Conference on Women Slated Monday, Tuesday

State Sen. William Campbell’s fourth annual Conference on Women will take place Monday and Tuesday at the Anaheim Hilton & Towers, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim.

The conference, one of the largest women’s conferences in the nation, is expected to draw 4,000 participants each day. Speakers on Monday include U.S. Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Dole and comedienne Phyllis Diller.

Dole’s luncheon speech is already sold out, but those who wish to attend the conference without the lunch may do so by paying $20 at the door.

On Tuesday, Olympic gold medalist Wilma Rudolph is the luncheon speaker in a day-long schedule that includes workshops and speeches on such subjects as investing, balancing child care with a career, fitness and sexual harassment. Cost for Tuesday is $30, or $20 without lunch.

The conference evolved from a small business seminar that Campbell, a Hacienda Heights Republican, sponsored for about 50 women. In its first year in 1983 the conference was picketed by representatives of the National Organization for Women who didn’t believe that a male legislator could put on a women’s conference, Campbell aide Jerry Haleva said. But by the second year NOW took a booth at the conference, Haleva said. The conference has been growing each year, and last year about 3,000 women were turned away.

Asked why he would sponsor a women’s conference, especially one on this scale, Campbell laughed. “You gotta understand. I’ve got a wife and two daughters,” he said.

This year’s conference is also sponsored by the Small Business Administration and the Chrysler Corp.