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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- January 11, 1999
Contact: John Johnson or Andy Frushour-- 517.332.5046

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Jan 11 - Author Leslie Charles headlines the major speakers for the 12th annual Women In Sports Leadership Conference, sponsored by the Michigan High School Athletic Association, which will take place at the Sheraton Lansing Hotel, February 6-7.

Charles, the author of the book, "Why Is Everybody So Cranky?" will deliver the opening address to the anticipated crowd of over 500 on February 6.

The other keynote speakers for this year's conference are Dr. Rene¢ Rochester of Austin, Texas, the founder of the Urban Strengthening Educating and Training Ministry. The former two-sport performer at the University of Texas will be the banquet speaker on the first day of the conference. The other general session speaker will be LPGA professional Pam Wright, who will talk the morning of the second day of the conference.

"Rekindling the Spirit" is the theme for this year's conference, providing a focus for the administrators, student-athletes, coaches and officials in attendance. As in past years, registration for the nation's first and longest-running program of its type is limited to 500.

Other conference presentors, as of January 10, are:

-- Dr. Marty Ewing and Lori Gano-Overway, Youth Sports Institute, Michigan State University; will present a workshop session, "Sportsmanship - Helping One Another Maintain The Spirit Of The Game."

-- Sheila Tansey, Women's Golf Academy; will present a coaches workshop, "Nix The Extraneous;" and a student-athlete's workshop, "Focus On Excellence."

-- Donna Hensey, United Dairy Industry of Michigan, will present a workshop, "Athletes & Nutrition."

-- John Kirk and Cary McGehee, registered MHSAA officials, Flint; will present a workshop, "Women In Officiating."

-- Susie Merchant, Eastern Michigan University Women's Basketball Coach; will present a workshop, "Team Building."

-- Pat and Carol Milkovich, Rochester; will present a workshop, "Drugs & Alcohol: To Use Or Not To Use."

In addition, there will be a Student Leadership Workshop each day, conducted by David Dye of the Ruster Foundation of Sturgis. This has been one of the most popular student attractions of past Women In Sports Leadership Conferences.

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by over 1,300 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments conducted in 12 sports for girls and 12 sports for boys which attract approximately 1.3 million spectators each year.