Local & State Headlines

Author urges women to persevere

• A local author advised women to get the most out of their lives at a networking luncheon.

Holly McCarthy

ALBANY — Author and inspirational speaker Muriel Moton urged women to “create a vision for their lives” at Darton College’s Professional Women’s Forum Wednesday.

The Albany native shared her life experience at the networking luncheon as a way to continue to break the silence, she said.

“Sometimes it’s the silence that keeps you in prison,” Moton said. “It’s what keeps you from living a life that matters.”

Moton told the group of 87 working women about the struggle she faced after she discovered her husband had racked up numerous bills in her name. At one point, her driver’s license was suspended because insurance had lapsed on a vehicle she didn’t know her husband had purchased and insured in her name.

Then, it got worse. Moton said when she confronted her husband, he threatened to kill her.

“I began to operate in fear,” Moton said. “Then one unsuspecting day I had a vision of what my life could be if I was not living this experience.”

Moton stressed her message of perserverance, saying that whatever obstacle women face in their personal or professional lives, the vision they create of their lives will move them forward.

Other speakers included Gwen Collins with event sponsor Palmyra Medical Center, and Dwayne Myles with United Way of Southwest Georgia.

Beth Nielsen-Smith, Darton’s continuing education program manager, said the forum is a way for women to meet other professional women and network the way businessmen might on the golf course.

“We try to enlist someone with an inspirational story to speak on a personal or professional development topic,” Smith said.

Organizers said turnout was good despite the rainy, windy conditions, with 87 out of 90 women registered attending.

Attendee Wanda Proctor said she makes it a point to come to each forum.

“I enjoy the speakers and vendors and seeing everyone,” Proctor said. “There are always people here I know.”

Proctor, an administrative assistant at Darton’s library, said she likes to support Darton’s programs but attends because she enjoys the opportunity to network.

“It’s not mandatory — I pay my own way,” she said. “We stay in the library most of the time, so this is just about the only time we have to get out and see people.”