Posted by: Emily Finnegan, 2012 Tulip Queen

Wednesday May 15, 2013

 

Good Bye, Albany!

I’m sad to say it Albany but this will be my last blog! It’s actually unbelievable how fast this last year has gone. As a lifelong resident of Albany County, I’ve learned more about the City and its good people in the last year than I have in my 21 years prior. It has been an incredible opportunity to dive into so many schools and organizations promoting youth and literacy and my experiences will undoubtedly stay with me for the rest of my life. An extra-special thank you goes out to my court members, Nicole, Jillian, Nikki, and Millie - you girls are rock stars and our laughs and memories (and hours of endless sweating at Alive at Five) are just as much a part of my year as our literacy programs.

 After my reign concludes (or as my Grandpa so eloquently calls it, my de-throning) the whirlwind does not stop! My birthday falls within the following week and then I will graduate from the University at Albany the next weekend! It’s almost too much excitement to handle. I also have the privilege of serving as the Undergraduate Student Speaker for the Class of 2013 Ceremony, which I cannot describe how ecstatic I am to have such an awesome opportunity (my mom can hardly stay in her skin.) My post-graduate plans at present remain fairly open, which I will be the first to admit I have absolutely no problem with. I will hear back at the end of this month if I’ve been accepted into a program with the Spanish government’s Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports to serve as an English teaching assistant in Spain. Keep your fingers crossed! Apart from that, I hope to continue my commitment to serving youth throughout my life and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to spend my last year of school serving my own home community in such a wonderful way.


Posted by: Nicole Branchini, 2012 Tulip Court

Wednesday May 15, 2013

 

Good Bye, Albany!

Wow! Looking back at this past year time has flown by. It seems like yesterday the five of us were eager for the 64th annual Tulip Festival to begin. I see how excited the future Tulip Queen and Court members are to begin their time representing the City of Albany and develop their own literacy campaign. I know they will achieve great things and carry on the long standing Tulip tradition.

 

As I write this final blog as a 2012 Tulip Court member, I am looking back to all of the fun memories I have made and will forever cherish. Working with Emily, Nicole, Jillian, and Millie has been such an honor. They each have contributed to the success of our programs in their own individual way. It was a pleasure to work with them, and I will truly miss our times together.

As our literacy campaigns have come full circle, it has been a rewarding experience seeing how our programs have impacted the lives of children in the Albany area. Our final visit to the Albany School of Humanities was very exciting. We presented the second graders with a book of their work they had been compiling all year. Their faces lit up when we read aloud their passages. At the end of Tammy Tulip’s traveling journal, we took a picture with the classroom!

In closing, I would just like to thank everyone who has made our successes possible this year. From the Tulip Selection Committee, the Special Events Office, Marcus Pryor, and Mayor Jerry Jennings. Your hard work and dedication to excellence truly makes this city a great community to live in!

Good luck to the 2013 Tulip Queen and Court!


Posted by: Millie Condon, 2012 Tulip Court

Wednesday May 15, 2013

 

Good Bye, Albany!

This year has gone by so fast!  Before starting this Tulip adventure, I thought I knew everything about Albany.  But, after all of the exciting experiences I've had, Albany is like a whole new world to me.  I see kids around and I know that in some way or another our Tulip Court has impacted their schools. We've had the chance to work with so many deserving youths in Albany.  I think one of the most memorable experiences was doing our Read, Write, Dream, Speak Program at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Albany.  The kids were able to express to Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings their concerns and some of the things that came out of these children's mouths were so breathtaking.  Topics ranged from gun violence, school safety, and even environmental pollution.   

As the months go on I will continue my studies at Siena College as a Junior and studying  Broadcast Journalism and Media Production.  I will continue to serve at  my home away from home, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Albany of course, and I will continue to host Changemakers on WVCR 88.3 The Saint.  I look forward to taking the experiences from the Tulip Court with me to all my future endeavors. 


Posted by: Nicole Dama, 2012 Tulip Court

Wednesday May 15, 2013

 

Hello Albany!

If my calculations are correct, we did around 150 hours of service this year. It honestly feels like nothing compared to the impact we felt from the students and organizations we worked with. This number however does not include our continuing development of our literacy programs, monthly meetings and other duties. On the upside though, we blew away the average American volunteer hours in 2012 being 50.  How impressive!  This time just flew by and I am so proud to have been a part of the 2012 Albany Tulip Court. I think with this year’s implementation of two community development and leadership driven programs we have added to the beautiful tulip legacy in Albany as well as furthered the Mayor’s Literacy Campaign.  This year’s finalists also seem to have a lot of potential to do great things for this incredible city. 

The memories I have of this year will stay with me always. Last week at Albany School of Humanities will definitely be one of my favorites. It had not hit me that our year was over until being tackled with hugs by students at Albany School of Humanities. The students in Mrs. Donohue’s class, where we were finishing up our Traveling Tulips program, were climbing over each other to give us well wishes. Four of them injured themselves trying to do so but it was the kindest of gestures still the same. It has proven to me once again, as this entire experience has, that if you put good in the world, it will come back to you one day. The students had difficulty sometimes and  didn’t always enjoy writing but they were always appreciative of the help. Their tackling of us with hugs was the way they wanted to thank us.

I appreciate every opportunity, every event and every person we got to work with this year. Most importantly, thank you to the fabulous women who made it all happen. Emily, Nikki, Millie and Jillian, pat yourself on the back and give yourselves a high five because this year was incredible. We could have not done it without each other’s support. Thank you for being a great team and I cannot wait to see what great things you do in this world.

Also thank you I thank you City of Albany and Mayor Jennings for letting us serve you. I thank the selection committee, Aimee, Amy Bonnie, Sue and Marcus for helping us achieve something bigger than ourselves. I look forward to seeing how the new court adds to the Albany Tulip Queen legacy.

And don’t forget, YOTO! (You Only Tulip Once)

 

Nicole


Posted by: Jillian LeFevre, 2012 Tulip Court

Wednesday May 15, 2013

 

Happy Tulip Festival Albany!

The weekend we have been anxiously awaiting has arrived; yes, the 65th Annual Tulip Festival is here! I cannot believe how fast this year has flown by. 

It has been such an honor to serve as a 2012 Tulip Court Member.  Over the past year, we have been able to achieve so many more goals than we ever imagined.  It has been wonderful to see the transformation in each of us over the months- growing individually, and together, to help make Albany a better community for our youth. 

Our literacy programs an d the numerous events we attended weekly, have been so successful, I do not think we could have asked for a better year.  Jazzy Sun Birthday Party, Juneteenth in Washington Park, the Music Mobile in Lincoln Park, State tree lighting at City Hall, Blue Ribbon Ceremony at the Albany Charter School, Alive at Five, Big Read Kickoff at the Palace, Bingo at Kenwood Manor, GE Kids Day at the Plaza, riding in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the Albany Book Festival at Albany Academy for Girls are just a few events we were invited to that helped make our year that much more positive and meaningful. 

As I am happy to have some time to relax this summer and go boating, camping, and four wheeling with my family and friends, I will miss seeing Millie, Nicole, Nikki, and Emily, as well as the children in our literacy programs and at the other events.

 I hope to see you this weekend at the Tulip Festival, and do not forget to stop by our bed and see the crown of tulips we planted!  I wish the 2013 Tulip Queen and Court good luck, and I hope you have a year filled with events and literacy programs that help you grow as a person, and help the youth of Albany grow to be successful young men and women. 

Thank you for everything Albany!

 Jillian


Posted by: Nicole Branchini, 2012 Tulip Court

Wednesday April 24, 2013

 

Hello Albany!

As I reflect upon my year as an Albany Tulip Court member, there have been so many fun memories I will take away from this experience. I have been able to participate in a number of experiences and feel as if I have contributed to the betterment of the Albany community. I have established new relationships with people across the community and will never forget the memories I have made. I could have not had such a wonderful experience had it not been for the girls serving as ambassadors to the City of Albany with me. Emily Finnegan has been an inspirational leader to us and has paved the way for future Tulips to follow in her footsteps. Nicole, Jillian, and Millie have also made tremendous contributions to the success of this year. 

