Minnesota Atheists and St. Paul Saints Partner to Secularize Team Name to Mr. Paul Aints for the Day

St Paul, MN, July 30, 2013 --(PR.com)-- For the second year in a row, the St. Paul Saints minor league baseball team plans to drop the S and become the secularized Mr. Paul Aints on Friday, August 9 at 7:05pm at Midway Stadium in St. Paul in honor of the Minnesota Atheists game sponsors. To follow up a fun night at the stadium, the Minnesota Atheists - American Atheists cosponsored regional conference is scheduled for the following day, Saturday, August 10, at the Ramada Plaza, 1330 Industrial Blvd. NE, Minneapolis.

Midway Stadium's Saints signs will have the “S” covered so that the signs read “Aints” and the players will all wear “Mr. Paul Aints” jerseys featuring the name change to celebrate the atheist community and recognize the non-believing game sponsors. The player worn jerseys will be auctioned off during the game. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Family Place Shelter in St. Paul, a local shelter where Minnesota Atheists volunteers prepare monthly dinners for families in need.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for atheists to share our light-hearted, friendly nature,” said Eric Jayne, President of Minnesota Atheists. “As a baseball fan and a local atheist leader, I am excited to partner with the St. Paul Saints in our efforts to increase atheist camaraderie and dispel negative stereotypes about atheists in the public eye.”

“We are excited to partner with the Saints team for a second year in a row,’” stated Heather Hegi, chair of Minnesota Atheists. “As atheists struggle to be accepted by professional colleagues, friends, and family it’s refreshing to see honest tolerance extended to us by the Saints.”

The Regional Atheist Conference, to be held on August 10 at the Ramada Plaza in Minneapolis, includes leaders from two of the largest atheist organizations in the nation: Amanda Knief, managing director of American Atheists and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president and co-founder of Freedom from Religion Foundation. Other speakers include PZ Myers, author of the atheist-science blog “Pharyngula,” Hector Avalos, author of “Fighting Words: The Origins of Religious Violence,” Greta Christina, author of the sex-atheist blog on the Freethought Blogs network, and several local atheists providing a variety of morning workshops.

For full information about the Mr. Paul Aints game and the Regional Atheist Conference please visit: MinnesotaAtheists.org/conference

Minnesota Atheists is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization that seeks to promote the positive contributions of atheism to society and to maintain separation of state and church. Minnesota Atheists actively promotes secular values through participation in public affairs, educational programs, and hosting the only live atheist radio talk show in the state: Atheists Talk, Sundays, 9:00-10:00 a.m., KTNF AM 950. Minnesota Atheists is the state’s oldest, largest, and most active atheist organization. Additional information at MinnesotaAtheists.org.

American Atheists is a non-profit, nationwide organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church-mosque-temple and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy. Additional information at Atheists.org.

For Calendars:
Mr. Paul Aints Game: Friday, August 9, 2013, 7:05 pm, Midway Stadium, 1771 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, $10-21 when purchased through the Minnesota Atheists group portal at saintsgroups.com (password: “atheists”).

Minnesota-American Atheists Regional Atheist Conference: Saturday, August 10, 2013, 9:00 am - 9:00 pm, Ramada Plaza 1330 Industrial Blvd. NE, Minneapolis, MN. $40. Students $10.