Outdoor Industries Womens Coalition is holding their annual Summer Gathering in Salt Lake City on Friday August 10, 2007 from 6 9 pm in Abravanel Hall during the Outdoor Retailer trade show. This event, generously supported by womenspecific.com, will provide an inspirational evening complete with great food, networking opportunities and entertainment.
Event attendees will enjoy hors doeuvers while mingling with industry friends both new and old. Additionally, the OIWC will host a silent auction complete with thousands of dollars worth of paddling and outdoor equipment for bidding. Participating companies such as Necky Kayaks and Ocean Kayaks have donated boats for the auction. Paddles from Aqua-Bounds and helmets from Shred Ready, plus footwear, apparel, and much more will be available for purchase. Proceeds from the silent auction help fund future OIWC educational programs and events.
The winner of the 2007 First Ascent Award will also be presented at the Gathering. This award, underwritten by Timberland, recognizes a woman new to the industry who demonstrates strong potential for leadership. The winner of the First Ascent Award receives a scholarship to a Strozzi Institute for Leadership workshop in Petaluma, CA.
The Gathering keynote speaker for the evening is Sean Patrick, the founder of Climb4Life. For those not familiar with Patrick, she owns an award winning strategic planning and design firm and is an avid climber, skier and mountain biker. Patrick, who has faced extreme adversity and conquered, will inspire all as she addresses the topic, Dare to Dream: Finding and Creating Opportunity.
In 1997 Patrick was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and in 2001 she was flown out of Colorado via flight-for-life and told she had four to six weeks to live. Surviving, Patrick started the HERA Women's Cancer Foundation, named after the ancient Greek goddess, a protector of women known for shaking up the status quo. The Foundation seeks to focus attention on this deadly disease, raise funds for much needed research and empower women and the men who love them to take control of their health through Climb4Life events.
