Women can get tips on work-life balance and self care on Saturday, March 24, when Bluffton University's Women's Council hosts the third annual R&R for Women conference.
Bluffton alumnae, faculty and students will present sessions during the conference, titled "Balancing Your World, Caring for Yourself." Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Centennial Hall-site of the morning sessions-and Marbeck Center, where the afternoon sessions will be held.
Registration for the conference is available online at www.bluffton.edu/women; the deadline is March 16. Cost to attend is $40 per person, or $35 per person in a group of three or more, with $15 of each fee going to the women's council.
Comprised of alumnae and friends of the university, the council supports female students in part through its annual Professional Enrichment Grants for Women, which help recipients gain professional experience in an anticipated career.
Morning sessions will begin after a continental breakfast at 9 a.m. They are:
. "Embracing Crazy Kids and Grumpy Grandmas," a discussion of generational differences-and intergenerational camaraderie-with Jeannie Stahl, director of community support services for the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Stahl, a licensed social worker, earned a master's degree in organizational management from Bluffton in 2010.
. "Backing Up and Moving Forward," with Dr. Karen Klassen Harder, a Bluffton professor of business and economics, who will cover such topics as organizing and securing important documents; where to store confidential information and passwords; and how long to keep personal information and how to dispose of it when it's no longer needed. Harder holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University.
. "Preparing for the Unexpected," with Holly Spann, an agency field consultant for State Farm. A 1996 Bluffton graduate, Spann will outline fundamentals of assuring basic needs for the future. Also a former head softball coach at Bluffton, she earned a master's degree from Baylor University and owned a State Farm agency in Findlay, Ohio, from 2007-10.
Following Spann's session, lunch will be served in The Commons in Marbeck at 12:15 p.m. Afterward, until 1:30 p.m., visitors will be able to get a massage and browse the university bookstore and various vendors' booths, including Mary Kay and Pampered Chef.
Afternoon sessions are:
. "Walking the High Wire," with Heather Koontz, an assistant professor of social work. She will present best practices of self care, such as the importance of getting involved in invigorating activities but knowing when to say "Enough." Koontz is a licensed independent social worker who holds a master's degree in social work from The Ohio State University.
. "Fuel for Living," with Dr. Deborah Myers, an associate professor and director of the university's dietetics program, and Bluffton dietetics students. Myers will address the question of how eating habits affect feelings about self and others. Both a registered and licensed dietitian, she earned her doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Wrapping up the day, at 3:15 p.m., will be "Taste It, It's Good!" in which conference participants will learn ways to serve and enjoy less familiar foods.
