MARY’S SCHEDULE
RADIO every Wednesday morning 7:40-7:50 a.m. (CDT) on WHEM 91.3 FM. Mary joins Garrett Novak on “A Brand New Day.” Listen in live or laugh along later via the “TODAY’S LAUGH AUDIO” link.
SPEAKING EVENTS ON THE CALENDAR FOR 2010
January 13. Eau Claire, WI. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Classified Staff Development Day. Keynote. Humor at work. (Private event.)
February 4. Rochester MN. Calvary Evangelical Free Church Ladies Winter Brunch & Evening Program. For information contact Karmen at 507-272-1071.
February 5. Rochester MN. Luncheon Keynote “A Joyful Heart” Wear Red for Heart Health Day at Mayo Clinic. For information contact Jessica Schmitt at 507-284-1141.
February 6. Appleton WI. 35th Annual Joy Conference, “Celebrating Joy.” For information contact Karen Dickrell at 920-832-5126.
February 11. Neenah, WI. 2010 Summit. Miron Construction. Private Event.
February 19-20. Yorkville, IL. New Life Church Women’s Retreat. For information contact Susan at 630-640-3471.
March 3. Appleton WI. Private employee development event at OSI.
March 30. Eau Claire. Senior American’s Day Workshop at UWEC. (last minute pinch hitting)
April 16, 2010. Bloomington, MN. SAMmy’s Retreat keynote.
April 25. Wauwatosa, WI. Redemption Lutheran Women’s Event. Contact Susie Boardman at sboardman@wi.rr.com.
May 4. Eau Claire. Grace Lutheran Church Book Club. (If your club reads one of my books, maybe I’ll visit you!)
May 18. Eau Claire. Stonecroft Ministries’ “Garden Party” at Florian Gardens. For information contact Kathy Duax at 715-835-0905.
JUNE - JULY. Vacation time. Book Writing Block. Family time.
August 22-27. Green Lake WI. Green Lake Christian Writers Conference. Teaching “Writing the Spiritual Memoir” all week, as well as some other fun stuff. Join us!
September 13. Sidney, Montana. Live it UP! Women’s Event. For information, contact Lisa Aisenbrey at 406-488-2108.
September 16. Eau Claire. Caregiver Alliance meeting. “The Joy of Caregiving.” Contact Lisa Wells at 715-839-4735.
September 17-19. Amery WI. Women’s Retreat for Prince of Peace, Burnsville MN.
December 4. Eau Claire. Bethesda Women’s Christmas Tea. Contact Bethesda at 715-835-5073 for details.
//////////////////
2009 “THANK YOU” - I have the BEST job in the world… And I want to extend my deepest appreciation to all my clients this year. I’m honored to have been invited to your special events! (And a special thanks to Barbara Christenson of the Speak Well Being Agency. It’s a joy to work with you!)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!
December found us winding toward Linwood Covenant’s Christmas Tea on the 7th. What a loving group of women! On December 12, it was back to Appleton (my home-away-from-home of late) for the Christmas Brunch at Trinity Lutheran. Almost 300 women showed up to help celebrate Christmas. What a blessing to be part of the joy and what a great way to finish the speaking year!
November 5th we had a blast with 500 women in Friendship, Wisconsin (the whole town’s population isn’t much more than that!) and on the 9th we were in Janesville, encouraging caregivers. That’s always a special privilege.
October found me in Wisconsin Dells, meeting the wonderful folks of the AIRS State Conference. They work so hard, offering information and referral services to people in need. It was an honor to offer them some laughter and encouragement. I headed to Manitowoc later for the inaugural Women’s Expo. Also in October, I was so honored to be asked to return to Phillips WI’s Pink Ribbon Event. That same week I was blessed to spend time in New Richmond at another Caregivers Conference. And I was privileged to bring laughter and encouragement to the women of the LaCrosse, WI area at Gundersen Lutheran’s Women’s Expo in October as well.
In September I was privileged to return to Rochester MN for the Christ Community Church Fall Women’s Ministry Kickoff. What a great group and thanks for asking me back! And I laughed with the women of Bethel Ridge CLB in Faribault, MN. Thanks for inviting me to share your celebration!
Okay, so 950 women in one room… there’s BOUND to be some laughter! And there was at the September 10, 2009 Women’s Fund Luncheon in Appleton, WI. What FUN to be there and to support your important work!
Pure joy it was to teach at the Green Lake Writers Conference in August. And I’ll be teaching again in 2010. Check out Green Lake Conference Center for more information.
DaHusband and I had a great time in Green Bay in August, meeting the good folks of the National Marriage Encounter National Convention. May God continue to bless your marriages and families!
In May I offered “Tickle the Funny Bone, Touch the Heart” to two great writers’ groups : Minnesota Christian Writers Guild on May 10, and the Western Wisconsin Christian Writers Guild on May 11, 2009. It’s always such fun to be among all those “kindred spirits,” which is just writer talk for “people who are crazy like me”!
