CARING CONFERENCE SET FRIDAY ON PARTNERSHIPS

The Community Caring Council will sponsor its annual conference Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Show Me Center, featuring speakers and exhibits based on the event's theme, "Pride in Partnerships."

The council, in operation for six years, is an organization of human service professionals and others who want to serve the needs of the entire community. More than 60 agencies and 230 individuals are members. The council promotes cooperation between service providers, churches, businesses and schools to help people and their families become self-reliant, responsible and resourceful.

The council was established by Rep. Mary Kasten and is divided into committees on aging, children, health and other topics.

Each year, the conference attracts more than 100 people from throughout the region. Sponsors expect about 125 this year.

"One lady, a Catholic nun, comes every year from Springfield," Shirley Ramsey, the group's executive coordinator, said. "She says she gets so much from this that she can take back and use."

Past conferences have had positive results. The first one in 1990 addressed client confidentiality. State statutes on confidentiality kept various organizations from sharing information to help the same client. From the conference, laws were changed to allow organizations to share their information.

This year, speakers will focus on partnerships between communities and schools, corporations and state agencies. The keynote speaker will be Mark Towers, who has written three books and is a contributing editor to numerous trade publications. His topic is "How To Stay Up, No Matter What Comes Down," and will deal with overcoming life's challenges.

"It's on how to keep your sanity no matter what seems to be falling apart," Ramsey said.

Cost of attending the seminar is $40 and includes lunch and break refreshments. For further information or to register, call the Community Caring Council at (314) 651-2099.