The power of women

The third annual Power of the Purse event at Thunderbird Lodge raised $18,200, according to event organizer Lori Lyman. The money will go toward causes that support children in Koochiching County.

Lyman, a United Way of Northern Minnesota board member, said that the Power of the Purse was “a chance to get together and make a difference for the community as women.”

She said that “it’s gal’s weekend,” and was planned to coordinate with the deer hunting season opener and “Diva Days,” a local shopping promotion, to give women an event while many local men were out hunting.

The sold-out event was already a success on the Iron Range, and Lyman said the local United Way group decided to implement the program in International Falls. In 2007, the event raised $12,000 and in 2008, the event raised $16,000.

Proceeds from this year’s event, as well as live and silent auctions and raffle ticket sales, went toward children’s initiatives including the Learning Tree, Fruit Bucks for Kids through the Falls Hunger Coalition, Falls Recreation Commission fees, a dental program called Smiles Across America, and United Way programs such as Imagination Library.

Lyman said that more than 18 percent of children in Koochiching County live in poverty, a statistic that inspired the charity to sponsor these particular programs.

“It’s hitting our kids the hardest,” Lyman said. “We were looking for more ways to assist the kids. They’re the future ... and it’s heartbreaking to know they are struggling.”

To help the children, about 140 local women gathered Friday and laughed, ate dinner, listened to a guest speaker, and made a difference in the community.

A powerful woman

Michelle Lee, news anchor for Northland’s News Center in Duluth, was the guest speaker for the third annual Power of the Purse event.

Lee said that she went through a, “personal transformation — mentally, physically and spiritually — through exercise, balanced nutrition, setting goals and just taking charge of my health.”

“I went from a very unhappy woman with a lot of physical issues, health issues, to someone who now is extremely healthy and very active,” she told The Daily Journal, “This is much better. It is a lot easier to live like this.”

Lee is in her mid-fifties and is best known as an anchor on the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. NBC6 newscasts on the Northland’s Newscenter in Duluth. Her weight loss program has played out on the air. During the Power of the Purse event, Lee showed “before” and “after” pictures of her as a news anchor — and in a bikini.

She lost 22 pounds in 12 weeks, and after six months had lost 55 pounds through the Body for Life program. She has kept that weight off for the past six years.

“What’s six months when it gave me back my health?”

Lee said that she learned of the program through a friend who she said had lost so much weight she almost did not recognize her at first glance in passing. The friend introduced her to the Body for Life book, which she purchased that same day, and Lee started on her journey.

After three months following the program, Lee was the winner of the 2004 Body for Life International Transformation Championship. Since then, she has participated in several other events promoting physical fitness.

Lee told the audience at the Power of the Purse event that she continues to modify, carry over, and add to her goals each year. Goal setting, but also taking the time to take care of oneself, were among the messages that Lee passed along to the women.

“Women, we are a powerful lot. We are a powerful group. Women are so wonderful. But we tend to try to give of ourselves so much, to so many different causes, to our families, that sometimes we get lost, our personal selves get lost in the shuffle because we’re so giving to everybody.

“As part of that power we have, we have to power ourselves, take back a little control for ourselves and learn to say no. We can’t say yes to every cause, yes to every question that is asked of us and every demand. We’re going to have to start saying no to some of the things so that we have time for ourselves, so we can reenergize, so we have more to give to the people and the causes that we care about.

“I think saying yes to yourself, to good nutrition, taking the time to exercise, taking the time to pack your healthier lunches, you’re going to extend your own life and you’re going to have more time to give to your families ultimately. You can be a better mom, a better employee, a better employer if you take care of your needs and try to reduce the stresses in your life.

“I’m not saying people shouldn’t volunteer and do wonderful things. Yes, you have to do that, but learn to say no to some things, too.”

Lee has been sharing her message across the state and across the country.

“The more I share this program, the easier it is for me to stay on this program... It worked for me and I just want to share what worked for me. Hopefully it will work for other people as well.”

Lee’s plan is twofold and includes changing the way she eats and an exercise plan. She said that she breaks up her food intake to five or six smaller meals per day. She also works with weights at a gym three days each week, and she spend three days each week working on cardiovascular machines.

The key to success is simple, she said. “It’s consistency, it’s goal setting, it’s coming up with a program and staying on the program.”

The Body for Life program worked for her, but Lee encouraged everyone to find a program that includes balanced nutrition and exercise that works for them and to stick with it.

The support of her husband, family and friends helped her to be successful on the program, she said.