Hi everyone! I just thought I would give you a little update about what my summer has been like...

I just came back from the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, FL. Erin Buck really made Maine proud! She did such a great job and we really do have an outstanding teen representing Maine. I was so happy to be there supporting her. As a Miss Contestant, the organization held numerous events for us. We were able to visit a local CMN hospital and spend time with some of the patients. We saw some of the MAOT preliminary competitions, had a wonderful tour of Disney World (all the rides none of the lines!), had lunch at Planet Hollywood, attended a fabulous gala for the teens, met some former Miss America's and many of the organization's key people, and saw the final MAOT competition. I had a blast and really got to know some of the new members of the Miss America 2008 class.

Before FL, I had a wonderful time with Valerie Clemens in PA. I got a real taste of what it felt like to be Miss America. Valerie took me to do some wardrobe shopping as well as numerous appearances. I danced and spoke at places such as the Ronald McDonald house, an inner city children's ESF camp in Philadelphia, the Sunrise Assisted Living Center, Benchmark summer camp, Melmark home for the mentally and physically handicapped, and even got to work on a Habitat home while I was there. I also met up with Miss NJ, Miss RI, and Miss Virgin Islands to take a tour of Atlantic City and the new Miss America office in NJ. I learned so much about the history of the program and I was even able to do a piroutte on the fabulous stage in the Atlantic City convention hall where so many Miss America's had been crowned. At the end of the week, we had mock interviews, talent and swimsuit reviews and a great reception for the visiting titleholders in preparation for Miss America. I had such a great time with Valerie and her family and I know that it really helped me prepare for everything ahead.

I have also been doing several appearances throughout Maine such as the Rockland Lobster Festival Parade and the Taste of Greater Waterville. Each experience has been unique and exciting and I have been able to meet so many great people.

This upcoming weekend I will be attending a fund raiser in Lewiston for Habitat for Humanity where I will be helping to serve food for the organization. I would love to have as much support there as possible for the festival and hot air balloon rides so if you are around that area please stop by! I also have a trip scheduled to Georgia for the last week in August where I will see the national headquarters of Habitat for Humanity and learn how about how it all began. I am continuing to help with Habitat projects and fund raising and I urge you to check out the Habitat website and do the same. There is something for everyone to do at Habitat. I have also corresponded with Congressman Michaud to learn about how our representatives in Congress are continuing to push for more assistance for low income families in Maine.

I will keep you posted as more things happen.....All the best!

So, those of you who have been following the Miss America Organization closely these past few months may have been in for quite a surprise to find that we were dropped yet again just some time ago by CMT. Yet, fret not dear friend, as we are back in the game again, this time high on the shoulders of TLC. Here's the news straight from the press room:

TLC AND THE MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION REACH MULTI-YEAR DEAL FOR TELECAST RIGHTS TO

"MISS AMERICA 2008 PAGEANT"

Viewers Rediscover Miss America On Saturday, January 26, 2008 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ and LOS ANGELES, CA - August 13, 2007 - The Miss America Organization today announced a multi year agreement with TLC, its new network home, which will telecast the distinguished "Miss America Pageant" on Saturday January 26, 2008 . The announcement was made jointly today by Chairman of the Board for The Miss America Organization, Sam Haskell, III and TLC president and general manager Angela Shapiro-Mathes. TLC will retain telecast rights through 2010.

"We're thrilled to partner with the Miss America Organization and to broadcast the next generation of the Miss America Pageant," said Shapiro-Mathes. "In addition, through a new reality series, we'll get to know 52 of the country's smartest and most beautiful women as they prepare for a competition they've dreamed of their entire lives. The series will culminate in the ultimate pay-off - the Miss America 2008 Pageant itself. This collaboration is a tremendous opportunity for us to present this scholarship pageant and great American tradition to our viewers with a contemporary production style unique to our channel."

"After thorough discussions and negotiations, we are confident that Miss America has found the perfect partner to host our Pageant," said Haskell. "Miss America's move to TLC will give it the proper promotion and attention it deserves. Our brand is rich in both philanthropy and history, and this new multi-million dollar partnership will not only preserve this wonderful institution, but will, in fact, build the Miss America brand. We are excited about the TLC production efforts that will showcase the brightest women in America and their spirit of community service that continues to empower young women across this great country."

The TLC reality series will chronicle the preparations and journeys of the contestants as they adjust to a new twist on the pageant format. The series will also give fans of the pageant the chance to learn more about the young women competing and allow them to start choosing their favorites in the pursuit of the crown.

"Miss America" will air live from Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas on Saturday, January 26th. The current Miss America, Lauren Nelson was crowned in Las Vegas in January 2007.

About TLC

TLC's innovative hit series include perennial fashion favorite What Not to Wear; Little People Big World, entering its third season this fall; Miami Ink and the successful new spin-off LA Ink. The channel defined home design with Trading Spaces and continues to reinvent the genre with Property Ladder, Flip That House and Moving Up. TLC's daytime lineup includes the Emmy Award-winning A Baby Story as well as Take Home Chef, featuring one of People Magazine's Sexiest Men, Curtis Stone. The channel is available in more than 93 million homes in the US, nearly 8 million homes in Canada and through the website at www.tlc.com. TLC is part of Discovery Communications which is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman.

For further discussion of this topic, please see the Miss Maine Forums here.