Dr. Gabriel Bach brought in three Irving community speakers to his summer government classes. What was so special about these speakers?

It just so happened that all three speakers were women involved in community life. One was an elected official, another was involved in city organizations, the third was employed by the city of Irving.

Each speaker gave highlights of her life, focusing on specific influences that helped her make the decision to become involved in community affairs and, in the process, advised us how to succeed in today's challenging world. Summer classes may seem like duds, but Dr. Bach and these ladies proved that wrong! It was fascinating.

First to visit our class was Diana Pfaff, director of communications for the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau. Pfaff explained what the ICVB was all about, the purpose being to bring more visitors to the city of Irving. "It is a much segmented business and we have to address those needs that are really profitable to Irving," said Pfaff. And, what do more visitors mean, one might ask? More visitors to the city mean more money going to the businesses right here surrounding the North Lake campus and communities. The Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau's primary role is promoting the city in an attempt to make Irving a city-destination to state, regional, and national travelers, and it is a dedicated professional like Pfaff that make this all possible!

The second week of our summer classes, Christina Gears visited with us, sharing not only her astonishing professional experiences as a successful business lady and owner, but also her rich experiences as the wife of Irving mayor Herbert A. Gears.

Gears gave wonderful insight into her personal adventures in the business world "when men used to rule the world." She told students to only listen to people they want to emulate and profoundly stated that, "Your mind creates your whole life." She clarified a few of the challenging stereotypes facing women throughout the workplace but also left us women students with a sense of empowerment after reminding us that success, in fact, lies within oneself. It's not a matter of men ruling or women ruling, it's a matter of compromise and cooperating together.

Lastly, students had the opportunity to visit with Rose Cannaday, who was elected to the Irving City Council in May 2007 for Place 5, the one vacated by her husband who is running for Dallas County Sheriff. Like Gears and Pfaff, Cannaday was enthusiastic about Life. "Everything is possible in life," she said. "You have to put your mind to it and follow your moral compass. Do not let others define you. [Define] yourself and you'll become successful."

Cannady currently is the owner of a mediation company. "Mediation, compromise, more than confrontation, is key to success in life," she said. She has been involved in politics since she was about age 15 or 16, and has not left it. She has been a community-oriented lady all her life. Will she run for office again next year? Of course.

Not only did all three guestspeakers in Dr. Bach's Summer Seminar Speakers Series share with us key aspects of their professional life, but all three told the class "where there's will there's power . And just because we are women does not mean we cannot succeed where men do. In fact, we can do better..."

Dr. Bach's lectures and his guest speakers provide a better way in our summer classes to learn about local politics and the need to get involved in our community.

- Elizabeth F. Markowitz is a former student of Dr. Bach's.