Looking back, one of the most memorable experiences has been, without a doubt, initiating out literacy campaigns. For Traveling Tulips, I have witnessed the students from area elementary schools grow and learn. It was so rewarding for me to see their progress from the beginning of the year until now. I remember the first time Tammy Tulip visited Albany School of Humanities, the students would write wonderful paragraphs describing her travels. At the final visit, the students were writing full pages and eager to share their passages! It was very rewarding for me as a Tulip Court member to see their excitement and love for the program.

I also enjoyed working with Coleen Paratore and implementing our Read, Write, Dream, Speak program. Her passion for her work has been an inspiration. When we visited the Albany Boys and Girls Club, I remember her talking about all of the libraries the students had access to. I could tell they were inspired to read more and that they had so many resources at their disposal. It was great seeing Mayor Jennings attend one of our programs. He got to hear what the students were working on over the course of the month. The kids got to become Deputy Mayors for the day, and they shared what they would change about the city. The kids spoke confidently and were excited because they felt as if they were making a difference in their community.

The end of my reign as a 2012 Tulip Court member is bittersweet. I have enjoyed all of the events and programs we have been a part of as well as meeting so many wonderful people in the community. I am excited to graduate with my Masters in Communications from the University at Albany in May. I look forward to new opportunities that come my way, but I will always be grateful for all the people who have helped make this year such a success. Thank you, and best of luck to the 2013 Tulip Queen and Court. I know you will do wonderful things and make a positive difference in the City of Albany. 


Posted by: Emily Finnegan, 2012 Tulip Queen

Friday April 12, 2013

 

It’s almost that time again…

It’s hard to believe, but the 2013 Tulip Festival is right around the corner! Ah! This month we are working hard to create the final product for our Traveling Tulips program, a compiled journal of each of our Traveling Tulip’s adventures throughout Albany. At the end of the month we will be presenting Tommy, Tammi, Trevor, and Tamara’s journals to the four schools we have been working with all year. I truly can’t wait to bring the four stories full circle and reflect on all of the wonderful work of the students this year.

As Jillian mentioned, we had the honor of having Mayor Jennings attend our most recent “Read, Write, Dream, Speak” program at the Boys and Girls Club. He encouraged them all, as Junior Deputy Mayors, to serve as the eyes and ears of the community and inform adults about any concerns or questions they may have.  Just like with the Traveling Tulips, it was so fantastic to see this program come full circle by allowing the students to voice their concerns directly to the Mayor. This month we will be running our final “Read, Write, Dream, Speak” program at the Brighter Choice Middle School for Girls, and I’m excited to hear what these ladies have to say!

As we look ahead to the coming weeks, I encourage you all to check out the Albany Special Events website for details about the great food, music, and crafts at this year’s Tulip Festival. I’ve been checking on our tulips regularly at Washington Park, and they haven’t popped up yet, thank goodness! Hopefully the weather gives us some beautiful blossoms this year, including our very own Tulip Queen bed we planted in October.

 In the mean time, get outside and enjoy that beautiful sunshine Albany!


Posted by: Jillian LeFevre, 2012 Tulip Court

Thursday March 28, 2013

 

Happy Spring, Albany!!!

I am so glad the weather is warming up, and Tulip Festival is right around the corner.  It is extremely exciting to think that the new Court will be announced soon, and everyone will be at Washington Park to see our bed of tulips we planted!

 

Although our year is almost over, it is very rewarding to look back and see what we have accomplished.  We recently finished our Read, Write, Dream, Speak program at the Boys and Girls Club in Albany.  The children were so excited when Mayor Jennings and author Coleen Paratore showed up to hear the "Powerful Paragraphs" they each wrote.  Both Mayor Jennings and Coleen spoke with the kids about being leaders and dreaming big.  It was great to see such enthusiasm from the kids about reading, writing, and doing what is best for those around them and their community.  Their paragraphs showed how aware they are of what is going on in our communities and gives us hope that they will help make our communities better. 

 

As much as Emily, Millie, Nikki, Nicole and I love our literacy programs, we also love attending the other events we get invited to.  For the St. Patrick’s Day Parade we were invited to ride in a 1980 Mercedes convertible.  I must say that this was in the top 5 of my favorite events we have done this year.  It was amazing to see how many people showed up to line the streets of Albany and cheer on everyone that participated in the parade.  I know we all had fun wearing green, greeting everyone, and taking pictures with the spectators- we will miss being in the parade next year!

 

I hope everyone is as excited as I am that Spring is here, and I hope that you all have a wonderful Easter!

~Jillian~


Posted by: Nicole Dama, 2012 Tulip Court

Monday March 11, 2013

 

Hello, Albany!

It may not look like it outside at this very moment, but spring is almost here! I am so excited for it to start being warm and to ride my bicycle! This spring is a little bittersweet for me. With the new spring brings in new tulips, and new tulips means a new Court! The end is near, but we are still working as hard as ever for the remainder of our reign. Actually, we just finished our final Traveling Tulips program at Sheridan Prep Academy. We will be returning for a wrap up session in April with a completed Traveling Tulips Journal. Their journal will showcase how Tina Tulip traveled all over Albany County; to the Albany School of Humanities, A.W Becker Elementary and to two classrooms at Eagle Point Elementary. I will definitely miss Mrs. Maioriello’s class at SPA though. I was in charge of their journal, and they had such enthusiasm and excitement with every visit!

 

Besides our events, I have been applying for graduate school (fingers crossed) and clowning around - and I don’t mean that metaphorically. I literally have been clowning around. No joke. You may have actually seen me if you were at the Hannaford’s Kid’s Expo on March 2nd. My roommate Cara and I dressed up in full clown costume and makeup and made balloon animals, hats, swords and flowers throughout the day. We were “ CoCo & RaRa.” It was an awesome opportunity which I can actually thank my Tulip Court experience for. One of the members of the Tulip Queen & Court Selection committee works for the Office of General Services in the Empire Plaza. He remembered me talking about a clown class I had taken while at The College of Saint Rose. This class was very hands-on and certainly was beneficial to me in learning about face painting and working with kids. It was so much FUN! Seeing all those smiling faces made it all worth it. My roommate and I even helped out with the Tulip Queen’s face painting station when we ran out of the 400 balloons we had brought. It was a day I will never forget.

 

I am excited for the time we have left together to work on our literacy programs and to participate in my first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Albany. See you there!

 

Until next time!

Nicole


Posted by: Millie Condon, 2012 Tulip Court

Thursday February 28, 2013

 

Hi Albany!

These past few months have gone by so quickly.  We've been working hard with our Traveling Tulips program, and I really feel like the students are learning a lot about literacy.  I have felt so privileged to be a role model to the children we have worked with.

Looking ahead, I am so excited to have our Read, Write, Dream, Speak program at the Albany Boys and Girls Club in March!  I work very closely with the students who attend the Club, and this program will give them a voice that they rarely get to use.  I'm sure they will come up with very important issues to address from their daily lives when they have the opportunity to write their "powerful paragraphs" explaining what they would do if they were Deputy Mayor for the Day.

I am also looking forward to the St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 16th!  As an Irish girl, I have attended the parade every year since I can remember, and it will be amazing to actually be in it!  I hope to see you all there, Albany!


Posted by: Nicole Branchini, 2012 Tulip Court

Wednesday February 13, 2013

 

This year is just flying by!

I hope everyone is enjoying this winter weather as much as I am. I love being outside and playing in the snow. As I reflect a little about how our year has gone so far, promoting our literacy campaign has been a rewarding experience. I enjoy interacting with new students from  so many elementary schools in the  Capital  District. This past week we visited  Mrs. Armstrong's class at Eagle Point Elementary school. The students enjoyed writing and discussing what activities Tina Tulip participated in the month of February. It was nice to hear how the students would like her to celebrate Valentine’s Day by being kind to others. They even said that Tina Tulip would bake a cake for Mrs. Armstrong!

