Meeting Report

In spite of very strong winds, Freethought Day, held on Sunday October 10 at Waterfront Park in Old Sacramento, was a success. That success was as a result of the dedication and hard work of the following HAGSA and AOF members: Beverly Church (Planning Committee and Event Chair), Mynga Futrell (Program Committee Chair), Jerry Sloan (Event Day Chair and Mayoral Proclamation Liaison), Kay Dickey (Finance Chair), Ken Nahigian and Ron Fegley (Publicity Co-chairs), Kevin Schultz (Outreach Chair), and Jerry Bachman, Tina Burgess, Nancy Gilbert and Don Knutson (committee members at large).

Karen Scott, President of the Interfaith Religious Liberty Foundation, sponsored a table and gave a five minute presentation on the work of her organization.

Those on the stage were, of course, the ones to have encomiums laid at their feet. For the record and to acknowledge their essential and excellent contribution, they were: Cleo Kocol (Sister Sunshine), Anatole Lubovich (poetry), Richard Kowaleski of Sacramento Skeptics (magician), Art Jackson and Meg Bowman of the Humanist Community (Emma Goldman interview sketch), Jerry Bachman (quotations), Paul Geisert (Ernestine Rose sketch: "The Female Devil"), and Ken Nahigian and Bill Potts (sex after death skit). Music was provided by Mike Newdow (who, in addition to being a strong church/state separation activist, is a singer and songwriter), James Israel and Roberta Chevrette. Finally, Darrell Lambert, the Eagle Scout who managed to stand up to the Boy Scouts of America prejudice against atheists, addressed the crowd.

Thanks also to those who stepped up to the plate as event sponsors, including those who paid $20 each to attend a reception for Darrell Lambert at the house of Beverly Church. Their generosity ensures that AOF and HAGSA will recover most or all of the money they advanced for the event.

—Bill Potts

Here are some of the people who were there. 

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2004 Meetings