Tatyana Tolstaya (Russia), Alison Youngman (Canada), Helen Hirsh Spence (Canada) & Ann Medina (Canada) pose with the Dixieland Band.
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“We have lots of choices and freedom. As women we’ve kept our options open. Now as we are older, we have a whole new array of doors out there. We can either push some open or wait until one opens a crack but, we have a lot of freedom and time to enjoy it.”
Ann Schneider, Arizona USA "Transforming Lives, Transitioning & Seeking Balance Roundtable Discussions” |
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| Historic Gallier Hall played host to an opening reception celebrating the best of New Orleans. Attendees were greeted by a Dixieland band, and welcomed by New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin. Following a brief introduction, three of the Big Easy's top chefs, Leah Chase (Dooky Chase), Susan Spicer (Bayona), and Ti Martin (Commander’s Palace) treated attendees to a dinner befitting the choosiest foodies' tastes!. |
The Rt Hon Kim Campbell (Canada & Southern California) |
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Holly Cannon (Washington, DC), Elvi Moore (Washington, DC) & Kathy Checchi (Washington, DC & Southern California) |
Opening Reception at Gallier Hall |
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"Define yourself by your own values and the skill sets you can add on top of those values. Not by your role, your label or your title, take reflective time to work out what your value sets are and what skills you want to add. When you do, transition is much, much easier."
Rosalind Gilmore, United Kingdom “Transforming Lives, Transitioning & Seeking Balance Roundtable Discussions” |
New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin |
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Opening Reception at Gallier Hall
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Opening Reception at Gallier Hall |
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As the program got under way the following morning, attendees were once again reminded of the rich cultural roots of our host city with the New Orleans Police Department roaring through the Ritz Carlton Ballroom on motorcycle to make way for a Mardi Gras Krewe Parade that brought with it IWF Louisiana President and Conference Chair, Pat Denechaud and IWF President, Kim Campbell. |
New Orleans Police Department & Krewe Procession |
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The Rt Hon Kim Campbell (Canada & Southern California) regaled by Krewe Queen
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“We are constantly in transition…if we know we are in transition we can understand ourselves better and then be prepared for larger changes."
"Be prepared for serendipity. Go with it so you can enjoy and embrace the moment.”
Jana Sigars-Molina, Florida USA “Transforming Lives, Transitioning & Seeking Balance Roundtable Discussions" |
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Pat Denechaud, President, Louisiana Women's Forum |
Carolyn Chambers (Oregon), Suzanne Black (Bahamas) & Jean West (Minnesota) |
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| With the audience now well awake, the program began. The first session--“Big Ideas” & The Transforming Role of “Fiction” in Our Lives & World--was moderated by IWF’s own Ann Medina, Emmy award winning Journalist (Canada), with Irshad Manji, best-selling author of The Trouble with Islam: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in her Faith, TV personality and media entrepreneur (Canada) and Tatyana Tolstaya, author of Pushkin’s Children, great grandniece of Leo Tolstoy (Russia). |
Ann Medina (Canada), Tatyana Tolstaya (Russia) & Irshad Manji (Canada) |
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| Work/Life Transitions – Altering Lives, Seeking Balance was delivered next featuring Sindiwe Magona, famed author of Living, Loving and Lying Awake at Night (South Africa) and Katharine Whitehorn, journalist and columnist for SAGA Magazine (United Kingdom), in an at once humorous and touching discussion moderated by Louisiana’s own Angela Hill, Anchor, WWL-TV (USA). |
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“Lets get rid of the word "transition" and talk about the continuation of our lives. Let’s get on with it!”
Sara Meltzer, Israel“Transforming Lives, Transitioning & Seeking Balance Roundtable Discussions” |
New Orleans Global Cornerstone Plenary Session |
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Dr. Rajaa Khuzai (Iraq)
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Energized by the first two discussions, IWF launched into roundtable discussions on Transforming Lives, Transitioning & Seeking Balance, with conference participants discussing the themes at their tables and reporting back to the audience as a whole. |
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| Following the roundtable discussions, a lunch was served along with a program entitled Altering Lives – Women Corporate Leaders Shaping the Future -- a conversation on women’s roles and future in the contemporary corporate world with Luisa Cerar, President Global Crossing, South America (Argentina), Kathy Geier, Senior Vice President, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (USA), Cathy Martine-Dolecki, Senior Vice President for Internet Telephony, Consumer Sales & Marketing, AT&T (USA) in a conversation moderated by Linda Dillman, Executive Vice President & CIO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (USA). |
Life By Design Tours -- The home of Mary Louise Christovich (Louisiana) in the Garden District |
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Sara Meltzer (Israel) & Pat Denechaud (Louisiana) |
"In exploring your life, know your passions. Those are the things that give you hope and make you feel good. Ultimately, it is what will get you through the difficult moments and transitions in your life."
