Update on American Coed Nationals - giveaway donations yeah

So we are working selling ads for Coed National pageant in Orlando,FL at Thanksgiving. We have sold a little over two pages and with the optionals of Speech and Photogenic they each count as 1/2 a page so we are at a little over 3 pages. We want 4 because then Sheridan can win a cool Pink banner and Crown with pink stones.

So today and every day or so I make at least 5 calls to introduce Sheridan and try to sell ads and get monetary sponsors. I have another email to send out today and sent two out yesterday and need to keep following up.

I have to send in the CD with all the pages for the Ad book but will keep trying to sell. We are waiting on one from Buffalo Wild Wings, should have it tomorrow and then I can overnight it.

Any way, Sheridan's sister queen is Amanda Luther, who is Miss Chicago Illinois Junior Teen. Her mom is Jennifer Long and she has been trying to contact the Chicago Mayor's special events department to try and get the girls to take a photo with the Mayor and to get a donation.

In this national system they do a cookie exchange, you have to bake and bring a dozen cookies, they also do a gift exchange. You are supposed to try and get a donation from the community you represent. Last year Jennifer got about 75 Chicago Olympic pins. So this year I am calling for both of us. The city had nothing b/c of financial reasons, bad year, economy and all.
Because they were olympic pins they referred me to the olympic committee and i reached someone and they said they would donate 100 bracelets. I think they are that rubber kind.

They called me today and also emailed to confirm and Amanda's mom is picking them up tomorrow. Yeah us. We are only getting 100 but Jennifer is going to try to get more because we really need about 60-70 per kid because there should be about that many kids competing, but I am thinking it will be more like 50 with the economy and I know the pageant is suffering a little this year too. We will see. But one more goal down, donations for the gift exchange, check that off the list.

School District 76 board

Tonight I interviewed for an open position on the District 76 School Board. there wer 6 members present and I was interviewed for about a 1/2 hour. It seems a member had to resign b/c they were too busy with other obligations. Many of the current members were first appointed and then re-elected.

Some have been on the board going on their 2nd term others as new as under 1 year. If I am chosen I would be appointed and then up for reelection april 2011.

There are 4 applicants.
I think I would do a good job and am interesting in getting on the board but if they have a better or more qualified candidate then choosing them would be right.

They interviewed 3 of the 4 applicants tonight and the last one will be interviewed in two weeks at the next meeting. I think I responded to all their questions well and hope I am seriously being considered. I do need to send a thank you note too. Look for future posts to see what happens.

Fundraising Grasylake Prairie Crossing Farmers Market Bake Sale

Yesterday Sheridan and I got up at 630 and left the house at 730 to set up for our bake sale at the Prairie Crossing Farmers Market in Grayslake.

We stopped to buy "home made" (made by Sunset Foods) chocolate chip cookies and I bagged them two for a dollar; because Sam, who is going with us to the National Coed pageant made homemade m&m and chocolate chip cookies but then they were wrapped and left on the oven overnight and the oven was left on and they all got ruined. Or so she tells me. She didn't come help either. I told her if she couldn't be there that would be okay but hope she was telling me the truth. She has no reason to lie. It sound like much havoc at her house yesterday and too busy. Sam is awesome, but she can overschedule because she is so kind and likes to help EVERYONE. I always try to give her an out.

We did make Brownies, Rice Krispy Treats, Blueberry muffins. We sold about $20 worth of baked goods, no water this week. It was very cold/cool out. With me buying the chocolate chip cookies we actually made about $12. But we had fun and it is a good experience.

We will be back one more week. There are actually two weeks left of this farmers market but we can't be there the 10th because Sheridan and I are meeting with Michael Galanes the IL pageant director for Coed for training, practice, rehearsal or whatever you call it to get ready for nationals.

I will post pictures later too. I did not bring the camera in yet.

Pageant Bake Sale and Buttons

I came home tonight and made goodies for our bake sale fundraiser for tomorrow.
I made a dozen (12) blueberry muffins; 8 chocolate chewy brownies; 14 Rice Krispy treats and Sam is making double batches of palm sized chocolate chip cookies and m&M cookies - all for a dollar.

