Enjoy FFRF’s convention from Oct. 18-20
Join the Freedom From Religion Foundation in Madison, Wis., for its 42nd annual convention from Oct. 18-20 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. (For information on guest speakers, see page 3.)
General schedule
The pre-convention open house is Friday morning, Oct. 18 at Freethought Hall, FFRF’s national office.
The official starting time of the convention, at the convention center (1 John Nolen Drive) is 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, continuing through Saturday night. FFRF’s membership and state representative meetings take place Sunday morning, ending by noon.
The schedule includes irreverent music, FFRF book and merch sales tables and book signings, complimentary ice cream and beverages on Friday afternoon and complimentary Friday night dessert reception. Plus, there is the always-popular drawing for “clean” (pre-“In God We Trust”) currency on Saturday night.
Return the handy registration form below or sign up at ffrf.org/convention2019.
Hotel reservations
Please reserve rooms now to avoid disappointment!
FFRF is using three Madison hotels. The Hilton Madison, attached to the convention center, site of the convention, is the main hotel venue. The other two hotels offer overflow rooms, and require either a three-block walk or driving or taking a free shuttle to the convention site. All hotels have blocks Thursday through Saturday nights, with a few more limited rooms Wednesday and Sunday nights.
Hilton Madison Monona Terrace, 9 E. Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703. Call 1-877-510-7465 or 414-935-5941, or visit bit.ly/2SPTPlz and mention “Freedom From Religion Foundation.” Rates are $185 (1-4 people), plus tax. A self-parking garage is $17/day. Valet parking: $20/day.
Sheraton Madison Hotel, 706 John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI 53713. Call 866-716-8134 or 608-251-2300 or visit: reservations.com/hotel/sheraton-madison-hotel, mentioning “Freedom From Religion Foundation.” Rates are $156 (1-4 people), plus local taxes of 14.5 percent and fees. Parking is free and so is the shuttle to Monona Terrace, a 3-mile walk or 8-minute drive.
Park Hotel Madison, 22 S. Carroll St., Madison, WI 53703 (3 blocks from Monona Terrace). Call 800-279-8811 or 608-285-8000 or visit parkhotelmadison.com, mentioning “Freedom From Religion Foundation.” Rates are $194 (1-2 people, one bed); $214 (1-4 people, 2 beds); $254 (suite). Two-night minimum length of stay. Guaranteed parking for one vehicle for overnight guests ($15 per night, valet only).
Freethought Hall Reception
On Friday, Oct. 18, from 9:30-11 a.m., you’re cordially invited to tour the four-story Freethought Hall, enjoy light pastries, Mimosas, orange juice, coffee and tea in the Charlie Brooks Auditorium, get your photo by the amazingly life-like, full-size silicone model of Charles Darwin in the Joel B. Landon & Wanda Y. Beers Freethought Library, and socialize with other members and staff. Please RSVP on registration form.
Food!
Complimentary receptions include light brunch fare at the Friday morning Freethought Hall Open House, complimentary ice cream and hot beverages Friday afternoon after the start of the convention and complimentary dessert reception with cupcakes and hot beverages at the conclusion of Friday night. Breakfast pastries, hot coffee and tea will be served at the start of the Sunday morning membership meeting.
Optional meals include:
Friday Dinner Buffet, $35: Bucky’s Tailgate Buffet includes Wisconsin Waldorf salad, home-style potato salad, fresh vegetable and relish tray, beer-boiled Johnsonville Bratwurst with sauerkraut and chopped fresh onion, grilled boneless chicken breast, black bean burgers, fresh sliced tomato and lettuce, vegetarian baked beans, buns, condiments, and coffee, tea and milk.
Saturday Nonprayer Breakfast, $20: Cheese & chive scrambled eggs, apple smoked bacon, rosemary wedge potatoes, petite muffin assortment, chilled juice, coffee, tea and milk. Veggie/vegan/gluten-free substitutes available.
Saturday ‘Grab and Go’ Box Lunch, $25. For your convenience, we offer a box lunch containing deli-sliced turkey on fresh Kaiser roll, fresh sliced tomato and lettuce with condiments, piece of whole fruit, home baked cookie and chips. Vegetarian option is marinated grilled tempeh sandwich. Kaiser is replaced with gluten-free roll upon request. Served with assorted Pepsi-brand sodas.
Note: There is a two-hour lunch and sightseeing break Saturday. There are many lunch spots open on the nearby Capitol Square and on State Street (about 5 blocks away).
Saturday Dinner, $50: Roasted airline chicken breast with truffle butter glaze, potatoes, fresh seasonal vegetable blend, house salad, bakery-fresh hard rolls & butter, plated dessert trio (strawberry pistachio tart, flourless chocolate diamond cake, and white chocolate passionfruit mousse cup), coffee, tea and milk. Veggie/vegan/gluten-free substitutes available. Cash bar.