I’ve also enjoyed working with the four other wonderful young ladies this year. Emily, Nicole, Jillian, and Millie have been a pleasure to work with ,  and I find it exciting when we see some of our goals for this year being accomplished. I look forward to the upcoming events we will be attending  such as the Literacy Night at AW Becker, a reading event at Barnes and Noble in Colonie Center, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade - but most notably participating in our Read, Write, Dream, Speak program at the Boys and Girls Club! I hope to see you at some of our events.  Stay warm, Albany!

 

-Nikki Branchini


Posted by: Emily Finnegan, 2012 Tulip Queen

Friday February 1, 2013

 

Happy New Year, Albany!

I can’t believe we’re at the half way point of the year, what a whirlwind it has been. For those of you that haven’t seen our Winter Newsletter, I urge you to check it out and see all of the wonderful things we’ve been up to. Reflecting on this year so far, I’m extremely proud of the progress of our literacy programs. For me, “Read, Write, Dream, Speak” in particular has been very eye-opening as it provides the students an opportunity to voice the issues that they share in their communities, at home, and in school. In the writing portion of the workshop, we ask the students to address the “who, what, why, and how” of the problems that they would like to see changed. “Why is this issue important?” we ask, and “Who do you need to help you solve it? How will you do it?” Engaging the students in this type of critical thinking and hearing their creative and concerned responses truly excites me to think about their futures as leaders in the community, state, and maybe even as leaders of the nation. I’m excited to continue this program into the spring along with our “Traveling Tulips” who will soon be making it back to their home schools with a journal full of adventures.

As we head into the second half of the year, look out for my Court and I at many of the exciting spring holidays and festivals. Our first will be the Kids Expo at the Convention Center coming in early March and we hope to see you there! And of course, if you haven’t already heard, Tulip Queen nominations are open! I know there are some brilliant young women out there who would serve this city well, but it all starts with your nomination! Please check out the main page of our website for more details. And stay warm out there!


Posted by: Jillian LeFevre, 2012 Tulip Court

Wednesday January 16, 2013

 

Wow, this year is really flying by! I cannot believe we are half way through January already. I am definitely ready for spring though, it will be nice to be able to go outside and enjoy some warm weather without snow on the ground.
Between going to Tulip events and working full time we have been very busy! As some of you may remember, I work at Oldcastle Precast in Selkirk, as an Administrative and Accounting Assistant, although my passion is marketing. Oldcastle has decided to help me pursue my goals and had me start up a monthly newsletter for our employees. The Regional COO of Oldcastle was so pleased with my monthly newsletter that she asked me to start up a quarterly newsletter that goes out to our customers. Although this time of year has been busy, I am thankful for this opportunity to start doing marketing for Oldcastle, as I am still thankful for my chance to be on the Tulip Court.
While taking on this new project at work, I am relieved to be able to take some time away from my desk and visit schools for our literacy programs. I was excited that my elementary school, A. W. Becker, decided to participate in the Traveling Tulip Program. The kids loved reading Flat Stanley and writing journal entries about the holidays and winter. It was amazing to see how motivated the children were and how much they wanted to write about their Tulip, who they named “Trevor”. Emily, Millie, Nikki, Nicole and I love working with the children and seeing how we influence their lives and how we motivate them. Our literacy programs are designed to encourage reading and improve writing, all while building confidence. It will be really exciting to see how those we have worked with have improved through Read, Write, Dream, Speak and Traveling Tulips when our reign comes to an end.
Waiting on Spring,
Jillian


Posted by: Nicole Dama, 2012 Tulip Court

Wednesday January 9, 2013

 

Happy New Year!

2012 went so fast, didn’t it? It was an incredible year. I accomplished so much at The College of Saint Rose and then graduated.  I also became part of the Tulip Court. Though it has been almost eight months, it feels like we have just begun and there is a long road ahead of us.  I’m sad already, but in these next few months I want to do as much as I can to take advantage of this great opportunity before me.
Our two literacy programs, Read, Write, Dream, Speak and Traveling Tulips give us a lot of time to talk with the students we work with. I have to say that these conversations have been enlightening to be a part of. The students' exuberant, incredible energy makes you want to do more for the world. They ask us all sorts of questions about what we do. We have even been asked if we live in a castle (my personal favorite question). Hearing all of the students converse so wholeheartedly has made me rethink why I want a certain career. Kids are so upfront and honest and it’s refreshing to hear them. They know what’s going on in the world and aren’t afraid to discuss it. We have talked about bullying, violence, environmental issues, and even college. These students are incredibly dialed in. Having the students bring up such big issues was something unexpected but surprisingly great. As we are helping them spell and put sentences together they are teaching us never to assume children don’t know about what’s going on around them.
Aside from going to our events, I am working, but want to continue my education and possibly work in college administration or for a non-profit organization. I’m looking into some local graduate programs for the fall. This year is influencing me to always give back somehow. It makes me incredibly happy to see others grow from the work we have done, and I want to do this kind of work for the rest of my life.
Nicole Dama, 2012 Tulip Court


Posted by: Millie Condon, 2012 Tulip Court

Monday December 24, 2012

 

Happy Holidays Everyone!

The holiday season is among us all and I'm so excited to be spending this one with all the lovely ladies of the 2012- 2013  Tulip  Court.  I have some very exciting plans to travel to France this holiday season and I look forward to experiencing different holiday cultural experiences.  However, I have certainly not missed out on any of Albany's traditions for the holidays!  Just recently, the  Court and I had the honor of taking part in the tree lighting ceremony at City Hall.  It was so special to see the magic of the holidays twinkling in the eyes of Albany's youth as they flipped the large switch to light the tree.  Keep an eye out for the tulip court holiday card that we broke out our "ugly Christmas sweaters" for!

Even though we've all had the holidays on our minds, this has not held us back from all of our hard work with our two literacy campaigns.  Traveling Tulips has been a huge success. The children of our different Albany schools love to hear what the other elementary schools have come up with on different topics of the month.  This allows for them to get their creative juices flowing and come up with their very own special journals which not only allows them to have a blast, but also practice their writing and reading skills as well!  Our other literacy campaign, Read, Write, Dream, Speak has been such an amazing experience for so many reasons.  We've had the honor of working closely with local author, Coleen Paratore to discuss important social justice topics in the community.  It has been incredibly touching to hear the issues of our community from the point of view of children.  The passion in the voices of the children as they spoke their minds asking the  Mayor for help was clear, and I definitely predict some future mayors and legislators coming from the classrooms we've visited!  I look forward to expanding this program to several other Albany schools in the future.

In the wake of the tragedy that has recently touched the town of Newton Connecticut, the Albany Tulip Court would like to offer our thoughts and prayers to all those affected.  It has certainly made us even more passionate and devoted in working and empowering  the precious youth of Albany. 
--
Millie Condon


Posted by: Emily Finnegan, 2012 Tulip Queen

Wednesday December 19, 2012

 

Albany Tulip Queen Emily Finnegan places first in Last Run 5K

City of Albany Office of Special Events & Volunteer Services

City Hall, Room 402

Albany, New York 12207

518.434.2032 / fax: 518.426.0759

www.albanyevents.org  

www.albanytulipqueen.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:              December 19, 2012

CONTACT:      Jason Bonafide, Public Relations Coordinator
                        bonafidej@ci.albany.ny.us / 518.434.5417 

Albany Tulip Queen Emily Finnegan places first in Last Run 5K

Albany, New York – 2012 Albany Tulip Queen Emily Finnegan placed first among female runners in the 16th Annual Last Run 5K this weekend. She shares the top spot with first place male runner Anthony Giuliano, who celebrates his second Last Run win in a row.   

The 5K win is just the latest accomplishment for 21-year-old Tulip Queen Emily Finnegan.  In addition to constant community involvement in the Albany Tulip Court, The University of Albany senior’s volunteer work includes educating children in India and participating in a Habitat for Humanity project in Guatemala. In her time as Tulip Queen, Emily has worked with Albany schools facilitating her two literacy programs: Read, Write, Dream, Speak and Traveling Tulips.

