Sunday, February 20, 2011

Franci Phelan

A local organization -- The Woman's Connection -- had their annual January "event" -- and the keynote speaker was Franci Phelan. She is an Iowa farm-girl who is now the head of HR for the Melinda & Bill Gates Foundation.

EXCELLENT...

Because I always work alone -- I need to get OUT OF THE HOUSE...and this event came along after a month of cabin fever...

There were 450 women at the biggest ballroom in the area -- at Jumer's Casino & Resort. I found a good seat in the front of the room -- and my tablemates were funny and interesting. Lunch was delicious! (I enjoy anything I don't have to cook myself!)
Franci Phelan's keynote was excellent. She made me think. And that's always a good thing...


You never know what's going to make an impression on a child. One day, on the farm, Franci was a 12 year old kid spending a long boring afternoon "watching the gate". Franci began to daydream -- and notice license plates from different states. Illinois, Minnesota, many midwestern states. When a car drove by with a New York license plate-- she decided, right then and there -- "I'm going to visit every State in the union". And that became a life goal. And she DID visit every state before she was 30 years old....



I didn't actually get to talk to Franci after the event -- but the table next to me was full of her Iowa relatives. This is her Aunt, and her in-laws...they LOVED THE Hey Rita tote..!!

Franci lives in the Seattle area -- maybe she'll Google her name, read this blog, and decide to take up sewing??

I'll keep you posted...

So -- hey -- what's on your "Bucket List"??

1 comment:

  1. Franci is my sister, and due to the aging of my parents, she has moved home to Iowa again. She is the V.P. at kum and go, and is excited to be back home. We live across the highway from each other and now we work about 6 buildings apart. I wish you could have met her....she's magical.

    ReplyDelete