Submitted

The Better Women’s Conference was the topic of a program presented to the Trenton Rotary Club, which met Thursday, March 12, at the BTC Bank community room. Scott Sharp presided at the meeting, Dan Wilford gave the prayer, and Steve Taylor was the program chairman.

Taylor introduced his wife, Darcie, who serves as women’s ministry director for the First Assembly of God Church. She spoke about the upcoming conference, which will be held March 20-21 at the church. The event has been held in Trenton since 2010, when it was organized by Shirley Gondringer, who was in charge of the event until 2019.

“The goal of the event is to pour out God’s truth to women, support missions and connect women to God, a church and each other,” Mrs. Taylor said.

The theme of this year’s event is God’s Unfailing Love, with Ashley Prichett, an executive pastor at a church in Poplar Bluff, serving as the guest speaker. The mission being supported this year is the Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch in Excelsior Springs, which provides assistance to children ages 3 to 19 who have been rescued from sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Mrs. Taylor said the conference is non-denominational and draws between 275 and 300 women each year. In addition to evening and morning programs, the event includes vendors and both evening and morning meals. Cassie Cordray, teacher education program instructor at North Central Missouri College, also spoke about how her students provide child care during the conference.

During the business meeting, members were reminded about donations of shoes and money for the Rotary Shoes for Orphan Souls project. It was also announced that the Trenton Rotary Club annual fish fry will be held Sept. 12.

The program for the March 19 meeting will be presented by Deann Witt, who works for the University of Missouri Pre-Employment and Transition Services program. Martha Goedert will be the program chairman.