The Women's Conference

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Reinvented by Shriver, The Women’s Conference has reportedly become the "largest meeting of women in the country" [Maria Shriver's Job, http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-women26oct26,0,7619448.story?coll=la-opinion-leftrail] and a celebration of "lives and lessons". [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/20/BAGDCFAVQP1.DTL&hw=Carla%2BMarinucci&sn=001&sc=1000 LONG BEACH / Shriver on stage next week - will she speak out? / Governor says, "You will hear from her" at conference of accomplished women] Its main stage presentations and seminar sessions have addressed personal topics such as work-life balance, service and volunteerism, healthy lifestyles, spirituality and families, professional issues such as professional development, financial planning, entrepreneurialism and communications, as well as social issues like women's maternal health, global poverty, climate change and emergency preparedness.

The event is staged at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, usually in October.

It was announced that The Women's Conference 2008 will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2008. Tickets to The Women's Conference 2008 will go on sale on Monday, July 14, 2008 at www.californiawomen.org.

Every year, substantial portions of the event are made available free through a live streaming webcast at The Women's Conference's [http://www.californiawomen.org web site] . [Conference sells out in three days, http://www.presstelegram.com/business/ci_6436335]

Erin Mulcahy Stein is the current Executive Director of The Women's Conference, [Diverse Speakers At Sold Out Women's Conference, http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/state/article_1287443.php] which is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Event Highlights

did not attend because of a scheduling conflict, ['08 Wives Talk Candidly About Their Roles, http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/23/08-wives-talk-candidly-about-their-roles/] though Shriver joked that he had been "invited to serve coffee". [Wives of Candidates Compare Notes from Trail, New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/us/politics/24spouses.html] The conversation touched on the role of the spouses in the campaign, the public's perceptions of the spouses, preparing their families for and protecting them from the campaign. [Maria Shriver Moderates Panel of Five Wives of Presidential Candidates, USA Today On Politics Blog, http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/10/five-would-be-f.html] Jon Stewart lampooned the first-ever "wives debate" on the October 30 edition of Comedy Central's The Daily Show. [http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=127610&title=wives-debate, [http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=127610&title=wives-debate] ]

Also in 2007, New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Thomas Friedman moderated a conversation on leadership and the environment between former Prime Minister Tony Blair and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Due to the October 2007 California wildfires, Governor Schwarzenegger was unable to attend the conference in person and instead participated briefly via live satellite, giving an update on the status of the fires and fire fighters. [http://origin.presstelegram.com/news/ci_7263307 Environment is focus of conference - Press-Telegram ] ] [ [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2007-10-25-2156625328_x.htm Maria Shriver won't return to NBC News - USATODAY.com ] ]

In 2006, His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivered his "first-ever address to a women's conference" on stage with Maria Shriver. [The Dalai Lama to appear at Maria Shriver event, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=8462] His Holiness expressed his belief that women can change the world with compassion and kindness and he reportedly led the 14,000 women through a meditation exercise.

In 2005, Barbara Walters and Maria Shriver engaged in an on-stage conversation with Sandra Day O'Connor on the heels of her decision to leave the U.S. Supreme Court. [Shriver on Stage Next Week - Will She Speak Out?, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/20/BAGDCFAVQP1.DTL&hw=Carla%2BMarinucci&sn=001&sc=1000]

Organization Highlights

Led by Maria Shriver's belief in the "power of WE", [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi f=/c/a/2007/09/10/EDSES1CVE.DTL&hw=Maria+Shriver&sn=001&sc=1000] The Women's Conference has formed partnerships, developed programs and supported initiatives that extend the inspiration of the conference for "more than just a day" and empower women everywhere.

WE Care – The Women's Health Empowerment Initiative

WE Care supports solutions around women's health issues throughout the world. In partnership with Meredith Corporation, the initiative supports the work of CARE, a leading humanitarian organization, to save the lives of thousands of pregnant women in Africa and Latin America. WE Care encourages the women of California – and beyond – to join the movement to empower women in the developing world to overcome extreme poverty while proving much needed funds to fight mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Zambia and train midwives in Nicaragua to assist with safe deliveries. Participants in The Women’s Conference 2007 showed their support for WE Care by making financial contributions and a visual sign of support: women dipped their hands in orange and yellow paint and left handprints on a banner that Maria Shriver will hand-deliver to the Care project sites in Nicaragua and Zambia.

