Four Points Of The Buckeye State

Service - It's been a while.

2010-02-27T22:22:00.002-05:00

One of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten from a good friend was: "Hilary, don't let them rent space in your brain." It sounds so trite and so easy ... but it's quite a difficult skill to master.

I admit it, I still check out the Voy board. There are a few young women in the Miss Ohio program that have captured my interest, and I suppose that I just can't let go. Maybe I have this hope, somewhere deep down, that the whole organization isn't a conglomerate of egomaniacs and morons.

However, today's letter from The Fearless Leader (Art McMaster) really struck me. I'll post it, then my thoughts after the letter.

State Executive Directors:

We are extremely proud of the accomplishments that the Miss America family has achieved over recent years and the spirit of teamwork that is allowing our organization to experience even greater success. This year’s record TV ratings for the 2010 Miss America Pageant reflect a continuing growth and resurgence with our historically important organization.

Our commitment to maintain an open dialogue has never been stronger and our continued success is interdependent. Your commitment is greatly valued as we continue making this wonderful organization the very best it can be. We are sincerely committed in promoting our core values, as well as, protecting this organization from assaults on its integrity and operation.

Unfortunately, some recent events have occurred that were designed to undermine our great organization and impede the momentum we have created. We have always met and overcome such challenges and obstacles whenever they appeared, whether in a complaint letter from an angry parent or a disappointed contestant, someone intent on undermining state leadership and even deliberate attempts to discredit the national organization and circumvent the policies that regulate our program.

We have prevailed over all these and more through the years, and we have remained united. More importantly, our bond strengthened as we worked together to rebrand and rebuild our presence throughout the country. The principal seal of this bond has always been the Miss America Organization's support of, and loyalty to, the leaders of our State Organizations.

The one cornerstone of our organization that must remain infallible is the integrity of our judging system. Recent attempts to breach this basic tenet by ignoring conflicts of interest cannot be tolerated. It is paramount that everyone does their due diligence when selecting and approving judges at the local and state levels. Even though we have specific guidelines, the national office has received numerous questions relating to pageant coaches. Under no circumstance may any type of coach be a judge in the Miss America Organization - even if they coach in an unpaid capacity.

In addition, anyone openly disparaging, discrediting or detracting any state organization, its leadership or the Miss America Organization - including present and past actions, cannot be permitted to serve in any capacity. We will not support any person or organization that supports or aligns itself with persons engaged in malicious activity that undermines the integrity of the Miss America Organization system.

Nevertheless, our organization is yet again under assault and we must formally announce our position and make it clear that we will not be daunted by aggression, whether direct or subtle, that undermines anyone, let alone the whole of the Miss America State Organizations. We have deterred these attempts and will continue to do so with your support.

It has also come to our attention that a group has formed with intentions to act as a comprehensive prep team for the contestants in the Miss America Pageant system. They have initiated their presence with announcements directly to contestants and local directors, undermining current state leadership and insist the key to success exists with their guidance and counsel. We strongly state that this group is not operating with the endorsement of the Miss America Organization. The Miss America Organization cannot allow any group to interfere with the right of our states to operate, conduct and produce their annual competitions. We believe that our state organizations are the Miss America experts and strongly recommend that our states handle the coaching of our program’s contestants themselves.

Although the National Office will be represented at the 2010 Miss America Homecoming, it deeply saddens us that our officers will not attend this event due to the direct involvement by an individual who has previously attacked this organization and various members of its leadership. We feel that an appearance by this organization’s Chairman of the Board, President or any other MAO Officer would contradict our position. We remain steadfast in our resolve to protect this organization and it is in the best interest of the organization that we do not attend.

We truly depend on you for our continued success and our ability to operate as a cohesive organization. Please accept our deepest gratitude for your consistent support.

Sam Haskell, III Art McMaster

Board Chairman President & CEO

So here's my first thought: My parents may have made their fair share of mistakes with my sister and I. No one's perfect. That said, the one thing that I'm proud to have been taught is to value my opinion. By that I mean that it's not only my right, but my RESPONSIBILITY to question authority. Only those that refuse to discuss their position and its trappings are those that have something to hide.

Sadly, I fear that this is the beginning of the end of Miss America. And oddly enough - I have very mixed feelings about it. My heart hurts, because I know that this will be the end. However, I have a bit of joy in knowing that - maybe someday - someone with ethics and integrity will resurrect it.

Success - Issue 3 Passes in Ohio

2009-11-07T22:13:00.002-05:00

Politics and pageants often go hand-in-hand. Contestants are often asked about their views on current issues and current events, and their answers can either make them famous or infamous.

A current event in Ohio is the passage of Issue 3. This will enable four casinos to be built in the state ... one each in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo. These "gambling palaces" generally come complete with hotel space and other amenities.

