One thing I know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve. ~ Albert Schweitzer

Just a few of the things that have been happening recently….

The Miss Auburn Pageant was held on January 31st at the Auburn Performing Arts Center. Congratulations to Alicia Wallace, our new Miss Auburn 2009! Miss Auburn was quite a unique experience for me. I've said before that my year as Miss Washington has been a year of many 'firsts' and that I've been able to experience things I've never done before. Well, until the weekend of Miss Auburn I had never experienced the horror of stage curtains. Here I was… minding my own business (Those who know me know that I like to start my stories off with this preface) I had just finished performing piano on stage during the pageant. Something you may not know about me is that I never bow after a performance. What it was that possessed me to think I should take a bow on this stage at this moment I cannot tell you, but something said to me, "since you're doing this whole graceful thing you should probably take a bow and put the cherry on top." So as I take my once in a lifetime bow… the stage curtain comes hurling down out of NOWHERE, onto my head, knocking my crown sideways and practically bowling me over! Ugh! I recall a few screams and hysteric laughs escaping my mouth and turned, still standing in the middle of the stage (now behind the curtain) to find my best friend watching me from stage-side with her hands on her head and the most mortified look ever on her face. What did she say to me in this moment of extreme embarrassment and humiliation? "Janet! You could have at least tried to pull it off gracefully!" She said it with love, of course. Seeing flashbacks of my flailing arms and sideways crown, I guess she was right!

On February 7th we welcomed two more members to the Miss Washington Class of 2009. Our new Miss Moses Lake is Samantha Przybylek and Miss Columbia Basin is Danielle Henry. Also crowned this weekend was Miss Moses Lake's Outstanding Teen, Breanna Haddican. I had the pleasure of emceeing this pageant and have to extend a huge thank-you to Kris Duncan-Crum for a fun-filled weekend of laughs (and by that I mean ab-building) and discovery (and by that I mean Mr. Moses and the new pancake-puppies at Denny's which I continue to crave on a daily basis.)

The Miss Spokane Pageant was held February 15th and our new Miss Spokane is McKenzi Novell. With a 'paradise' themed show, we all enjoyed the tropical setting of the Northern Quest Casino in Spokane, and after being surrounded by hula dancers and Hawaiian lei's it felt a little strange to exit the theater into a full-fledged Spokane snowfall!

I had the pleasure of visiting AMS (Automated Mailing Services) of Blaine, Washington to meet staff and get a tour of their incredible facilities. Funny as it seems, my interest in this mass mailing process is substantial having been responsible for doing a number of mail-outs (by hand) as a non-profit volunteer. I was AMAZED to see how quickly and efficiently they could accomplish so much.. much more practical than my method of licking and stuffing one envelope at a time! I would like to extend a huge thank you to Dave Freeman for taking the time to show me around, and for his enthusiasm towards the work I am doing with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Children's Miracle Network. I am thankful to you Dave and to AMS for your willingness to help further the success of my platform partners! Please visit the AMS website to learn more! http://www.amsdirectnw.com/

I was honored to be invited to the Washington State Senate on February 11th to be present for the declaration of Senate Resolution 8612 sponsored by Senator Randi Becker. I was overwhelmed as members of the Senate stood to speak in honor of my volunteerism as a representative for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Children's Miracle network, and the National Meningitis Association. Thank you so much to the Washington State Senate and especially to Senator Randi Becker and her staff for an incredible day. It was a special treat to be a guest in your office, a guest of the Senate, and to be invited to the republican caucus afterwards! Here is a link to Resolution 8612. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Resolutions/8612-Miss%20Washington%202008.pdf also the Miss Washington Organization mentioned in Senator Becker's Legislative Update newsletter http://src.leg.wa.gov/becker/update.pdf

Big Brothers Big Sisters Advocacy Day was February 16th, 2009. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, Columbia NW, of the Inland Northwest, of Northwest Washington, and of Thurston County met with your government representatives to tell them how important mentoring is. Individuals from around the Northwest joined these agencies at the state capitol to emphasize to our state's elected officials that we support funding for mentoring programs. Wondering why we should prioritize funding for mentoring programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters? As an advocate for mentoring for the past eight years in multiple capacities, I have seen with my own eyes that positive mentoring relationships can not only shape and change lives, but save them. My experiences with children who lack an adult figure in their lives has determined the course that I have chosen to take my own – because I know that as an elementary school teacher I will have the opportunity to be that mentor to children every day and in a substantial role. Aside from my personal experience, I can share with you these staggering statistics about how positive mentoring relationships impact not only the children served through Big Brothers Big Sisters, but our communities as a whole.

Big Brothers Big Sisters programs truly are transformational: Our focus is to connect Bigs (adults) with Littles (children) in one-to-one relationships that not only transform the lives of the Bigs and Littles and their families, but that also transform communities.

Simple acts of mentoring yield powerful results. Our data shows that more than 97% of our Little's avoid contact with juvenile authorities. In fact, independent studies have confirmed that, in contrast to their non-mentored peers, Little Brothers and Little Sisters:

· Decreased their use of violence - 30% were less likely to hit someone.

