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Ambassador experience is lasting

To the editor:
In a recent commentary in the Post Review, a resident discussed the positive parts to having ambassadors from your community who serve through out the year. Some are called queens, some ambassadors ñ but they are all really the same thing. I know this because I was the Hopkins Raspberry Festival Queen a few years ago ñ representing Hopkins all over the state of Minnesota.
Some may think it is all about beauty contests and getting to wave in parades and flash smiles at those they go by ñ but that isnít even the beginning of it. As an ambassador for your community, you are able to spread the pride of your community or festival all around the state at every festival you go to, at Winter Carnival, and at Aquatennial.
There are so many people that I feel blessed to have met during my reign and during the years afterwards. When I was the ambassador for Hopkins, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Nicole Nelson ñ North Branchís Midsummer Queen. I doubt our paths would have otherwise ever crossed had we not each been given this experience. In getting to know each other better, we learned that our parents actually went to high school together and were able to share stories ñ reminding us what a small world it really is. My sister, Heather, was ambassador for St. Louis Park ñ and she shared a similar experience meeting a distant cousin, Lisa Scheele,Ýwho was also a North Branch Midsummer Queen. Ý But beyond these ìsmall worldî happenings, being an ambassador for your community gives you so much more.
I know that for myself and others I have had the chance to get to know real well, it gives you leadership qualities, public speaking opportunities, and networking possibilities for later down the road. After my stay at Aquatennial, I had such an urge to give back to my own community and the rest of the state that I formed a group within Aquatennial called the Minneapolis Aquatennial Past Candidates Association.
This group is a volunteer organization that not only volunteers with various charities around the state (currently about 25 organizations have requested our help), but we also volunteer to go back to the festivals that have supported their ambassadors and help out where we can there. That can mean anything from judging the coronations to cleaning up after events.Ý
Currently, we have over 80 participants in this program and each year we hope to grow by at least half the girls who are sent to Aquatennial (which is typically around 50).ÝThrough this organization, we are able to keep giving back to our communities ñ not just as individuals, but as friends and people who want to do something to make our world a little better place to be.
Additionally, we are able to continue to bring our roots with us wherever we go and tell about where we came from to people who may not have ever heard of a particular community or celebration. Ý With that said, I would like to commend North Branch on their Midsummer celebration and am anxious to meet future candidates that you send to Aquatennial.
What your ambassadors will get out of the experience is something they will never forget,Ýcontinue to grow with, and you as a community will also benefit from their travels.
Jayme Forstrom
President, Minneapolis Aquatennial Past
Candidates Association

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