Fall finds many state programs planning state pageants, and some states will be hosting their pageants this month. Here are some updates from Ms. Wheelchair America to help you stay up to date.

Coordinator Updates

Three states will be holding their pageants in October. We wish Ida Esh’t (MWAR) and Will Clark (MWTN) success with their events. Special good luck goes out to Lorelei Hodges, who is hosting her first pageant as the new coordinator for South Dakota.

A reminder for coordinators who are trying to be frugal - Ms. Wheelchair America has a toll-free phone line. If you would like to contact a MWA Board Member by phone without having to pay for the call, please call 1-877-MSWHEEL (679-4335). Judy Hoit will pass along the message to the appropriate person and we will get in touch with you, usually within 24 hours.

It is with sadness that we announce the resignation of Kara Aiella, MWPA coordinator. We appreciate her many years of service to the organization and wish her luck in her future endeavors. Kara has indicated that she will remain involved in the state program and support the new coordinator, so we still may see her around at Ms. Wheelchair events. Thanks Kara for all of your support of MWA!

News from Autumn Grant, MWA 2007

My calendar certainly picked up in September! I started the month with an appearance on the MDA telethon in Warwick, Rhode Island on Labor Day. I was also honored to speak about the importance of education and employment at the Women at Work Museum here at home in Attleboro, MA. I took my first major trip this month to Tallahassee, FL. While there, I was interviewed on one of the local news station’s “Live at Five”, and I had the chance to meet with the mayor of Tallahassee. But, the real purpose of the trip was to support the Rotary Youth Camp 1st Annual Celebration Banquet, where I was the keynote speaker. I ended the month as a special guest at the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital Wheelchair Games in White Plains, NY. This was such an inspiring event with nearly 100 athletes, ages 4 to 75, participating.

Swap and Share

Last month’s question came from Denise DiNoto and was:

When and where are you hosting your state pageant?

Thank you to all who have responded so far. These updates will be added to our calendar as they come in. As a reminder, the last weekend to hold a state pageant to select a representative for the next MWA Pageant is April 15, 2007.

This month’s Swap and Share has both questions (offering you a chance to share) and some helpful hints for coordinators (offering you a chance to swap some information). The questions come from Robert Watson, MWMD coordinator, who would like to know:

Where do other coordinators look to find good judges? Who should you ask, or not ask, to judge at a state pageant?

The helpful hints this month come from Judy Hoit, MWIA coordinator, who sent the following tips:

1. Did you know that drinking 2 glasses of GATORADE can relieve headache pain almost immediately — without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional “pain relievers?”

2. SMART TIP FOR EASY SPLINTER REMOVAL - just pour a drop of Elmer’s Glue All over a splinter, let dry and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Thanks Judy for these hints. Editor’s note- I have tried the Elmer’s Glue trick and it does work like a charm!

Do you have an answer to Robert’s question that you would like to share with your fellow coordinators? Or, do you have a helpful hint to pass along, like Judy did? Please send either to Denise at director@mswheelchairamerica.org. Look for follow-up in next month’s Swap and Share!

Ms. Wheelchair America 2008 in Maryland

As a reminder, MWA 2008 will be held in July, 2007 in the beautiful state of Maryland, close to the Washington, DC area. This is an area of the country that is easily accessible from many points, so we hope you will make plans to join us for the 35th Annual Pageant. Wouldn’t it be great to have all state coordinators present at a national pageant?!

Finally….a note from the ED

Here in upstate New York the apples are ready for picking and the changing leaves on the trees are turning the hillsides into spectacular washes of colors. There is a crisp chill in the air, and…..this sounds familiar…..yep - I used it last year for the October coordinator newsletter! Does this happen to you too? Often, we get stuck in a rut and “fall” into what is familiar instead of looking for new ideas and options.

It’s a challenge to open yourself up to new ideas and new ways of doing things. But, unless you are willing to try new ways, you will never grow. This applies to Ms. Wheelchair as well. Next month, the MWA Board of Directors will be meeting for the Annual Fall Meeting. We will be reviewing the pageant surveys from this past summer. Your comments on these surveys help us change and grow, so please take a few minutes to fill out your survey and send it to Gail McKoon if you haven’t done so already.

Enjoy Fall!