Delta State University, in partnership with Viking Range Corp., is hosting the second annual Mississippi Delta Women's Leadership Conference Feb. 27-28 on the DSU campus in Cleveland and in Greenwood.
The conference will begin with speakers at DSU addressing health and wellness and end with a day at the Alluvian, the Alluvian Spa and the Viking Cooking School, where attendees can put relaxation into practice.
The conference theme is "Life in Balance," and will focus on "how women balance busy lives with career, family, civic responsibilities," said Dr. Myrtis Tabb of the office of special projects at DSU. The topic is "health from a comprehensive perspective" and not just physical health, she said.
"We are delighted to partner with Viking Range," Tabb said.
"Many women across the Delta don't have access to this type of speakers and focus on women's health," said Carolyn Manning, retired regional manager for BellSouth and an architect for last year's conference.
The feedback from last year's conference, "Quest for Excellence," was "phenomenal," Manning said.
Approximately 300 attended, which told conference planners they were serving a need and contributing to economic growth in the Delta, she said.
Gov. Haley Barbour called Tabb and congratulated them for meeting the needs of professional women in Mississippi, Manning said.
Main speakers at DSU will be Gail Sheehy and Dr. Annette Low.
Sheehy is the best-selling author of "Passages" and will speak on "Sex and the Seasoned Woman: Pursuing the Passionate Life" in which she reports on a new phenomenon among Baby Boomer women.
Low is the director of the National Center of Excellence in Women's Health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
During their day in Greenwood, conference attendees will enjoy an address by Gail Pittman, creative director and spokesperson for "Southern Living at Home." Pittman formed Gail Pittman Inc. in 1979, and has turned her ceramics hobby into a multi-million dollar operation.
Conference registration - accommodating 200 at DSU and 50 in Greenwood - is full, Tabb said, but interested parties may call 662-846-4023 to inquire about cancellations.
