| Subject: Miss Pageant Central 2010 |
Author:
Meemaw
[Edit]
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Date Posted: 21:44:36 10/21/09 Wed
As many of you know by now, I am unable to continue my committment to organizing the Miss Pageant Central contest. Recently I received three letters expressing interest in continuing it, but the level of committment required to do it (and do it well) is more than most people realize. For three months I spent everyday working on it, recruiting sponsors, soliciting donations for the PC fund, corresponding with judges and nominators, sending confirmations at every step of the contest to sponsors, judges, nominators, the top 5 nominees and winner, anonymizing the essays, organizing and presenting the essays in a way that made them easy and fun to read, sending ballots, ballot reminders and confirmations to the judges, counting the ballots, handling problems that occured during the contest, making all of the announcements on the board and presenting them in a visually appealling way, corresponding with the top 5, and announcing the winner.
And it didn't stop there - I have corresponded with Lily regularly since she won and mediated problems that arose with sponsors who failed to honor their committment. I also had to mediate a problem that occured during the actual contest with one nominee being accused of fraud. In short, it is a huge undertaking organizing a contest involving a $7,000 prize package, even when that contest is conducted online!
A couple of people have expressed concern that without my involvement, the contest will suffer and it will be harder to generate interest from contestants, sponsors, and donations to the PC fund. There is also a concern that things won't be handled as professionally or with the same attention to detail. But my experience has always been that anytime anyone from this board volunteered to accept responsibility for something, they've always given 100% and exceeded anything I could have possibly imagined or done. I would use Regina Phellange and MLOP as perfect examples. Regina volunteered to handle the graphics for our board, and MLOP volunteered to create our website. And both of them have given 100% effort to everything they do, and they did it without me micromanaging them. So who's to say people won't want to put the same effort into running the MPC contest?
So the purpose of this post is to gauge the level of interest and committment in continuing this contest. We need to know:
1) Do you want the Miss Pageant Central contest to continue?
2) What are you willing to do to make it happen?
If there is sufficient interest and committment, I'm hoping someone will volunteer to act as the contest director and oversee the entire thing, while others volunteer to manage the individual tasks. Last year, for example, Fannie Pack volunteered to manage the PC Fund, purchase items for Lily's care package and distribute money for Lily's early entry fee.
If the contest is going to continue, it will require a real committment from people. Because in order for it to be successful, attention has to be paid to the details. You COULD just go through the motions and follow the minimal instructions, but it wouldn't be nearly as fun nor would it inspire others to participate. Instead every task should be approached with the same level of committment and professionalism that Regina and MLOP bring to our graphics and website.
So first we need to gauge not only the level of interest but the level of committment. If people really want the contest to continue they'll need to volunteer and commit themselves to managing the various tasks with 100% effort. If there isn't a sufficient level of interest and/or committment, the contest will not go on. So please respond honestly, we need your honest opinions and you will not be criticized for them. One of the three who contacted me recommended we not hold the contest due to his doubts about the board's level of committment. So there are no wrong answers here. We just need to find out whether or not people think the contest is worth continuing and what they're willing to do to make it happen.
