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‘Living out loud’ conference to works inspire women |
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Thursday, 01 March 2007 |
by LINDSAY TIGAR
Lifestyles Reporter
Perhaps the commonly used Internet language of “LOL” has taken a new definition with the Women’s Leadership Conference approaching, and the phrase no longer meaning ‘laugh out loud’ but ‘live out loud.’
Appalachian
State University’s 16th-annual Women’s Leadership Conference, themed
“Living Out Loud,” will take place Saturday, from noon until 6 p.m. in
Plemmons Student Union.
The conference is unique to Appalachian State and sponsored by the Lee
H. McCaskey Center for Student Involvement and Leadership.
Registration is still open and will be available on the day of the
event, but those who have not already registered are not guaranteed
dinner and a T-shirt.
Registration before the event is $7 and $10 on the day.
“The theme encourages students to not sit along the sidelines,” Kim L.
Mitchell, assistant director for leadership education and women’s
leadership conference committee member, said. “It’s about finding what
your ‘live out loud’ is and embracing it.”
The conference is open to community members but mainly consists of Appalachian students and faculty, Mitchell said.
Women and men alike are encouraged to participate in the event.
“It’s an opportunity to learn and grow,” Mitchell said. “It’s a great
time to come together, regardless if you’re a man or woman. If you have
the opportunity to have fun and learn at the same time, take advantage
of it.”
The conference will begin with keynote speaker Elaine F. Marshall, North Carolina’s Secretary of State.
Marshall made history in 1997 when she became the first woman elected to a statewide executive office.
Marshall chose to come to Appalachian State because she believes it is
important for people like her who have broken barriers to share their
experience with young women, she said.
“I hope to bring a variety of experiences to the conference,” Marshall
said. “Most of all, I hope that young women will realize what I
realized when I started going to law school. I saw other people doing
things, and I thought, ‘I can do that too.’ I hope they visualize
themselves as secretaries of state, as governors.”
Marshall believes that ‘living out loud’ is putting into action what you speak.
“For me to be an executive leader, I have to experience a lot. Even
though I have a lot of experience, there is still more out there for me
to experience,” she said. “With age comes wisdom, and I can use my
position to impart some of those life experiences to other people.”
Following Marshall’s speech, the conference will be broken up into three “breakout sessions.”
According to CSIL’s Web site, “conference sessions are organized around
three program tracks: mind - knowledge and skills; body -
self-acceptance and health; and soul - personal relationships,
empowerment and creativity.”
The conference will end with a Women of Influence Award ceremony, which
will recognize three women from either the Boone or Appalachian State
community.
An Italian dinner from Joe’s Italian Kitchen and various door prizes conclude the event.
Students who have helped to plan and attended the event encourage other students to get involved with such a unique conference.
“It’s a refreshing break from other conferences,” Charis F. Farley, a
sophomore communications major and women’s leadership conference
committee member, said. “The sessions are relevant to your life and
more applicable to students. It’s a really great way to learn about
yourself and other women.”
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