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The 28th annual national convention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation will meet on the weekend of Nov. 11-13 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Fla.
The convention will feature timely speakers and fascinating awardees, the untraditional "Non-Prayer Breakfast," freethought music and a chance to get acquainted with other freethinkers.
The convention's newest announced speaker is Nan Aron, president of the Alliance for Justice and a leading voice in public interest law for over 30 years. She will address "Separation of CHurch & State and the Judicial Selection Process."
Previously announced speakers and honorees include:
Author Robin Morgan, International Consulting Editor (and former editor) of Ms. Magazine, now a lifelong activist and author of many feminist classics, including Sisterhood is Powerful. Ms. Morgan will be named "Freethought Heroine 2005." She wrote a rousing call-to-arms, "Fighting Words for a Secular America" (Ms. Fall 2004).
State/church litigant David Habecker, who is challenging the religious Pledge of Allegiance (see page 1), will be named "Freethought Hero." Habecker was recalled this spring from a board of trustees for not saying the religious Pledge of Allegiance.
Distinguished neurologist Oliver Sacks, M.D., whose bestsellers include Awakenings (1973, made into a movie starring Robin Williams), and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Dr. Sacks will receive the coveted Emperor Has No Clothes Award. Dr. Sacks, who was born in London but is a permanent U.S. resident, is a consulting neurologist at NYU-Mt. Sinai Medical Center, and is adjunct professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine. His many books include Migraine (1970, revised 1992), Seeing Voices (1989), An Anthropologist on Mars (1995), The Island of the Colorblind (1997), Oaxaca Journal (2002), and Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood (2001), in which he writes of his freethought views.
State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Nebraska. Sen. Chambers will receive a "First Amendment Hero" Award, in recognition of his lawsuit Marsh v. Chambers (1983), in which he challenged official prayers at the Nebraska statehouse before the U.S. Supreme Court. Chambers has remained a stalwart supporter of state/church separation during more than three decades in the statehouse.
David Corn, The Nation's D.C. editor. Corn, who covers the White House, Congress, politics and national security, has broken many stories, writes a weekly column, "Loyal Opposition" for TomPaine.com, and is the author of a political thriller, short stories, and two books of nonfiction, including The Lies of George W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception (2004). He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brown University.
Jennifer Musgrove, who will receive a Student Activist Award. She is a student plaintiff in a lawsuit filed in May challenging an ultra-religious church venue for her public school graduation ceremony. Jenn was an honors student in high school who received the Florida Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship, and will be attending Brevard Community College.
Dianna Narciso, who initiated the original complaint about holding graduation ceremonies for Brevard high schools at an evangelical church. Dianna founded Space Coast Freethought Association, Brevard County, Fla.
Editorial cartoonist Don Addis, a Foundation member and freethinker who recently retired after an illustrious career as editorial cartoonist for the St. Petersburg Times. Addis will be awarded a Freethought in the Media "Tell It Like It Is" Award. A slideshow of some of Addis' many delightful cartoons will be be featured.
A debut musical revue at the piano by Foundation co-president and musician Dan Barker. The revue will feature the irreverent works of secular songwriters and some of Dan's own crowd-pleasers.
Important: There are two Rosen Hotels, both on International Drive adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center. The Foundation's convention site is the Rosen PLAZA Hotel across from Pointe Orlando, a 17-acre upscale entertainment and shopping complex.
Hotel rooms are $125.00 single or double plus tax. Phone 1-800-627-8258 (Florida residents phone 407-996-9700) and request the group rate for the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Register online at www.rosenplaza.com using attendee code 12382.
The hotel, with many in-house conveniences including six eateries, heated pool and cascading waterfall, is within 5-10 minutes of the airport, Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World Resort, Sea World, and shopping.
Convention registration is $50.00 per FFRF member, with a special "companion" rate of $55.00. Non-member 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). A 2-hour lunch break on Saturday leaves time for lunch on your own at the hotel or nearby mall. Breakfast is a Quiche Lorraine and fixings, with the option of a vegetarian quiche. Dinner is a "duet plate" of fresh Florida grouper and chicken macadamia. Diners may also choose fish-only, chicken-only, or a vegetarian pasta primavera. (See Convention Menu.)
The convention opens Friday night, Nov. 11, and concludes following the Sunday morning annual membership and board of directors meetings, which adjourn by noon. (See Schedule.)
With flight costs fluctuating, why not make your vacation plans today?
Meal registrations must be received by the Foundation office no later than Friday, Nov. 4.
Return your registration form to:
FFRF, Inc.
Attn: Convention
PO Box 750
Madison WI 53701.
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Alliance for Justice president
Nan Aron
Author and activist
Robin Morgan
Nebraska Sen.
Ernie Chambers
The Nation DC editor
David Corn
Neurologist Oliver Sacks
Photo by Elena Seibert
Recalled trustee
David Habecker
Student activist
Jennifer Musgrove
Plaintiff
Dianna Narciso
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