Elaine Ganick, Tennessee USA “Transforming Lives, Transitioning & Seeking Balance Roundtable Discussions” |
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| Following the luncheon, IWF members were treated to Life by Design tours of New Orleans featuring the Sculpture & Design Studio of IWF member Lin Emery; an Architectural Tour of the homes of IWF members Mary Louise Christovich and Ambassador Lindy Boggs; the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES); and the House of Blues. |
Life By Design Tours with Ambassador Lindy Boggs (Louisiana) at her home in the French Quarter. |
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"Women are more flexible and need to invest spontaneous creativity into their daily routine."
Ruth Gorenstein, Israel “Transforming Lives, Transitioning & Seeking Balance Roundtable Discussions” |
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| Saturday morning the program resumed with a discussion of Fortifying Our Families, Communities & Our Future with Rosalind Wiseman, best-selling author of Queen Bees and Wannabes, co- founder and President of the Empower Program (USA);Florence Schornstein, Founder of Parkway Partners, a public/private venture in New Orleans (USA);Judge Miriam Waltzer, first woman judge on Louisiana’s Criminal Court of Appeals, founder of Juvenile Jury, an educational program geared to help at risk youth (USA); and moderator Regina Montoya, President, WORKRules (USA). |
New Orleans Global Cornerstone Plenary Session |
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"While we think being an advocate is vital, being confrontational probably is not one of the most effective tools."
Ruth Frazier, New Mexico USA “Fortifying Families, Communities & Transition through Changing Health Circumstances, the Empty Nest & Death of a Family Member Roundtable Discussions” |
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| The next session Changing Health Circumstances, the Empty Nest & Death of a Family Member featured Nancy G. Brinker, Founder, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, former US Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary and Cokie Roberts, renowned American journalist and author of Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised our Nation (USA) in a stirring and touching conversation.
Immediately following, participants had the opportunity to participate in the second set of Roundtable Discussions, "Fortifying Families, Communities & Transitioning through Changing Health Circumstances, the Empty Nest & Death of a Family Member." |
Ambassador Nancy Brinker (Dallas) & Cokie Roberts (Louisiana) |
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"When you can’t control your life, you ought to set a goal for yourself that you can accomplish over a period of time. Although the world around you may be falling apart, you may be able to control a little of it by setting goals for yourself."
Maria Estela Lopez de Rios, New Mexico USA “Fortifying Families, Communities & Transition through Changing Health Circumstances, the Empty Nest & Death of a Family Member Roundtable Discussions” |
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| Over lunch, attendees were treated to the final program segment -- Altering Lives – Shaping Futures in Public Service. Moderated by Sybil Haydel Morial, former First Lady of New Orleans and Xavier University executive (USA), featured were Ambassador Lindy Boggs, Former United States Ambassador to the Holy See & US Congresswoman from Louisiana (USA) and Christine James-Brown, President & CEO, United Way International (USA). |
Sybil Morial (Louisiana), Christine James-Brown (USA) & Ambassador Lindy Boggs (Louisiana) |
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Leah Chase Jr, Jazz Artist
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“Doctors have thousands of patients -- you are one. It really is up to you to understand and figure out what to do. The Internet has decreased the information differential. It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves.”
“Fortifying Families, Communities & Transition through Changing Health Circumstances, the Empty Nest & Death of a Family Member Roundtable Discussions” |
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| In closing, conference attendees were treated to a jazz medley by artist Leah Chase Jr. and her trio singing “What a Wonderful World” and the Betty Winn and One A-Chord Gospel Choir that brought all to their feet for “This Little Light of Mine” and “Oh Happy Day!” |
Betty Winn and One A-Chord |
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Members of the Louisiana Women's Forum |
"Renew acquaintances with other women. Find a support system. Make the effort. Open up to letting yourself be nurtured by other women."
“Fortifying Families, Communities & Transition through Changing Health Circumstances, the Empty Nest & Death of a Family Member Roundtable Discussions” |