Wouldn't it be lovely if the MOSP "leadership" took advantage of the need for the Penn National Gaming folks to get some good will in Columbus? I mean, it's been released that Issue 3 was soundly defeated in Franklin County ... but since it was a statewide issue and passed, the good people of Columbus were outvoted. Now, Penn National needs to win over the local residents and create some good will and support. And hey ... since the state pageant needs theater space and hotel rooms ... hmm.

According to this Columbus Dispatch article ... now's the time. Get in contact with their PR department and pitch it.

Success - Audits and movement. subtitled: Nerdy Girls Are Hot.

2009-10-27T22:26:00.003-04:00

Question Of The Day, courtesy of the Miss Ohio Voy Board ...

Considering they paid out less than $40K in cash scholarships last year, I consider that a problem that needs rectified. Wouldn't you agree? Where's the other $160K going, that is, if your figures are correct and you have any idea what you're talking about?

That's what several of us have asked in the past. And, depending on the person, we've either gotten a pat on our little red head or outright ousted for asking (John and Kathy from Ashland, anyone?)

A few years ago, after a particularly scathing meeting of the Local Directors to discuss this issue, the board commissioned an auditor to review the books. Now, doing what I do for a living, I knew how this was going to end. I silently rolled my eyes and sighed heavily while everyone else waited with hopeful hearts that FINALLY we'd get some answers. So ... anyhow ... they had a financial "audit" that said they were A-OK and operating within the confines of the law. The outrage with that answer was loud and proud, alas it was precisely what I expected to happen.

The "passing grade" the current "leadership" received from the auditor may very well be true, but operationally they're not sound. See, financial audit and operational audit aren't mutually exclusive, but they are two vastly different things in theory and in practice. Financial looks at compliance with laws and regulations (in this case, specifically the IRS code 501c3, the code that grants MOSP their tax-exempt status as a charity). Operational audit, in contrast, looks at the processes and procedures used to conduct business. Operational soundness does not guarantee financial success, and vice versa ... but an operationally sound business is more transparent, easily managed, and tends to run more smoothly. Profit is not indicative of operational control, but sound operational control generally leads to higher profits. I could talk about audit and compliance all day ... oh wait. I do. Silly me. :)

Anyhow, the costs to produce a stage show of that magnitude / budget would likely be in the $200,000 annual range, I don't doubt it. But (at the risk of injecting corporate-speak into a pageant board), it's necessary to contain costs in the current economic climate. Cut the corners that don't really matter to the consumer (the contestants, their families, our sponsors), get documented processes and procedures in place to get more volunteers involved with some of the tasks needed to have the annual pageant and/or to raise capital, and work hard to grow the customer base (recruit new locals and contestants).

That all said ... I can honestly tell you that the board isn't interested in that. I presented my ideas (without definitive details, as I'm not about to give up my hard research work without having a say in its execution). They weren't interested.

Success - Where's Waldo?

2009-10-26T20:16:00.003-04:00

More accurately ... where's the pageant?

As has happened every few years for the past two decades ... the rumor is circulating that Miss Ohio is leaving Sunny Mansfield. As long as I've been around Miss Ohio, the city of Mansfield has hosted it, at the 1,402-seat Renaissance Theater. This seat count includes the balcony that the Clayland Crew sends out the "whoop whoop" from.

The city has always been "home" to the pageant to me. And they try to make it "home" for everyone else, too. They have a cadre of host homes and volunteers, ready to open their hearts to the contestants and their families. Transportation is offered by hostesses - some second-generation - and involves moving approximately 100 people around the city. Local businesses donate meals and gifts to the girls during Miss Ohio week too.

However, the scuttlebutt (I just love that word) is that Miss Ohio is moving to Zanesville. This rumor is further fueled by the fact that John Kunkel, MOSP board member, is the manager of the Secrest Auditorium. The Secrest seats 1,775 patrons and has already played host to a number of pageants (Miss SEO and Miss Muskingum Valley come to mind right now).

Both cities are small towns, and both have been hit HARD by the economic crisis. I question whether either place can afford to host the event, but that's not my place to say. The leadership in those communities know their budgetary constraints, not me.

So ... which one is the right fit? Mansfield? Zanesville? Only time will tell.

Personally, I agree with the poster on the Voy board that said that they'd like to see the pageant in a bigger city. The hard part isn't necessarily the venue, but the required support from the site and the community. And Mansfield, in that regard, will be a tough act to follow.

Service - Is The Platform Issue Dead?

2009-10-22T22:38:00.002-04:00

The only thing constant in life is change, or so I hear. And Miss America is constantly schizophrenic.

We've went from a true bathing beauty contest to a pageant filled with accomplished, talented, and beautiful women, to "it's not a beauty pageant, it's a SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM", and now to ... what?

Does Miss America still have an identity?

