PORT TOWNSEND — An amusement park, a tea room, a gift shop, a farm.
The dreams are as varied as the women who dream them, but all are one step closer to reality.
On Saturday, women from the North Olympic Peninsula gathered at Fort Worden State Park for the third annual Do Your Dream Day.
Organized by author Barbara Stanny and the local Soroptimist Club, the workshop provided motivation and role models to help women take that first step toward making a dream come true.
“It’s really inspiring to be around successful women who have followed their dreams,” said Stormy Ganton, 27, of Port Townsend, a produce salesperson whose dream is to have her own farm.
Banker Karen McCormick delivered the keynote address, speaking on the work ethic and advice that propelled her to the presidency of First Federal Savings and Loan Association.
Named one of the 25 most powerful women in banking in 2003, McCormick said she arrived in Port Angeles in 1977 with a high school diploma and one goal — to get a job so she wouldn’t have to ask her father for money to come home.
Hired as a teller, she worked her way up to top of the $750 million thrift in 20 years.
“Doors have opened, and doors have closed, and people have helped along the way,” McCormick said. “I definitely believe you can start at the bottom.”
Believing in your dream
Stanny opened the workshop with a talk about believing in your dream and not listening to negative voices in your head.