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They’re still shaking their heads over the 8,500 attendees expected to turn out at Long Beach Convention Center on Oct. 5 for the annual California Governor’s Conference for Women.

“We’re somewhat astounded,” said Ruth Stergiou, executive director of the conference. “We’re hoping to give women a day for themselves. So many women are so stressed out, with very little time to look at the direction of their lives. It’s a day to look at options for careers, for family and for discussing the impact of all that on themselves and women throughout the state.”

This year’s huge turnout would be a 30 percent increase over previous years. Tickets sold out 10 days before the event.

Stergiou believes attendance may have jumped because of the big names scheduled to address the conference, including Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Laura D’Andrea Tyson, dean of the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, and Tipper Gore, wife of the vice president.

Gail Berendzen, president and chief executive of Women of L.A., a group that sponsors monthly forums for women, said the conference has had a significant impact since it was started 13 years ago.

“It gives women a sense of being part of a moving, powerful entity, and that’s important,” Berendzen said. “The number of women attending is truly a tribute to that.”

With thousands of people descending on downtown Long Beach for the one-day conference, visitors should expect traffic snarls, said Dianne Johnson, sales manager for the convention center.

“This will impact us in a big way locally,” she said. “Local restaurants and shops should be crowded.”

Ann Donahue

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