From Margaret Downey, president of the Freethought Society:
On September 13, 14, and 15, 2013, the Freethought Society (FS) and other co-sponsors will host the 2013 Pennsylvania Atheist/Humanist Conference in Philadelphia at The Embassy Suites (9000 Bartram Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). To take advantage of discounted room rates that are good only until August 18, 2013, please visit:
(Mention group code 113 for the discount of $130 a night.)
Phone: (215) 365-4500
The weekend events will kick off with the opening of the world’s only Friggatriskaidekaphobia Treatment Center staffed by Friggatriskaidekaphobia doctors and nurses who will seek to cure attendees of their superstitions. The anti-superstition bash will include mirror breaking, dancing under a ladder, a magic show and many more activities. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own umbrellas for dancing inside. An interactive museum of superstition will disclose the origins of common and uncommon superstitions.
There will also be live musical performances, games, souvenirs, caricature artists and dessert.
The activities continue with a different focus on Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15. Local and national nontheist speakers will highlight the subjects of freedom of thought, maintaining separation of religion and government, building community and the promotion of a unified effort to attract supporters.
The program also includes a comedy show and two concerts.
To purchase tickets and to get more information, please see the following website:
The list of speakers and entertainers so far include:
American Humanist Officers and Board Members
Herb Silverman
Becky Hale
Debbie Allen
Maggie Ardiente
Others include:
Seth Andrews
Author, Blogger, Podcaster and Video Producer
Jamila Bey
Washington, DC Journalist and Podcaster
Rob Boston
Author and Senior Policy Analyst at Americans United for Separation of Church and State
James Croft
Representing the Harvard Humanist Community
Dave DeLuca
A rising atheist star debuting his Common Sense Comedy act
Jerry DeWitt
former minister and author
JT Eberhard
Blogger, Debater and Co-Founder of SkeptiCon
Sean Faircloth
Author and Director of Strategy and Policy for the Richard Dawkins Foundation
Fred Edwords
Activist and Executive Director of UnitedCOR
Steve Hill
Atheist Comedian
George Hrab
Popular Atheist Musician, Comedian, Podcaster and Gadfly
AJ Johnson
Writer, Promoter, Vice-President and Co-Founder of BeSecular
Amanda Knief
Author and Executive Director of American Atheists
Lauri Lebo
Journalist, Writer and Author of “The Devil in Dover: An Insider’s Story of Dogma vs. Darwin in Small-town America”
Tracy Lockwood
Former religious cult member
Teresa MacBain
Former pastor and Executive Director of Humanists of Florida
Joe Nickell
Author and Skeptical Investigator of the paranormal
Edwina Rogers
Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for America
Shelley Segal
Popular Australian Singer/Songwriter at the Top of the Charts!
David Silverman
President of American Atheist
Jamy Ian Swiss
Magician and Senior Fellow of the James Randi Foundation
David Tamayo
Podcaster and Founder of Hispanic American Freethinkers
Joe Wenke
Lawyer and Author
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The conference fee is $113. The price includes the Friday night Friday the 13th party ticket, Saturday buffet lunch and dinner, plenary passes for Saturday and Sunday. A VIP package is available, as well as student pricing, day passes, and other options.
Please do not miss this great event on par with national conferences. Remember that the deadline for discount hotel rooms is August 12, 2013.
I will be there all weekend (I will be a volunteer performing all sorts of tasks), and will look forward to seeing you there!
So, remember Friday the 13th of September. If you have not seen Maraget’s friggatriskaidekaphobia parties (she does them every couple of years), you should come for that and then decide to spend the entire weekend with awesome people (no, I’m not just talking about me).
See you all there.
Skepticism, Properly Applied 