Published: May 14, 2008 06:02 pm            

NIAGARA FALLS: ABWA conference kicks off today

Hundreds of out-of-state women in town for three-day event

More than 200 women from across the country are converging on Niagara Falls today for the American Business Women’s Association’s annual spring conference.

The local chapter of the ABWA is hosting the three-day event, which represents all of District IV’s members and will feature exhibits, guest speakers and educational courses at the Conference Center Niagara Falls. It’s also promising to be a big shot of revenue for local businesses.

“We’re proud to be bringing extra dollars into our economy,” said Linda Rafferty, chairwoman of the spring conference for the Niagara Falls chapter. “It’s always wonderful when an organization can be noted for assisting their community.”

A welcoming event for the visiting businesswomen is being held tonight at The Summit mall in Wheatfield. Rafferty said participants are coming from all over, including Indiana, Texas and California. The visitors are taking up hundreds of hotel rooms in the city, mostly at the Crowne Plaza.

The spring conference will kick into high gear on Friday with a full-day schedule of seminars and college-credited business courses, highlighted by keynote speaker Ann Stuart, chancellor and president of Texas Women’s University. Her presentation is entitled “Tattoos and Cultured Pearls: How do these two work together and communicate?”

Saturday’s events will include more educational programs and seminars, including a two-part series on “managing generational differences” led by FranklinCovey, a leading learning and performance services firm based in Utah.

Throughout Friday and Saturday, a business expo featuring exhibits and vendors selling specialty items like jewelry and beauty products will be lined up inside the conference center. There also will be basket auctions, contests and tours of local attractions.

Non-members, both male and female, are allowed to participate in the conference’s attractions and exhibit area, but must first register for a visitor’s pass. To do so, go to the conference center between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday or Saturday. Applications to become an ABWA member will also be available.

District IV stretches from Maine to North Carolina and is one of six regions nationwide that account for ABWA’s 100,000 members. The group’s mission is “to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support and national recognition.”

Mayor Paul Dyster will be presenting a proclamation recognizing the local chapter and its efforts to bring the district’s annual spring conference to Niagara Falls.

“It’s wonderful they were able to bring this conference into the city and we’d like to have it come back,” Dyster said. “We’re hoping to show them the City of Niagara Falls is woman friendly.”





IF YOU GO

• WHAT: The American Business Women’s Association’s annual District IV spring conference, hosted by the Niagara Falls chapter

• WHEN: Friday and Saturday. A welcoming ceremony for members only will be held tonight at The Summit mall in Wheatfield

• WHERE: Conference Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St.

• DETAILS: Planned events include a business expo, conference meetings and seminars with professional guest speakers from the business industry. Non-members, both men and women, can participate by signing up for a visitor’s pass Friday or Saturday at the conference center. Applications for membership will also be available.

• ON THE WEB: For a complete schedule of events, visit www.abwaniagara.com

        

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