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- Hi Meemaw, I just wanted to say that since I have been coming to this board (about 2 years) I have always LOVED the Miss Pageant Central contest. I would volunteer to do what I could to help plan it for next year but I was planning on entering. I hope it can continue and will contribute in the small ways that I can. (NT) -- MissLawStudent, 22:13:58 10/21/09 Wed
- As a proud Miss PC sponsor I cannot imagine it not continuing! It is part of what defines this board, and sets it apart. I would be more than happy to step up to the plate to help, but don't know what tasks specifically there are that need volunteers. Wherever you lead, I'll go Meems! (NT) -- Arkie, 22:59:40 10/21/09 Wed
- I'm in. I directed a MAO prelim in college while working 20 hours per week and taking a full load of classes, so I think I could definitely handle managing a task for Miss PC. :) I'm glad to do what I can, because I think this is such an awesome community of pageant supporters, and I love the opportunity it gives to the contestants! Game on. (NT) -- Kristin ♥, 09:56:07 10/22/09 Thu
- I can help. I'm just nervous,because it sounds like ALOT of work and I don't want to mess it up.Let me know what you would like me to do. (NT) -- Andres, 13:15:19 10/22/09 Thu
- I will continue to support the Miss PC contest. The sponsors I find I will make sure they follow thru and deliver. Some do test your patience, but its worth it. I love finding out who the blind essays actually are about! Please people, step up and help make this continue. A little from alot will help the few carry on this fabulous tradition. (NT) -- M :), 14:15:36 10/22/09 Thu
- You know I'm down to help in whatever way possible. Next month I have to send a few sets of boobies over to our current Miss PC. :) (NT) -- Fannie Pack, 15:05:14 10/22/09 Thu
- While my travel schedule prevents me from committing to running Miss PC, I do volunteer to help with isolated tasks whenever I am available. (NT) --
 MissMerlin, 15:48:53 10/22/09 Thu
- I love the Miss PC contest, and if there are ways that I could help I would try. (NT) -- Aida, 16:14:25 10/22/09 Thu
- I've been thinking about this a lot last night and today. I can't do anything huge, but I'd love to see the contest continue. I can make a small monetary donation, and I could definitely commit to voting this year. If it helped out more, I could do something like anonomyzing essays. I feel like I could make a time commitment like that, but my free time is scattered, so something I can do on my computer (which is always with me, lol) would be doable, but not much more- something like contacting sponsors during business hours would be tough, and I couldn't commit to anything much bigger(though I understand that anonomyzing is a big thing). (NT) -- Spartan Girl, 16:49:16 10/22/09 Thu
- I'd be happy to help. (NT) -- Fra, 17:01:36 10/22/09 Thu
- I love the contest and would be willing to help, just wish it was open to young ladies who compete in other systems as well. (NT) -- HTH, 18:34:38 10/22/09 Thu
- To answer the questions 1) Yes I do think it should keep going. I think it affords girls an opportunity they otherwise would have missed. Since I am completely oblivious to drama surrounding anything, I imagine only positive things can come from the girls entering this contest. 2) I'm not quite sure what I could do to help (as far as finances go) but Meemaw, if you would like, please email me or reply on the board to let me know what other ways I can help. I'm currently not working, just going to school. (NT) -- Brynn, 19:24:52 10/22/09 Thu
- I am willing to help out in any capacity. I am not sure what special skills I have, but I can carry out an order! Team Meems! (NT) -- webby - the PacNW gal! - reporting for duty!, 08:46:40 10/23/09 Fri
- This post was meant to serve notice that for personal reasons, I will not be able to handle ANY responsibility for overseeing the contest, effective immediately. That means I will not be delegating responsibilities to anyone nor providing any direction. If the contest is to continue, someone will need to volunteer as contest director, take over immediately and assume responsibility for delegating tasks. I will not be able to provide any assistance nor direction, so if the contest is to continue it is going to require leadership and a genuine committment from those who are willing to help. Please see my reference to Regina Phellange and MLOP, that is what it's going to take if the contest is to continue. That is why I posted this notice, because if people really want the contest to continue someone or ones are going to have to step up, take over immediately and not be afraid to assume responsibility. (NT) -- Meemaw, 08:58:12 10/23/09 Fri
- Let's keep this awesome competition going, folks!! It's a fantastic opportunity for up-and-coming pageant ladies. I believe Pageant Central is PACKED with brilliant, capable people who have MUCH to offer. If you don't have the time to contribute, then please offer your ideas, advice, and constructive criticism. (NT) -- Indy, 13:15:32 10/23/09 Fri
- I would like to give a monetary contribution as in prev. year. (NT) -- pageant fly, 21:02:47 10/24/09 Sat
- I AM IN. I believe in the process. I am here to sponsor Interview Coaching as long as you will have me. (NT) -- Jerry Giordano BestPageantInterviews.com, 23:20:28 10/25/09 Sun
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