Miss Brainerd Lakes

Hello again! As my year of reign comes to an end and I make my last couple of appearances as Miss Brainerd Lakes, I am even more excited about the Miss Minnesota pageant!

A few weeks ago, I worked with the Brainerd branch of the League of Women Voters to register 18 year olds to vote, at our local high school. We were able to register approximately 25 fresh voters for the upcoming elections. We also handed out registration cards for those who will be turning 18 in the next couple of months. It was a great opportunity to talk one on one with high school students about the rights and responsibilities of being active citizens in our country. In addition, it was great exposure for the Miss Brainerd Lakes program!


The next week, I was an honorary guest at the League of Women Voters annual statewide conference at Breezy Point Resort. I was invited by Judy Duffy, the state director of the League of Women Voters Minnesota, who I had previously met at the press conference for Kids Vote in February. While talking to her and her husband, I discovered that they had volunteered with the Miss Minnesota pageant while it was held in Austin, Minnesota and actually housed contestants. What a small world!

Over Memorial Day weekend, I was blessed with an incredible opportunity to participate in the annual Freedom Celebration honoring our veterans. Over 200 veterans of all ages were given gifts from several local businesses as a way of thanking them for their service. It was a very moving ceremony that honored the veterans from all five branches of our country's armed forces.

With final preparations in place, I'm excited about all the scheduled events during pageant week and the chance to develop a closer friendship with all the other contestants. I wish the best of luck to everyone!!

Until then,
Mackenzie Ross, Miss Brainerd Lakes

Kids Vote Minnesota

Hello again, Miss Brainerd Lakes here.

One of the things I have been devoting a lot of time to this year is the Kids Vote program. This is a nation wide program that encourages students under the age of 18 to participate in the election process. I was able to do a number of Public Service Announcements that were shown on our local cable channel and in school's throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area. These PSA's challenged teachers, parents and kids to get involved in this past falls election.

In February of this year, I was able to participate in a press conference with Secretary of State Mark Ritchie at the State Office Building. The purpose of this press conference was to introduce a bill to state legislators asking for additional funding for Kids Vote Minnesota, with the focus of adding more schools for the 2008 election.

Until next time,
Mackenzie Ross, Miss Brainerd Lakes

Miss Brainerd Lakes

Hello everyone! I am Mackenzie Ross, Miss Brainerd Lakes 2006. My platform is titled Invest, Involve, Vote which focuses on investing in our nation by being involved in our government at the local, state and national level and of course voting.

I'm currently attending school at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. With hopes of obtaining my AA degree this spring. This past fall I completed an internship in Washington D.C at the White House. I worked in the Office of Presidential Correspondence, specifically the Gift Office. It was an extremely exciting time to be in 'the District' during an election year.

I really enjoyed the Contestant Forum weekend. It was exciting to meet everyone and very informative. I particular enjoyed the Fashion Gala because my group won!!!!! :) I'm looking forward to pageant week and getting to know all the contestants better!