Plans for the 32nd annual Women Aware Conference were set in motion Thursday.
“Our first meeting went great,” said Meredith Rines, who is serving her second year as conference director. “We had some exciting suggestions for keynote speaker.”
The committee not only pitched ideas for keynote speaker but discussed the possibility of having one in the morning and one to conclude the day.
Ideas for breakout sessions were explored, as well as suggestions for a tentative date and place for the conference to be held this year.
A few of the breakout suggestions were genealogy, estate planning and travel.
Chris Waite of the booth committee suggested working on a schedule for booth holders registering early to reserve a favorite spot or more than one spot.
Members are looking at fundraising options they may offer earlier this year. The Women Award Board of Directors will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, and the conference committee will meet at noon. Both meetings will be at Productive Staffing.
Davine Conover, who chairs a conference committee, also is in charge of the luncheons. Conover explained she has suggestions and concerns about the luncheons. She proposes, as long as a business sponsors each luncheon, the fee be returned to $10. She talked about having luncheons in March, June and November. Luncheon costs and dates are items to be discussed and voted on at the board meeting in February.
Stephanie Harbison is the board president.
Other Women Aware Board meeting dates will be Thursday, May 23; Thursday, Aug. 22; and the day of the conference.
Tentative conference planning meeting dates are planned for Thursdays: Feb. 28, March 28; April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, Aug. 8, Aug. 22, Sept. 5 and Sept. 12.
A group of women joined together 32 years ago to help out-state (rural) women improve their professional and personal lives by organizing the inaugural event, they soon realized their employers were supportive. While some of the first group were business owners themselves and were financially and physically supportive, others gained the backing of their bosses to help. Many of these businesses are still backing the conference today.
Those interested in the upcoming events may also go online to www.womenawareinc.com.
If you are interested in volunteering to help with the conference, email Rines at meredith@dairekdentoncpa.com.