We will be at the Prairie Crossing Farmers market from 8 until 12. Come visit us and buy some goodies.

I am also having 3" button pins made with a picture of Sheridan saying "Good Luck, Sheridan" and the parents at her school are all very willing to buy a button for $3 and have the kids wear the button the Friday b/f the week of Thanksgiving to show support and give well wishes.

The teacher may have the class make good luck cards too so she can have them and read them on the plane. These two last ideas are surprises and she has no idea this is being done. I thought it would be cool.

Picture of Sheridan with Libertyville Township Elected officials

Sheridan came and had her picture taken with the elected officials.
See photo included. In the picture is Bill Morgan, the Highway Commissioner, Terry White, Sari Hurtig, both trustees Kathleen O'Connor, the supervisor Robin O'Connor and Rick Mittelman also trustees and Anne Hansen the Clerk. We are sending in the picture for her national pageant because they like to see how the contestants are meeting officials and getting involved with the communities. How convenient that Sheridan has a mom who is in politics.

Sheridan with Libertyville Township Elected Officials

Libertyville township meeting and TOI Dinner

Last night was a township meeting.

It was a great meeting, brief and to the point.

We went over the $90,000 money we have budged to donate to various non for profit charities in Libertyville Township who meet the criteria and apply. Of the 25 applicants only one did not get processed b/c they did not meet the criteria or supply all required information. They were advised as well.

We made final votes last night and it went quit well and quickly.

We also voted on next years calendar and decided that meetings will remain 2x per month on Thursdays but will switch to 7pm instead of 730. therefore if there is a meeting that runs long it will not be as late.

Tonight Kathleen and her husband, Anne and myself attended the Township Officials dinner in Lake Villa at the Lehman mansion. It is a Township officials of Lake County organization and was very lovely. I have attached those pictures too.

Libertyville Township Meeting This week

I am a Libertyville Township Trustee. There are 4 of us and one supervisor, Kathleen O'Connor,a former trustee and former social worker at the Township. A Clerk, Anne Hansen, Highway Commissioner, Bill Morgan, and an Assessor, Peggy Freese.

We meet 2x a month on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 730-?? about 830 typically. We have a few in the community who attend regularly. Libertyville Township is a 6 mile by 6 mile area covering the communities of Libertyville, Green Oaks, part of Vernon Hills, Part of Mundelein, a very little part of Waukegan, Mettawa and Abbott.

We have a food pantry where families in the community can get food on Tuesdays from 10 am - 3 pm and must show they live in the community covered by Libertyville Township. - residency requirement. People in need can get food 2x a month.

Other service offered include a Community Emergency Fund, and offer a Meeting Room for public use at a low rent ($15 fee which goes towards the Community Emergency Fund). The Township also offers a General Assistance fund and we have a social worker who administers the fund, applications are necessary and she is great at assisting people or sending them to other community programs that can assist where we may not be able to.

Currently, at the next meeting, we are voting on how to disburse $90,000 we have budgeted as donations to non for profit organizations in our community who filled out applications to apply for monies to help sustain their organizations. This is a hard process, deciding who gets how much money. Come join us to see what is going on.

We meet at the Libertyville Township Building at 359 Merrill Court in Libertyville.

We are also looking for organizations who would like to join us in leading the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of a regularly scheduled meeting.

Would love to meet any of the readers of my blog!!!

Bake Sale Success

Yesterday we spent the morning at Prairie Crossing in Grayslake at a farmer's market selling our baked goods to fundraise for American Coed Scholarhip pageant.

There was an art fair yesterday, SURPRISE. We had about 90 pieces of baked goods and I thought it would be too much, if just the farmer's market, but with the Art fair we had just barely enough. We sold all the palm sized chocolate chip cookies and M&M cookies, Samantha made them and they looked and smelled great. There were none leftover so we didnt get to taste them. Maybe next week.

We had Rice Krispy treats, blueberry and banana chocolate chip muffins and I brought water to sell too. We sold about 25 bottles of the 30 bottles brought.

Our sale was quite a success.

