National Conference of State Societies

Tea for Delaware and Maryland Princesses on March 1

The Delaware State Society and

The Maryland State Society

will jointly sponsor a tea for their respective 2008 Cherry Blossom Princesses on Saturday, March 1 from 3 pm to 5 pm at the home of Mrs. Zoe Roa, 9400 Crimson Leaf Terrace, Potomac, Maryland 20854. The event is free for Delaware State Society members and there is a charge of  $10 for other guests. For more information and to R.S.V.P call Nancy Aiken at 301-983-8182 or send an email to Nancy at her home email address broomie53@aol.com.  Delaware Princess Christina Aiken is pictured at left and Maryland Princess Abigail "Abby" Adams is pictured at right.

Help Tennessee Tornado Victims on Monday, Feb. 25

The Tennessee State Society of Washington, DC and The Ugly Mug at 723 8th Street, SE invite y'all to attend a Happy Hour to raise funds for tornado-ravaged areas of Tennesee.  The date is Monday, Feb. 25th, 2008 from 5:30 pm to close. All money from a $5 wristband for admission will be donated to tornado victims.  The wristband gets great drink specials all night. Between 7 pm to 10 pm, all tips to the guest bartenders will also be donated to victims. CLICK HERE to visit the web site of the Tennessee State Society and learn more about this event and how to join the society.

Guam Society Princess Ball is Saturday, April 5

The Guam Society of America cordially invites you to the 2008 Cherry Blossom Princess Ball in honor of Marissa Christine Tydingco on Sunday, April 5, 2008.  The dinner and dance is from 6 pm to 12 midnight at the Washington Navy Yard Catering and Conference Center, Building 211. Dance music by The Tropic Sounds door prizes, a raffle and silent auction, and a cash bar.  For more information on ticket prices and menu, please call Irene Rives at 202-302-6826 or send an email to rives@comcast.net. To learn more about the events of the Guam Society of America and how to join GSA, please CLICK HERE to visit our web site.

Save The Date: Sunday April 6 Lantern Ceremony

NCSS and the National Park Service will jointly sponsor the 54th annual Stone Lantern Lighting and Concert outdoors on the Tidal Basin on Sunday, April 6 starting at 2:30 pm with prelude music by the Toho Koto Society of Washington, DC.  Five hundred chairs will be set up for the public on a first come, first seated basis and admission is free. Additional music will be provided by the Cardinal Choir.  The 8 and 1/2 tall two-ton Japansese Stone Lantern was carved 357 years ago in 1651 to honor the Third Shogun of the Tokugawa Period. It was given to Washington, DC in 1954. Public officials will offer brief remarks including the guest of honor, His Excellency, Ryozo Kato, the Ambassador of Japan to the United States.  The location is one block west of the Paddle Boat Dock at the west end of Kutz Bridge near the intersection of 17th and Independence Avenues, SW. The Lantern area is located about four blocks west of the Smithsonian Meto Station on the Orange and Blue lines.  Parking is very limited so Metro or taxi cab is the best option. The World War II Memorial is about sixty yards north of the Lantern on 17th Street and public restrooms are located there.

2008 TICKET ORDER FORM IS BELOW

Please click on pdf file below to download order form for NCSS events such as the Spirit of Washington Cruise on Tuesday, April 8, reserve NCSS-sponsored complimentary tickets for the Congressional Reception on Wednesday, April 9, and to purchase tickets for the black-tie formal U.S. Cherry Blossom Grand Coronation Ball on Friday, April 11 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Download 2008_ticket_order_form.pdf

Tickets for the 2008 U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen Grand Coronation Ball are now on sale. The black-tie event is one of Washington's great traditions for sixty years. The ball includes a sushi reception before dinner on Friday night, April 11 at 6 pm with dinner at 7 pm.  Tickets are $150 each or $1,350 for a table with nine seats and one seat for a state cherry blossom princess. Tables of ten without a princess are $1,500.  The location is the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 1000 H Street, NW adjacent to the Metro Center.  CLICK HERE TO SEE MAP.

To get more information, contact NCSS Ticket Chairman John Espinal by sending an email to 

NCSSEVENTS@COMCAST.NET.

Channel 9 News Anchor Andrea Roane will MC NCSS Cherry Blossom Ball on Friday, April 11

WUSA-TV Channel 9 morning news anchor Andrea Roane will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies for the 60th Anniversary U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen Grand Ball sponsored by the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS).  "I am thrilled that she accepted our invitation," said NCSS President Lou Barrett.  The dinner and dance will be held on Friday, April 11 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 1000 H Street, NW in Washington, DC.

Roane is now in her 26th year with W*USA 9, a tremendous achievement. She currently co-anchors 9 NEWS NOW from 5-7am and 9-10am with Mike Walter. She was recently selected as a distinguished annual honoree by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and The Center for Association Leadership's Greater Washington Network, which recognized Andrea's outstanding work within the community and the region as a "leader and trailblazer deserving of recognition." The GWN serves over 8,000 industry professionals in the region.

Andrea joined W*USA 9 in August 1981 as the Sunday evening and 6:30am weekday anchor. In 1983, she co-anchored the Noon broadcast with Bob Dalton. In 1989, Andrea co-anchored the 4pm news with Mike Buchanan. In 1995, Andrea co-anchored the 6 & 11pm newscasts with Gordon Peterson. In October 2000, Andrea was re-teamed with Mike Buchanan for the 5, 6, and 9am newscasts.

Florida State Society Annual Meeting Wed. Feb. 27

The Florida State Society Annual Meeting and election of officers will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at the Union Pub at 201 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.  After a few beers and after members have paid their annual dues, members will then vote on a slate of officers for the coming year and on changes in the constitution and bylaws. Click on the link below for more information on the Happy Hour.  Photos above and below of the Florida State Society annual holiday party were taken Dec. 4, 2007 at the elegant Florida House behind the Supreme Court.

Like many state societies, The Florida State Society goes back to roots as the Florida State Association in the early 1880s.  The society has been a wonderful cure for homesick Floridians in Washington, DC for more than 120 years.  The addition of Florida House in 1973 on Capitol Hill as a physical home for Florida expatriates living in or visiting Washington has been a terrfic addition that enables society members to have a convenient house to meet and entertain.  To learn more about the Florida State Society and to read how join us at the Feb. 27 Happy Hour and meeting, please CLICK HERE to visit our web site.

Commonwealth of Virgnia: Home of Eight Presidents

First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen. The birthday of President George Washington is Friday, Feb. 22.  Virginia is the home state of eight presidents.  Can you name them? CLICK HERE for the answers.  To visit the web site of the Society of Virginia, please CLICK HERE.  Or, for more information on upcoming events and how to join the Society of Virginia, please email Jan.Bouchard@virginiastatesociety.org.