Bagging Food for a Good Cause!

The need for food has been huge this year due to economic times and the ICA Food shelf has been serving our community for 38 years. What started out as two couples handing out food and clothing in Hopkins, MN has grown into an organization that is supported by 36 churches, local civic organizations and over 100 businesses.
The ICA has a food distribution program for people who make appointments for food orders but won't turn away walk-in's to get an emergency food bag. They also have an emergency financial assistance program for rent, mortgage and utilities. As you can see, this is a wonderful and longstanding program.

Donate any time of the year or to learn more about them visit:
http://www.icafoodshelf.org/index.html

I was asked to bag groceries for tips that would go to the ICA food shelf and had a great time doing it! Customers of Cub Foods in Minnetonka/Excelsior were more than happy to come out in the snow have help during this holiday season.

I have a system for bagging so I was a pro at it!

Everyone was asking about my title so it was a great opportunity to advertise my platform and the International Pageant. There's never NOT a place that you can talk about it. The banner is sure to strike up a conversation!

Me and the Mayor of Excelsior Nick Ruehl working together!

Nich Ruehl, the Mayor of Excelsior, Shirley Buehler from ICA and myself after a hard afternoon!

Broccoli is something I know how to bag being vegan!

Internet Safety Day at the Bank

I was featured at US Bank in Eagan on Friday as the business partner of the week. All week long a poster board was promoting me and my Internet safety information in the lobby of the bank. I was available to meet and greet customers from 11-2pm to talk to them and hand out online safety brochures. Many people had children or teens who used the Internet and were grateful for the information I was able to provide.
I want to thank the branch manager Doug Scalia of the Eagan branch for affording me this opportunity. I have known Doug for many years and appreciate his friendship and dedication to keeping kids safe while being online.
Thank you Doug!!

On Call for SOS

SEXUAL OFFENSE SERVICES (SOS)


I was on call for the crisis line and it was a busy day. It's bitter sweet because that means people are reaching out but it also means that people are being hurt. Rape is the most under reported crime so whenever we have a survivor brought into Regions Hospital it is a good thing. We never press them to make a police report but we make sure they know that the evidence will stay on file with the BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) so if someone else reports the same person they can be linked to multiple crimes. Or, if this person is identified by the person brought in now and their DNA is already on file, they will be prosecuted for other previous cases, hopefully. It also gives the victim some power over what has happened and gives them a choice in the matter of what happens next.

I was called into Regions ER early on Saturday morning and when I finished the case I was called back in just as I arrived home. Both different types of cases but I can generalize in saying that drugs or alcohol can be a big factor in a lot of instances. May I remind you that it is never the victims fault. The questions is, does the person give consent to the act. If no, then a crime has been committed. It doesn't matter if they had alcohol, were using drugs, dressing sexy, etc. People need to understand these excuses are myths. Police officers, especially ones trained in Ramsey County, are fully aware of this. Even if you think something has happened, I advise you to to get an exam so evidence can be collected as soon as possible. You must take care of you and that is the most important thing of all.

I hope that one day the crisis line is never needed and that we live in a world free of assault. I hope that I will never be needed as a volunteer. I've learned a lot of things as an 11 year veteran. The job never gets easier but I thank god every day I've got a very understanding and loving husband to come home to for hugs.

PET HAVEN'S 4TH ANNUAL FALL BENEFIT

This was a very meaningful event for me. It was 3 years ago when I made an appearance with Mrs. Minnesota 2007 Donnell Rank where I first laid eyes on Tala, a 104 lb rottweiler. We had seen her online profile on Pet Haven't website
http://www.pethavenmn.org/   a few weeks prior but at the last minute decided to hold off on adopting a dog.

At the fundraiser I approached the foster mom who was handling the mystery rotty and I asked her the name of the dog. She said, "Tala." I was over the moon that the SAME dog that we had been considering was right in front of me! I immediately called my husband, Mike, and he told me to stay by her to see how she acted in a room full of people, loud noises, etc. That was no problem because Tala wouldn't leave MY side! In the pet fashion show she was the show stopper at the end in her feather boa.