About Nationals for American Coed and Bake Sale Fundraiser

Last night and tonight Sheridan and I were baking in order to have a bake sale at the Prairie View Crossing Farmers Market. This market is located off 137/45 in Grayslake accross the street from the Prairie Crossing Metra station.

I called some farmers markets in the area that were held on Saturdays to see if Sheridan, Samantha and I could do a bake sale in order to fundraise for our National Coed trip. At some you have to show you are a non for profit organization at others you have to live in that community in order to participate. There are many rules.

We just wanted to get into a local farmers market, while they were still being held and the weather as still nice, and have a few sales to see if we can fundraise for our trip.

We are trying to fundraise to raise money for optionals at competition and for Samantha to cover the cost of her plane ticket. Samantha is going with us as a Friend, Coach, Mentor, Hair stylist and all around moral support. She is a college student who has been in pageantry herself for at least 10 years. She is great to have as an "adult" friend as well as a coach for Sheridan.

If I tell Sheridan what to do then she hears Mom telling her what to do, but with Sam it is a friend and mentor, someone closer to her age and she listens. It works out quite well.

Anyway, back to the bake sale... Samantha is baking palm sized M&M cookies and palm sized Chocolate chip cookies and her mom baked a few loafs of bread. I baked some blueberry muffins, Banana Chocolate chip muffins and rice crispy treats and brownies.

We are selling water too. I also have a number of donated gift certificates/cards to sell at discounted prices for some local restaurants like Dover Straits, Taylor Street Pizza in Mundelein, Pizza Hut in Mundelein, Zanies comedy club tickets and others.

We are also putting out a collection/donation box so people can donate money if they want.

We have already sold glow sticks at the fireworks/concert at Schaumberg Days on Labor Day Weekend and made about $110. That all goes towards the pageant and payments toward plane tickets and optionals. All the money is going towards this scholarship program.

We have to sell at minimum two full add pages which are at $600 each and then you pay for optionals, Talent, Photogenic and Speech are $300 and then count towards additional add pages. Other optionals like Acting, Modeling, and Cheerleading are $100 each and aren't given as credit for ad pages.

We have gotten about 5-6 small sponsors, had many gift card/certificate donations and we are selling the gift cards to use like sponsorship money to pay for the optionals. We are using garage sale money, money from bake sale and selling glow sticks, money from going on surveys, queensational makeovers, and money from selling raffle tickets that another queen is handling - a 50/50 raffle where 200 tickets are being sold for $50 each and a person has a chance to win $5000. We make $20 off each ticket sold. We only sold about 3 on our own and many as a group with the other queens.

I have brownies in the oven, finished another batch of rice crispy treats and have to go to bed to get ready for tomorrow.

Wish us luck!!!

ACORN Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now

Did you see the articles about ACORN in the news. I listen to talk radio, WLS 890AM which unfortunately is more republican then democrat, but always interesting to listen to and they have a lot of political figures come talk on the station.

Yesterday on their morning show, Don and Roma Wade talked with Charlie Gibson and they asked him a news question about ACORN and what he thought about the scandal, and how the senate voted 83 to 7 to withdraw or no longer fund the federal money to ACORN.

Two of the 7 who did not vote for the withdrawal were our own IL senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris. After seeing all the bad publicity about ACORN, the undercover tapes of how they were willing to help some prostitutes with a brothel or what I heard was helping working girls realign their job so they can get a mortgage, a house loan and have this woman and a man (the pimp)"change" their occupations on the applications to allow them to get a mortgage. Either way, we all know that President Obama was affiliated with ACORN so again you cant help to wonder if the reason our two IL senators didnt vote to withdraw the monies was b/c they didnt want to indicate any scandals with Obama related to ACORN or maybe just didnt want to piss him off.

Either way, politicians should have and need to have morals. Obviously what has been going on wtih ACORN is wrong and any normal person would vote to NOT allow them our hard earned Tax money to go to such an organization. These Senators should be ashamed with themselves. At minimum maybe they could have abstained or only voted as "present" but not cast a vote or maybe they just should not have shown up for that vote, but to vote to allow the money still be given to ACORN, what an abomination.

