Lake Hypatia Advance
Primitive camping is available on the upper and lower campgrounds (local motels a few miles away), swimming in the lake or Cady Creek natural lagoon, fishing, paddle boats, dining at the lakeside Pavilion, great speakers and most of all the experience of making new friends, renewing old friendships and mingling with fellow freethinkers. Register online.
Register Online Now for the 2009 July 4th Weekend at Lake Hypatia!
Click to download a registration form to mail in.
Early registration by credit card may be done via FFRF. Phone 608-256-8900 (9-5 CST weekdays only). Or, register online.
Every year many freethinkers get together at beautiful Lake Hypatia, Alabama for a fun filled Fourth of July Weekend!
Deadlines at a Glance
Meals must be ordered no later than June 24, 2009. Late registration at the door is $10 additional per person. (No meals may be ordered at the door.)
Overview of the 2009 Advance
The annual “Glorious 4th” at Lake Hypatia, Ala., sponsored by the Alabama Freethought Association, an FFRF chapter, takes place Fri., July 3–Sun., July 5. The event, held in FFRF’s air-conditioned southern Freethought Hall, includes two and a half days of speakers, recreation–hikes, poetry reading and the “atheist vs. agnostic”softball tournament–and features an appreciation ceremony for freethinking veterans at the Atheists in Foxholes monument.
“We invite you to join our 20th year celebration at Lake Hypatia Freethought Hall for a fun program, laughter, and music, music, music. The lake is beautiful and the pavilion is cool,”says Pat Cleveland, AFA director.
Lake Hypatia is a freethought retreat started by the Cleveland family, which deeded property to FFRF for a southern Freethought Hall, the Atheists in Foxholes monument and many charming touches honoring freethinkers. Pat opens up adjoining private grounds, including a lakeside pavilion. Primitive and RV camping is accommodated. Freethought Hall boasts accessible showers. The piney grounds abut a national forest.
The event starts at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3 and concludes on Sunday by 3 p.m. Pat advises: “Bring your poems for the 20th poetry program. Please do not bring any pets. Neighborhood pets have claimed this as their territory and don’t welcome newcomers.”
Lodging in nearby Talladega is available at Holiday Inn Express (supposed to open by June 27, call 1-888-465-4329), Super 8 at 256/315-9511 or Budget Inn, 256/362-0900. Inexpensive meals are served on site (see registration form back page).
Speakers include Foundation co-president and former minister Dan Barker, who is teaming up with Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist and ex-Mormon Steve Benson of the Arizona Republic, for a reprise of their phenomenal Toons ’N Tunes revue.
Lake Hypatia Events
For Alabama Freethought Association meeting dates, go here.
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Lake Hypatia, Alabama
Independence Weekend Celebration
July 3 - July 5, 2009
Sponsored by the Alabama Freethought Association, a chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Letter from Pat Cleveland, director
Schedule
Subject to changes, more speakers t.b.a.
