Freedom From Religion Foundation 2006 - 29th Annual Convention Convention Overview Convention Speakers Convention Meals Convention Schedule Registration Form Lodgings & Transportation Map & Directions

October 6-8, 2006

29th Annual FFRF Convention in San Francisco!

Sam Harris Author

Julia Sweeney Actor & comedian "Emperor Has No Clothes" Award recipient

Michelle Goldberg Author Richard Sloan Author Wafa Sultan Freethought Heroine award recipient Mike Keefe Editorial cartoonist "Freethought in the Media: Tell It Like It Is" Award recipient Philip Paulson Premiere recipient: "Atheist in Foxhole" Award FFRF co-president Dan Barker will entertain at the piano Photo by Brent Nicastro

The 29th annual convention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation takes place at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway, 1500 Van Ness, San Francisco, on the weekend of Oct. 6-8, 2006. Take advantage of San Francisco's best time of year to combine a weekend getaway, a stimulating and timely conference, and a chance to meet other freethinkers.

Guest rooms at $139.00 single or double plus tax will be reserved for FFRF convention-goers through September 6, 2006. To avoid disappointment, make reservations now by phoning the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway directly at 415/441-4000 or 1-800-465-4329 (the national tollfree number for all Holiday Inns).

Keynoter will be actress and comedian Julia Sweeney, performing her profound and profoundly funny monolog, "Letting Go of God," on Saturday night, Oct. 7. The one-woman show by the Saturday Night Live alumna ("Androgynous Pat") is a tour de force and "tour de memory," relating Julia's "beautiful loss of faith story" of going from Catholic to atheist.

Newly confirmed speakers include:

• Sam Harris, author of The End of Faith, whose new book, Letter to a Christian Nation (Sept 06) will also be on hand for his booksigning.

• Michelle Goldberg, the lively contributing writer of Salon.com, whose new book, Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism, covers the threat of the ascendancy of the religious right.

• Mikey Weinstein, commanding headlines for his bold lawsuit against the US Air Force and military proselytizing. His hot-off-the-press book, With God on Our Side (Sept 06), will also be available for purchase.

  Other speakers and awardees:

• Wafa Sultan, a Syrian-American writer and secular humanist, will receive a Freethought Heroine award. Dr. Sultan galvanized the Muslim world by criticizing religion on Al-Jazeera TV. In May, Dr. Sultan was named as one of Time Magazine's "100 People Who Shape Our World."

• Editorial cartoonist Mike Keefe, of the Denver Post, will receive a "Freethought in the Media: Tell It Like It Is" award for his many irreverent cartoons, some of which he will show.

• Philip Paulson, indefatigable litigant in the 17-year-old lawsuit against a 29-foot high cross on Mount Soledad, San Diego, will be the debut recipient of an "Atheist in Foxhole" award, to recognize courage in the face of freethought/state-church battles.

• Dr. Richard Sloan, professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, will speak on his major new book, Blind Faith, critiquing prayer and religion studies, to be released this fall.

• Dan Barker, FFRF co-president, will intersperse freethought music at the piano. Dan, a songwriter and professional musician, is featured on two FFRF music CDs and is author of Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist.

The convention opens Friday night with speakers, music by Foundation co-president Dan Barker, and a cake and beverage reception. It continues Saturday (with optional Non-Prayer Buffet Breakfast, $30, and Banquet Dinner, $45--these are West Coast prices and FFRF is subsidizing some of the taxes on your meals). The gathering formally concludes by noon Sunday, following the membership and Board of Directors meetings.

Convention program schedule.

Registration is $50 per member, $55 for companion-accompanying-member, $75 nonmember, and $25 student. Return the completed registration form on this page to: FFRF, PO Box 750, Madison WI 53701.

To register for the convention, send in your registration form to:

FFRF, Inc.
PO Box 750
Madison WI 53703