Okinawa preparing to host
third annual women's symposiumBy Carlos Bongioanni
Okinawa bureau
Registration
informationPre-registration
is required for the event, which costs between $10 and $15, depending on rank. Some
sessions may cost extra for materials. All SOFA-status personnel can attend, including
men.
To
volunteer as a speaker, call Annette Sullivan, 633-9075, or Michiko Novinger,
098-963-2559, by Wednesday.
Registration
is April 7-22. Forms are available at the Kadena and Camp Foster base exchanges from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. April 7-8 and 14-15.
Forms also
will be available at Kadena’s commissary and gift shop and in base publications
Limited to
800 people on a first-come, first-served basis |
KADENA AIR
BASE — Final preparations are under way here for a symposium meant to enrich, empower
and enlighten women.
Kadena’s
third annual Joint Women’s Forum will offer the women of Okinawa’s military
communities cultural, educational and inspirational classes.
The one-day
event is scheduled for May 12, and organizers are looking for more volunteer speakers. The
deadline to sign up as a speaker is Wednesday.
So far, the
forum has confirmed 32 speakers, said Annette Sullivan, the forum’s speaker
chairwoman. Many who volunteered to be presenters at the previous two forums have
transferred off Okinawa, Sullivan said. At least 50 speakers are needed to make the event
go well, but 75 to 100 speakers would be optimal, she said.
Some of
this year’s subjects include common breast complaints, interactive nutrition,
teaching children about sex, genealogy, ancestor worship, rubberstamping and exotic
cooking. Ideas for potential subjects include dealing with aging parents, women who fly,
cake decorating and others.
"We’re
open to most anything," Sullivan said. "We don’t screen anybody."
Emily
Bunch, the forum vice chairwoman, said the forum allows people of diverse backgrounds and
interests to share their knowledge with others.
"There
are so many opportunities on Okinawa," Bunch said. "This is a venue for sharing
all these opportunities with everyone."
About 800
people attended last year’s forum. They had more than 100 seminars from which to
choose four hourlong sessions.
"The
idea is to leave at the end of the day and feel really good, having learned about all the
things to do on this island," said Yvette Montavon, the forum chairwoman.
Married men
should treat their spouses to an early Mother’s Day present by registering them for
the event, Montavon said.
The forum
will show women a variety of things they can get involved in and will help them stay busy
during their stays on Okinawa, Bunch said.
Barbara
Ricker, a spouse of a Marine sergeant major, was apprehensive about attending last
year’s event. In the 25 years she has been a military spouse, she had never attended
anything like a women’s forum.
"I
learned so many interesting things. I also won the grand prize … a free college
course," Ricker said. "It was a wonderful motivator. I got an ‘A’ out
of the class, which showed me I can go back and do this thing."
Ricker gave
up attending college 15 years ago, when her first child was born. Now she hopes to finish
her degree.
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