Spring is on the way, and the pageant season is coming to a close. There are important updates in this month’s newsletter, so please read thoroughly.

Coordinator Updates

March was pageant month for many people, including your newsletter editor. With only 2 weeks to go until the last weekend to hold a pageant, thoughts are turning to the national pageant.

The following dates are important for all coordinators to mark on their calendars. The last weekend to hold a state pageant to select a titleholder to compete in this year’s national pageant is April 14/15.

National application packets will be mailed to all state titleholders and coordinators by April 18. The first half of the application fee and paperwork will be due May 18. The second half of the application fee and paperwork will be due June 18. As a reminder, these are NOT postmark deadlines. These are the dates that monies and paperwork must be received.

If you have not already done so, please send complete contact information for your state titleholder to Denise DiNoto.

News from Autumn Grant, MWA 2007

March was all about serving the state pageants as Ms. Wheelchair America. I had the wonderful opportunity to act as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the New York State pageant and had a fantastic time getting to know the contestants. I also spent a great deal of time assisting with the Massachusetts state pageant. At the end of March, I was finally able to use the prize that the Peabody Hotel gave me for being crowned Ms Wheelchair America in Little Rock. A two night stay at the Peabody Orlando in a junior suite was just what I needed to rest up and head straight into the busy upcoming month of April. Congratulations to all the new state titleholders crowned in March and good luck to the state coordinators holding pageants in April.

Swap and Share

Thank you to everyone who sent replies to all coordinators in response to Leciah’s question. Since those responses were sent to all, they are not repeated here.

This month’s question comes from the MWA Executive Board. They would like to know:

What topics would coordinators like included in this summer’s coordinator workshops?

Please send your answers to Denise DiNoto, who will share them with the Board in preparation for the national meeting.

Ms. Wheelchair America 2008 in Maryland

Robert Watson and Judy Hoit would like to remind all coordinators about the “Coordinator Corner” that will be a part of this summer’s national pageant during the “Wheels of Dreams” tradeshow. Do you have a great idea for contestant recruitment? Do you have a scrapbook of successful fundraising letters? Do you have an amazing state pageant program to promote? Perhaps you have a hobby and would like to sell your homemade products to others. Come to Maryland and share your successful tips, strategies and ideas with your fellow coordinators!

Finally….a note from the ED

This is the time of year when the buds come out on the trees, the flowers pop out and new life is present all around us. Here at MWA, new beginnings are upon us as well. Interviews for the new Executive Director are completed and very soon we will announce our new ED to everyone.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has sent me e-mails or left voice messages in support of the work I have done as ED for the past 2 years. Believe me, stepping down was a hard decision to make, but it is necessary for the organization to continue to grow. I am not going to disappear, as my term on the Board of Directors continues through August 31 like all of the other elected members of the Board. I will still be working with Autumn and writing the monthly newsletter. And you will still see me zooming around during pageant week as I work with the new ED. I told the rest of the MWA Board of Directors that I’m not that easy to get rid of; I plan on remaining state coordinator here in New York for years to come.

My involvement with MWA is work, but it is a labor of love for me and I suspect the same is true for the rest of you as well. The friendships and relationships I have developed with everyone in our “family” are the best part of what makes it so rewarding. Thank you again for your support during this transition period. Happy Spring!