Stacy Lyn Harris Speaker SEOPA Conference

What a week! It was a pretty exciting week as I prepared to speak at the SEOPA Conference.

Preparing for cooking demos and speaking events is always a welcomed challenge, but a challenge nonetheless. Mainly my challenge comes in with the unforeseen circumstances that come my way as I pack the car and try to get into it to make a timely arrival. Once I’m in the car, things seem to click right along. Can anyone relate?

I was to leave the house at 1:00 to make it to the event in time to set-up, make sure all my equipment worked properly, store the food properly for the cooking demo, and get settled in before the big dinner at the Shorter Mansion.

The 2015 SEOPA Conference at Shorter Mansion. Great food, Great music, and great company!
The 2015 SEOPA Conference at Shorter Mansion. Great food, Great music, and great company!

As I was packing the last few items at around 10:00 a.m., one of the kids came into my room and said, “Do you smell smoke?” Well, there you go…smoke filled one of the bedrooms and a minute later 911 was being dialed. I shuffled all the kids out of the house and waited as 2 motorcycle cops drove up, then the sheriff, then the huge firetruck, and many to follow.

Firetrucks and firemen filled my yard just hours before the event. God really does have a great sense of humor...
Firetrucks and firemen filled my yard just hours before the event. God really does have a great sense of humor…

For the next few hours, the fantastic firemen looked for the cause of smoke. After much confusion and a grateful heart that we didn’t have a burned up house, the firemen found that the A/C unit shorted out, started a spark which created smoke from the burning insulation.

I pressed on and made it in time with no problem thanks to my oldest daughter’s help! We had a great time at the event together.

I love that my daughter can read my mind, understand my way of thinking and do some of the thinking for me during speaking events!
I love that my daughter can read my mind, understand my way of thinking and do some of the thinking for me during speaking events!

I was asked last October to speak at the SEOPA (Southeastern Outdoor Press Association) Conference for writers about Sustainable Living in this century as well to teach a few workshops.

Stacy Lyn Harris speaks at SEOPA event on Sustainable Living.
Stacy Lyn Harris speaks at SEOPA event on Sustainable Living.

It is an honor, privilege and a little intimidating to be asked to speak for such an impressive group of folks. I have to say that after speaking at the event, I am even more impressed than I could ever have imagined at the integrity, intellect, and generosity of this group. SEOPA began in 1964 and has continued to grow and prosper and I am proud to now be a member!

I had the privilege of cooking for these folks as well as speaking! Meatballs, cutlets, stuffed loin, and skewers were on the menu. As an added bonus, the Conference Center chefs cooked my recipes for the luncheon!!!! How fun is that. they did a fantastic job.

My last session was one of the most fun.

Stacy Lyn Harris enjoys teaching "Everything Herbs."
Stacy Lyn Harris enjoys teaching “Everything Herbs.”

I shared with the group all things herbs…how to grow them, how to preserve them, how to use them, and what herbs are best with what foods. I enjoyed making lifetime friends with this group! Everyone made an herb pot to keep on their porches.

Stacy Lyn Harris teaches an herb class.
Stacy Lyn Harris teaches an herb class.

What fun! What an experience. I am a blessed woman!

 

 

 

 

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6 Comments

  1. Janet Garman says:

    very good opportunity! would love to have been a fly on the wall. Not so good about the potential fire. You are the second friend this week to have the fire department visit! That should not be trending!

    1. No, it shouldn’t be trending. I recently had a friend that lost their entire home to fire. I really didn’t think they were that common. The fireman said that there’s a house fire every 3 seconds…

  2. Glad it worked out with the fire department. Wish I’d been there for the presentation too!

  3. Stacy–It was a pleasure to meet you at the SEOPA conference and to be able to attend your cooking seminar. As a longtime member and current board chair of the organization, I’m delighted you not only shared your talents but joined our ranks. I can assure you that the day I joined, more than a quarter of a century ago, marks one of the best personal and professional decisions I’ve ever made.
    Jim Casada

    1. I had such a wonderful time and am thankful to have met you among other excellent writers. It was an honor to be able to be a speaker at this event. I hope to see you next year…or before!

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