca Raphael of the Philosophy Department. Sponsored by the Freethought Society at Texas State University. Contact Frances Bayne at fb1023@txstate.edu or or Russell Tomlinson at rt1178@txstate.edu or freethoughtsociety@gmail.com.
November 16, Austin, Texas
Dan Barker will talk to the Austin Atheist Longhorns at the University of Texas-Austin at 6:30 pm in Mezes Hall, Rm. 1.306 (21st Street and University Avenue, south of UT main tower, east side). Contact Elizabeth Caldwell at elizabethcaldwell@mail.utexas.edu.
November 17, Denton, Texas
Dan Barker will talk to the Freethought Alliance at the University of North Texas on Tuesday, November 17, at 7:00 pm in Room 109 of the Chemistry Building. Contact Brian Wilson at briansawilddowner@gmail.com.
November 18, Arlington, Texas
Dan Barker will talk to the Freethinkers of UTA at the University of Texas-Arlington in the Life Science building (room 118) at 7:30pm. Contact Becky Robinson at utafreethinkers@gmail.com.
November 19, Plano, Texas
Dan Barker will debate Dinesh D'Souza on Thursday morning, November 19, at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas. The debate will probably start at 9:00 am. Attendance is by registration only. To ask about registration, contact Becky McLain at bmclain@prestonwoodchristian.org. More details to follow.
November 19, Chickasha, Oklahoma
Dan Barker will talk to the USAO Secular Student Alliance at the University of Science and the Arts in Chickasha, Oklahoma, on Thursday evening, November 19, in the Davis Hall Amphitheater. Contact faculty advisor Shelley Reese at reesshelley@gmail.com.
November 20, Norman, Oklahoma
Dan Barker will talk about "How to be good without God" to the Center For Inquiry group at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, on Friday, November 20 in Dale Hall (200) at 6:30 pm. Contact group president Trey Shelton at trey.shelton@ou.edu or Aseem Nevrekar at aseem@ou.edu.
November 21, Springfield, Missouri
Dan Barker will participate in Skepticon II at Missouri State University, on Saturday, November 21. Contact JT Eberhard at jteberhard@gmail.com for more details.
November 25 - 29, London, England
Dan Barker will participate in a number of events in London:
More details to follow . . .
- Wednesday, November 25: Central London Humanists, 6:30 pm at the Conference Room in Canterbury Hall, 11-18 Cartwright Gardens WC1H 9EE. Contact Josh Kutchinsky at jkutchinsky@googlemail.com.
- Thursday, November 26: Debate - "Can you be good without God?" at Imperial College, Thursday, November 26, 6:30 pm, hosted by Imperial College Union Political Philosophy Society.
- Sunday, November 29, 3:00 pm Dan will talk to the South Place Ethical Society, at Conway Hall (25 Red Lion Square, London WC1). Contact Norman Bacrac at bacrac@fsmail.net.
- Sunday, November 29, 6:15 pm: "Should religion be separated from the state?" debate with Abdullah al Andalusi, director of the Muslim Debate Initiative. The debate will take place in Room B29, Main building (building 1 on the map, Torrington Square), Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HX.
- Monday, November 30, 6:30 p.m: Dan Barker will debate Adam Deen on the topic "Is God a Delusion?" at Kings College, Monday, November 30, 6:30 pm, organized by King's College Islamic Society.
(Click image to see larger size poster)
Memphis, Tennessee, December 3
Dan Barker will talk about state/church separation -- including FFRF's complaint about prayers at the Memphis City Council -- to the Campus Freethought Association of the University of Memphis at 7:00 pm in the Rose Theater. Contact Jason Grosser at jason_grosser@hotmail.com.
Australia, March 2010
Dan Barker will speak at the "Rise of Atheism" Atheist Global Convention in Melbourne, Australia, the weekend of March 12-14, 2010. The event is sponsored by the Atheist Foundation of Australia and the Atheist Alliance International.Students are also arranging debates or speeches for Dan, while he is in the country
The campus events are in cooperation with the Secular Student Alliance. More details to follow . . .
- University of Melbourne, sponsored by the University of Melbourne Secular Society (contact Jason Ball at jbgoestocollege@gmail.com or umss@umss.org or phone 0407 781 406)
- Macquarie University in Sydney, sponsored by the Macquarie University Atheist League
- University of New South Wales in Sydney, sponsored by the UNSW Atheist Society. Contact Kate Polglaze at interweb@unswatheists.com.
Costa Mesa, California, May 8, 2010
Dan Barker will talk at the first annual Orange County Freethought Alliance conference in CA on May 8, 2010. The event will take place at The Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Contact Bruce Gleason at bgleason@thumbsupvideo.com.
Santa Barbara, California, May 15, 2010
Dan Barker will give a presentation at the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the Humanist Society of Santa Barbara on Saturday, May 15, 2010. Contact Richard Cousineau at dkcgeo@cox.net. More details to follow.