The Albany Tulip Queen and Court spend the full year of their reign devoted to Albany community projects, with a special focus on instituting programs as part of the Mayor Jennings Literacy Campaign.

For more details on the 2012 Albany Tulip Queen & Court, please visit www.albanytulipqueen.com.

The Last Run is presented annually by Mayor Jerry Jennings, the City of Albany and St. Peter’s Cardiac & Vascular Center. Limited to 1500 runners, this year’s race sold out in record time. 

Full results for the 2012 Last Run 5K can be viewed here: http://www.finishright.com/ROAD/ROAD%202012/LASTRUN12.htm

Albany’s Last Run 5K was sponsored by Mayor Jerry Jennings, the City of Albany, St. Peter’s Cardiac & Vascular Center, Bank of America, CDPHP, the New York State Office of General Services, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Price Chopper, Panera Bread, Fly 92.3, B95.5, Radio Disney, News Channel 13, Times Union & Metroland.


Posted by: Nicole Branchini, 2012 Tulip Court

Tuesday December 4, 2012

 

Hello Albany!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I enjoyed spending time with my friends and family, I certainly have a lot to be thankful for. Since my last post we have participated in a number of fun events around the City of Albany.
 
We have kicked off our literacy campaign this past month at the Albany School of Humanities! Our Traveling Tulips campaign went well as we interacted with the second grade students at the Albany School for  Humanities. We talked about our favorite activities that our traveling tulip, Tammy, participated in this fall. The students described how they enjoyed playing outside with friends, going to the pumpkin patch on a school trip, and their favorite Thanksgiving foods. We can't wait to return to the classroom to see what Tammy Tulip has in store for the month of December.

Another event that I participated in this past month was being a community visitor to the Delaware Community School. I was a guest for the month of November where I was asked to speak about citizenship. The students were very enthusiastic and excited to talk about how they participate in the community. They described that being a good citizen to them meant being a good neighbor and friend, volunteering, and working hard. The students even contributed to the community by planting hundreds of tulip bulbs around their school. It was exciting to see their pride and excitement that they had about their accomplishments. I truly enjoyed speaking at the Delaware Community School.

Looking forward, I am excited to attend the City of Albany's annual tree lighting ceremony! The City of Albany is a great place to be during the holiday season. There are so many fun activities to take part in. Personally, I enjoy ice skating with friends at the Plaza. I wish everyone a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!

-Nikki Branchini


Posted by: Emily Finnegan, 2012 Tulip Queen

Monday November 26, 2012

 

Happy Fall Albany!

We did it! After months of planning and coordinating with administrators and teachers we have officially kick started not one but two literacy programs! Woo hoo!
Our first program, “Traveling Tulips” kicked off at the Albany School of Humanities last week with Mrs. Donohue’s second grade classroom. We began by reading a portion of Jeff Brown’s Flat Stanley, which tells the story of a boy who has been flattened by a bulletin board and with his new figure he travels the world through mailed envelopes. We then introduced the class to their very own “flat” character, Tammy Tulip, who will travel throughout Albany schools to share ASH’s adventures with other second grade classrooms. Breaking the students up into groups, we next had each group write one page for Tammy’s first chapter of her journal. This month, our chapter focused mostly on autumn and Thanksgiving, and boy did we receive a lot of interesting journal entries! My personal favorite was from one student who was sharing his favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Some items that made his list: chicken noodle soup, a bologna sandwich, cotton candy and lobster! Sounds like quite the Thanksgiving dinner to me.
Along with Mrs. Donohue’s class at ASH, our Traveling Tulips program includes Mrs. Wolfe’s classroom at A.W. Becker, Mrs. Maioriello’s classroom at Sheridan Prep, and Mrs. Armstrong/Mrs. Shelmerdine’s classrooms at Eagle Point Elementary. By the end of the year, we hope to have a journal documenting each Traveling Tulip’s adventures throughout Albany County which we can turn into a nice gift for each of our participating classrooms at the end of the year.
Our second program, “Read, Write, Dream, Speak,” kicked off at Eagle Point Elementary last week in Mrs. Coles’ sixth grade classroom. Working with local author Coleen Paratore, this program is based off of her book Sunny Holiday, which tells the story of a girl who stands up for her community to ensure her mayor keeps his promises to build a new playground. In a three-part workshop, our first portion last week covered the important qualities of a great leader. Using the characters from the book, the students highlighted what traits these characters had that made them strong leaders as well as what obstacles Sunny had to overcome to achieve her goals. We also heard from the students about how they demonstrate their leadership in the classroom and we shared how we lead in our community. In the second workshop this week, we will ask the students to put their thinking caps on and brainstorm some ideas of things that they would love to see in their community if they were mayor for the day. In one “Powerful Paragraph,” we will have the students write and edit their proposals, which we will collect for the final workshop in the last week of November. In this third workshop, we will hold a grand “Mayor’s Press Conference” where each student will have the opportunity to share his or her ideas in front of an audience that includes none other than author Coleen Paratore! After the readings, Coleen will meet with the students and sign each of their copies as a souvenir from the program.
And of course, this would not be possible without the kind donations of Capital Communications Federal Credit Union supporting our “Read, Write, Dream, Speak” program! With their help, we were able to purchase enough books so that each student can keep their very own Sunny Holiday at the end of the program.
On top of our literacy programs, we have also been busy participating in events throughout the Albany community. Whether it was planting tulips in Washington Park, attending the Annual Dutch Settlers Tea or helping to kick off the Albany Fund for Education’s “Big Read” last week, we have certainly been busy Tulips! I’m extremely proud of my Court for all of the work that we’ve done this fall. Balancing Tulip life, family, work, and school can sometimes be a little overwhelming but I think these girls have done a marvelous job so hats off to them!
And as Jillian said, we’re in for a chilly one this winter so stay bundled up Albany! Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving (and a lucky Black Friday!) and see you all at the 16th Annual Last Run 5K in December!


Posted by: Jillian LeFevre, 2012 Tulip Court

Tuesday November 13, 2012

 

Hi Everyone!

As we start off the month of November, we see that the leaves have fallen and it is starting to get colder. I hope that everyone is preparing for winter, I have heard it is going to be a cold one with lots of snow! 

As winter begins we also prepare for the holidays. I cannot wait for Thanksgiving- we all have so much to be thankful for. That being said, our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by Sandy. 

Moving forward, I know we are all very excited to start our literacy programs. I am extremely happy to work with the children, as we all have had so much fun with them at other events. As Nicole mentioned, we had a great time at the Jazzy Sun Birthday Party where we did face painting, played tag in the courtyard, and of course, ate lots of cake! 

As we start our programs, we are also excited to announce that we have made Tulip Court history!  All five of us had the pleasure of working with Jessica Morgan and her crew on October 27th in Washington Park where they had prepared a bed for us to plant tulips in.  This is the first time the Tulip Court has ever planted their own bed of tulips. We are so grateful for this opportunity Jessica gave us and we hope that everyone comes out this spring for the reveal of our tulip bed and the design we planted! 

Again, we hope that everyone stays warm with the cold weather fast approaching and we cannot wait to tell you all about our other events and programs. Remember, there is always something to be thankful for! 

Waiting for Thanksgiving Dinner,
Jillian


Posted by: Nicole Dama, 2012 Tulip Court

Friday October 19, 2012

 

Happy Fall Everyone!

I just LOVE this time of year. I love the changing leaves, apple picking, pumpkin carving and most of all - fall clothes. I’m breaking out the scarves and sweaters as we speak.
 
In the past few months the weather has been cooling down, but our events season is heating up! I have boogied at the Volunteer Appreciation Party, judged the LEGO Building Challenge, lent a hand a with Jazzy Sun Birthday Parties and painted more faces than I can remember! I especially enjoyed Hispanic Heritage Fest at the Egg where I met a little girl who was the sweetest! Even more cool, was that I was able to communicate with her using sign language. I took a class 2 years ago at The College of Saint Rose and didn’t think I remembered all the signs but some of it must have stuck.  It warms my heart to have been able to communicate with this little girl who honestly looked terrified that I was painting something terrible on her face.  She really liked what I had painted too-a full face butterfly! Moments like this make me proud to be Tulip and so happy that we bring smiles to someone’s day.
 