I can only hope to give them the benefit of the doubt by thinking they knew the majority would vote to stop the money to ACORN and so they voted Yes to show support for the President, not upset him or make him look bad b/c of his relationship with ACORN. Yes, that must be it.

http://www.projo.com/news/johnmulligan/acorn_whitehouse_17_09-17-09_9QFOJ3V_v10.3985ece.html

In consideration of this article, above, it could be that we are just blaming the whole organization when only there are few who have caused this bad opinion of this group ACORN. ACORN has had previous scandal when they were trying to get people registered to vote and claims they were signing up anyone and not properly signing people up. This may be true and might not. maybe it would be better to investigate various ACORN sights before making the hasty decision of refusing all the government money. Or maybe it is better to just refuse them and let them have the burden to prove they are not doing anything wrong, or clean up the sites that are and then reapply for the federal monies. Hmmmm it is important to look at and see both sides of a story which we dont always hear in the media.

NISP Northern IL Scholarship Program - A pageant with a purpose

So because Sheridan had to take a few years off from the local Mundelein pageant system we looked into other pageant programs. One we found that was both local and affordable was Northern IL Scholarship Program - a pageant with a purpose. What is the purpose you ask? Community service.

We love this group of girls and women because you don't have to compete in the pageant to be in the program. You can pay $40 for a crown/sash and t-shirt and be a Community Ambassador. this is also great for girls who dont want to be in the pageant or are in other pageant systems and can't hold other titles but want to participate. It is a great way to be involved with so many different community service programs.

Sheridan competed with 5 girls. She was first runner up which is a title of Princess Ambassador. We have been involved for the past year, the next pageant is this November 1, 2009 where Sheridan will compete againt to win her division and if she doesn't win or place we will pay to be an Ambassador b/c we like the system so much. The women are great and so are all the queens. Anyone from age 3 + can compete. Yes older women too, there is a classic division for women I believe over 35.

This year we have helped at a blood drive, (by the way, I say we b/c mom, that is me,always has to go to, or at least to most of the things, sometimes other moms will take Sheridan or we carpool), anyway, we bowled for brain injury, we fund raised for the food pantry, we stocked and shelved and sorted food for Stomp out Hunger at the Beth Am Food pantry, we welcomed veterans visiting the Washington DC WWII memorial with Honor Flight Chicago, we greeted people at a nursing home, we decorate bulletin boards at two nursing homes, we Walked for Cancer and Helped fix up a Waukegan School Park and there are so much more things we did or could have done. Just a great group and all is affordable.

This pageant has 3 optionals you must participate in with a total of 6 if you wan to compete in al optionals as well as having to answer two questions on stage - a change from last year when they were individually interviewed. They all have to give a speech on a topic based on their age range and for a specific amount of time depending on age as well. They model their gown too.

The optionals include Essay on a choice of 3 topics, Poster board on Community service topic, submitting a photo for photogenic, performing a talent, performing a modeling routine in a fashion outfit and performing a modeling routine in a sports outfit.

Sheridan will do all optionals again this year.

There is a special if you buy/pay for all optionals.

You are eligible for at least two crowns, the title in your age range and princess and then possibly elite if you pay for that option. there is also a friendship and hostess title you can be eligible for if you have at least two people who you bring in, they say you recommended them or advised them of the program, or if you sell two full ad pages at $100 a page - but you can sell in increments to make up the $200.

Of course if you dont win or dont want to compete you can pay to me a community ambassador. At the end of the year before the pageant, upcoming in October, we have a Tea and there you may win other titles as well as special awards.

We love NISP and if you are looking for a good starter pageant or one with a lot of community service or a local pageant or one that is just fun and less political then this is a great place to be. NISP will let you hold other titles as well which other systems may not.

If you decide you want to be in NISP comment or email me or look up http://www.nisprogram.com/ . Please mention Sheridan recommended you. We would love any girl or woman to join.

State Representative Kathy Ryg Resigns

To all who dont know, State Rep. Kathy Ryg in district 59 resigned as of the 31 of August. There were many people interested in being appointed to that position, including myself.

