Sightseeing Washington, D.C.

On Friday, Feb 29th (Leap Year!) mom and I had a free day to take in all that we could for sight seeing. Honestly, we didn't even make a dent!! There is so much to see and do in Washington D.C!!

On our way to see the huge statue of Abraham Lincoln my mom fell on the sidewalk. The curb was freakishly high and she hit the top of it with her toes and then she fell. Because my mom has Osteoporosis she is afraid of falling and breaking a hip, but she was okay. We had just walked by the Georgetown University Hospital and some guy had just finished his shift there when he saw my mom laying down on the sidewalk so he ran right over and helped her up. She said she was more embarrassed than anything else, but it was scary I must admit.

It was unbelievably cold and we walked everywhere!! We spent alot of time at the Smithsonian Museum and we had a blast! We saw the hope diamond! Awesome!!! And lots of animals in the exhibits and dinosaur's too!!

Seeing the White House in person is indescribable!! I have seen hundreds of pictures of it before, but they don't compare to seeing it with your own eyes!! I was really there, but President Bush was too busy to come out and say hi or offer us Hot Chocolate! LOL!! We also visited the Vietnam Wall. It was a very eerie and hauntingly somber place. I don't think I will ever forget it.

We went to several other places to see the sights and hope to get back in warmer weather to see the rest! Lastly, we shopped in Georgetown (a very cool place) and I bought a few tee shirts for myself! We ordered pizza back in the hotel room and packed to head home for an early Saturday flight.

***The trip was awesome and the fact that NOF believes in me to be their Teen Ambassador is a dream come true for me!! :) I will give it everything I've got!! :)

Official Teen Ambassador for NOF!! :)

On Saturday morning, March 1st, Kris House came to pick us up to take us to the airport at 7:45am. While we were driving, Kris said that Leo Schargorodski was supposed to announce that I have been named the official Teen Ambassador for NOF!!!!! I am so humbled and truly blessed by this honor!!! :)

This has been a goal of mine ever since I first contacted NOF in February 2007!! I waited for one year, but it has all been worth it! I am so incredibly blessed!!! I hope that I have helped the organization by making an appearance and speaking on Capital Hill on their behalf!! I am continuing my efforts to get the word out about Osteoporosis by writing a book called "No Bones About It!" and hope to have the manuscript done by April 30th. That is my personal deadline, but with schoolwork, school and community activities, community service, and Charity events, it has been hard to stay with it consistently. I just keep plugging away at it when I can!

It is important to me that others know this is a lifetime commitment not just something I did for a pageant. My efforts began a year ago and for it come to fruition is very satisfying in a way that is hard to explain. This is a cause that I am very proud to support and lend my time to. Not for a day, a month, a year, or a pageant . . . but for a lifetime!! :)

If you are interested in helping out, please consider making a donation to NOF and please let them know I sent you! Thank you so much!! :)

Speaking to Congress on Capital Hill!! :)

On, Thursday, Feb 28th, I had the most amazing opportunity to speak to Michigan's members of Congress! This was such a positive experience for me and I want to do it all over again! This was one day after my friend, and our new Miss America, Kirsten Haglund, had been on the Hill. I had just missed her!

My first appointment was with Rep. Mike Rogers at 11:30 am. He deals with Health issues on the Hill. I was so well prepared by Roberta Biegel, the Senior Director of Public Policy & Government Relations, that I wasn't nervous at all. She had me practice exactly what I would say and taught me to be brief (because their time is so short) and I felt very confident and ready. Heather Rabinowitz, from NOF's Communication Dept, joined us to take photos as I talked with Rep Rogers. He was sooooooooooo nice and was genuinely interested in what I had to say!!! I was so happy that he agreed with me that this is an issue that needs to be discussed in our schools because when we are young is the time to develop positive health habits. I felt like he really understood where I was coming from and it made me feel like my voice as a constituent really mattered!! :) There was a vote "on the table" and so Rep Rogers had to "run" to get his vote in on time so our time was cut a few minutes short, but I wouldn't have traded a minute of his time for anything! He has such a great personality and really does care about us Michiganders!