Though we have been busy off and on throughout the last few weeks I have found that at our events we are so energized by the enthusiasm and excitement of all the people we meet. Thank you to everyone who has come by to meet us or even asked for our help!  I’m excited for the rest of 2012 and I hope we get to meet even more of you!  
 
And on a side note-I’m excited that Hockey season has returned!
 
Until next time!
My salutations,

Nicole Dama


Posted by: Nicole Branchini, 2012 Tulip Court

Monday October 1, 2012

 

Hello Everyone!

Since my last blog we have attended some really fun and exciting events. I enjoyed meeting a lot of you and can’t wait to meet new people as the year continues. One thing that has been exciting for me is the change of seasons and the beginning of fall. I love seeing the changing leaves  and picking apples!
Some of the most memorable events that we have participated in this fall would have to be the Volunteer Appreciation Party which was held at the Washington Park Lake House. This event was very special because it recognized all of the hard work and long hours that the people of Albany put in to making the special events such as Alive at Five possible. I truly enjoyed meeting and connecting with the people who attended the party. We were dancing and taking funny pictures all evening.
 
The Tulip Girls and I also participated in the Jazzy Sun Birthday Party which we helped throw a birthday party for the children living at the Marrilac Shelter. It was fun decorating the room in Spiderman and Princess themes. The kids really enjoyed getting their faces painted and playing outside! I look forward to going back there next month to help with the October birthdays.
 
As for myself I am enjoying the beginning of school and watching my favorite NFL team, the NY Giants, destroy the competition! Go Eli Manning! Hope to see you all soon.
 
Sincerely,
Nikki Branchini


Posted by: Emily Finnegan, 2012 Tulip Queen

Tuesday September 11, 2012

 

The End of Summer!

Happy Labor Day Albany! I truly can’t believe it’s been four months since Tulip Festival. As summer comes to a close, the girls and I certainly have many wonderful memories to look back on. Albany’s Alive at Five series was one of the best yet, and I have to give a special thanks to all the volunteers who helped coordinate such fantastic concerts. Another big thank you goes out to all the volunteers who served lunch and danced the day away during our Senior Sunday’s. After some serious swing dancing lessons from a few seniors, I can now proudly say that I have mastered the three-step and the six-step… all you local swing dancers, watch out!

Although the summer’s ending, I’m very excited for the start of the school year. As Albany children return to school, I can’t wait to get into the classrooms and begin our two main literacy programs, “Traveling Tulips” and “Tulips in Training.” “Traveling Tulips” focuses on a pen-pal journal writing program between Albany county schools with the hopes of fostering a greater sense of community among Albany children. In a series of character-building workshops, “Tulips in Training” aims to work with community leaders to teach the important skills necessary to being a positive role model. With the support of Capital Communications Foundation, we will also be working with local author Coleen Paratore on a special leadership development program entitled “Read, Write, Dream Speak.” Kicking off in October, you can expect to see us frequenting Albany county schools working on one of our various programs, so be on the lookout! Until then, enjoy the changing seasons!


Posted by: Jillian LeFevre, 2012 Tulip Court

Monday August 13, 2012

 

Hi Everyone!!!

I am Jillian LeFevre, the 5th member of the 2012 Albany Tulip
Court and am still thrilled to have been chosen as a Tulip Court member to
represent the City of Albany. We have started off our year with a lot of
great events and have already made many connections with the children and
adults we have worked with and we cannot wait to make more.

Over the past couple of months, the Tulip Court and I have had the honor of
attending many events and meeting so many dedicated and inspirational
members of our community. Speaking not only for myself, but for the entire
court, I am thrilled to say we have found that each event offers something
new and different and have all been extremely rewarding.

As the other girls have mentioned, we have attended several of the Alive at
5 concerts. Although it has been a very hot summer, we have managed to keep
cool by dancing and singing along to the bands, two of our favorite
activities. The Lee Brice concert was
by far my favorite. Emily, Nikki, and I had the amazing experience of being
able to stand on stage as Lee Brice performed, and obviously, we were
singing and dancing along the whole time.

The five of us were also excited to be invited to the "Planting Flowers,
Planting Hope" program with The Music Mobile. We got our hands dirty helping
the children plant flowers in pots which they were able to take home with
them to show to their communities the inspirational messages they wrote on
the pots. The purpose was to teach the children that "everyone can live
together in one pot." And of course, it would not be a true Tulip
Court event if we did not finish the night by singing songs written by the
members of The Music Mobile with the children.

Although I am sad the summer is almost over, I am very excited for this
fall. Emily, Nikki, Millie, Nicole, and I have been working very hard on our
literacy program that promotes Mayor Jennings Literacy Campaign. We cannot
wait to bring our programs to many of the schools in our county and to meet
and work with so many wonderful children. We are very thankful for the
support from everyone in the City of Albany and are excited to make a
difference in our community with you!


Posted by: Nicole Dama, 2012 Tulip Court

Wednesday August 1, 2012

 

Greetings Albany!

My name is Nicole Dama and I am a member of the 2012 Tulip Court. Being on the Tulip Court has been the most incredible experience so far. I have loved meeting so many new faces and helping out where we can at various events. We have had quite the summer! As I didn’t grow up in Albany, being on the Tulip Court has introduced me to so many new events around the city. Though it’s been only a few months, time has flown and we have gotten to know each other on the Court so well. I am so proud to be a part of a group of brilliant and hardworking young women.

My favorite events this summer have been helping out with the fashion show at Teresian House and Alive at 5. Teresian House was fun because it was our first event, and there was so much excitement from the participants and amongst the Court. I also have enjoyed getting to be a  part of Alive at 5! I had never been to one of the concerts before this year, and despite the heat, we have had a ball each time. It was a nice break to get to be inside at Smash Mouth this past week! Also, I have enjoyed events where we work the arts and crafts table.

Even though I just graduated from The College of Saint Rose in May, I am looking forward to “Back to school time,” so we can hit the ground running and start our programs to help enhance Mayor Jennings' literacy campaign. I can’t wait to meet even more of the great people who contribute to such an incredible city. Hope to see you all soon!


Posted by: Millie Condon, 2012 Tulip Court

Monday July 16, 2012

 

Hey, Albany!

I hope everyone is trying their best to stay cool in this hot weather! I know I’ve been having fun in the sun while outside with my fellow Tulip Court members at several amazing Albany events. My name is Millie Condon and so far being a Tulip Court member has definitely exceeded my expectations. Not only have I been able to attend several Albany events, I’ve been able to do them alongside four other lovely young ladies that I feel like I’ve been friends with forever.

Recently we had the privilege of being a part of a historical celebration called Juneteenth. This event was held right in Washington Park and it marked a huge milestone in the abolition of slavery. The ladies and I worked with kids to make pictures of what Juneteenth meant to them. Two pictures were chosen and awarded a signed copy of a children’s book from a local illustrator.

We’ve also been listening to some great musicians at Alive at 5! My personal favorite was The Bacon Brothers with The Stray dogs! The music was definitely worth being in the heat for. I look forward to the rest of the concert series! Speaking of performances, if you went out to Albany this 4th of July and saw some beautifully decorated faces, I’m pleased to say we were the ones who painted them!

The ladies and I have also been hard at work putting the finishing touches on the project we want to carry out this year for the Mayor Jennings’ Literacy Campaign. We look forward to all of Albany’s involvement in what we have planned!


Posted by: Nicole Branchini, 2012 Tulip Court

Tuesday July 3, 2012

 

Hello Albany!

I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful weather we have had for the beginning of summer, and I can only hope that it continues. My name is Nikki Branchini and I am serving on the 2012 Tulip Court. We have been traveling to many fun events so far this summer and it has been a pleasure meeting you all!