· Improved relationships with peers, adults and parent(s) - 37% became more trusting of their parent or guardian, and 35% got along better with their peers.

· Resisted substance abuse - 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs.

· Improved school attendance - 52% were less likely to skip school.

As a volunteer, my life has been transformed by my involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters – Imagine the impact that this organization has on the children we serve. I am blessed to have found my place within this organization and I sincerely hope that you will take this opportunity to give of yourself in some way to the cause of mentoring – whether it is by writing a letter to your state representatives about funding needs, volunteering as a Big, becoming a sponsor or donor to your local organization, or volunteering your time in some other capacity. Your investment in this organization is an investment in the future of your community! http://www.bbbs.org/

I'm anticipating a busy next week or so of appearances - one being National Pancake Day at IHOP on February 24th! Join IHOP at your nearest location on Tuesday the 24th from 7a.m. to 10p.m. and they wil give you one free short stack of their famous buttermilk pancakes. We ask that you consider making a donatino to support local children's hospitals through Children's Miracle Network! Our goal is to give away enough free pancakes to earn $1,000,000 for Children's Miracle Network! Help support the national platform of the Miss America Organization by enjoying the most delicious pancakes out there! visit http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/ to find the IHOP nearest to you or to donate to the cause online!

I am so excited to announce the Grand Opening of Wedding's With Joy's new Prom Store in Olympia, Washington. The event will be Saturday, February 28th from 10a.m. to 6p.m. and I am so excited to be attending for a fun-filled day with one of my favorite sponsors! Weddings With Joy has been an incredible sponsor to me since my very first pageant, and is now an official sponsor of the Miss Washington Organization. Just about every one of the dresses I wear is from Weddings With Joy and I am so grateful for their support. Now they have opened a separate location specializing in Prom and Pageant gowns, and let me tell ya, they have got a dream dress for everyone! If you are looking for a beautiful, high quality gown, excellent personal service, and a great deal from a supporter of the Miss Washington Organization, I would highly recommend that you attend the Grand Opening. Why not stop in on your way to the Miss Gray's Harbor Pageant that evening? Visit their website at http://www.weddingswithjoy.com/ for more information - and I hope to see you there!

Proms - By Weddings With Joy
3330 Pacific Avenue SE Suite 104
Olympia, WA 98501

(360) 977-5344

(360) 845-0706

Until soon...!

"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland

Anytime Fitness of Yelm has been generous enough to sponsor a full gym membership this year, and Devani of Anytime Fitness has been kind enough to offer her personal training services to me free of cost in my preparation for Miss America and as I strive to stay healthy and fit. Anticipating the New Year, Anytime Fitness facilitated an open house inviting the community to kick-off 2009 with healthy resolutions and educate members about positive diet and active lifestyle choices. I had the opportunity to attend the event, discuss with potential members the benefits of a healthy lifestyle on your physical and mental well-being and participate in an autograph signing. Thank you once again and many more times to Anytime Fitness and to my wonderful personal trainer Devani for your support and guidance!

Pictured with Sydney Unbewust at Anytime Fitness - one of the sweetest girls I've met!

My hometown facilitated its own ‘Top Chef’ competition this year and I was asked to judge all of the wonderfully prepared dishes that were entered into the competition. Those who know me know I didn’t hesitate to accept that invitation! The food was incredible and the hospitality of city staff was even more delightful. Thank you to the City of Yelm for extending this invitation to me and allowing me to be a part of such a fun and creative event!

I have had the privilege of interviewing recently on the Dave Ross Show, with the Seattle PI, on KJRFM, with EXTRA, my favorite hometown newspaper the Nisqually Valley News and many others. It’s always a special honor to promote our program and my platform partners, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Children’s Miracle Network in the media!

I spent two fun-filled days in Renton filming a special commercial for Brotherton Cadillac with an incredible group of people. Thank you so much to Brian, Rachel, and Brad for a wonderful experience and for creating a commercial that truly represents the values of the Miss Washington Organization and our relationship with Brotherton Cadillac as partners in scholarship and service. The commercial has been airing on KOMO 4 and if you haven’t had a chance to see it, feel free to visit this link and check it out! http://www.hitmanproductions.com/brotherton/brocaddy.mov

On January 4th I was surrounded by friends and family showing their endless support as I set off for Miss America, and it was such a heart-warming and indescribable afternoon. I am so unbelievably fortunate to have a countless number of encouraging friends, family members, sponsors and supporters in my life and I owe so much of myself and my accomplishments thus far to all of YOU who have continuously given me the tools and support I need to achieve my dreams. I am blessed in so many ways and the fashion show send-off celebration was just one of many moments from this year that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of those who attended, sent their love and support, and who worked tirelessly to put this event together – I so appreciated every bit of it!

Modeling at the fashion show
Even four day old Hunter came for the send-off!

