Deadline to register is Monday

The Daily Inter Lake

Girls in grades six through eight are invited to attend the Expanding Your Horizons Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 17 at Columbia Falls Junior High School.

The conference is designed to increase girls' interest in taking math and science courses to expand their career options. It is being sponsored by the Soroptimist clubs of Kalispell, Bigfork, Whitefish and Polson in conjunction with Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

The cost is $10, which includes lunch and three workshops, in addition to the keynote address. Scholarships are available.

The registration deadline is March 12. Registration forms are available at area schools and at Christian Book Supply, 215 W. Idaho St., in Kalispell.

The conference will begin with a keynote address by Marian York, a communications specialist and nationally recognized speaker. Her presentation, "You Win or Lose with the Words You Choose," begins at 9 a.m. and is open to the public. Parents and community members are encouraged to attend.

York will discuss how to apply the "science of words" for improved efficiency and performance, while learning effective communication skills. Her book, "The Loving Dictionary: 1,001 Words of Empowerment," will be available at the conference.

Fourteen area women who use math and science in their careers will present hands-on workshops for conference participants. Each participant will attend three workshops. This year's selections include "Romancing the Stone: The Use of Technology to Enhance the Gem," "CIS: Chemical Clues" and "The House that Jill Built."

Special workshops will be available for parents and other adults. The first will feature a roundtable discussion about the keynote address; the second, "Helping Your Daughter Research Careers," will be led by Kelly Morrow, Flathead High School science teacher; and the third, "Communications and Self-Esteem," will be presented by Susan Christofferson of the Nurturing Center.

The day will end with drawings for door prizes donated by area businesses.

Call Diane Yarus at 751-2175. For scholarship information, call 837-6011.