One of my favorite events was visiting the Kenwood Manor where we met the residents and joined in on their weekly BINGO night. They were an energetic group and even though I am the world’s worst BINGO player it was  fun to share stories with the men and women at the Kenwood Manor.

We also attended the 10th Annual Albany Father’s Day Concert at the Albany Riverfront Park. It was wonderful seeing the Army Command Band’s Tennessee River Ramblers & Brass Machine Band as well as the U.S.O Liberty Bells and the 94th Army Pop-Rock Band! I certainly enjoyed the music as well as the fireworks presentation that concluded the festivities.

We are also hard at work developing our ideas for promoting Mayor Jennings' Literacy Campaign and cannot wait to work with the wonderful children in our area.


Posted by: Emily Finnegan, 2012 Tulip Queen

Monday June 18, 2012

 

Happy Summer, Albany!

For those of you I haven’t met yet, my name is Emily Finnegan and I have the great honor of serving as your 2012 Tulip Queen!  I’m very much looking forward to working with my fabulous Court of Nikki Branchini, Millie Condon, Nicole Dama, and Jillian LeFevre to kick start our program for Mayor Jennings’ Literacy Campaign. A big congratulations goes out to Karen Colehour and her Court on a fantastic year, you ladies have certainly given us some big shoes to fill! The weeks leading up to Tulip Festival were no doubt stressful, but ones that I will never forget. Many thanks to Mayor Jennings, Tulip Festival Chairman Marcus Pryor, and all of the Tulip Selection Committee for your continuous encouragement and support, as well as a special thank you to the Office of Special Events for organizing an amazing weekend.

And what an exciting reign it has already been! Kicking off our first week, the Tulips were invited to Eagle Point Elementary for their Readers to Leaders Literacy Celebration. At the fairy tale-themed night, we had the opportunity to read the magical story of Cinderella while also speaking to children about what it means to be a leader in the community.  Later in the week, our Court had the privilege of escorting residents down the runway in the annual Teresian House fashion show.  With our models all dolled up in their blue eye shadows and pearls, I have to say it was one of my favorite events of the week. At Greek Festival we toured the beautiful St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church and sampled some of the best food I’ve ever tasted, all before heading to the Mendelssohn Club Concert that evening for a wonderful performance. And that was only the first week!

This summer is sure to be full of more exciting events. I encourage you all to come out every Thursday evening for free entertainment at the Alive at Five concerts, and don’t forget to stop by the Plaza for some awesome 4th of July celebrations. With beautiful weather and so many things to see and do, I hope you take advantage of the many events this city has to offer. We look forward to meeting you!


Posted by: Hannah Walker, 2011 Tulip Court

Thursday March 22, 2012

 

It's Springtime, Albany!

I hope all of you have been enjoying this unseasonably beautiful weather. I know I have been trying to savor every moment of it! The Tulip Court and I have been keeping busy and we are surprised by how quickly Spring and the 2012 Tulip Festival seem to be coming upon us. We've enjoyed several wonderful events lately, including a Lights Camera Literacy program at Veeder Elementary School.

Additionally, the Tulip Court and I were very blessed to have a warm and sunny Saturday as we rode in Albany's St. Patrick's Day Parade this past weekend. It was an honor to be asked to participate in one of Albany's annual traditions. I can still remember watching this parade as a child, sitting on the steps outside my family's church building and former home on lower Central Ave.

The turn out for the event was great and the crowds we passed had a lot of enthusiastic energy. It was a moment when Albany felt less like a city and more like a community. It's a memory I will truly treasure when I think back on this year on the Court.

Keep an eye out for us as Spring gets into full swing. This week we will be hosting a Q&A session at Albany High School among other upcoming events.

By the way, if you know any remarkable, outgoing, and dedicated young women, nominate them to be part of the 2012 Albany Tulip Queen and Court!  It's not too late, nominations close April 2nd. More information on nominations is available here, http://albanytulipqueen.com/nominate. 



Posted by: Kelly Landers, 2011 Tulip Court

Monday February 27, 2012

 

February’s Almost Over Albany!

As February comes to a close we are realizing how soon our year is also going to be coming to a close!  This month we continued our Lights Camera Literacy at the Albany Boys and Girls Club.  It was a really fun Friday afternoon!  One of my favorite parts of this past LCL was our conversation we had with the kids about what literacy means which then appropriately lead to reading.  I was thrilled to hear from a number of kids about how they genuinely love to read.  Lights Camera Literacy isn't just about motivating students into reading that maybe don't regularly like to read, it's also about expanding the range of way kids read who already love reading!  I can't wait to see what our next LCL at Veeder Elementary School will bring this March!

Along with another LCL event, March bring new events that we are looking forward to.  We will be reading to the Albany Community Charter School for Read Across America Day, face painting at the Hannaford Kidz Expo, and marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Albany.  When I was younger my family would go see the parade together to celebrate our Irish heritage as well as watch my uncle march.  I'm excited to be a part of the parade myself this year and have my family come to watch me! 

Even though our winter hasn't been that bad, stay warm Albany! Spring will be here before we know it!


Posted by: Katie Headd, 2011 Tulip Court

Thursday February 9, 2012

 

Happy February Albany!

This month Kelly, Karen, Marjorie, Hannah and I will be working with the Boys and Girls Club of Albany to present our "Lights, Camera, Literacy" program. We are heading toward at least doubling our original goal of reaching 150 children with our literacy program. Working to serve the Mayor Jennings Literacy Campaign has been one of the most rewarding pieces of the Tulip Queen and Court position. We have really enjoyed interacting with such diverse groups of children and seeing all the creative ideas that they have come up with. Often we dress up in costumes right along with the children and I think we have just as much fun as the kids.

It seems crazy how quickly time has been flying by. I will never forget when, about a year ago, my former boss and former tulip court member, Aimee Gould told me she was nominating me for the 2011 Albany Tulip Queen and Court. I was so honored and excited. I am proud to have followed in her footsteps! Please consider nominating a young woman who has strong leadership abilities and a love for community service. I will forever be grateful to Aimee for nominating me and introducing me to this great opportunity. Head to http://albanytulipqueen.com/nominate/ and give the same opportunity to another hard working, dedicated and passionate young woman!


Posted by: Marjorie Adriance, 2011 Tulip Court

Tuesday January 31, 2012

 

Brrrrrr....It's Cold Outside!

This is the warmest winter I can remember, day after day of above average temperatures....until the day that we participated in the Martin Luther King celebration at the Convention Center.  It was by far the coldest day of the winter so far!  But what a privilege to participate in an event that celebrated the birthday of a man that "had a dream" and made a difference in the lives of so many.  We enjoyed the events in the Convention Center, including a kid's corner, and then led a parade several blocks through the city.

We also had fun participating in the 2012 Ronald McDonald House Charities Radiothon at Crossgates Mall.  Ronald McDonald House Charities promotes the health, development and well being of children and their families through the Ronald McDonald House, a home away from home for families of seriously ill children, and by creating and supporting programs that directly improve the lives of children and their families.  We sold tickets at "Autograph Alley" where for a donation folks could meet NFL Legends Rodney Hampton and Mark Clayton, WWE legend Tito Santana and NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver David Reutimann.

Coming up next we will be taking LCL on the road to the Boys and Girl's Club and meeting with students at Albany High School.

It's hard to believe that our time serving Albany is winding down.  It's time to nominate deserving young women for the honor of serving as the 2012 Albany Tulip Queen and Court.  Do you know someone that would be a great ambassador for the City of Albany and the Mayor Jerry Jennings' Literacy Campaign?  If so, follow this link, http://www.albanytulipqueen.com/nominate/, to nominate her!

 


Posted by: Karen Colehour, 2011 Tulip Queen

Wednesday January 18, 2012

 

Happy 2012 Albany!

Although it appears that our mild winter has come to an end, the New Year and the first snow fall of 2012 brings us as the TQ and Court a flourish of new events, new programs, and new ambitions.  

