National Conference of State Societies

The Wheel Stops on Maine!

Maine Cherry Blossom Princess Emily B. Little of Mount Desert in Hancock County, Maine was selected by the Wheel of Fortune to become the 2008 United States Cherry Blossom Queen on Friday, April 11 at the Cherry Blossom Grand Ball in Washington, DC.  She will represent the USA on a trip to Japan in May at the invitation of the Japan Cherry Blossom Association.  Emily is the daughter of Carl Little and Margaret Beaulac.  She currently attends the University of Maine, where she studies Nursing and Spanish.  Miss Little's strongest passion is helping people in need.  She loves to dance and she loves laughter.  Just before the Wheel was spun to select New Mexico Cherry Blossom Princess Elinor Rushforth at First Runner Up, the 2008 Princess Class members had voted Emily Little as "Miss Congeniality."

In the audience to witness the selection of Emily as the 2008 Queen was the Maine Cherry Blossom Princess of 1948, Joan Lovering Boos.  Joan had been introduced earlier in the evening as the representative for the very first cherry blossom princess Class of 1948 and was the senior princess attending the ball.  The 1961 Cherry Blossom Queen, Betsy Howard Jefferson, was also present at the anniversary ball and she was asked as Honorary Chair to spin the wheel for the First Runner Up.

All state cherry blossom princesses have a chance to win.  There is no judging.  Whatever state the wheel lands on is the princess selected to be U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen.  The Wheel was fist spun in 1948 and this year is the 60th Anniversary of the program.  Emily is the fourth cherry blossom princess from the state of Maine to be chosen as Queen since 1948.  The other three were Kelly Riordan in 1990, Carolyn Drigotas in 1958, and Jeanine Raymond in 1955.

Cherry Blossom Princesses in Parade on Sat., April 12

Southwest Airlines presents the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival will kick off at 10 am on Saturday, April 12 at 7th Street and Constitution Avenues, NW and proceed west for ten blocks to 17th Street. Millions have enjoyed this Washington tradition for sixty years.  The state societies of Washington, DC will be represented by cherry blossom princesses who will march in the parade escorted by midshipmen of the NAVY ROTC unit at The George Washington University.  To learn more about the parade, please CLICK HERE to see the parade home page on the web site of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The parade will be followed by a huge street festival on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and 14th Street, NW called the Sakura Matsuri, or Cherry Blossom Festival in Japanese.

Alaska Cherry Blossom Princess Party is April 10

Senator Ted Stevens and Mrs. Catherine Stevens have selected Jayme Johnson of Anchorage to be this year’s Alaska Cherry Blossom Princess. AKSS invites you to a reception in Ms. Johnson’s honor. The party is from 6 pm to 8 pm on Thursday, April 10 at Jack Ferguson Associates, 203 Maryland Ave., NE across the street from the Hart Senate Office Building.    Admission is $10 for non-members.  CLICK HERE for more details on how to join AKSS. Space is limited for this event, so please RSVP as soon as possible. If you have any questions or would like to RSVP please CLICK HERE to send us an email.

Mississippi Congressional Reception on April 10

Please join our annual Congressional Reception on Thursday, April 10 at 6 pm in Room S-207, The Mike Mansfield Room in The Capitol.  We will honor the members of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation and we will welcome the 2008 Mississippi Cherry Blossom Princess, Betsy Sawyer.  To see your formal invitation, please CLICK HERE.

This event is only for current members of the Society.  If you have not yet renewed your dues for 2008, please CLICK HERE.  At our web site you can renew your dues online, or mail a check to P.O. Box 15106, Washington, DC 20003.  If you have any questions, CLICK HERE to send us email.

 

Congressional Reception for Cherry Blossom Princesses is Wed., April 9 in 325 Russell Senate Office Building

The NCSS President's reception for Members of Congress and cherry blossom princesses will be held in Russell Senate Office Building Room 325, the third floor caucus room, on Wednesday, April 9 from 6 to 8 pm.  If your state society has not yet given the name of your congressional escort to event chair Jody Sweet, please do so right away.  Her contact information is

Jody Sweet
Office:  jsweet@3eti.com
Home:  jwsweet1@aim.com

West Virginia State Society Party April 10 Tortilla Coast

This is a reminder that the West Virginia State Society will host a reception for our West Virginia Cherry Blossom Princess, Miranda Kessel on Thursday, April 10, 2008 from 6pm to 8pm at Tortilla Coast on the House side of Capitol Hill. Please join us as we celebrate our Princess and the festival.  To find out more details and to register for the event, please CLICK HERE. 

Theresa Phipps, President

West Virginia State Society