Remarkable Women

Today I attended Florine Mark's Remarkable Women luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dearborn. Every year, Florine (pictured) invites great keynote speakers. This year, it was author Jackie Kallan and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

Kallan is from Detroit, and inspired the movie Against the Ropes, starring Meg Ryan, about her award-winning career managing boxers. Before that, she worked as an entertainment and sports reporter. My favorite story was how she broke into the business.

As a teenager, Kallan went to see the Rolling Stones in Detroit in the '60s, during their second U.S. tour. During an interview, she asked Mick Jagger over for dinner. He accepted, and the entire band ended up eating mom's cooking at her family's kitchen table. I love it! Her message was that if you have the courage to ask for what you want, chances are you'll get it!

Then it was Worthy's turn. As the one responsible for prosecuting Kwame Kilpatrick, who resigned from his office as Mayor of Detroit today, Worthy has been in the press all year. I have to admit I've made assumptions about her based on what's been written, but today she blew them all away.

As the first African-American, and first woman prosecutor in Wayne County, she has a tough job. Worthy said she felt, based on the evidence, she needed to bring the case against Kwame.

Worhty has an 11-year-old daughter, and she reminded the audience that our children are watching, imitating and learning from us all the time. She also talked about discipline, and how as mothers we have to reinforce the little things over and over and over again with our children, so someday they can grow up to face all the big things in life with values and integrity.

It was an inspiring lunch to say the least, and of course, since Florine Mark is president of Weight Watchers, healthy too!