Historically, Miss A has always been the slightly glamorous girl next door, the do-gooder that had a bit of a sparkle in her eye. Miss America was at home with both ribbon-cutting ceremonies as well as pediatric cancer wards. Some of the best-loved Miss America winners were beautiful humanitarians.

But now, since the advent of the CMN alliance ... has the individual platform issue went by the wayside? Should our Miss Ohio abandon a personal platform and go with CMN ... or maybe even have a personal platform that relates well to CMN? Taking it a step further ... should we abandon the platform issue altogether and have a single community service focus (be it CMN or something else)?

I don't know the answer right now. I want to see how this year's pageant goes to make a judgment call. But it's certainly food for thought.

Success - Miss Kentucky's blog

2009-10-20T20:16:00.001-04:00

Sorry guys - I'm kinda wimpin' out today. I feel horrid, and it's my anniversary. I don't feel horrid BECAUSE it's my anniversary. Just wanted to be clear.

Anyhow.

Miss Kentucky's blog. Have you read it lately?

I just can't get enough of her. She's adorable, down to Earth, and she has that x-factor. She's accessible.

Check it out ... Small Town Crown - Mallory Ervin, Miss Kentucky 2009

The post on October 19th is awesome. It details a few days in her life ... school tours, hair appointments, even a "hot date" with Heather French Henry.

Great job, Miss Kentucky! That's a great way to leverage social media to get your message across.

Success - Coaching

2009-10-18T12:49:00.002-04:00

“Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.” - The great Knute Rockne.

The million-dollar question is ... what's the plan? Who sets the goal, who knows what to do to succeed? And another famous quote ...

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein.

Anyone that's been around Miss Ohio / Miss America pageants in the Buckeye State for more than about a week can understand. You know that the "leadership" doesn't exactly mentor contestants very well. They're not very forthcoming with information and inspiration, but often pooh-pooh those that are willing to offer a different perspective. They don't particularly want to DO any preparation work, but EVERYONE wants to be on "the prep team".

Look, I am very self-aware. I'm not the most fashionable person on the planet. I often opt for comfort over fashion (my Crocs with Jibbitz are the height of my pret-a-porter wardrobe, natch). My hair color and cut hasn't materially changed in ten years. And makeup? I go to the MAC counter once a year and tell them to have at it. My place isn't on "the prep team", because that's not something that I bring to the table as an asset.

When I competed, I sought help from professionals. I knew that I would have to have help to be successful. For pageants other than Miss Ohio, I leveraged the knowledge and successful track record of Donna's Studio to help me be my best. During my Miss Ohio days, I worked with Judy Kyees ... her advice and support was exceptionally helpful to me, and I went from being a clapper to consistently placing (and in one instance, I should have won).

The best of the best always have coaches and advisors. After all ... Tiger Woods is one of the most talented players in the world, but he still has advisors. Why should our contestants be any different?

Ohio has consistently enforced the unwritten rule that contestants shall not be "coached". I really don't understand this attitude! The states that are successful year over year have resources a mile deep (Oklahoma and Texas come to mind), and they don't fault their contestants for using them.

I wish I could understand why there's an "anti-coaching" sentiment in Ohio. Since we haven't had a contestant that's won an award at nationals since Amanda Beagle ... we need to bring coaching out of the shadows and into the forefront. We need to challenge our contestants to develop themselves, and we need to challenge our "leadership" to stop their egotistical narrow-sighted thoughts that they're good enough, they're smart enough, and dog gone it people like them.

Style ... now THAT'S tacky.

2009-10-09T21:02:00.002-04:00

You know, I've always loved Miss America. From the time that I even LEARNED that there was a Miss America, I've idolized her. The program has given me so much over the years. Even though I don't agree with the direction of Miss Ohio, I've always believed that Miss America is a worthy cause.

And for the first time I'm quite disgusted and ready to wash my hands of it all. And I think that Momma Sue would actually agree with me.

It's official that Rush Limbaugh will join the Judges' Panel at this year's Miss America pageant. And I'm absolutely ashamed to be associated in any way with Miss America.

Now, I've supported the organization through the changes over the years. The change to the God-awful Speedoes, the move to Las Vegas, even the constant changes to the scoring system. Whatever ... as long as the vision was the same, I was an advocate for the cause.

I am very puzzled as to why such a wonderful institution as Miss America would want to align themselves with a bigoted hate-monger. I'm failing to grasp why someone that spouts such venom can be considered as someone to choose a role model for our generation.

Let's let Mr. Limbaugh speak for himself, shall we?

I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.

You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed.

Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?

Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.

The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies.

They’re 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares?

Take that bone out of your nose and call me back(to an African American female caller).

I don't know about you, but this isn't the kind of person I find to be capable of selecting a role model. This is the kind of narrow-minded disgusting excuse for a human being that I'd like to vote off the planet.