The Lake County Democratic party leader along with the Northfield Township Dems representative, as well as the Wheeling Township Dems and a person representing the Vernon Township dems and lastly a representative from Speaker Madigans office all were available for leading the interview and had a part in the decision.

I was one of seven candidates who interviewed along with the village "mayor" Elliott Hartstein, and the Buffalo Grove Park District board member Larry Reiner. Also one of the Vernon Township trustees also applied along with myself. We were each given 10 minutes to present our case, why interested, our goals, political beliefs, and how we can fundraise to name a few things to discuss.

I had concerns about some of the people being looked at, including a new, but well known trustee from Buffalo Grove who has been causing many problems at their town meetings. She was also being considered by the GOP so that even disturbed me more, you need to pick a side and stay with it or be an independant.

Glad to say a decision was made and although I was not chosen, I fully support and am happy with the person they chose, Carol Sente. See article
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/northbrook/news/1770300,vh-sente-091709-s1.article
I wish her much success.

I have to add that State Senator Terry Link was kind enough to call me today to thank me for interviewing and appreciated my concerns in having the best person selected. I made sure to let him know I am here to help the Democratic party in Lake County and would like to be considered as other opportunities arise.

Sheridan first pageant competitions.

Day two of my "new" blog. Wow, where to begin. Sheridan, my now 10-1/2 year old daughter started pageants when she was 7 years old. Her first pageant was running in the 6-8 year old division in Mundelein, IL. In Lake County, IL community pageants are a big thing. Most communities in Lake county have a gown pageant. They all used to lead into the Lake County Fair pageant which then leads to the Illinois state fair pageant. However a few years ago they changed the town pageants so that now all the local town queens compete in a Lake County Pageant in Waukegan, IL in November. Only the local queens can compete. In the Lake County fair pageants anyone can sign up and compete.

At Lake County Fair the age ranges are 6-8 little; 11-13 Junior; 16-21 Miss. Mundelein follows those age ranges. In other towns they follow the age ranges of the Lake County pageant and they are as follows; 6-9 little; 10-15 (I think) Junior; 16-21 Miss.

Because we are in Mundelein, Sheridan competed at age 7 and did not place, in fact she was horrible and it really stressed me out. She was fidgeting, holding her dress and she was talking with a girl on stage who kept talking to her. She didnt want to be rude and tell her to be quiet but that is exactly what she should have done. She learned a lot from age 7 to 8, after we watched the video the week before the pageant when she was 8. That year she was amazing and made 2nd runner up - I was so proud and happy for her. I have to say that you are not judged by the when you are off stage and I wish these girls were because some are very genuine, nice kids and others when they are off stage are beasts and should not be holding a crown.

When the girl giving up her crown was wishing all the girls good luck, one girl in particular said "I dont need luck because I am going to win". Needless to say she did, but I thought that was the worst comment, and wished a judge had seen that. It was so inappropriate. Things like that are so upsetting in the pageant world and what gives the pageant systems a bad reputation. All girls are not like that, in fact most aren't but that is what we often see and it gives the public a bad taste of what pageantry is about.

What I really like about the Mundelein pageant system is that all the girls, the queen and the runners up are used in the parade and in various volunteer programming. They all win awards. Sheridan as first runner up won a $75 check from the city as well as many gift cards and little gifts. These were added bonuses and a great surprise. In other communities, like Vernon Hills they do not use the runners up nor do they win prizes. Mundelein happens to do an excellent job.

Because Sheridan now had to take a two year break from Mundelein, I looked into other pageant systems for her to compete in so she can stay fresh and remember what she needs to do. We then found NISP, Northern IL Scholarship Program - a Pageant with a purpose. I will explain about it on a separate blog.

Re-Starting my blog

So the past few days I was thinking what is my life most involved with and realized I am so busy with my daughter and Pageants and myself and Politics. Therefore I will be talking about both in this blog. I realize that politics includes being political and we all have to be political to function in society, in most groups including pageants as well as in a political role. How cool that the two can be linked together. Therefore in the next weeks you will learn about my road into politics and my daughters role and life in pageantry. Since my daughter is young it is our life in pageantry I guess you would say.