Irreverents to Convene!
For convention rate, book your hotel room at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando! Phone 1-800-627-8258 or 407-996-9700.
Plan a balmy vacation or get-away freethought weekend around a timely mix of speakers, honorees and activities at the Freedom From Religion Foundation's 28th annual convention in Orlando, Fla., on the weekend of Nov. 11-13, 2005.
A roster of well-known freethinkers, authors, activists and worthy awardees will speak, including:
Oliver Sacks, M.D., the distinguished neurologist and bestselling author (Awakenings, The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat), who will receive the Emperor Has No Clothes Award as a public figure willing to identify himself as a freethinker.
Robin Morgan, author and former editor of Ms. Magazine, who will be named "Freethought Heroine 2005." A lifelong activist, Ms. Morgan is the author of many feminist classics and a stalwart defender of state/church separation whose next book will address that topic.
Ernie Chambers the longtime Nebraska state senator who challenged statehouse prayers all the way to the Supreme Court, will receive a "First Amendment Hero" Award.
David Corn, the Nation's D.C. editor, who will talk about theo-politics from his vantage covering the White House and politics.
Don Addis, recently retired editorial cartoonist with St. Petersburg Times, who will be given a Freethought in the Media "Tell It Like It Is" Award. A slideshow of some of his many irreverent cartoons will be featured.
David Habecker, who will be named "Freethought Hero." He is challenging his recall this spring as a board of trustees in Estes Park, Colo., for not reciting the religious Pledge of Allegiance.
Dan Barker, Foundation co-president, who will provide musical entertainment.
Jennifer Musgrove, who will receive a Student Activist Award. Jennifer is a student plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging a church venue for her public school graduation ceremony.
Dianna Narciso, who initiated the original complaint about holding graduation ceremonies for Brevard high schools, will also speak briefly about the status of the lawsuit.
The gathering includes freethought music, two group meals on Saturday, Nov. 12, a "Getting Acquainted" Open Mike, a drawing for "clean" (pre-"In God We Trust") currency (Grand Prize - clean $100 bill), our irreverent nonprayer breakfast and opportunities to socialize. Not to be missed: the heady atmosphere of being in a room with hundreds of like-minded people at a time in our country when secularism has never been under greater assault.
Book your hotel room at the Rosen Plaza Hotel by Fri., Oct. 14 to be assured the convention rate of $125.00 single or double plus tax. Phone 1-800-627-8258 and request the group rate for the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In Florida, phone 407-996-9700. Or register online at www.rosenplaza.com using attendee code 12382.
Note: There are two Rosen Hotels, both on International Drive adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center. The FFRF convention site is the Rosen PLAZA Hotel, 9700 International Dr., across from Pointe Orlando, a 17-acre upscale entertainment and shopping complex.
The hotel, with six eateries and heated pool, is 5-10 minutes from the airport, Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World Resort, Sea World. It is an hour away from Busch Gardens, Kennedy Space Center and Atlantic Ocean beaches. I-Ride Trollies provide pickups to popular sights and shopping.
Convention registration is $50.00 per FFRF member, with a special "companion" rate of $55.00 per spouse or person accompanying a member. Nonmember registration is $75.00 and student is $25.00.
Two group meals are offered on Saturday: the untraditional "Non-Prayer Breakfast" ($25.00 per person) and the Saturday Night Dinner ($45.00 per person). Meal registrations must be received by the Foundation office no later than Friday, Nov. 4.
A 2-hour Saturday break leaves time for lunch on your own at the hotel or nearby mall.
The convention opens with registration at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, continues through Saturday, and concludes on Sunday, Nov. 13, with the annual membership and Board of Directors meetings, which end by noon.
Preregistrations for the convention need to mailed to be received by the Foundation office no later than Fri., Nov. 4. You may register at the door, but no meals can be purchased after Nov. 4. For any questions, last-minute registration or to use a credit card, phone the Freedom From Religion Foundation office 9-5 CST weekdays at 608/256-8900.
If you will be flying to the conference, you are encouraged to book promptly to ensure the best schedules. New Orleans conferences are being rescheduled for Orlando, so flyers are competing for seats.
Pre-registrants will be sent helpful details on shuttles, final schedules, etc., in early November.
See you there!