We had a quick lunch in the downstairs cafe of one of the buildings on the Hill. I saw so many young college students working as aides who are interested in politics and I was quite surprised. They don't make much money and many were doing internships in hopes of landing a job later on. I felt very proud that so many of us young people are interested in making our world a better place for others. My second appointment was with the saff of Senator Debbie Stabenow. Unfortunately, she was not able to attend this meeting, but I was still able to speak about Osteoporosis and they seemed to appreciate the information. In late January I was able to meet Sen. Stabenow at the Detroit Auto Show and she seemed very genuine and is certainly working very hard for our State. I hope to see her again in the ner future!

My last meeting on the Hill was with Senator Carl Levin and Mrs. Levin. She is an active Board Member for NOF as well. They were so gracious to listen to my speech and because Mrs. Levin suffers from Osteoporosis they took an active role in listening and asking questions. I also had the delight of meeting their little seven year old grand-daughter, Bess! She has to be the smartest little girl I have ever met! I think someday she will be working on Capital Hill with her grandfather!

After the meetings, my mom and I were given a private tour of the Nations Capital and even got to see the "hide away" where Rep Carl Levin stays when he needs to get away from everything for a bit. This hideaway overlooks the Jefferson Monument and has the most awesome view!! All of the Sentaors have a hide-away and I felt honored to have been given a birds eye view of this special place. It is off limits to the public and so I know how priviledged I was to experience it! :)

After the tour, we headed back to NOF for one more meeting. Kelly Cataldo talked about preparing us for the Gala Event called the Silhoutte Gala Ball. This is the biggest fund raiser and Award Banquet for the organization. It will be held on Friday, May 16th and I can't wait!! I am looking for the perfect gown to wear as this is a black tie event. Mr. Donald Trump has been invited and I hope he can make it to the Ball since it is being held in NYC and that is where he lives! Wouldn't that be cool??????????!!

For dinner, we went with Kris House and Piper Dankworth, the Director of Development at NOF, to a resturant called Old Glory and we talked more about Osteoporosis and the day's events on Capital Hill. We had such a great time and it was the perfect time to reflect on such a great effort on everyone's part to help make my time on the Hill a wonderful success! I am so thankful for their expertise and help!

I am so humbled by everything that NOF did to put me at ease and educate me about this issue. The staff is truly incredible and they all work together so well and for such a great cause. My time with them in Washington is one I will never forget!

National Osteoporosis Foundation Headquarters in Washington, D.C.!!

On Wednesday, Feb 27th, my mom and I flew to Washington, D.C. to meet with the staff at the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) headquarters and to prepare for my visit on Capital Hill!

The staff did everything with such class and they were very prepared for our arrival. I had several meetings with various departments to learn all that I could about how the organization is run. First, I met with Mr. Leo Schargorodski who is the Executive Director. I was then given a tour of the offices with Kris House, the Community Outreach & Special Events Manager, who I have worked closely with for the past year.

From there I went to various departments: Advocacy, Education, and Communications. Each person involved led me through a great deal of information (at times overwhelming!!) but I learned more than I thought I could! The meetings ran from 1:30pm-5:30pm. I can't believe how much work goes into running an organization and how much there is still to do to get the word out about Osteoporosis.

After the last meeting we went to dinner at Kinkeads. It was a very beautiful resturant and featured a live piano player! Mrs. Judy Black joined us as well. At one time, Mrs. Black worked in the White House with former President Ronald Reagan. She is now involved traveling with the John McCain staff helping with his campaign.

She is also very involved with NOF as a Board Member and has spoken to members of Congress herself about Osteoporosis. I heard so many real life stories about people who have had devastating effects of this disease. I am even more faithful about taking my calcium pills and making healthy choices for my bone care.

After dinner, mom and I headed back to our hotel room. It was huge!! And very stylish as it was decorated in yellow and blues. Everyone walks in D.C or takes the metro (subway) or taxis. But most people walk. We did and it was FREEZING out!! A week ago they had 50 & 60 degree weather and several daffodils and croqusis had bloomed (yes, in February!) and then with the cold front they were frozen and lifeless. It was really wierd to see!

I loved Washington, D.C. and I hope to return again soon. I would love to attend the Cherry Festival and take in more sights next time.