January - March, 2003

Women's Health

Retreat offers time for relaxation and fun

Nearly 600 area women gathered at Chateau on the Lake in Branson Nov. 15-17 for St. John's second annual “Let Your Light Shine” Totally Healthy Woman Retreat.
St. John's staff led break-out sessions on yoga, Pilates, intimacy, alternative medicine, financial planning, arthritis and home décor in between seminars by speakers on health issues such as menopause, heart disease, self-esteem, osteoporosis, and relationship building.
Nixa resident Janet Arnold attended the retreat for the first time this year with a friend and said it exceeded her expectations.
“I loved it … it was the best weekend. I loved how we had access to all of this information. My favorite break-out session was the one on exercise. I learned a lot and we’ll definitely come back.”
KYTV anchor Lisa Rose and Branson entertainer Dee Dee Lennon co-hosted the event and Dr. Cal LeMon and Sinara O’Donnell were featured speakers.
New to the event this year were a fashion show with St. John’s employees as models, and a pajama party, which nearly 300 women attended to watch “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”
“What a fantastic weekend," says Charles Wollard, vice president of cardiovascular services for St. John's. "We accomplished what we set out to do this weekend, which was for these women to spend time relaxing and learning something, having fun and for St. John’s in some small way to be a blessing to them this weekend. More than 100 St. John’s co-workers worked together to make this event what it was. Several even volunteered as models for the fashion show!”
Wollard again teamed with Susan Blackard, vice president of St. John’s Corporate Health Services and Susanne Miller, vice president of women's services, to organize the retreat.
“I am thrilled with the outcome of the retreat. It was a wonderful experience and a great team effort. We worked to plan this event for the last nine months, and it was evident that a lot of planning from all over the health system went into this event,” Miller says.
Blackard said she was equally pleased with the retreat and said planning for next year would begin almost immediately, “as soon as I get some rest,” she said.
An exhibit hall provided information about St. John's services, freebies and the opportunity to win prizes such as Silver Dollar City Christmas passes, floral table centerpieces, St. John's Fitness Center memberships, dinner and a movie, massages and many other prizes.