The last few weeks have been nothing short of spectacular.  We were excited and honored to begin 2012 with bringing our "Lights, Camera, Literacy" program to three 2nd grade classrooms at Berne-Knox-Westerlo Elementary School.  We read "Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst and the students ultimately created their own story by working in small groups and performing skits demonstrating different ways a day could turn out to be a challenging one.  We were incredibly pleased and proud that the students got involved in the story, were passionate and energetic during the program, and showed their understanding of literary terms and elements.  The skits were creative, fun, and entertaining and the students particularly enjoyed dressing up in costumes and using their imagination.  Look for pictures in our gallery coming soon!

Realizing that our reign will eventually come to an end, we wanted to be sure to make the most of this honorable experience. Thus, we have decided as the Queen and Court to continue our "Lights, Camera, Literacy" program to enhance the Mayor's Literacy Campaign at diverse locations in the remaining months, initiate a new program titled "Q and A with the TQ and Court," and plan a fundraiser for the Tulip Fund.  More information on the latter two will come in future blogs; something to look forward to!

Thank you immensely for your continued support.  Along with continuing to visit albanytulipqueen.com, please note that nominations for the 2012 Albany Tulip Queen and Court are now open.  If you know any remarkable, outgoing, and dedicated young women, nominate them!  More information on nominations is available here, http://albanytulipqueen.com/nominate. 


Posted by: Hannah Walker, 2011 Tulip Court

Tuesday January 10, 2012

 

Happy New Year Albany

I hope all of you had a wonderful, safe and enjoyable holiday season. I must say this has been of the most enjoyable seasons I can remember. Not only did I get to participate in my normal Christmas activities, such as family gatherings, parties at friends houses, singing in Christmas eve choir and eating lots of goodies, but I was also able to be a part of some of Albany's holiday events that I had never attended before. I loved being a part of City Hall's Christmas tree lighting ceremony and having fun with kids at the Empire State Plaza's tree lighting event. I hope all of you were able to take a little time to participate is some of the City's holiday cheer!

As 2011 comes to close, it's hard believe that the Tulip Festival is only five months away. While things have gone fast, we've also accomplished a lot in the time that has passed. In the past nine months the Court and I went from being complete strangers, to becoming friends and coworkers. We've gotten to partner with numerous organizations within Albany, attend many fun, challenging and enlightening events and create our own campaign to enhance literacy throughout Albany. We've learned a lot about team work and have made many new friends. I know all of us are extremely thankful for the opportunities we've been given throughout the year.

With the new year getting into full swing I also want to encourage each of you to find some time to consider nominating a young woman you know for the 2012 Tulip Court. New Years is normally a time to reflect on the past year, and I can say with confidence that being a member of the Court has really helped me grow, mature, and expand my horizons over the past year. If you know a young woman with leadership skills, who also has a love for community and service, consider nominating submitting a nomination for her at: http://albanytulipqueen.com/nominate. You can find all the specific qualifications on the website and a brief description of the selection process. I know I will be forever grateful for this year of service and hope that many young women for generations to come will continue to benefit from this amazing experience.


Posted by: Kelly Landers, 2011 Tulip Court

Friday December 16, 2011

 

Happy Holidays Albany!

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season!  I know I sure am, thanks to all the different festive events Albany has to offer.  All five of us were at the Holiday Celebration at the Empire State Plaza making ornaments and coloring holiday pictures with children.  That was a great day in the beginning of December that really got me into the holiday spirit.  We also had a great time at the Holiday Tree Lighting at City Hall.  I really enjoyed all of the children coming up with the mayor to light the tree, which looked so beautiful.   Everyone should go down to city hall and check out the tree and decorations and then head over to the Capital Holiday Lights in Washington Park.  The lights are great this year and the lake house looked so beautiful all light up.  When I saw it I couldn't believe how much time has passed since May when spring was just settling in and we were just starting our year!

Besides our different holiday activities, we've been continuing to implement our "Lights, Camera, Literacy" program.  This past month we went to Eagle Point Elementary School and held two programs after school.  It was especially fun for me because this past semester I've was helping out in a first grade classroom there and about half of the students came to our program.  We had some very creative costumes that the students dressed up in and overall it was a good afternoon of reading and fun.

We are planning to continue this program all over Albany to try and reach as many kids as we can!  We hope that everyone has a safe, healthy, and happy holiday and a wonderful New Year!  


Posted by: Katie Headd, 2011 Tulip Court

Tuesday November 29, 2011

 

Happy Holidays Albany!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I am excited about the upcoming holiday celebrations we will be a part of, especially the holiday tree lighting at Empire State Plaza on December 4th. My personal favorite part of the holiday season is driving through Capital Holiday Lights in the Park with friends.

I would like to personally thank the Dutch Settlers Society of Albany for welcoming Karen, Hannah and I at their annual membership tea. We felt honored to be among a group of people that celebrate the Dutch heritage that is a rich part of the Albany Tulip Festival. Also, we enjoyed the lovely company of the members as we shared tea and cookies and they told stories about their travels through the Netherlands.

As our year as the 2011 Tulip Queen and Court flies by we still have many ideas about programs we hope to implement this year. Make sure to keep an eye out for our many programs to come!


Posted by: Marjorie Adriance, 2011 Tulip Court

Friday November 18, 2011

 

Hello, Albany!

It is hard to believe that we are 6 months into year serving Albany on the Tulip Court!  It seems like just yesterday that we stood on the stage in Washington Park.

As Karen mentioned in her blog, “Lights, Camera, Literacy!” is in full swing.  In addition to meeting with the children at Albany Academy, we will be presenting our program with children in the afterschool program at Eagle Point Elementary School.   We are hoping that we will be able to extend this program to other schools and youth programs over the coming months.

With the holidays fast approaching we will be attending several events, including the Holiday Tree Lighting event at the Empire State Plaza.  We are also looking forward to participating in the Albany Academies Book Fair at Barnes and Noble next month.

We would like to take a moment to let you know that we are thankful for your support and for the opportunities that we have had to be a part of the Albany community.  We wish for all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Don't eat too much!


Posted by: Karen Colehour, 2011 Tulip Queen

Monday October 31, 2011

 

Hello Albany!

As autumn winds down and the first (extremely early) snowflakes fall, we continue to stay active and busy in Albany County.  "Lights, Camera, Literacy" is now in full swing; we have proudly initiated the program at various and numerous locations throughout the last several months and will continue to in the coming months.  Just recently, "Lights, Camera, Literacy" was conducted with 5th graders at Albany Academy.  Although all of the programs have been successful, engaging, and fun, the program with the 5th graders was particularly remarkable.   The book of choice was "Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst about a young boy who encounters difficulties and obstacles throughout the course of his day.  Some troubles he endures are stepping in a puddle, going to the dentist and having a cavity, becoming the 3rd in line in the hierarchy of best friends, being scolded by his mom, and having to eat lima beans for dinner.  The 5th graders worked in small groups to create their own version of the story (i.e., what other events could round out a terrible day) and later acted out their entertaining skits with imaginative props and costumes.  They seemed to really enjoy all of the program components.

Outside of promoting literacy, we have continued to attend events in the City of Albany to help in any way that we can.  I had the privilege of being a judge on the Miss Festival of Nations panel; it was a special experience for me and I was very impressed by the young women of the Capital Region! At the Albany Devils game the other weekend, we collected new coats and winter items at the Mayor's Fall Drop Off and, of course, cheered on the Devils to a victory.  The approaching weekends for us involve attending the Family Fall Fest at the Reigning Life Church and the Festival of Nations at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.  We hope to see you at our upcoming events and please continue to visit our website and blog often!  In the meantime, stay warm and get your shovels out of the attic!

  

 



Posted by: Hannah Walker, 2011 Tulip Court

Wednesday October 19, 2011

 

Hello Again Albany!

With fall in full swing, the Court and I have been gradually settling into a new pace with school, internships and work. Unlike everyone else, I've been enjoying my first fall without the stresses of school and homework. However, with work, an internship and Court duties I've been far from bored. We've had a great season so far as we got our literacy program "Lights, Camera, Literacy" up and running. It's been thrilling to see our vision become a reality. We are looking forward to bringing our program to both the Albany Academies and Eagle Point Elementary in the near future. 

