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Conventions & Events

2009 National FFRF Convention

32nd Annual Convention
Red Lion Hotel
Fifth Avenue
Seattle, Washington
The Weekend of November 6-8, 2009

Visit our 2009 convention page

Register online.

Ron Reagan, self-described “unabashed atheist,” well-known radio host, Seattle resident and son of Pres. Ronald Reagan, will headline the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s 32nd annual national convention in Seattle on the weekend of Nov. 6–8, 2009.

The Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue, with an ideal location in downtown Seattle, is the site. The Foundation is returning to the venue of its 2004 Northwest Mini-Convention.

The Foundation plans an upbeat gala event.

Speakers include Ron Reagan, Ursula K. LeGuin, William Lobdell, Jennifer Hecht, Barry Kosmin, & sociologist Phil Zuckerman

Note: The Red Lion Inn ballroom has seating limitations. Please plan ahead! Every year there are members disappointed they did not reserve their hotel room in time. Consider making flight arrangements now while rates are favorable. Area FFRF members are also invited to register early so FFRF can juggle space requirements. Hotel rooms may now be reserved at the Red Lion Inn for $159.00 single or double occupancy, $179.00 triple occupancy and $199.00 quadruple occupancy. Phone 1-800-504-3909 or 206-971-8000 identifying yourself with the Freedom From Religion Foundation to receive the group rate, by no later than Oct. 16, 2009.

The convention begins at 7 p.m. (registration opens earlier) on Fri., Nov. 6. A complimentary dessert reception follows the Friday night opening. The convention continues through Saturday. The annual membership and Board of Directors meetings take place on Sunday morning. Convention emcees are Foundation co-presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor.

Two optional group meals will be offered (a nice way to socialize): the traditional Saturday Non-Prayer Breakfast, and the Saturday night banquet. (See menu below.) Per membership vote, there will be a 2-hour midday break for lunch/sightseeing on your own.

Menu

Saturday’s Nonprayer Breakfast will be the Great American Classic: scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, fresh-baked muffin, bacon and sausage, chilled juices and coffee or tea ($25 with 20% gratuity).

Saturday’s banquet dinner starts with the Red Lion House Salad (mixed seasonal leafy greens, diced apple, candied spiced almonds and shredded carrot with choice of dressing), and features Chicken Chardonnay, tender sauteed chicken topped with a Yakima Valley Chardonnay wine sauce, artichoke hearts and fresh mushrooms. Dinner includes chef’s choice of starch, artisan breads and butter, freshly brewed coffee or decaf, hot or iced tea. (A vegetarian entree is available.) The meal concludes with Truffle Ganache: chocolate chiffon cake and Belgium semisweet chocolate ganache. $50 includes the 20% gratuity.

FFRF Convention 08

Click here for speeches, videos, etc. from the 31st Annual National Convention, Oct. 10-12, 2008, Hyatt Regency Chicago

Upcoming Events & Appearances


Newberg, Oregon, September 26, 2009

FFRF's Dan Barker will participate in two debates on Saturday, September 26, at the "Believer's Reason" Conference at Newberg Christian Church (2315 Villa Rd., Newberg OR 97132, 503-538-3104), near Portland.

  • 10:00 am - Dan Barker will debate James White of Alpha & Omega Ministries on the topic "The Jesus story is cut from the same story as other ancient mythologies."
  • 7:00 pm - Dan Barker will debate Matt Slick on the topic "Is there reason to be good without God?"

There is a $15.00 registration fee for the day-long event. Sign up at "Believer's Reason" Conference

Syracuse, New York, October 1, 2009

Dan Barker will talk to the Atheists, Agnostics and Freethinkers Alliance at SU SUNY/ESF (Facebook page) on Thursday, October 1, 2009. For more details, email the student group at atheistsatsu@gmail.com or Jim Addoms at jwaddoms@maxwell.syr.edu.

Duluth, Minnesota, October 4

Dan Barker will give a talk to the Lake Superior Freethinkers on Sunday morning, October 4, at 10:30 am, at the Duluth Radisson, located at 5th Avenue West and Superior Street. (Annie Laurie Gaylor is also planning to be there.) Contact Bill van Druten at wvand@charter.net or Snorri Gudmundsson at snorrig@live.com.

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, October 24

Dan Barker will represent atheism in the 29th World Religions Conference in the Humanities Theatre, J.G. Hagey Hall, at the University of Waterloo on Saturday, October 24, 2009. This year's theme is "Is God Relevant in Today's World?" Dan's participation is sponsored by the Society of Ontario Freethinkers.

(Although atheism is not a religion, the organizers assure us that the event is for "world religions and philosophies." Dan participated in the 25th World Religions Conference in 2005, where atheism was welcome at the table with the religious representatives.)

San Antonio, Texas, November 14

Dan Barker will speak at the 2009 Texas Freethought Convention in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, November 14 at the Alzafar Temple from 12-8pm. For more details, contact FACT.President@freethinkersact.org.

Plano, Texas, November 19

Dan Barker will debate Dinesh D'Souza on Thursday morning, November 19, at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas. The debate will probably start at 9:00 am. Attendance is by registration only. To ask about registration, contact Becky McLain at bmclain@prestonwoodchristian.org. Mor/Volumes/fileserver/The Shared II/FFRF Webpage/ffrf.org/SITE/events/index.phpe details to follow.

London, England, November 25 - 29, 2009

Dan Barker will participate in a number of events in London:

More details to follow . . .

St. Cloud, Minnesota, February 24, 2010

Debate: Dan Barker will debate Dr. Joe Boot (Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity) on the topic "Does God Exist?" on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at 8:00 pm at St. Cloud University in the Atwood Ballroom. More details to follow. (Contact student organizer Tyler Helfers at hety0602@stcloudstate.edu)

Australia, March 2010

Dan Barker will speak at the "Rise of Atheism" Atheist Global Convention in Melbourne, Australia, the weekend of March 12-14, 2010. The event is sponsored by the Atheist Foundation of Australia and the Atheist Alliance International. More details to follow . . .

Students are also arranging debates or speeches for Dan, while he is in the country, at the University of Melbourne, sponsored by the University of Melbourne Secular Society (contact Jason Ball at jbgoestocollege@gmail.com or umss@umss.org or phone 0407 781 406); at Macquarie University in Sydney, sponsored by the Macquarie University Atheist League; and at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, sponsored by the UNSW Atheist Society (contact Kate Polglaze at interweb@unswatheists.com). The campus events are in cooperation with the Secular Student Alliance. More details to follow . . .

Costa Mesa, California, May 8, 2010

Dan Barker will talk at the first annual Orange County Freethought Alliance conference in CA on May 8, 2010. The event will take place at The Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Contact Bruce Gleason at bgleason@thumbsupvideo.com.

Santa Barbara, California, May 15, 2010

Dan Barker will give a presentation at the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the Humanist Society of Santa Barbara on Saturday, May 15, 2010. Contact Richard Cousineau at dkcgeo@cox.net. More details to follow.