WE Invest – The Women's Financial Empowerment Initiative

WE Invest promotes women's financial security and economic empowerment, helping to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of each and every California woman. WE Invest supports California-based non-profit organizations that help women overcome social and economic barriers in their journey out of poverty. [Shriver Launches Program in Oakland, http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_8543582?source=most_emailed]

WE Lead – The Minerva Leadership Program

The Minerva Leadership Program seeks to inspire, educate and empower young women leaders who are civically oriented and socially conscious to be the architects of their own lives and to make a difference in the world. The Minerva Leadership Program inspires young women to become leaders in their homes, schools and communities. As part of this program, and in collaboration with the Women's Foundation of California, 500 ethnically and geographically diverse California women, ages 16 – 22, are invited as special guests to participate fully in The Women’s Conference and attend two seminar sessions created just for them. Minerva Leadership Program participants must pledge to perform an additional 10 hours of service to their communities, which leads to more than 5,000 hours service to California's communities.

WE Support – The Minerva Military Families Program

The Women's Conference supports California's courageous military families by providing prepaid calling cards to deployed troops so they can communicate with their families back home. To date, the Conference has given 25,000, 60-minute calling cards and will continue this effort with the proceeds from the sale of conference merchandise in the exhibit hall and, throughout the year, on the conference web site.

The Minerva Awards

Created by Shriver in 2004, the Minerva Awards [Maria Shriver's Minervas for notable women could go international, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/22/PLMSSSF94.DTL] honors remarkable women who have stepped forward in the spirit of Minerva and changed their country with their courage, their strength and their wisdom. [Minerva Awards to Honor State Leaders, Activists, CBS2, http://cbs2.com/local/Minerva.Awards.Shriver.2.536993.html] The Minerva Awards are presented every year at The Women's Conference. Nominees are announced prior to the conference event, typically in September.

Minerva Award recipients have made extraordinary contributions in the areas of the Arts, Health and Sciences, Community Activism, Human Rights, Business and Technology, Motherhood, Innovation, Education and Finance. Many of the nominees not only have made a significant contribution to their profession, but they also impart their knowledge and skills to the next generation either by mentoring, or by working for the inclusion and retention of women in their field. [ [http://www.firstlady.ca.gov/projects/minerva/ Maria Shriver, First Lady of California ] ]

The award is named after the Roman Goddess, Minerva, who graces the State Seal of California.

In 2007, Shriver expanded the awards to extend beyond California to honor a trailblazing woman who has positively impacted the U.S. and world by honoring Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Executive Vice President of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation and Founder and Honorary Chair of Special Olympics International. [Maria Shriver's Minervas for notable women could go international, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/22/PLMSSSF94.DTL]

The achievements of Minerva Award winners are chronicled in a permanent exhibit at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts in Sacramento and have become part of California’s official archive.

-!4:15 PM - 5:00 PM !VISIT THE VILLAGE
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"(Exhibit Hall)"
-!5:00 PM - 7:00 PM !CONCLUDING SESSION & MINERVA AWARDS
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"(Arena)"

*Deborah Norville, Anchor, lnside Edition, & Author
*Laysha Ward, President, Community Relations and the Target Foundation, Target Corporation
*First Lady Maria Shriver, Presents Minerva Awards
*Bono, Lead Singer of U2 & Co-Founder of The ONE Campaign and(RED)
* [Bonnie Raitt] Singer, Songwriter & Guitarist Performs
*First Lady Maria Shriver
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The Women's Conference 2007

The theme of The Women's Conference 2007 was "Remarkable Lives. Remarkable Legacies. What's yours?".

