Winter marches on, and preparations for Ms. Wheelchair America in Little Rock, AR are steadily moving forward. Please take a few moments to review the following updates and news from MWA.

Coordinator Updates

Congratulations to Eileen O’Brien and the Ms. Wheelchair Florida program for holding a successful pageant on January 21. Although this was not the first MWFL pageant, it was Eileen’s first time as state coordinator. The first pageant is usually the most difficult, so good job Eileen!

Two states will be holding pageants in February. South Dakota and North Carolina will both host their state pageants on February 25. Remember, the last weekend to host a pageant to select a participant for MWA in Little Rock is April 15.

All coordinators- please remember to send Denise an e-mail if you are ready to launch a website for your state program. Once your site is reviewed for content and criteria, it will be linked to the new MWA website.

Swap and Share

Last month’s question came from Michelle McKeever, the MWIL coordinator. In case you don’t remember, her question was:

We in IL are wondering how other states advertise and is there a company that other states use to send out press releases?

We received the following response from Crystal Childers, MWNE coordinator:

In the past, MWNE partnered with a local rehabilitation hospital who offered MWNE help from their PR department. They did a wonderful job for us, and it made everything so much easier. When this donation ended, we began using other resources to advertise. We do send out press releases to papers and TV stations across the state. We have also used the “Community Calendars” that are run on these TV stations, but you have to submit the information separately from the press release. Most media outlets have an on-line calendar that you have to use to submit information for this. We have also had success using the local free-access channel to advertise our pageant. MWNE also sends out a print newsletter to rehabilitation hospitals, disabled support groups, medical supply stores, independent living centers, sponsors and assisted living communities to inform them about our program and the activities of our titleholder.

Judy Hoit, MWIA coordinator, offered this insight:

The MWIA program has used a media company to send out a statewide press release about our pageant. Using this service did not guarantee that the news release would be picked up by the media, but it did guarantee statewide distribution. We stopped using the service because we felt it was not the best use of our resources to spend money for the service. Newspapers have e-mail addresses for submissions listed on their websites. State coordinators can send their own news releases directly to the newspapers this way. It won’t cost anything, but a little bit of time.

Denise DiNoto, MWNY coordinator, suggests appointing a state board member to be in charge of publicity. In New York, the woman who volunteers as Publicity Chair works as Director of Public Relations for a statewide agency and has been able to use her connections to help the MWNY program publicize their pageants.

Michelle, we hope this helps you in IL!

This month’s Swap and Share question comes from Crystal Childers, MWNE coordinator. Crystal would like to know:

“Do other states use a newsletter to communicate with sponsors or community members? I would like input from any other states that use a newsletter, specifically pros and cons.”

Please send your responses to Denise at: newyork@mswheelchairamerica.org. She will forward them on to Crystal, and all ideas will be shared in next month’s newsletter.

If you have a question you would like to see in future versions of “Swap and Share,” just send it to Denise.

News from Kristen Connors, MWA 2006

January was a fun month for me as MWA 2006. January 24-27 I attended the 27th Annual Ski for Light event in Deadwood, South Dakota. When I was invited, my first thought was that it was going to be very cold. But the weather gods smiled down on us and we had wonderful weather during my visit. The day after I arrived it was 60 so I was able to sit outside and watch all the participants ski. I did a little skiing myself. I even let them convince me to go down the mountain on the artic shark, which is really just a go-cart on skies. It was great fun, even if I was not the most graceful person on the slopes. I was honored to have the opportunity to speak at their banquet on the last evening. I met some wonderful people and the volunteers at this event are to be commended on their efforts. I know why so many former titleholders say that this trip is a highlight of their year as Ms. Wheelchair America! I hope to go back next year, even when I am not wearing the crown.

Little Rock, Arkansas July 31 - August 6, 2006

Ida Esh’t and her crew of MWAR volunteers are very busy preparing for MWA 2007, “Women of Strength.” Ida sent this note for all coordinators:

Ms. Wheelchair Arkansas can’t wait to welcome you to Arkansas this summer! I must share with you that my Board and I are getting so excited for your visit. We look forward to welcoming each of you and your titleholders in person to our beautiful state. We are planning many wonderful events for your enjoyment. Our hope is that each of you will remember to bring a holiday ornament to share for our Victorian Christmas. Do you know we have a diamond mine in Arkansas? See ya soon!

Finally….a note from the ED

As I sat down to write this, I heard that the groundhog saw his shadow this morning. I can never remember whether the shadow means 6 weeks of winter or 6 weeks of spring, but I think it’s winter. I do remember the movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray. If you haven’t seen the movie, Murray plays a meteorologist from Pittsburgh, PA who goes to Punxatawnie for the Groundhog Day festivities and keeps re-living the same day over and over. The only way he is able to move forward is to open himself up to the love and companionship of other people.

As coordinators, we might feel like we are in the same routines month after month, year after year, as we work to keep our state programs growing. We might be so busy that we may not realize that there are others out there who are willing to help us move our programs forward.

The new “Swap and Share” item in the newsletters is one way you can show other coordinators that they are not “alone” in their own routines. I’m thrilled that so many of you took the time to let me know that this is an item that you are happy to see in the newsletter. This section is really for you - the coordinators. I hope you will continue to offer your suggestions and questions. When we communicate and help each other, we all move forward at a faster pace.

Here’s to 6 more weeks of winter!