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...!