Oct. 8, 2002 – Sen. Lorraine Berry is urging everyone who plans to attend her 7th annual Women's Conference on Saturday at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort to register by Wednesday.
This year's conference, "Families under Siege — Tackling the Challenges," concentrates on family issues. It runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the grand ballroom.
For two of the last three years, Berry's forums have focused on family issues — involving children and youth, relationships, responsibilities and sexual awareness. Last year's conference put the emphasis strictly on women's sexual issues. Saturday's conference will focus on help for the whole family.
The event will test Berry's ability to stand on her own two feet — literally. She took a fall about 10 days ago in her home, severely injured her knee. She will definitely be there Saturday. "The only question," she said, "is whether it will be a wheelchair or crutches."
Speakers for the program include Cynthia Clendenin, a public health administrator, who will give the breakfast address, and Pastor Iris Hernandez, who will speak at the luncheon.
Panelists are: Dilsa Capdeville, KidsCope executive director; Gustavus "Cass" Connell, registered nurse; Douglas Dick, assistant attorney general; Dr. Robin Ellick, family physician; Cynthia Farmer of the American Association for Children for Enforcement of Support, a group dedicated to collecting delinquent child-support payments; Carmen George of VICare; Dr. Olaf Hendricks, psychiatrist; Terrene D. Joseph, Justice Department Paternity and Child Support Division liaison officer; Luz Maldonado of The Village on St. Croix; Michal Rhymer, Family Resource Center executive director; Delia Smith, Attorney General's Office; and Territorial Judge Audrey L. Thomas.
Anyone wanting to attend the event should contact Joyce Ann Harrigan in Berry's office by calling 693-3507. Space is limited. Complimentary tickets are being given to the housing communities, with help from the Housing Parks and Recreation Department and the Education Department.
At the conference, certificates for low-cost mammograms will be given out by Shirley Jackson McDonald of the Health Department's Breast and Cervical Cancer Unit.
More than 600 women and a few men attended last year's conference, and Berry said this year it looks as if there may be more.
Any professional women's organization that would like to recruit new members may set up a table in the lobby outside the ballroom, Berry said. One group that has already committed to doing so is Business and Professional Women. To make arrangements for table space, call Berry's office.
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