Carolinas Secular Conference 2012

Carolinas Secular Conference 2012 - Schedule of Events
(For speaker biographies scroll to the base of the page)

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH 7:00PM - 11:00PM	FRIDAY NIGHT MIX, MEET AND GREET Here is the chance to meet new faces and old friends from across the region. In the comfort of the hotel ballroom we'll be serving a selection of Hors D'Oeuvres and setting up a well-stocked cash bar. Let's get to know each other and catch up on some news from the last year. The hotel has a restaurant for those wishing to purchase a full meal before the event.

SATURDAY BREAKFAST	DELUXE CONTINENTAL BUFFET

SATURDAY 29TH 8:00AM - 10:00AM	INTRODUCTION SESSION We will review the year 2011 to 2012 as well as hear presentations by some of the key group and project leaders who have built and grown our community in the last year. We'll also be looking forward to what we hope to achieve over the next two days.

10:00AM - 10:15AM	MID-MORNING BREAK

10:30AM - 12:00PM	OPEN DISCUSSION SESSION: YOUTH AND EDUCATION Our open discussion sessions offer a chance for individuals to engage in group discussion of any size to share experience and create ideas and plans for local and regional projects on the suggested topics of youth and education.	OPEN DISCUSSION SESSION: BUILDING COMMUNITY Again using the technique of a cafe, roundtable environment this open session suggests we take a look at how our Freethought community is forming and what we can do to make it thrive in 2013.

SATURDAY LUNCH 12:00PM - 1:00PM	BUFFET LUNCH

1:00PM - 2:15PM	MIKE WERNER (see below) STARTING AND GROWING SECULAR GROUPS AND CHAPTERS - PART ONE PRESENTATION	FREE DISCUSSION SESSION YOU choose the topics. Again we encourage you to come together and share ideas, opinions and experiences.

2:15PM - 2:30PM	MID-AFTERNOON BREAK

2:30PM - 4:00PM	MIKE WERNER (see below) STARTING AND GROWING SECULAR GROUPS AND CHAPTERS - PART TWO WORKSHOP	LOCAL GROUPS IN A NATIONAL ARENA A led discussion on how our local groups fit in to the larger national picture, including a look at where the national groups fit in the Freethought picture.

4:00PM - 7:00PM	AFTERNOON FREE PERSONAL TIME

7:00PM - 11:00PM	CAROLINAS FREETHINKERS BANQUET A True Down Home Southern Spread with Presentation of the Carolinas Freethinker of the Year Presentation of the 2012 Special Achievement Award Guest Speaker - Edwina Rodgers of The Secular Coalition for America Guest Speaker - Maggie Ardiente of the American Humanist Association (click here to read more)

SUNDAY BREAKFAST	DELUXE CONTINENTAL BUFFET

SUNDAY 30TH 8:00AM - 10:00AM	EDWINA ROGERS (see below) POLITICS AND SECULARISM	FREE DISCUSSION SESSION YOU choose the topic. Again we encourage you to come together and share ideas, opinions and experiences.

10:00AM - 10:15AM	MID-MORNING BREAK

10:15AM - 12:00PM	MAGGIE ARDIENTE (see below) FROM STUDENT ACTIVIST TO NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL: HUMANISM AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL	FREE DISCUSSION SESSION YOU choose the topic. Again we encourage you to come together and share ideas, opinions and experiences.

MIKE WERNER - STARTING AND GROWING SECULAR GROUPS AND CHAPTERS

He has been devoted to Humanism for over forty years while raising a family and being successful in business. Fighting for civil rights at an early age and later working in most all the Humanist organizations, much of his life has revolved around promoting our lifestance. He has been President of the American Humanist Association, head of the Chicagoland Humanists; Vice President of the Unitarian Universalist Humanist group, HUUmanists; member of the North American Committee for Humanism; Vice President of the Humanist Endowment, an adjunct faculty member of the Humanist Institute, and the University of Chicago. He has taught widely at major universities in the cause of Humanism and humanistic issues. He was one of the founders of SMART Recovery a Self Management and Recovery Training recovery program for addictions. With graduate background in chemistry he was successful in business while enjoying the love of his partner and three children and now lives in Wilmington, NC where he has recently helped start a new chapter and now runs workshops on chapter development nationwide.

MAGGIE ARDIENTE - FROM STUDENT ACTIVIST TO NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL: HUMANISM AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

Maggie Ardiente is director of development and communications for the American Humanist Association, where she has worked for over seven years. The American Humanist Association, founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington DC, advocates for progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, and freethinkers. Maggie also serves as editor of the AHA’s popular weekly e-zine, Humanist Network News, now with over 40,000 subscribers. Her humanist activism began as vice president of the James Madison University (JMU) Freethinkers, a student club for atheists, agnostics, and humanists. She graduated from JMU in 2005 with a degree in sociology and graduated from The Humanist Institute as a member of Class 15.

EDWINA ROGERS - POLITICS AND SECULARISM

Edwina Rogers joined the Secular Coalition for America as the Executive Director in May 2012. She boasts two decades of experience on Capitol Hill as a lobbyist and attorney, including roles as General Counsel for several high profile politicians. Rogers has extensive experience as a public policy expert and has worked for two Presidents and four Senators. In her most recent role as Executive Director of the Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative, she organized a coalition that included major employers, consumer groups, labor unions and health care providers, and successfully implemented the Patient Centered Medical Home model around the country. She enjoys spending time with her two children, keeping up with current events and following pop culture.