Many Helped Hold Girls Event

The organizers of the “Preparing Girls for the 21st Century” conference are deeply appreciative of the news coverage given by The Times (“For Girls, a Forum of Their Own,” Oct. 4) and the subsequent editorial (“Giving Girls Needed Direction,” Oct. 11).

However, as conference co-chair, I must correct an unfortunate oversight. Although the American Assn. of University Women, Laguna Beach branch, proudly acted as the catalyst for this event, the conference could not have come about without the tireless efforts of the other 11 co-sponsoring nonprofit organizations, each of which deserves special commendation for service it provides to the young women and their families of this community.

Representatives of each of the following organizations served on our planning committee: Brandy’s Friends; Girls Inc.; Human Options; Laguna Beach PTA; League of Women Voters, Orange Coast; National Conference, Orange County; South Orange County NOW; UCI Women’s Opportunity Center; Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach; Women For Orange County chapter; and Write Women Back Into History.

The conference was unique, not only because it was designed for families and teachers as well as girls, but also because of the coalition formed to coordinate it. The expressed desire of each member was that we model for our youth the unity of purpose and cooperation essential to overcome the demands of living with increased diversity, fragmentation of interests and polarization facing our society in the 21st century.

The success of the event gave us reason to celebrate both our process and our mission, and has provided the impetus for an even larger “Preparing Girls” conference in 1999.

LEE WINOCUR FIELD

Laguna Beach