What a blessing to bring laughter and encouragement to another fabulous group as MC for the Caring for the Caregiver conference at Sacred Heart in Eau Claire on May 8, 2009. As a family caregiver, I SO appreciate all the support we get in this community. Thanks to everyone!
May 2nd brought us to Milwaukee for Faith Bible Church’s Mother, Sister, Daughter, Friend luncheon. I was so privileged to be with this sweet group!
Picture it: April 30, 2009 at the spectacular Florian Gardens in Eau Claire and 200 plus women of the Chippewa Valley were ready to laugh. And laugh we DID! Thanks to all for inviting me to be part of this Celebration of Women. What a night! (I had the MOST fun!)
I spent the day on April 18th at the MOM’S FAIR in Eau Claire. A wonderful day meeting new friends (and buying THE most gorgeous scarf ever!)Thanks to the MOPS gals for organizing another great day for moms!
We laughed, we cried, we laughed some more… Thank you to the Braham District Covenant Women f0r the delightful evening (and guys, the service was impeccable!) on April 7, 2009 in Siren, WI.
An author spending the evening with readers? It just doesn’t get any better than that! What a delight to be with the great group at Chapel Heights in Eau Claire on March 17, 2009. And THANK YOU for reading my books–and letting me know you liked them! You blessed me!
Thanks for the great women at Eau Claire Schools for the fun time on January 14, 2009. Thanks for all you do for all of us!
//////////////
2008 was a very, very good year! Thanks to all the event planners and attendees who made these events so much fun for me! I’m honored to have been invited to share a few moments of the journey with you! Here are my 2008 highlights:
Thanks to the 400 women who attended the Appleton Alliance Church “Joy to Your World” Christmas event and the capacity crowd who packed Rice Lake Community Church for “A Sweet Evening” (in a word–YUM!) - both in December. You made my Christmas brighter!
The St. Mary’s Hospital Staff “Mission Days” in September & October in Madison, WI were an inspiration to me. To be in the company of so many caring professionals was an honor.
Presenting the closing keynote for the Alzheimer’s Association Fall Education Conference was an honor beyond description. To provide stress relief and laughter to caregivers… well, it so touches my heart!On the business side of life, I was honored to speak in September at the Chippewa Valley Society of Human Resource Managers (CVSHRM) Annual Conference in Eau Claire, and at the Wisconsin Business Education Association conference in Appleton, WI. (Thanks, teachers, for all you do and GIVE!)
Thanks to Peggy E. and the great folks at the Dietary Managers State Conference on September 12th in Eau Claire, WI. What a fun group!
It was a delight to spend time at the Heartwood Conference Center & Resort in Trego, WI in September– a BEAUTIFUL place (check it out for personal retreats)! I was there with the Church Office Professionals, offering a little “Soul Support.” Thanks for all you do to support ministry in your churches!
What a honor to keynote the TENTH ANNUAL Women’s Event in Stratford WI on June 17th. You are a wonderful community of women - and we made beautiful ART together!
Thanks for celebrating the Joy of Connection with me!
What a wonderful time I had emceeing the Caring for the Caregiver Conference at Sacred Heart Hospital on May 9th. Thanks to all for all you do!
Thanks to the amazing women of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park, MN for the great fun and the fabulous food on May 10th. You blessed me!
I was busy in April, first attending the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop April 3-5, 2008 in Dayton, OH. And what a wonderful time we had at the “Life Extraordinaire” Women’s Event April 12, 2008 Grantsburg, WI. Kudos to Gail Potvin and the rest of the team for pulling it all together. May it become an annual Grantsburg tradition. (Invite me back for the FIFTH anniversary!
)
Thanks to the moms of SAMmys (Strength Among Moms Ministry) for making me feel so welcome and appreciated on April 16 & 18. You are FABULOUS!
It was a delight to be part of the Dane County Caregivers Alliance Luncheon April 18, 2008 Madison, WI. Thanks for the laughter and encouragement!
Thanks to Rob Pue and Wisconsin Christian News for the fab time at the Ministry Expo in Eau Claire on March 8. What a blessing!
Thanks as always to the “family” at Bethesda’s Kingfolk for encouraging me as we tackled tough caregiving and care-receiving issues on March 9th.
Thanks to the selfless employees–caregivers all–at Grace Lutheran Foundation’s Staff Development Day on March 12th, for making me feel part of your very special group.
Thanks to Ann Zimmerman & the friends who stopped by ANNZ BOOKS & MORE, 526 2nd St. Chetek, WI on March 29th. (I had SO much fun, but bought WAY too many clothes!
)
Thanks to the sisters of St. Bede’s Retreat Center in Eau Claire for their warm hospitality during our Writers Retreat in January 2008. May God bless you–every one–with health and strength and peace!
As I said, 2008 was a very, very good year. Thank you, thank you thank you to everyone who made it possible!
/////////////
