Mackinac Notebook: Gender Gap Turnabout Follows 2016 Outcry; Also, 3 Amusing Tweets

Consistency is a hallmark of the Mackinac Policy Conference -- a costly retreat ($2,500 to $3,400) held each year during the same week at the same hotel with many guests from the same companies, elected offices, lobbying firms and media outlets. But this time, a notable change is visible before presentations and panel discussions start Wednesday morning. The Detroit Regional Chamber list of 47 featured speakers shows 15 women, or 32 percent of those on stage. There also are seven women among 20 panel moderators and speaker introducers (35 percent). Those with microphones this week will include Melanca Clark, head of the Hudson-Webber Foundation; Washtenaw Community College President Rose Bellanca and U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell and Brenda Lawrence.