Plan for convention now, or forever hold your peace
It’s really time to make plans to attend FFRF’s 38th national convention the weekend of Oct. 9-11 in Madison, Wis. Early registrations and meal orders must be in hand at FFRF’s office no later than Friday, Oct. 2. Registrations will be taken at the door, but no meals may be ordered after Oct. 2.
If you have not registered ahead, you may register at Freethought Hall’s grand opening but must phone the office for address and directions. FFRF does not publish its office address publicly for security reasons. Call 1-800-335-4021 to register over the phone 9-5 Central weekdays, or if you have other questions. Register online or check out last-minute hotel options at: ffrf.org/outreach/convention
Keynoter Ron Reagan, the “unabashed atheist, not afraid of burning in hell” featured in FFRF’s TV and radio ads, will speak at Friday night’s opening of the formal conference. Joining Reagan as confirmed speakers are:
Nebraska state Sen. Ernie Chambers, longtime freethinking legislator, will receive an Emperor Has No Clothes Award.
Rita Swan, Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty founder, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Filmmaker/author Jeremiah Camara, whose new feature-length documentary “Contradiction: A Question of Faith” examines religion’s effects on African-Americans, will speak.
Taslima Nasrin, who has been under a fatwa for about 20 years from Bangladesh imams. She will receive FFRF’s Emperor Has No Clothes Award, reserved for public figures who “tell it like it is about religion.”
Kevin Kruse, the Princeton University professor of history whose new book, One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America, is creating a lot of excitement. He has written or edited four other books.
Dan Barker, FFRF co-president, will also speak about his newest book, Life-Driven Purpose: How an Atheist Finds Meaning, an answer to Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Life.
Douglas Marshall will receive a Freethinker of the Year Award as the local plaintiff in FFRF’s most recent federal court victory, forcing the city of Warren, Mich., to let him put up a Reason Station to counter an ongoing prayer booth in City Hall.
Anita Weier will be honored as Freethought Heroine for introducing a historic ordinance to make “nonreligion” a protected class in Madison, Wis. Weier, former assistant city editor for The Capital Times, served as an alderperson for two terms.
Steven Hewett will be honored with FFRF’s Atheist in Foxhole Award. The Afghanistan War vet successfully contested a Christian flag and sculpture at the Veterans Memorial in King, N.C.
FFRF staff attorneys will give a detailed presentation on their major accomplishments in ending state/church entanglements in 2015.
