ESTROGEN POWER VALLEY'S FIRST WOMEN'S CONFERENCE A BIG DRAW.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Subjects like "Thriving in the Workplace" and "Understanding Men 101" and speakers including journalist Linda Ellerbee drew 1,000 women Friday to the inaugural Antelope Valley Women's Conference.

The aim was to empower, celebrate and inspire women, organizers said.

"It's a little bit of everything, but it's fun," said Ingrid Chapman, a public-relations firm owner and Antelope Valley Chambers of Commerce chairman who was one of the organizers. "It's everything a woman is interested in."

Opening with jazz dancing by the Los Angeles-based Marshall Dance Company to Nina Simone's bluesy "Feeling Good," the eight-hour-long conference filled four buildings and two large tents at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.

"It's awesome. It's absolutely awesome," said Donna Giddens, an agent with Troth Realtors in Lancaster, who attended with a group from the Antelope Valley Notary Network. "There is so much to see and do."

Leadoff speaker Holly Morris, host of the television series "Adventure Divas," talked to the women about overcoming fear with anecdotes about climbing the Matterhorn, boar-hunting in a Borneo jungle, interviewing a woman editor in Iran and meeting women who had been imprisoned by their government.

"Action in the face of fear rather than stasis is the way to reach a goal," Morris said.

She quoted the Iranian editor as telling her: "I don't fear anything. Humans create their own fear ... It comes from inside."

Women could attend eight seminars on subjects including feng shui, managing your image in business and sex after 60. They could visit a book fair with authors signing their books and examine exhibits from businesses and public agencies.

Comedienne Phyllis Diller and astronaut Janice Voss were recipients of the conference's "Explore the Possibilities" awards. The 88-year-old Diller, who was represented by her son, was recognized as a pioneer woman in the arts. Voss, who has been in space five times, was honored as a pioneer woman in the sciences.

The audience that filled the fairgrounds' Poppy Pavilion contained just a handful of men, mostly Chambers of Commerce and city leaders.

"As I gaze across this room, I've never seen so much estrogen in one place and at one time," said Robert Vanderstok, one of the conference organizers.

The gathering was inspired by an annual state conference for women, sponsored each year by California's governor.

Chapman said the organizers were happy with how their plans, over a year in the works in an all-volunteer effort, turned out.

"It probably surpasses our wildest dreams," Chapman said.

Charles F. Bostwick, [phone]

chuck.bostwick(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) ``As I gaze across this room, I've never seen so much estrogen in one place and at one time,'' said Robert Vanderstok, one of the organizers of Friday's inaugural Antelope Valley Women's Conference at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.

(2 -- color) Zuniga Carr sings ``Celebrate All That You Are'' at the first Antelope Valley Women's Conference. Entertainment was only a piece of the gathering, which was designed to empower, celebrate and inspire women.

(3 -- color) Holly Morris, host of the television series ``Adventure Divas,'' talked about overcoming fear with anecdotes from climbing the Matterhorn to boar-hunting in a Borneo jungle.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer