Tickets available for Women Aware

Tuesday, September 14, 2021
DAR/Barbara Ann Horton The city of Poplar Bluff recently showed its support of Women Aware, Inc., and congratulated it on its upcoming conference by presenting the organization with a proclamation. Pictured are (from left) Jill Worley, Lacey McClintock, Davine Conover, City Manager Matt Winters, Christen Kinsey, Stephanie Griffin, Tracy Tarpley, Rita Cooksey and Michelle Reynolds.

The count is at 300 for Thursday’s 2021 Women Aware Conference “Born to Stand Out” at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff.

Conference Director Tracy Tarpley said, “We can’t wait to see everyone there for a day full of laughter, fun, good food and a great speaker. Doors will open at 8 a.m. and we are recommending masks be worn.

“We are excited to be able to offer the conference to the women of our area again after a year of uncertainty and quarantine. We hope this conference is a much needed break from the craziness of life and everyone can just enjoy a day being pampered.”

Keynote speaker Chantelle Becking of Cape Girardeau is an author, speaker, adoptive mom and business owner.

“Women. We do it all,” Becking said. “We are everything to everyone ... except ourselves.

“We spend our whole lives loving on and taking care of the people around us. It follows us into the big job, the marriage, the mom life, the pursuit.”

Becking admits she doesn’t “begin to have it all figured out and is here to let you off the hook too.

“The goal is freedom, friends. We could all use a little more of it. Let’s face it - we could use a lot more of it.” 

In her book “Unapologetically You: Freedom to Be,” Becking brings laughs and tears with her self-deprecating humor and real life challenges. She drops the filter and shares a vulnerable side, which is refreshing and needed in a culture putting far too much pressure on women.

Along with being an adoptive mother to five girls, businesswoman, public speaker, she’s “a lover of God, life and tattoos.”

Her true passion is helping women get a taste of freedom from the heavy load life can bring.

She said, she “will bring the funny and get to the heart of the matter, challenging everyone to embrace there is no time like the present to get about loving the life we have right now.”

She adopted a daughter, Bianca, from Guatemala, a second, Solie, from Ethiopia, and daughters Ari, Dolly and Lennyx through foster care.

She also donated a kidney to a person she previously didn’t know.

The donation is part of a philosophy she’s also adopted, and something she wants her children to see.

“Even to me, with this kidney donation, I’m committed to not wasting a day,” Becking said. “We kind of joke around about it, but it’s true, I’m not leaving anything on the table in my life.”

While Becking will highlight the program, breakout sessions are another favorite part of the day. Breakout speakers and their topics include Michele Webb, Financial Responsibilities; Mary Haldeman, Recognizing and Addressing Trauma Responses; Melanie Nelson, Makeup; Marge Hedstrom, Yoga for Balance and Posture; Tiffany Jenkins, Marketing Your Business; Tara Brown, Paint Away Your Stress; Nate Newman, Decorating Your Space; Judy Jackson, Tai Chi; Casey Wyatt, Your Health; Sharon Kissinger, Getting Ready for Retirement; Shonna Grobe, Self Defense tools; Kim Duncan, Accessible Yoga; Dr. Sandra Jackson, Surviving the COVID Pandemic; Martha Kirkman, So You Want to Travel; Elizabeth Gillean, Meal Prep; Alice Shelton, Stretch and Renew Yoga.

Conference organizers are planning to take COVID precautions and are recommending anyone who plans to attend follow safety measures.

Tarpley said due to taking precautions, the organization will be limiting the number of walk ins. Tickets are now $50 each.

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