Anti-Superstition Bash
Held on Friday, May 13, 2011
Essington, PA
The Freethought Society’s (FS) Anti-Superstition Bash was held on Friday, May 13, 2011 at the beautiful Corinthian Yacht Club. If you weren't there check out the photos to see what you missed!
"Whenever I have fears of Friday-the-Thirteenth -- that is, that the superstition about the date threatens critical thinking -- my thoughts turn to Margaret Downey (the Friggatriskaidekaphobia Treatment Nurse). She has her fingers on the pulse of this issue and will administer a dose of much-needed reality."
—Joe Nickell (Investigator of claims of the paranormal)
"What a pleasure it was a couple of years ago to romp through the evening bashing one popular superstition after the other in the company of the inimitable James Randi and the very creative hostess Margaret Downey. The shared anti-superstitious insights ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous and offered everyone a hilarious good time (with or without attending the liquor bars)."
— Stephen F. Uhl, Ph.D.
by Margaret Downey
It’s not often that a skeptic conference happens to take place on a weekend that includes a Friday the thirteenth, but this July the fortunate coincidence occurred! A yearly conference hosted by the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is affectionately known as “The Amazing Meeting” (TAM). Year after year, the conference lives up to its name — amazing!
JREF conference organizers, familiar with the Freethought Society’s (FS) Friggatriskaidekaphobia Treatment Center concept, extended an invitation to FS to join in the festivities. The 2012 conference dates matched up to a July Friday the thirteenth. JREF provided the use of a room located across the hall from the main ballroom at the South Point Hotel.
FS volunteers set up a self-guided museum of superstitions along with an anti-superstition obstacle course. The venue was visited throughout the day by conference attendees, the press and JREF’s invited speakers/presenters. Each visitor to the room complimented the volunteers regarding the hard work that went in to the museum display, costuming and souvenirs.
Pre-conference duties were many and I relied heavily on my Las Vegas friends to help coordinate long-distance needs. Former American Humanist Association president, resident of Las Vegas and FS supporter Mel Lipman took charge of a few pick-up and delivery needs.
FS supporter Michael Jacobson acted as a receiving agent for all pre-event boxes shipped to the Las Vegas location. Jacobson not only delivered the packages to the hotel but he also provided a pick-up service from the airport to the hotel. He lent his car to me, and that generous act made it possible for me to purchase many of the fresh foods placed on display at the Friggatriskaidekaphobia Treatment Center.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Embassy Suites, 9000 Bartram Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19153
Hosted by The Freethought Society
Admission: $13; Students and Seniors: $10; Children 13 & under: Free
For more information go to: www.ftsociety.org
Special Guests:
- Joe Nickell (Book Signing)
- Magdalena Goss as Miss Fortune Teller
- Caricatures
- Vocalists Aimee Streeter and James M. DeFrancis and more stars will be revealed soon!