Friday, July 3
| 10:30am | Registration |
| Noon | Hot dogs, veggie dogs available at campgrounds, hosted by Wanda & Jonathan Alexander |
| 1pm | Music: Wes Cleveland |
| 1:30pm | Welcome: Pat Cleveland, Dan Barker, Annie Laurie Gaylor |
| 2 pm | Ed & Helen Kagin |
| 2:45pm | Break |
| 3pm | Karon Park |
| 3:30pm | Music |
| 3:45pm | Atheists vs. Agnostics softball tournament |
| 6pm | Dinner |
| 7pm | Bob Truett, Nature Talk: How to Build A Flying Machine– a talk about birds, Retired director, Birmingham zoo |
| 8pm | Annie Laurie Gaylor |
| 9pm | Music |
Saturday, July 4
| 8am | Hike: Michelle Michaels guide (meet at flag pole) |
| 11am | Joann Bell, Dir. of Oklahoma ACLU |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1pm | Music |
| 1:15pm | Bob Collins: Former Minister Forum |
| 2pm | Alice & Pat Cleveland: "20 Years of Chapter Activism" |
| 2:45pm | Atheist in Foxhole, Jeremy Hall |
| 3:30pm | Ed Buckner hosts "Freethought Trivial Pursuit" game/prizes |
| 6pm | Dinner |
| 7pm | Fearn Park & Atheist in Foxhole Monument reflections |
| 7:30pm | Dan Barker & Steve Benson: Tunes 'n Toons–FFRF co-prez, songwriter & former minister collaborates with Steve, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist & former Mormon |
Sunday, July 5
| 10am | Brunch |
| Noon | Music, talent |
| 1pm | Poetry W/Alice Shiver (poets welcome to read) |
| 2pm | Ed Buckner |
| 2:45 | Recap/farewell |
Note: Musicians invited to participate
Directions
From Atlanta I-20
Take exit 185 (Oxford/Anniston)
Go South on Hwy 21 toward Talladega
Go through Munford
Turn Left on County Road 321
Go to 2nd 4-way stop
Turn Left on Country Road 303
Go to top of hill (Big Star)
Turn Right on Lake Joan Circle Immediately ahead are the parking areas
From Montgomery Hwy 231
Go North on Hwy 21 to Talladega
Turn right on Hwy 77 South
Go about 6 miles to caution light
Turn Left on Country Road 303
Go through 4-way stop
Go to top of hill (Big Star)
Turn Right on Lake Joan Circle Immediately ahead are the parking areas
From Birmingham I-20
Take exit 168 (Talladega/Lincoln)
Go South on Hwy 77
Go through Talladega, on Hwy 77 South
Go about 4 miles to caution light
Turn Left on Country Road 303
Go through 4-way stop.
Go to top of hill (Big Star)
Turn Right on Lake Joan Circle Immediately ahead are the parking areas
View Larger Map
LODGING INFO
NEW! Holiday Inn Express
240 Haynes St.
Talladega, AL 35160
1-888-HOLIDAY
256-362-7780
(ask for Lake Hypatia/Alabama Freethought Association/FFRF group bloc for $81/night rate, plus tax; it should open June 27)
Hampton Inn and Suites
210 Colonial Dr
Oxford, AL 36203
(256) 831-8958
Super 8 Motel
220 Haynes Street
Talladega, AL
800-800-8000
256-315-9511
Budget Inn Motel
65600 Hwy 77
Talladega, AL
256-362-0900
If you would like to camp, we can accommodate self-contained RV's and campers. Also, there is ample room to pitch a tent & get back to nature. Showers & restrooms are available. Please check box on registration form if you plan to camp. Sorry, no pets allowed on campgrounds.
Need more info?
Call Pat Cleveland
(256) 761-1105
Freethought Hall phone (backup) (256) 761-0323
Fax (256) 761-1105
About Lake Hypatia
Lakeside Pavilion at Lake Hypatia
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Roger, Pat and Melody Cleveland of Alabama dreamed of a freethought "advance, not retreat," right in the buckle of the bible belt. The Alabama Freethought Association, which Pat and Roger Cleveland founded, and which is the Foundation's largest chapter, has worked invaluably as an umbrella organization of atheists, agnostics and other freethinkers to keep church and state separate in Alabama. The Alabama Freethought Association took the original lawsuit challenging Judge Roy Moore's courtroom Ten Commandments in Gadsden, Ala.
In the 1990s, the Cleveland family deeded land to the national Freedom From Religion Foundation, which raised funds to construct the Lake Hypatia Freethought Hall. An addition, the beautiful Willa E. Whatley Auditorium, was dedicated in 1999. The Clevelands also invited the national Foundation to place its Atheists in Foxholes monument at Lake Hypatia, a peaceful spot to recognize the country's many atheist and agnostic veterans.
Every year, with authentic Southern Hospitality, the Cleveland family generously opens its beautiful, improved grounds and lake to hundreds of freethinkers from all over the country for the annual "Glorious Fourth" Independence Day celebration. Speeches are conducted in the air-conditioned Lake Hypatia Freethought Hall, and outdoor recreation takes place on the Cleveland's rural campgrounds.
Alabama Freethought Association