Speakers and Participants 2007

* Maria Shriver
* Arnold Schwarzenegger
* Laila Ali
* David Bach
* Joan Baez
* Colleen Bastkowski
* Willow Bay
* Martha Beck
* Ed Begley, Jr.
* Tony Blair
* Jean Chatzky
* Loretta Clairborne
* Patricia Clarey
* Jamie Lee Curtis
* Andrea Doeling
* Elizabeth Edwards
* Linda Ellerbee
* Nora Ephron
* Cristina Ferrare
* Geraldine Ferraro
* Thomas Friedman
* Dr. Helene Gayle
* Elizabeth Gilbert
* Dr. Petra Hackenberg-Wiedl
* Mark Halperin
* Ann Hand
* Laura K. Ipsen
* Gayle King
* Jovana Lara
* Samantha Larson
* Cindy McCain
* Nancy McFadden
* Shannon McFayden
* Katharine McPhee
* Pat Mitchell
* Kitty Morgan
* Denise Morrison
* Dee Dee Myers
* Peggy Northrop
* Dr. Christiane Northrup
* Deborah Norville
* Michelle Obama
* Celia Rafalko
* Aron Ralston
* Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan
* Larree Renda
* Deborah Roberts
* Ann Romney
* Susan Saint James
* Nadine Schiff
* Laura Schulte
* Danny Seo
* Simran Sethi
* Sharon Shaheed
* Lynn Sherr
* Art Smith
* Srinija Srinivasan
* Anne Sweeney
* Raven-Symone
* Terry Tamminen
* Eckhart Tolle
* Diane von Furstenberg
* Kay Warren
* Heidi Weaver
* Christine Todd Whitman
* Maggie Wilderotter
* Jody Williams
* Vanessa L. Williams
* Denita Willoughby
* Lee Woodruff
* Muhammad Yunus
* Margarita Zavala

Conference Agenda 2007

-!4:00 PM - 4:45 PM !BOOK SIGNING OPPORTUNITIES
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"(Exhibit Hall)"
-!4:45 PM - 6:45 PM !CONCLUDING SESSION & MINERVA AWARDS
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"(Arena)"

*Heidi Weaver, Director of Community Relations, Target Corporation
*Diane von Furstenberg, Fashion Designer & President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America
*Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
*Professor Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
*Jody Williams and Professor Muhammad Yunus with Maria Shriver Present Minerva Awards
*Katherine, Christina, Patrick and Christopher Schwarzenegger Present Minerva Lifetime Achievement Award
*Joan Baez, A California Legend Performs
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The Women's Conference 2006

The theme of The Women's Conference 2006 was "Connect Today. Seize Tomorrow".

peakers and Participants 2006

* Maria Shriver
* Arnold Schwarzenegger
* Tyra Banks
* Allison Blackwell
* Diana M. Bonta
* Susan Bostrom
* Dr. Rovenia Brock
* Denise Brosseau
* Jill Conner Browne
* Steven A. Burd
* Michelle Caruso-Cabrera
* David Chao
* Vivienne Cox
* Denise Dador
* Maureen Dowd
* The Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson
* Cathy Foster
* Phyllis George
* Dr. Edward Hallowell
* Terri Howard
* Karen Hughes
* Immaculee Ilibagiza
* Clinton Kelly
* Cinny Kennard
* His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso
* Jovana Lara
* Stacy London
* Elle Macpherson
* Virginia Morris
* Ann Pleshette Murphy
* Carmen Nava
* Suze Orman
* Dr. Mehmet Oz
* SuChin Pak
* Dr. Pamela Peeke
* Gunnar Peterson
* Anna Quindlen
* Patti Rockenwagner
* Dr. Peter Rabins
* Celia Rafalko
* Judith Regan
* Larree Renda
* Sylvia Rhone
* Kristine Ripatti
* Deborah Roberts
* Sharon Rocha
* Dr. Michael Roizen
* Tim Russert
* Laura Schulte
* Srinija Srinivasan
* Martha Stewart
* Anne Sweeney
* Leslie Sykes
* Rene Syler
* Sara Martinez Tucker
* Penelope Wang
* Laysha Ward
* Patricia Wright
* Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio

Conference Agenda 2006

-!3:30 PM - 4:15 PM !BOOK SIGNING OPPORTUNITIES
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"(Exhibit Hall)"
-!4:15 PM - 6:00 PM !CONCLUDING SESSION & MINERVA AWARDS
-|
"(Arena)"

*Heidi Weaver, Director of Community Relations, Target Corporation
*Diane von Furstenberg, Fashion Designer & President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America
*Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
*Professor Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
*Jody Williams and Professor Muhammad Yunus with Maria Shriver Present Minerva Awards
*Katherine, Christina, Patrick and Christopher Schwarzenegger Present Minerva Lifetime Achievement Award
*Joan Baez, A California Legend Performs
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The Women's Conference 2005

The theme of The Women's Conference 2005 was "Lessons on Leadership, Activism and Family".