Success - Open State Pageants

2009-10-04T13:29:00.003-04:00

There have been significant challenges with local pageants. Specifically, the number of locals is severely lacking.

So I figured I'd put together a little poll ...

Scholarship - The Local Pageant Conundrum

2009-10-03T19:02:00.002-04:00

There's a bit of talk on the Voy board (for those that have been living under a rock ... http://www.voy.com/209959/) about the local program situation. Greg Davis, who's been with the program for as long as I can remember, didn't have enough luck with local contestants to be able to give two local titles. He recruited his ass off, but fell short of the goal.

Now, I come from a different era. My competition days were during the time where competition in open local programs was limited. The pageant was televised statewide (thanks to the late Ted Stepien), and there were more than 30 locals. Three nights' worth of preliminaries were necessary because there were just so many local contestants.

Every open local was a battle to just make top 5. Just PLACING was a big deal, as each program "maxed out". Some only took 15 contestants, some took 20 ... all were competitive.

The closed locals were less of a battle, but still extremely competitive. There was usually one of the "big guns" that qualified for each closed local, but the local girls still had a shot. They weren't quite the nail-biters as the open locals, but they offered a far more level playing field than most of the "opens".

Anyhow, back to the Voy board ... and I quote (poster anonymous):

Do the open pageants REALLY help the organization.They don't bring people ,they don't bring sponcers,and they don't bring local advertising or community interest for money.If a girl WINS,NO one Cares! Isn't THIS REALLY KILLING the Program! We need to take a look at this problem! If we don't make Locals local we're DONE>

My thought? At this point, the poster quoted above is partially correct. Open pageants don't offer much to the state program, save for the opportunity for a woman to get to go to Mansfield. Most open programs don't require appearances or anything of the sort, it's just a blank ticket to the Renaissance Theater stage. Oh, and making money for CMN, MOSP, and Miss America national HQ.

However, "making Locals local" has a down side. Not every locale has the community support (financial or otherwise) to be able to hold a local.

Also, during my board interview, I discussed my plan for organic growth (grow the locals, and the growth will come). The board simply isn't interested, and that could be part of why the local culture is dying ... not from an intentional action by the board, but instead they are dying of neglect. Much like the state program, in my opinion.

Service - The Muskingum Valley Controversy

2009-09-27T11:29:00.003-04:00

On the Miss Ohio Voy board, there's quite a bit of discussion regarding the recent change in titleholders for Miss Muskingum Valley. MMV was a new local for the 2009 season, however it is rumored that the staff has been involved with MOSP for quite some time. The winner was a "newbie", someone that had never been to Miss State before.

At the state pageant, Miss Muskingum Valley was a no-show. No official release was ever made, other than it was for "personal reasons".

This not only destroyed the young woman's possibilities in the Miss America organization, but a simple internet search will yield the fact that she resigned under questionable circumstances. This can (and will) haunt her in today's job market.

But the deeper question is ... WHY. Why did she resign so abruptly? Why did she "no-show" at the state program? That action damaged not only herself, but the local program.

Further, how did the local program allow this to happen? Were they not honest with her, as to the requirements of the job? Did they not explain the expectations thoroughly? Was the young woman not feeling supported enough, going into Miss Ohio week? If the winner was in danger of pulling a no-show, why wasn't the state Board brought in immediately?

I think that the replacement of the local winner isn't the solution ... it's indicative of a far deeper problem. And again ... the abject FAILURE of the board to communicate to the public (those they expect to financially support their endeavors) causes the rumor mill to run wild.

Eventually ... they'll learn.

Success - The Miss Ohio Facebook Group

2009-09-22T10:38:00.003-04:00

First and foremost, I owe everyone an apology for being rather MIA. As some of you may know, my mother in law has terminal brain cancer. Specifically, she suffers from Glioblastoma Multiforme, stage IV/V. We have been informed that she has approximately a month (maybe two) to go. I've been spending a whole lot of time with my husband and kids, and dealing with my mother in law's impending death. Thanks for sticking with me.

At any rate, I was spending a little time on Facebook today. Playing silly games like Sorority Life and Mafia Wars makes me forget all the current life drama. I clicked on over to see if there was anything new going on with Miss Ohio (they have a Facebook group with about 100 members).

The group has went from public to private. And I have not been invited to join the new group.

This gave me quite a giggle. Since the board clearly wasn't keen on my idea for organic growth, they will default to asking people (and businesses) for financial handouts. Not a business plan I agree with (due to its failure to be sustainable in light of the current economic condition in Ohio), but I digress. My point? It's not good business sense to alienate people that are in a position to help you succeed. Or, um, so I gather from my more than ten years' experience as an Officer in Fortune 100 / 500 companies.

