Rose Planting at our house

The Rosarians at our house planting the Celebration Rose

Rose Planting at Prime Minister Kobertanz

Rachel with Prime Minister Sue Klobertanz and Sir Larry

Ropin’ Roses Dinner & Auction

Auctioneer Randy Wells and staff with side kick Queen Rachel

Mr Arthur Debow and Rachel getting ready to deliver the purchased cow

Jeff Curtis, Executive Director, Rose Festival Foundation and Rachel after a very successful auction

Royal Rosarian Prime Minister’s Ball

Rachel and Prime Minsister Sue Klobertanz

Posing with Katie Harman Ebner, Miss America-2002

Pendleton Round-up

Rachel in the Round-up Parade

With Round-up Court and Queen on final day of rodeo

Having fun at the Buckle Club dinner with Carl, Pam, Ebony and Miss Leslie

Oregon Nikkei Endowment Benefit

Oregon Nikkei Endowment with with Mrs Masuoka

Astoria Regatta Queen’s Coronation

Queen Rachel and newly crowned Queen Kelsi

The Portland Rose Festival has a great exchange program with the Astoria Regatta. During our court travels, we met with and traveled around Astoria with the Astoria Regatta Court. It was so much fun to visit the court once more during this final summer event. Miss Leslie and I drove to the coast in the afternoon and listened to the court’s speeches during their coronation. I was very excited when Kelsi was crowned queen. The Astoria-Portland relationship between our Festivals is a special exchange, and one which I am proud to be a part of.

Parades of the summer

Over the summer I was in three parades with the Royal Rosarians. The large float is modeled after a bridge demonstrating this year’s theme of “Bridging Communities”. Parades are one of my favorite events because I love seeing the smiles on people’s faces as we stroll by. My favorite memories from parades are when I wave to little kids and their mothers say to them, “Wave to the Queen!” The kids then wave to me in awe. I love these moments because not too long ago, I was the little girl on the sidewalk waving to the queen on the float.

Battleground Parade on July 18th

George Fox University Visit

I had never been to George Fox University before, but when Miss Leslie and I drove up to the campus I was amazed by it’s beauty. The fields of perfectly green grass surround the campus. We were invited to visit a group of Korean students visiting the Portland area. I was greeted by the organizer of the group, a kind older gentleman, who bowed to me. Miss Leslie and I then walked into a classroom full of about twenty college aged Korean students. The program that the students were in allowed them to tour Oregon while learning English at classes in the morning. I delievered the speech which I gave my school and the judges before I became a princess to them and then conversed in small groups. It is amazing how even though their was a large language barrier between the students and I, we were able to communicate through hand motions. I also discovered that one of the students spoke Japanese, so we were able communicate in both of our second languages. This visit really demonstrated to me how the Portland Rose Festival is carrying out its mission of Bridging Communities. Hopefully one day the Korean students will return to visit the festival. Below is my speech:

A smile: a happy, honest, friendly and genuine smile. Go ahead, try it. Flash a smile. But let me warn you, it is contagious, it’s infectious. Just a simple smile can uplift someone’s day. It is a universal expression of happiness. Smiling is the first part of friendliness that plays an important role in community building.

            This year, the theme for Rose Festival is bridging communities: the communities within our school, between age groups and cultures. The key to bridging communities is being friendly, having an open mind and accepting others.

            Grant High School is a melting pot of people of all types. Everyday, each of us wakes up, coming from different backgrounds, cultures and lives, to meet at Grant High School. It is the converging point where we can all come and have our home away from home. We are each a part of the collogue that make Grant High School. It is important to have an open mind, to be proud of yourself and to be proud of where you come from in order to accept others. When we learn about other people and the struggles that they have faced, we are better able to understand and accept them. By being friendly and having an open mind, we can make this large city of Portland closer and seem a little bit smaller.

            I have had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer at Portland Providence hospital for the last year. It is there that I have realized the importance of friendliness and the power of a smile. One day, I was wheeling around an empty wheelchair and I saw a confused looking little old woman. I smiled to her, and she smiled back. A calm look of relief came over her as she asked for help. She had been lost and was running late to an appointment. I was able to help her reach her destination, and it was my smile that made her feel welcomed and relieved to know that I was willing to help. Small steps like these help bridge communities between age groups, so hopefully now, that woman has an improved image of teenagers.

            We can each do our part to strengthen and build bridges between communities. Never underestimate the power of friendliness, of a smile or of a positive attitude.

            Next time you walk past a mother and child on the street, or pass an acquaintance in the hall, don’t be shy, try starting the infectious smiling disease. It doesn’t take any time or hardly any effort, but by smiling you are brightening someone’s day and beginning the building of a bridge of friendship between communities. It all starts with a simple smile.

Official Picture Shoot

Today Miss Leslie and I drove to Brian’s Prints Charming Photo Inc. It was an honor to once again wear the historical crown and to see the plaque again!

A snapshot that mom took at the shoot