When Mike came to get me after the benefit, he was able to see just how wonderful and well mannered she was. We then went to the PETCO that Saturday to fill out the adoption papers. She was ours later that week!! We spent 3 wonderful years with Tala....She passed away Oct 18, 2010. She has left a hole in our hearts, especially mine. She followed me wherever I went, slept next to my side of the bed every night and it was clear that I was "her person." We will definitely go back to Pet Haven to find our next family member when the time is right.

When Pet Haven called to ask me to be one of the celebs to walk in the fashion show this year with the animals sporting clothes by Lulu and Luigi, of course I said yes! How could I turn that down!? I love their organization.

The event was held at the Sofitel Hotel in Edina on Nov 13th, 2010

Me posing with the poster board with my photo among the other "celebs" of the night.

The Silent Auction portion of the fundraiser

The chefs even went so far as to make me a special gluten free, vegan dinner!

The evening was hosted by Staci Mathews of KS95 Moon and Staci Show. Others in the fashion show included Jason DeRusha from WCCO- TV reporter, Donna Valetine of K102 morning show, Cheryl Kay from 102.9 Lite FM on the Kevin and Cheryl Morning Show, Natalie Darwitz who is the U of Mn Women's hockey asst coach, Elizabeth Reis who co-hosts Twin Cities Live, Johnathan Rabb of CW Crew, Jenna and Peyton from the MN Vikings Cheerleading team, and Me, Molly Nicholson Mrs. Minnesota International 2011.
Yes, I was flattered but I told them of the typo and they corrected it when introduced me.

Waiting back stage to show off the animals!

Jason Derusha from WCCO Ch 4 News

Elizabeth Reis from Twin Cities Live

I had the pleasure of walking a grey poodle named Suzie!

She wore a pink dress and a pink leash which sported a crown. How appropriate! She was a quite crazy and out of control in which everyone laughed at her but I took charge and all was well!

The evening went very well and Pet Haven was able to raise money through silent auction items and donations. They do not have a shelter for the public to view the animals up for adoption but do bring most to a PETCO location every other week. View their website to see which new family member needs a home! http://www.pethavenmn.org/

Thank you Pet Haven for including me in this meaningful event in this time in my life. You know who you are :)

Pitch book Party!

Mrs Minnesota 2010 Susie Overvold hosted a get together at Archivers at the Eden Prairie Mall. We worked on our pitch books which are basically scrapbooks capturing our year as a titleholder. It's fun to reminisce about all of the people you've met and helped along the way.

They are getting ready for the Christmas season so we took advantage posing in front of the tree in their entry way.

Regions On Call

Sexual Offense Services (SOS)

I was on call for SOS from 5am-5pm on Sunday. It was an active day due to activity on late on Saturday night. I was called to see two rape victims at Regions hospital. My role as an advocate is to be there for the victim as someone who's not a Dr or nurse and won't be prodding or poking them. Someone who, if they feel comfortable, can talk with about anything that has happened or will happen while they are in the ER. I explain the services we offer at SOS (651-643-3006 24/hr line) which are individual counseling, group counseling, help with court dates, help with order of protections, and more. See their website http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ph/yas/sos.htm

I handle the phone, respond to Regions hospital to work with the victim, policy and the nurse examiner. I arrange rides home if they have no way to get home from the hospital. I will also arrange shelter if they have no where to stay. I went through training spring of 2000. I encourage anyone to consider this type of volunteer work if you have a big heart, good sense of listening, and in some case, a sense of humor! Every call I go on is different than the previous one..each visit is an opportunity to be there at what could be the person's worst day in their lives. I am honored to be that person.

Pilot Knob Elementary School

It was Internet safety night at Pilot Knob Elementary aimed at parents. Earlier in the day the kids had their session about what information could be dangerous to share online. Karina Berzins from the BAC in St Paul was there to help parents understand the latest technology that kids have access to these days.

Did you know that Facebook has over 500,000,000 users now? Imagine how many of them can cause problems. Don't discount the huge weight of cyber bullying either.

go to http://www.netsmartz411.com/ for more information on how to talk to your kids about the dangers of internet predators and what to do if they come across anything inappropriate.