EDITED TO CLARIFY: There apparently are TWO Miss Ohio Facebook groups - one that is the MOSP Official Group at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Miss-Ohio-Scholarship-Program/118806504772?ref=ts , and one that is a private group at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group ... 261&ref=mf . One can only ASSume that the private group is a "fan group", but it looks an awful lot like it's an official group.

If it were me, and I was on the board (ha ha), I'd request that the private group immediately cease and desist ... since the private group puts forth the facade that the MOSP has something to hide. A good compromise might be to require a renaming to include the word "UNOFFICIAL", as well as a clear and concise statement that the group is not licensed or sanctioned by MOSP or MAO.

Scholarship - I ain't sayin' she's a golddigger ...

2009-09-13T19:49:00.002-04:00

Supporting the scholarship fund takes time, money, and effort. Coincidentally, so does funding the Children's Miracle Network effort. Although Miss America claims not to have a required entry fee, they require "sponsorship" and "donations" to CMN. It costs $100 per local, $250 for state, and $500 for nationals. Realistically, each contestant does at least five locals, goes to state twice, and then shows up at Miss America. By my calculations, this means that when you reach the national stage, you've paid $1,500 to get there. Oh sorry .. you've "donated" that money to CMN. And that's the bare minimum you're expected to pay.

Fine. CMN is not my charity of choice, but I suppose it's OK. It's better than many others out there, and they can certainly quantify their fundraising efforts with helping children with healthcare. That's another discussion for another day, for sure.

So, if our contestants are required to raise funds for CMN, why aren't we making it work for us? After all, Miss America is listed as a "fundraising partner". Note that we're waaaaaaaaay down there in simple type ... no line art is there like my beloved Wawa. We aren't even getting second level billing ... we're just a "fundraising partner".

Leveraging such a large grass-roots network as Miss America should have symbiotic benefit to all involved parties. Meaning ... CMN should get the funds they need, our local and state organizations should get some help with their shows and publicity, and our Miss America girls should get exposure and some benefit from the required fundraising.

One of the ideas that I brought to the board was to partner with fraternities and sororities that had CMN as their chosen philanthropy. Work with the student groups to sponsor the local on campus ... wouldn't it be lovely if we had a Miss Ohio State University or a Miss University of Cincinnati? Most campuses require sponsorship by a student group to get event space on campus (in many cases, for FREE) ... and partnering with a fraternity or sorority accomplishes goals for both organizations. This partnership could span twenty (yes, twenty) campuses across Ohio. If you figure a 20% success rate with having campuses involved, that's four new locals. Even with a 10% success rate that's two new locals ... and the increased publicity and community involvement with our target audience. After all, aren't we trying to recruit a beautiful, intelligent, and well-spoken young woman? If so ... maybe we should look on college campuses. Just a thought.

Note: I'd forgotten how much I love this song ... until it was on Glee.

Success - or lack thereof.

2009-09-10T17:53:00.001-04:00

So, the new members of the board have been chosen. And I'm not one of them.

The interview went "OK" ... not well, not bad ... just "OK". They only gave each of us about 10 minutes, and that was about 6 questions (I think). One of the questions I was asked was that I have young children at home, how would I handle the time commitment?

After being simply FLOORED that someone would actually inquire as to my familial status in regards to my ability to do a job ... I answered with the simple truth. My job affords us the luxury to have my husband be a stay-at-home dad, and he's extremely supportive. Not to mention that my employer affords me more vacation time than I could use in a year, and looks quite favorably on community service. I was quite uncomfortable with being asked a question that (due to the perception of discrimination) most companies consider to be "off limits". Mind you, inquiry as to someone's familial status is NOT illegal, but most HR professionals will tell you not to even ask the question. As I've said a million times ... perception is reality. And how many board members have children at home?

I let the board member that called to notify me of the decision know that I was quite uncomfortable with being asked about my familial status during the interview, and it was made clear that my opinions and desire for forward movement was unwelcome.

She asked me if I would be interested in being on a committee, and I said that I'd have to think about it. As it stood, my professional credentials and reputation are my utmost priority, and that I wasn't feeling very sure about the direction of the organization. If I wasn't in a position to have a vote for some positive impact, I don't know if I'm interested in being directed to carry out the business of what's gotten us into this mess.

It was not unexpected that I wasn't selected. However, I can't say that I'm not disappointed. I had blind faith - a schoolgirl-type hope, even - that they were interested in positive change and forward movement. I have lots of great ideas to get the word out about what a great organization Miss America is and to sustain long-term growth and financial stability ... however, that's clearly not the direction that current "leadership" seems to want to take. Why? Because my plan would require WORK. Hard work. Not just walking into a business with your hand out, begging for donations.

I need to "noodle" on this for a while to decide whether I'm done for good this time, or whether I'm going to try again. For the first time in nearly 20 years ... I just don't know if it's worth the fight. I know my mom would say that it is, and that anything worth having is worth the fight ... but this time, I think Momma Sue might be wrong.