Oh, the packing seemed to be endless. With the help of my mom and Peggy, it still took a ridiculous amount of time to plan and pack for the trip to Miss America. It seems like such a frivolous idea, but I am actually very grateful for the amount of time we invested in preplanning what I might need in Las Vegas and ensuring that I was as prepared as possible. There is so much going on in those weeks of preparation and competition that you literally do not have time to think about what to wear each day and locate all of the coordinating accessories, so having it all done in advance was a blessing. It may sound boring, but tell that to the three of us as we enjoyed ice cream cake and monster taco’s from Jack in the Box at the wee hours of the morning!

Peggy and I were thrilled to be driven to and from the airport by Limo, courtesy of Elite Limousine. Even as light packers, some of our luggage overflowed onto the seats next to us inside. What a ride! So many thoughts were going through my mind as we made this drive to the Seattle airport. I had to ask myself some serious questions. One more time, Am I ready for the job of Miss America? Absolutely, and would be honored to have it... but wow! Do I love my job as Miss Washington or WHAT!? Am I prepared? I don’t think I had ever been more prepared for anything in my life – physically, mentally, in every way. I was so ready for this experience and more than anything I was ready to be reunited with the 51 incredible young women I had grown so close to throughout our journey in Orlando and on the Queen Mary filming the reality show.

We arrived at the airport and to my surprise were greeted by a group of friends and family, there to send us off to Las Vegas in the best of spirits. We made our way up to a conference room where we could spend some time together before the flight, and I was completely surprised to find my dear friend and sponsor Brad Brotherton of Brotherton Cadillac waiting there for us! It meant so much to me to have Brad there as he and all of my friends at Brotherton have been such an incredible support system for me and for our organization these past few months. One of the traits Brad and I share is that we are big sports fans, and he surprised me with my new favorite wardrobe item, a Seahawks jersey with ‘Miss Washington’ on the back! You can bet I sported that baby at Miss America!

The flight to Miss America was a riot, of course. Peggy, Patti and I amused ourselves like we do best.. by laughing until our bellies ached. When the passenger in front of us turned around and said “A little tipsy are we?” we figured we’d better cool it – what can we say? We can’t help but laugh when we are together! Arriving a night early in Las Vegas gave us the evening to unpack and get settled in, which was a relief and the extra organization made the entire experience much more enjoyable. I shared a fabulous dinner with Peggy, Patti and my parents at PF Changs in the Planet Hollywood and after ordering half the items on the menu I can assure you that everything at PF Changs is to DIE for!

The next morning I was whisked away to wardrobe fittings and meetings, and had the opportunity to enjoy one last meal with my directors and parents before being officially given away to the Miss America Organization for the next ten days… and what a meal it was! I ordered a nice big stack of chocolate chip-chocolate syrup and banana pancakes and enjoyed every bite.

That first day was our arrival ceremony. It was one of very few opportunities we had to enjoy the beautiful Las Vegas weather while introducing ourselves on the steps outside the Planet Hollywood. The next few days (and nights) were filled with media interviews, rehearsals, press events, and much, much more. One thing that’s for sure is that everything was very fast paced and our schedule was jam-packed. Fortunately, everything we did was as a group of 52 and we so enjoyed our time together. Some of the highlights of our trip were; a press event with our fellow Children’s Miracle Network sponsor – IHOP, gondola rides at the Venetian, a mall centered Fashion Show, an evening of excitement at Pole Position Raceway, going to Phantom of the Opera, and a very special fundraiser dinner to benefit Children’s Miracle Network.

To summarize the experience is impossible, but what I must tell you is that I am so grateful to have shared this incredible adventure with friends, family and the other 51 young women participating. There are so many pieces of the puzzle that make the journey to Miss America complete and so often that seems to consist of the preparation, appearances, events in Las Vegas, people we met, etc. But the truth is that none of the journey would have been possible for any of the Miss America contestants if it weren’t for the people who walked every step of it with them. The people who share our passions and support us in our dreams are the ones who make the experience complete and I am overwhelmed at the love and encouragement that has followed and surrounded me throughout my personal journey. I had the most fun I’ve ever had performing in every phase of competition, and would not change a single thing that I did or a single emotion I felt. It was better than I had imagined it and I am so honored to have had the opportunity to represent Washington State on the Miss America stage. I did the very best I could – and what better place to do that than the Miss America pageant!

Just after playing piano on preliminary night




Gondola rides at the Venetian

The arrival ceremony on the Las Vegas strip

Meeting the Mayor of Las Vegas

I have so much more to share with you about Miss America festivities and the happenings since returning home to beautiful Washington.. But I’ll save those for next time. For now, thank you so much to everyone for sending your support before and during my trip to Miss America, and thank you even more for welcoming me home to the job and people that I love with open arms! I am so blessed!

Signing autographs at the Fashion Show Mall

Some of my closest Miss America sisters.. I love these girls!

The Whatcom County Crew!

A group of supporters from Yelm at a luncheon during Miss A week!

We are still one big happy family after all is said and done!