WEDU "Speaking of Women's Health Conference"

Women's Event Moving So More Can Participate
Sarasota Herald Tribune, Sunday June 8, 2008
Yvette Kimm

Published Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.
Last updated Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 2 a.m.

For the past five years, hundreds of women have languished on an enormous waiting list to attend one of the biggest women's events in the area.

IF YOU GO

What: WEDU's sixth annual Speaking of Women's Health Conference.

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 21.

Where: Manatee Civic Center, 1 Haben Blvd. Palmetto.

Cost: $50, and a limited number of tickets remain available; includes a continental breakfast, formal luncheon catered by Michael's on East, canvas gift bag containing more than $100 worth of items, health screenings and seminars.

Why: Event proceeds will help underwrite programming of the PBS station, which serves 16 counties in West Central Florida.

Special presentation: Two local nonprofit organizations, Girls Inc. and Mothers Helping Mothers, will receive a WEDU Trinity Grant for their contributions to the health and well-being of local women.

Reservations and information: (813) 254-9338, Ext. 2241, or visit wedu.org.
Because of its popularity, the usually sold-out WEDU's Speaking of Women's Health Conference left the women waiting for an opportunity to buy tickets to the daylong health and networking conference.

Responding to their disappointed cries, the PBS station moved this year's June 21 event to the much larger Manatee Civic Center to accommodate more conference fans.

"After eight sellouts in Tampa and five sellouts in Sarasota, we are bringing our popular Speaking of Women's Health event to Manatee County for the first time," WEDU president and CEO Dick Lobo said. "With the larger facility, we actually have some tickets available."

The event has been one of the largest women-only conferences in Sarasota and Manatee area. Those attending are informed and entertained by local and national health experts.

"Speaking of Women's Health has been educating, empowering and inspiring more than 500 women each year to make smart choices about their health and wellness and that of their families," Lobo said.

This year's theme is "Discover Your Everyday Super Heroes," which will challenge the women to be a superhero to others and discover their own superheroes.

There will be two keynote speakers, Cammy Dierking and Christine Cashen.

Dierking, a TV anchor, marathon runner, mother and sister, will present "Discover Your Everyday Superheroes" with a story of love and friendship.

Cashen, a former university admissions officer, corporate trainer and broadcaster, will present "Extreme Humor Makeover," an upbeat message of self-empowerment.

"It's going to be the best makeover you can have," Cashen said from her Dallas home. "It's less stress and more fun."

Having a makeover is always empowering, she said, and adding humor to the makeover produces a delightful change of attitude to any situation.

"My whole goal is to stop global whining, and you do that by taking charge of your life," Cashen said. "Stop whining about what you can't change and do something about what you can."

Cashen said she believes the weight of the world falls onto women's shoulders, "and the weight is easier to bear when you have good outlook on life. People lose their sense of humor during stressful times, and I will help people eliminate stress and get in touch with their sense of humor."

Speaking of Women's Health will also include 15 break-out sessions on a variety of subjects, including cholesterol, skin care, joint pain, stress management and memory.

As an added feature, Sarasota Memorial Hospital is sponsoring the appearance of its da Vinci Surgical System, a robotic surgical platform that allows physicians to perform complex procedures through a series of tiny incisions.

"This will probably be the only chance people will have to see this robot close up," WEDU's Jim Scilligo said. "It's an extraordinary opportunity for the participants."


Contact Yvette Kimm at yvettekimm@aol.com.