I still want to get my ideas out, therefore I will keep writing. Who knows ... maybe another (more progressive) state will be interested in hearing what I have to say.

EDITED TO ADD: If you want to see a copy of my professional resume, please comment with your email and I'll gladly share it. Considering it has a lot of personal information on it, I don't wish to post it on here. Thanks.

My application cover letter to the MOSP board

2009-09-10T07:38:00.000-04:00

Here is a copy/paste of the letter I sent to the board, applying for one of their open positions. As a side note, I never received a reply or confirmation from either MAO or Steven directly.

August 3, 2009

Steven Oliveri
Executive Director, Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, Inc.
PO Box 1818
Mansfield, Ohio 44901

Mr. Oliveri:

In years past, I was involved on the local level of the Miss Ohio program. From my years as a competitor, as well as my time as a local Executive Director and Producer, I gained an immense love for the spirit and the mission of the Miss America Organization. To this day, I still maintain a keen interest in the system and its overall health. For the past few years, I have not been involved in the organization. Given the recent events and public discussion of the financial and operational challenges that the Miss Ohio program faces, I have found that I truly miss the rewarding experiences it had provided me, and I realized I want to become involved again.

Since I have worked with Miss Ohio last, I have been employed in the compliance sector of one of the top banks in the world, and have obtained an industry-leading certification from the Institute of Internal Auditors. In the interest of having more work-life balance (and carving out time for my passion, community service), I left JPMorganChase to work for a smaller and more grounded institution. Since April of 2008, I have been working for Huntington National Bank, one of the largest banks in the Midwest. Currently, I am an Assistant Vice President and Compliance Section Manager. My job entails coordination of all regulatory and operational risk / compliance for the Business and Commercial banking sectors of the company. I also coordinate with other groups to improve our processes and procedures, ensuring efficient and effective operations. Leveraging my certification in control self-assessment (CCSA) has brought a collaborative problem-solving process to Huntington, and I’d like to share my gifts with an organization that clearly needs some assistance.

I would like to propose the installation of an Audit and Risk Committee, which I will gladly volunteer to chair. The purpose and direction of this committee would be to bring operational and financial control to the Miss Ohio program, assist with solid debt elimination and expense reduction plans, document processes and procedures, and work toward the goal of making the Miss Ohio program’s operations efficient and transparent to the general public. Clearly, operational risk and control is my forte, therefore I would seek out volunteer financial auditors and accountants for assistance.

In the business and commercial banking world, my credentials and experience command a good salary. However, I am more than willing to chair this committee at no cost. I only want to save the program that gave me so many advantages from sure financial and operational ruin, if no action is taken. I have enclosed a copy of my professional resume for your review, and can gladly furnish a summary of my experience as a past small business owner, local executive director and producer for Miss Ohio, contestant on the local/state/national/international level of pageants other than Miss America, and board member for other non-profit (501c3) organizations.

I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Very Truly Yours,

Hilary L. Powers, CCSA

Cc: Doreen Gordon, Controller, MAO

enclosure

Success - Money Talks

2009-09-07T10:26:00.004-04:00

So, let's talk about a local program and the finances associated with it.

I've mentioned before that I think that the failure of many local programs is because people don't understand the financial commitment that's necessary for success. Running a local program is like running your own small community-based organization.

It can be done in a few ways, and neither is any "better" than the other. There are some programs that subsist on very little community support. Their main focus is to put on a show to send a girl to Miss Ohio. Their involvement with their winner is minimal, and they require very little from their winner.

Conversely, there are some locals that are extremely involved (and in some cases, very overbearing) with their winner. They have appearance requirements in the local contract, demand that all wardrobe and performance decisions are cleared through them, and explicitly forbid "their girl" to seek outside assistance from a coach of any kind (talent, modeling, etc). Variety is the spice of life and all, and the girls need to vote for why type of pageant (yeah, I used the "P" word) they want ... with their applications.

At any rate, the financial commitment involved is significant; either way you choose to produce the program. Let's look at the bare minimum costs, shall we? Please note that these are just off the top of my head and haven't been confirmed by anyone at MOSP (I did Google for the sash/crown pricing to be sure I was accurate):

500 - Franchise fee
500 - Minimum winner's scholarship
50 - Winner's sash, including shipping
150 - Winner's crown, including shipping
100 - Miss Ohio week tickets, each person
200 - Full page ad in the Miss Ohio program book
30 - Forum tickets for winner and E.D.

So at the bare minimum, you're looking at $1,530 to cover the basics. Keep in mind that this doesn't cover theater rental, sound / lighting personnel, feeding the contestants that day, flowers for the winner, any scholarships for the runners-up, no trophies or plaques, telephone / mailing costs, etc. Conservatively, I'd say that it costs about $3,000 to put on a local with a "bare bones" budget. If you want to help with your winner's preparation and / or wardrobe ... extra. Gifts during Miss Ohio week? Extra. And the costs rise and rise and rise.

