Maria Shriver, Suze Orman draw women by thousands to annual conferences
Feeling a little ho-hummy in the heat, like the energy is just running right out of you? Well, ladies, it's time for we women to think about recharging our batteries. The women's conference season has officially opened, and the organizers are pulling out the big guns this year to entice women to live better and take good care of themselves.
Yes, of course, guys can come, too. I highly recommend it. Among the luminaries scheduled to inspire, instruct and amuse at the upcoming local and state conferences are Suze Orman, Christiane Amanpour, Bono, Warren Buffet, Caroline Kennedy, Jennifer Lopez, Condoleezza Rice, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Shriver and Gloria Steinem. Hey, sign me up! And if you want to go, you should jump on it, too, because both are usually sold out.
If you haven't been to one of these conferences, by all means, try it out. It's a blast with dozens of speakers giving workshops on topics that range from becoming better personally, in the family professionally and in the world.
Tickets are already on sale for the Central California Women's Conference, featuring financial wizard Suze Orman as the keynote speaker. It's Sept. 9 at the Fresno Convention Center. The theme is green, geen all about green. Green money, green homes, green lives.
Orman has written six New York Times best-sellers and was named top female motivational speaker last year by Business Week magazine. She hosts Emmy-award winning programs on CNBC and PBS, is the monthly contributing financial editor to O: The Oprah magazine, and is a featured writer on Yahoo Personal Finance.
The cost to attend will be $85. It jumps to $95 for those who register after Aug. 23. Table reservations for 11 are $935. Details: www.ccwc-fresno.org, (209) 668-6246 or (559) 265-6888.
On a slightly bigger scale, California's first lady, Maria Shriver, throws a big bash every year in Long Beach, hosting the California Women's Conference. Tickets went on sale today that for that popular event, and once again, if you're serious, get moving. It's Oct. 21 and 22 at the Long Beach Convention Center. It's unfailingly sold out even though its arena venue has 14,000 seats.
They really bring out the razzle-dazzle and this year the speakers and performers, in addition to the governor and first lady, are Christiane Amanpour, Bono, Warren Buffet, Caroline Kennedy, Jennifer Lopez, Condoleezza Rice, Rachael Ray, Bonnie Raitt and Gloria Steinem. There's also a shopping event the night before. Ticket prices range from $40 to $185 depending on what you want to do. To get more information, hit the Web site by clicking here.