All program events take place in the Palisades Ballroom, unless otherwise noted.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16
4 – 6:00 PM Welcome Reception & Early Registration
Hilton Myrtle Beach, West Lawn (Hilton Ballroom if it rains)
Light hors d’oeuvres, cash bar
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17
8 AM Registration, ballroom and sales tables open
Complimentary continental breakfast, coffee & tea
Palisades Ballroom Foyer
8:55 Program opens
“Die Gedanken Sind Frei,” Dan Barker
Welcome, Roll Call of States
Sadie Pattinson, Events & Outreach Manager
“Being an Atheist in South Carolina”
Herb Silverman, President Emeritus
Secular Coalition for America
FFRF Highlights of Year
Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Co-Presidents
Chapter Spotlight
Matthew Krevat, President, Triangle Chapter of FFRF
“It’s Only Natural”
Godless Gospel Singers: Candace Gorham, Cynthia McDonald, Mandisa Thomas with Dan Barker
10 Henry Zumach Freedom From Fundamentalist Religion Award: “Defending Today. Building for Tomorrow”
Nancy Northup, CEO, Center for Reproductive Rights
10:30 Break
10:50 To be announced
Break
12:00 PM. Buffet Lunch (ticketed)
Hilton Ballroom (2nd floor)
1:30 Ballroom, sales tables re-open
2:00 FFRF Legal Highlights
FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott, Deputy Legal Director Liz Cavell, Senior Litigation Counsel Sam Grover, Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence
3:00 FFRF Legislative Highlights
State Policy Manager Ryan Dudley, FFRF Governmental Affairs Director Mark Dann
3:30 Break
4:00 F.O.R.W.A.R.D.: The Citizen’s Guide to Political Change
FFRF Regional Governmental Affairs Manager Mickey Dollens
4:30 Forward Award
Dr. Maggie Carpenter
5:00 Book signing for Okla. State Rep. Mickey Dollens
Break
6:00 Cash bar opens
Hilton Ballroom (2nd floor)
6:30 Plated dinner (ticketed)
Hilton Ballroom (2nd Floor)
8:00 Roy Zimmerman in Concert
8:30 Emperor Has No Clothes Award
Mary L Trump
9:15 Book signing for Mary L. Trump
Dessert & hot beverages reception
Palisades Ballroom Foyer
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18
8 AM Non-Prayer Breakfast (ticketed)
Hilton Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Moment of Bedlam, Dan Barker
“Let’s All Give Thanks”
Godless Gospel Singers: Candace Gorham, Cynthia McDonald, Mandisa Thomas with Dan Barker
9:00 Ballroom, tables reopen
9:25 “Nothing Fails Like Prayer”
Dan Barker
9:30 Out of God’s Closet Diane & Stephen Uhl Memorial Student Activist Award
“A Nightmare on Creationist Street”
Bailey Harris
Beverly and Richard Hermsen Award
“Advocating For Change In Chaska, Minnesota”
Eli Frost
10 Student Scholarship Essay Winners
Jaianah Hightower, 5th-place, Gabrielle Williams, 3rd place, Mekah’E La Clair, first-place William Schulz BIPOC Student Essay Contest winners
10:30 Avijit Roy Courage Award
Introduced by Rafida Bonya Ahmed
“The Right to Freethought and Criticizing Ideas”
Mubarak Bala, President of Humanists of Nigeria
11:00 Freethought Heroine Award
“Emptying Pews, Evangelicals, and the Fight for American Democracy”
Chrissy Stroop
11:30 Book signings for Bailey Harris, Chrissy Stroop
Break
12:00 PM Buffet Lunch (ticketed)
Hilton Ballroom (2nd floor)
1:30 Ballroom, sales tables re-opens
1:55 “Godless Gospel” Singers
Third Annual Secular Legislative Panel
Kansas state Rep. Heather Meyer, Minn. state Rep. Andy Smith,Vermont state Rep. Monique Prestley
3:00 Clarence Darrow Award
New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie
3:45 Break
4:00 “The Great Abdication: America”s Descent into Authoritarianism”
Harvard Professor Steven Levitsky
5:00 Book signing for Steven Levitsky
Break
6:00 Cash bar opens
Hilton Ballroom (2nd floor)
6:30 Plated dinner (ticketed)
Hilton Ballroom (Second Floor)
8:00 Drawing for “Clean Money”
8:30 “Separation of Church and Hate”
Actor, comedian & Broadcaster John Fugelsang
Book signing for John Fugelsang
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
8:00 Complimentary coffee, tea, pastries for those attending business meetings
9:00 Business (Membership) Annual Meeting
11ish State Representatives Annual Meeting
Adjourn by noon