I'd bet that most folks that are interested in putting on a local (especially those that "burn out" after a year or three) are floored at the costs associated with it. Going back to the "mentor" concept ... pairing a successful local up with a newbie local is a good idea. Having a "thank you for your interest" packet to supply to a potential E.D. would be great! And even better yet? Having the "thank you for your interest" packet on the website (in PDF format) ready to download.

Service - also known as "this is not my beautiful life"

2009-09-04T23:59:00.000-04:00

As I covered in this post, the four points of the Miss America crown stand for Style, Scholarship, Service, and Success. When I started this brain-dump of all the thoughts and feelings that have built up since I was last involved with Miss Ohio, I figured that most of my posts would fall into those four categories. I'll see, in the long run, but for now ... this will work.

My thoughts today focus on the "service" point. Specifically, how it relates to my interest in the state program.

My interest in Miss America was piqued at a very young age. Although I was always a bit of a tomboy (and quite the ugly duckling) growing up, I always loved Miss America. The shiny crown, the fancy dresses, the questionable "talents" ... all of it made me look so forward to that Saturday night in mid-September. It was a big deal in our house ... popcorn and kool-aid, all 'round. I didn't know about the scholarships, the long history and tradition, the scandal of Vanessa Williams ... none of it. All I knew was that I loved to see that beautiful stage and the glittering spectacle each year.

Fast forward to my high school years, and I got involved with pageants. Still the tomboy underneath, I learned to embrace my inner diva ... oh, and I learned (completely by accident) that I could sing. While volunteering for a county fair during the summer, I got recruited to participate in their local pageant. I was too scared to sing in public, so I played the flute. I didn't place, but I did win the Non-Finalist Talent award. I had the bug. I also was a complete and utter moron for walking away from competition to get married, just as I'd found my "groove".

Yes, I enjoyed competing; but I also loved to organize things. I became involved with the production side of pageants, and really got involved. For a few years, my family produced a local program that was "closed" ... we liked having a local girl to spoil. And spoil we did ... every year, my mom and dad picked out special presents for "their princess", and she became part of our family. So much so that I followed one of our former winners all the way to Atlantic City, when she won as a different title two years later. We've been to their weddings, shared their joy and sorrows, and realized the true gift of friendship with these women.

When my mom fell ill, I spent most of my time running back and forth between her house and mine. I spent as much time with her as I could, because I didn't know how much longer she had. When she passed, one of the directives in her will was to establish a scholarship with a local softball league she enjoyed directing.

Although I'd been out of the Miss Ohio loop for a while, I still kept up on the "happenings" and the gossip. And I kept watching the program I had loved since I was a little girl spiral out of control.

That's why I want to be involved again. That's why I care. I want my daughter to have the chance to be a part of Miss America ... to be part of something bigger than her.

Are you a locavore?

2009-09-02T20:49:00.003-04:00

Locavore (n.) a person who attempt to eat only foods grown locally

The local "trend" has taken off, for sure. Everyone's talking about keeping business local, supporting your local community, etc. But are YOU supporting YOUR local?

Specifically, I'm talking about your local Miss America preliminary. The first step to becoming Miss America is your local pageant. Some are huge productions with long and storied histories, some are at a county fair, and some others are "one shot wonders" that exist for one year and then they're gone. But all are the necessary stepping stone to Miss Ohio ... and ultimately, Miss America.

However, the local pageant population is dwindling quickly in Ohio. Sure, there are the Claylands that stand the test of time ... with a Miss America and several Miss Ohios on their resume. But for every Clayland, there's three "one and done" prelims. How can we help these locals, these small businesses that are the beating heart of Miss America, to survive?

Certainly, the majority of that responsibility falls to the Executive Director of each local. But it's tough to keep the faith with a local pageant when there's no support from above.

One of my suggestions would be to have a "mentor" program. Assign a well-established local to a new local. Share ideas, be a sounding board ... you know, all the things a good mentor should do. The "Field Director" program was successful for a short while, but a new local needs more support and assistance than a board member with several other responsibilities can provide.

"Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to go shopping." -Bo Derek

2009-08-31T18:09:00.004-04:00

Ah, yes. Money. The root of all evil, it makes the world go 'round. We all need it. And charities survive by making the most convincing case to those that have a little extra. The most worthy cause usually wins (and the giver determines the worth).

Legally, a charity in the public trust is called a 501(c)3 organization. This refers to the section of the IRS Code that grants tax exemption for certain groups, so long as they continue to perform a charitable activity. As a further point of interest, the "best" charities have a very low overhead amount. Simply put, the more of your dollar that goes to the "cause", the better the charity is.