peakers and Participants 2005

* Maria Shriver
* Arnold Schwarzenegger
* Isabel Allende
* Marian Wright Edelman
* Billie Jean King
* Eunice Kennedy Shriver
* Sandra Day O'Connor
* Barbara Walters
* Mary J. Blige
* Arthur S. Agatston, M.D.
* Keven Bellows
* Tom Brokaw
* Vaughn Catuzzi Lohec and Dara Catuzzi Near
* Cynthia Chambers
* Deepak Chopra, M.D.
* Katie Cortelyou
* Dr. Stephen Covey
* Tracey Doi
* P. Murali Doraiswamy, M.D.
* Linda Ellerbee
* Susan Estrich
* Carly Fiorina
* Jane Fonda
* Ann Fudge
* Diane Granito
* Michelle Giannetta
* Leeza Gibbons
* Michelle Hainer
* Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer
* Roberta Hollander
* Jenni Kayne
* Cinney Kennard
* Gayle King
* Alison Konop
* Katrina Landis
* Jovana Lara
* Debra Lee
* Donna Lesch
* Alison Levine
* Lisa Ling
* Susan Love, M.D.
* Racheal D. MacLean
* Trisha Meili
* Suze Orman
* Mariane Pearl
* Lynne Perry-Bottinger, M.D., F.A.C.C.
* Judith Regan
* Larree Renda
* Donna Richardson Joyner
* Deborah Roberts
* Erin Runnion
* Wendy Sachs
* Zainab Salbi
* Libby Sartain
* Dr. Laura Schlessinger
* Laura Schulte
* Gary Small, M.D.
* Suzanne Somers
* Anne Sweeney
* Leslie Sykes
* Janet Taylor, M.D.
* Marilyn Van Derbur
* Virginia Martinez Victorin
* Laysha Ward
* Judith Warner
* Rick Warren
* Lora K. Watts
* Tina Wells
* Al Young

Conference Agenda 2005

-!12:00 PM - 2:00 PM !LUNCHEON SESSIONS
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"(Arena)"

* Anne Sweeney, Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks & President, Disney-ABC Television Group

* Katie Cortelyou, Best Buddies Board of Directors

* First Lady Maria Shriver - "Minerva Scholar Winners"

* A Conversation with Sandra Day O'Connor, United States Supreme Court Justice, and Barbara Walters, ABC News Correspondent, Creator, Co-Host and Executive Producer, The View

*Larree Renda, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Safeway, Inc.

-!2:00 PM - 3:00 PM !CALIFORNIA EXPERIENCE
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"Exhibit Hall"
-!3:30 PM - 4:45 PM!AFTERNOON SESSIONS
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-!12:00 PM to 2:00 PM !Exhibit Hall Open
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(Exhibit Hall C)
-!12:30 PM to 2:00 PM!Luncheon General Session
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"(Arena)"

* Ellen Leyva, News Anchor, ABC7
* Dana Welch, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Ameriquest Mortgage Company
* Benediction: Cecilia Day, Area Specialist, Head Start
* Lora Watts, President, External Affairs, SBC
* First Lady Maria Shriver
* Her Majesty Queen Noor
* Tracey Doi, Group Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A, Inc.
* Linda Ellerbee, Journalist, Best-Selling Author, Television Producer
-!2:00 PM to 3:30 PM !AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING
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"Exhibit Hall C"
-!2:30 PM to 4:15 PM!SEMINAR SESSION II
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-!4:15 PM to 5:00 PM !MINERVA AWARDS PRESENTATION
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"(Exhibit Hall A)"

* Laysha Ward, Vice President, Community Relations, Target Corporation
* First Lady Maria Shriver - "2005 Minerva Award"
-!5:00 PM to 5:30 PM !OPRAH WINFREY, CHAIRMAN, HARPO, INC.
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"(Exhibit Hall A)"
-!5:30 PM to 6:00 PM!INAUGURAL REMARKABLE WOMAN CONCERT
-||"(Exhibit Hall A)"

Musical Performance by Sheryl Crow
-!6:00 PM to 6:45 PM!EXHIBIT HALL OPEN
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"(Exhibit Hall C)"Networking ReceptionNo-host bar, hor d'oeuvres, door prizes

References

External links

* [http://www.californiawomen.org The Women's Conference: Official website]
* [http://www.firstlady.ca.gov First Lady Maria Shriver: Official website]
* [http://gov.ca.govGovernor Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: Official website]