National Conference of State Societies

The Eyes of Texas Are Upon Them, and Tennessee, and Alabama, and South Carolina too. April 10 in Hart 902.

The Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina State Societies will team up for one giant party in honor of their four cherry blossom princesses on Thursday, April 10 from 6 to 8 pm.  The party is in that legendary room 902 of the Hart Senate Office Building.  The room has a spectacular view of one-half of the Capitol Dome and the back of some other building.  The only problem is, you can only get to Hart Room 902 from the north bank of elevators in the Hart Building. Then take the 6 pm dog sled to 54 degrees, 45 minutes north and look for Eskimos dancing the Terlingua Two Step.  If you get lost, ask a Mountie for directions to Hart 902.

Idaho and New Mexico State Societies Stomp and Circumstances for Siete de April

OK, this might seem like an unsual grouping of states from the great Mountain Time Zone.  But even so the Idaho State Society and the New Mexico State Society will keep us all guessing with a joint party for their two repsective cherry blossom princesses at Tortilla Coast on Monday, April 7 from 6 to 8 pm.  Tortilla Coast is located at 400 First Street, SE on the House side of Capitol Hill.  The party will honor the 2008 Idaho princess Lacey Vanderboegh and the 2008 New Mexico Princess Elinor Rushforth.  The societies agree that Lacey is classy and Elinor is swellinor.  Please RSVP to idahostatesociety@gmail.com before Friday, April 4 for the Monday night event on April 7th.

Oklahoma Society Happy Hour is Friday, April 4

Hello All,
We wanted to send out a reminder email that the first official Oklahoma State Society Happy Hour will be this Friday, April 4 at Top of the Hill. Feel free to show up any time after 5:30, and stay as late as you want! Top of the Hill is located at 319 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, on top of the Pour House. We have the top room reserved, but members and non members alike are welcome. While you're there, we will have opportunities to sign up for memberships, and more importantly, we will have information about Gold Cup.

If you're new to DC, or not even from Oklahoma but enjoy a good time, feel free to show up, drink a lot (but a lot in moderation), and meet some new people!  CLICK HERE to learn more about these events and how to join the Oklahoma State Society.
---Allison Ealey
Vice President for Social Affairs

Please Help Paint a DC School Classroom on April 26

Four months ago members of many state societies answered a call from the Maine State Society to help lay holiday wreaths at Arlington Cemetery. The event was a big success.  Now the Connecticut Society of Washington, DC needs helpers who can volunteer on Saturday, April 26 from 9 am to 4 pm to help paint a DC school classroom.  CLICK HERE to learn about Hands On DC project to help DC Schools.  Both the Connecticut and Wisconsin State Societies worked on this worthwhile project last year in 2007. A count of potential volunteers is needed by this THURSDAY, April 3. Please CLICK HERE to register to help or donate money at the team page.  If you have any questions you can send an email to Liz Muro, Team  Leader for the Connecticut Society Volunteers, Hands on DC Workathon. The email address for Liz is calilizmuro@yahoo.com.  Kids in picture at right from Mr. Haskell's class say thank you for 2007. If you are from the midwest, you may write to Peggy Sue McNulty of the Wisconsin State Society at peggysue.mcnulty@gmail.com.

Come Join Us at Florida House on Thursday, April 3

The management of Florida House, home to Floridians on Capitol Hill, home state visitors, and members of the Florida State Society of Washington, DC, is inviting officers of other state societies in the Nation's Capital to join us for a light reception on Thursday, April 3 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm.  The purpose is to give society officers a chance to meet each other and trade dumb jokes about the teams of other states.  Most of all, help us join with the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival Committee as they launch a celebration of the 60th Anniverary of the Cherry Blossom Princess Program.  Individual state societies and NCSS started the program in 1948.

In the last sixty years more than 3,000 young women have participated, about fifty each year.  Former cherry blossom princesses now serving in Congress include Rep. Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.  Former Virginia First Lady Lynda Bird Johnson Robb is also an alumna of the program.

NCSS officers and committee chairs will be present to answer your questions and give out information sheets.  This is the best opportunity to purchase tickets and select your table for the United States Cherry Blossom Queen Dinner and Grand Ball on Friday, April 11, 2008 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.  This elegant black-tie event has also been a classic Washington tradition since 1948 where generations have seen state cherry blossom princesses and a queen selected by the Wheel of Fortune.

So join us for Florida hospitality, learn about our historic home, and celebrate the 2008 National Cherry Blossom Festival.  We are located directly behind the Supreme Court at One Second Street, NE. For more information about Florida House, CLICK HERE to see our web site. To learn how to join the Florida State Society please CLICK HERE.  To learn about all the state societies, click on your state flag to the left on this page.

Coming Next Saturday! NCSS Souvenir Programs!

The Special 60th Anniversary Edition of the 2008 NCSS Cherry Blossom Princess Souvenir Program Book will be a collector's item that many state society members will want to keep as reference for years to come. This colorful and unique souvenir includes pictures of all the 2008 state cherry blossom princesses and never-before published historical photos on state society events from 1948 to the present. There is also an article on the history of NCSS and state societies from 1854 to 2008. This is a must-have feature for your state society party for a cherry blossom princess.  They will be off the press next Friday, April 4.  Use this book as a marketing tool for your state society and it will help to tell your story to potential donors and sponsors.  State societies that have advertised with NCSS or made special donations in the last six months will receive copies as needed.  Other societies may order extra copies at $3 each from NCSS with a minimum order of twenty copies by sending an email to the program chair at Mark.Rhoads@statesocieties.com.