2002 Women’s Life Conference—A Blend of Nostalgia

Lucie Arnaz

The first Women’s Life Conference was held in April of 1990 to celebrate the opening of South Central Regional Medical Center’s Women’s Life Center, a health education resource center. Dr. Joyce Brothers provided the keynote address to the approximately 150 women who attended. Since that first event, the Women’s Life Conference has grown from a local event sponsored by South Central Regional Medical Center, WDAM-TV and the Jones County Medical Alliance, to a regional health and wellness event conducted on the campus of Jones Junior College. The Women’s Life Conference continues to be Mississippi’s premier women’s health and wellness educational event. This annual conference has set the precedent for excellence in consumer health and wellness education in the state of Mississippi.

Planning for each annual conference begins almost before the last conference ends. An event of this magnitude requires months of planning and a dedicated committee to see those plans through. For this reason, South Central Regional Medical Center formed the Women’s Health Issues Committee in 1989. The committee consists of community volunteers and employees of South Central Regional Medical Center who meet monthly to discuss current health care issues and to plan the Women’s Life Conference. Current members include: Miranda Beard, Lula Cooley, Mayor Susan Vincent, Linda Gayle Smith, Nancy Jernigan, Joyce Regan, Mary Edmonson, Doneater Mack, Jennifer Weber, Ethel Zeagler, Pam Fail, Jimmie Nell Long, and Polly Clark.

This year’s conference promises to be a most exciting event! The 2002 Women’s Life Conference will showcase the 50th Anniversary of South Central Regional Medical Center!

In keeping with a 50th Anniversary theme, the Women’s Health Issues Committee is proud to announce: actress, entertainer, Broadway star and producer Lucie Arnaz as keynote speaker for the 2002 conference. Through her personal, heartwarming story, Lucie Arnaz will share what she has learned about successfully balancing today’s hectic lifestyle. She tells her story of growing up as the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and how she has applied the many lessons to her own family.

Karen Vanderslice, coordinator of the conference, said, “The ‘I Love Lucy’ show is celebrating its 50th anniversary and we thought it would be nice to blend the nostalgia of the Lucy era with South Central’s 50th anniversary.”

Lucie Arnaz began her famed career in a recurring role on the television program, “The Lucy Show.” At age fifteen, she became a series regular on “Here’s Lucy,” a television show which ran for six seasons. She later starred in her own series, “The Lucie Arnaz Show,” and the critically acclaimed “Sons & Daughters.” In 1990 Lucie and her husband, Laurence Luckenbill, formed Arluck Entertainment, a film and television production company. Their first production, “Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie,” aired on NBC in 1993 and was honored with an Emmy award.

The 2002 Women’s Life Conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2002 and will be held at the M.P. Bush Fine Arts Building at Jones Junior College. This special event will feature a continental breakfast, health and wellness booth fair, refreshments, various educational sessions, fabulous door prizes, a 50th anniversary luncheon and more.

The cost of the conference is $20 and pre-registration is required. Registration packets will be available by March 18th. If you would like to receive a registration packet, call the Women’s Life Center at 399-0506.

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