AIP’s Charity Rating Guide recommends that in most cases 60% or more of your charitable donation should go to program services. Less than 40% should be spent on general administration and fundraising costs. (reference: American Institute of Philanthropy) Considering that the "rally cry" of the MAO faithful is SCHOLARSHIP SCHOLARSHIP SCHOLARSHIP ... how much of the money raised each year goes to pay scholarships? How much is used on the production and stage show? Are the prizes and support that Miss Ohio is given proportionate to the annual revenue? How much debt has the program accumulated?

When you give a donation to MOSP or MAO (shorthand for Miss Ohio Scholarship Program and Miss America Organization), know what your money funds. Be an informed consumer.

Let's give 'em somethin' to talk about.

2009-08-30T09:59:00.000-04:00

So let's jump right in, shall we?

Let's talk about Voy. **gasp** I said the V word!

You love it, you hate it, you hit "reload" every thirty seconds. The scourge of pageants is also the most reliable source of "up to date" information about Miss Ohio (save for Abby's site). So why is everyone so schizophrenic about the Voy boards?

Realistically, the anonymity of the internets allows folks to spout their word vomit and not have to assume responsibility for their statement. It's a free-wheeling and sometimes slanderous place to vent, congregate, and get information. Some Voy boards are well-moderated, others continue to feed the drama of pageants, and others are somewhere in between. So, where lies the balance between free speech and slander?

The main issue, and the main attraction, with the Voy boards is a lack of communication and transparency from the organizations being discussed. Simply put, when people aren't given information, they invent their own. It's a high-tech gossip mill. If the organizations being discussed would share more information, would be more transparent ... I firmly believe that people wouldn't have to go seek out the information (or invent it) for themselves.

In today's social media / Web 2.0 environment, Miss Ohio should be blogging every day. Miss Ohio should be on Twitter, and tweeting daily. Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen - the same. After all, the "job" of Miss Ohio is to represent the organization, right? Well then get out there! Represent!

When you ask folks what they want in a winner, I guarantee the answers in the top five include beauty, talent, accessibility, ability to do well at Miss America, and someone that can catch the attention of the public. With the culture of today - full of Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and the like - how can we get our Miss Ohio noticed? How do you get a POSITIVE role model out there, someone that I'm proud to introduce to my child? Simple - get her out there and market her.

Now, I hear some of the noise. But that's expensive. We don't have the money. To all that I can only say one thing: cut the whining. How do most "stars" get marketed? They have paparazzi and aggressively market their "brand" (themselves) via social media such as Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, etc.

We have an Office Manager on staff. To my knowledge, we're one of the few (if not the ONLY) state that has a paid employee on our board. We need to utilize that resource to the fullest! Let's get back to having the "Applause!" newsletter. To save money, create it, save it as a PDF, and put it on the website. Keep the Miss Ohio website updated (did anyone else notice it says "Miss Ohio 2007" in the title bar?). Have someone at each local that's Twittering some details from the pageant.

Embrace social media, don't fight it. Use it to bring Miss Ohio into the new millennium ... considering that we're almost ten years in already.

The title, and the meaning

2009-08-29T11:02:00.000-04:00

The Four Points. As a Miss America contestant, this "catch phrase" is driven into your pretty little head, time and time again. It's a way to gauge whether the contestant is truly part of "the system" or if they're just there looking for a sparkly tiara. You can pretty much guarantee that one contestant at each local will be asked to describe what the four points of the Miss America Crown means to them.

So, what are the four points of the crown supposed to mean? Is it a trick question, meant to make the contestant shiver in her stilettoes? Or is it meant to discern whether she's pure of heart and soul, and doing this for the right reasons? Well, I suppose it's a bit of both.

Historically, the four points of the Miss America crown stand for "Style, Scholarship, Service, and Success". However, some people argue that the New Meaning is just that ... new. Some long-time advocates and historians say that the points signify the four phases of competition: Talent, Swimsuit, Interview, and Evening Wear - and that the round shape signifies a well-rounded contestant that has earned the right to wear the crown. The politically correct answer (AKA what you should probably say when asked in an interview) is the "new meaning". But knowing where you came from (essentially, the old meaning) is every bit as important as where you're going (the new meaning).

So, how did I come up with the title for this blog? Simply put, the Buckeye State has "four corners" and a middle. Those are usually regarded as directional (northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest). However, many folks see them as cities - Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati, and the Marietta area. Columbus, the state capital, falls in the middle of the state. So really, Ohio has "four points", just like the Miss America crown. And knowing where Ohio, as a state program, has come from ... well, it's every bit as important as knowing where it's going.

As I delve deeper into my long-time love affair with Miss America (and pageants in general), you'll see why I care.

Besides. It is NOT a beauty pageant. It is a SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. Gracie Lou Freebush says so.