 Another highlight this fall was participating in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Washington Park with Marjorie's mother. Mrs. Adriance is a survivor and a real inspiration and it was an honor to walk with her. The entire Court was able to join her team the "Princess Warriors" and we enjoyed the event despite the finicky weather. Thousands of people gathered together for the walk and it was awe-inspiring to be a part of such a large, vibrant crowd. At the end of the day it was felt great to have been able to be part of such an amazing event. It was a moment that made me thankful that the Tulip Court is about more than just activities; it's also about relationships.



Posted by: Kelly Landers, 2011 Tulip Court

Tuesday October 4, 2011

 

Hi again Albany!

 
Hope everyone has been enjoying the beginning of this school year.  We have been busy with a lot of great events and even more literacy!  This past Saturday we attended a Jazzy Sun Birthday Party at the Marillac Family Shelter for a two very special children.  We had lots of fun celebrating their birthdays with both Transformers and Dora the Explorer decorations, face painting, crafts, pizza, cake, and games.  It was a great afternoon and I can’t wait until next month when we will do it again!

This week we also went to Eagle Point Elementary School’s Family Literacy Night where we read the book Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matt McElligot to many of the students who came.  It was really neat for us to read that book, especially Hannah, because the author and illustrator, Matt McElligot, was actually Hannah’s illustration professor in college and she saw the prints of that book before it was published.   After we read the book we all made our own unique monsters with feathers, cut-outs, sequins, pipe-cleaners, and all that fun stuff.  The kids had a lot of fun and so did we, especially because we all shared ice cream from Stewart’s afterwards!

Last night, Thursday September 29th, we had our second “Lights, Camera, Literacy” program through the Mayor’s Literacy Campaign.   We had a great time with all of the children who attended.  The book Mrs. Brooks Loves Book! (And I Don’t)  by Barbara Bottner and Michael Emberley was a great book for dressing up!  As student’s figured out how to solve the main characters problem they turned into Willy Wonka, a bunny, Mickey Mouse, an investigator on vacation, and a teacher.  In the month of October we plan on implementing this program at the Albany Acadamies and Eagle Point Elementary School. 

Hope to see everyone at the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer at Washington Park on Sunday, October 16th!


Posted by: Katie Headd, 2011 Tulip Court

Wednesday September 21, 2011

 

Happy Fall!

I know it has not officially begun, but the weather has definitely decided that fall is here! With fall comes a whole new variety of events which we are all looking forward to! We have all started to adjust being beck into the swing of fall semester and are very busy but having fun too!

Thursday, September 15th was the first of our “Lights, Camera, Literacy” program through The Mayor Jennings Literacy Campaign. Although attendance was low we still had a lot of fun! Hannah was able to supply us with an extensive selection of costumes which included wigs and props which really added to the fun! We really enjoyed interacting and dressing up, as well as acting out the book The Queen’s Feet by Sarah Ellis. Hopefully more children can join us on September 29th from 7pm - 8pm at the Albany Main Library for a new book and more fun!

We would like to thank The City of Albany, Amica Insurance, Hannaford, The College of Saint Rose Curriculum Library, Finke Equipment, Mary Jane Books and The College of Saint Rose Student Association for supporting the event and helping to make it all possible. Thanks to these sponsors each child gets a goody bag after the program including a ruler, a pencil, a frisbee and a book.


Posted by: Marjorie Adriance, 2011 Tulip Court

Tuesday September 6, 2011

 

Hello, Albany!

Can you believe that it is September already?  Where did the summer go? We have been very busy – it has been fun to spend time with different organizations and make new friends.  Last week we helped with the backpack giveaway at the City Rescue Mission; it is very rewarding to spend time with Albany’s children – and it’s always an adventure!

September brings more events, and as Karen wrote about in her blog, the premiere of our program to promote the Mayor Gerry Jennings Literacy Campaign – “Lights, Camera, Literacy!”, on September 15th and 29th at 7:00 p.m. at the Albany Main Library in the Tulip Queen Reading Room.  We are so excited to begin this program with a goal to encourage and stimulate teamwork and creativity, and promote interest in and joy of reading.  The program is free and we welcome children of all ages, and encourage you to pre-register to solidify your child’s spot by calling the Main Library at 427-4300; however, walk-ins are also welcome!

We will also be at the Jazz Festival this Saturday, September 10th, the Hispanic Heritage Celebration on September 17th, and again this month helping St. Catherine's Center for Children host their monthly birthday party for children living in homeless shelters on September 24th.  We are looking forward to meeting more of you at these events!

 


Posted by: Karen Colehour, 2011 Tulip Queen

Tuesday August 23, 2011

 

Hello again Albany!

 

First of all, on behalf of my court, I’d like to thank you for visiting albanytulipqueen.com and for supporting us in the past, the present, and in the future.  Although it has already been 3 months since our reign began and we are more or less “used to” permanent smiles, painting faces for hours at a time, and wearing high heels for long periods, we are still extremely honored and privileged to be the 2011 Tulip Queen and Court. 

Despite summer vacation and hot weather winding down, we are continuing to stay active and busy in community events, and loving it!  A few highlights of the last 3 weeks include singing and digging into the earth at “Planting Flowers Planting Hope” with Ruth Pelham and the Music Mobile, painting faces at African American Family Day, and presenting art and essay awards at15 Love.  Reading to summer camp kids at the Colonie Youth Bureau was an experience that holds a special place in my heart.  Many of the kids I knew because I worked at the camp for the previous five summers.  Several of them remembered me, but for this visit they looked at me with wider eyes and listened with more attentive ears.  They admired the crown and sash and seemed to really enjoy the story hour. 

It is a particularly exciting time for us because we recently finalized our first program to enhance the Mayor’s Literacy Campaign.   “Lights, Camera, Literacy” is coming to the Albany Main Library in the Tulip Queen Reading Room on September 15th and 29th at 7:00 p.m.  At this program, we will be reading to children fun and exciting books with a literary conflict and omitting the ending.  The participants, with the Tulip Queen and Court’s assistance and guidance, will then form their own ending in small groups through teamwork and imagination and using costumes and props, and then perform their skits to the group as a whole.  After, the Tulip Queen and Court will read the true ending of the story.  Throughout the program, we will be raffling off prizes to the participants.  Through “Lights, Camera, Literacy” we hope to encourage and stimulate teamwork and creativity, and promote interest in and joy of reading.  The program is free and we welcome children of all ages, and encourage you to pre-register to solidify your child’s spot by calling the Main Library at 427-4300; however, walk-ins are also welcome!  A special thank you to all of the people who helped to make this program possible through their contributions, support, encouragement, and cooperation. 

Enjoy the rest of your summer and we look forward to seeing you at future events and "Lights, Camera, Literacy!"


Posted by: Hannah Walker, 2011 Tulip Court

Tuesday August 16, 2011

 

Hello Albany!



August has arrived and this summer is flying by faster than I expected. Being on the Tulip Court has been a whirlwind of activity, but I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything. We've been able to partner with a huge variety of organizations and we've met amazing people who are committed to making Albany better. I'm truly humbled and inspired by the dedication and passion I've seen.

One special lady we've been able to meet is Fazana Saleem-Ismail. She is the founder of Jazzy Sun Birthdays, a project committed to giving children staying homeless shelters, the joy and excitement of having a personalized birthday party. Fazana wants these children, whose lives are in a state of flux, to have a taste of normalcy and fun.  So far she has been hosting a monthly party at St. Catherine's for any children who have birthdays within that month. Since getting started, she has been able to collect donations and many have volunteered their time to help. We had the privilege of helping Fazana with her party in July.

As helpers at the party, we were able to see all the hard work that Fazana puts into each event. She had been told about some of the children's interests and tried to gear the decorations, games, crafts and presents to each birthday kid's likes. The theme at this party was sports and mickey mouse. When we first arrived we had to ask the children to leave the recreation room until the party was ready. Then we got to work transforming the room into a birthday wonderland. All of the children were excited and kept peaking at us through the window. Some of the children had attended last month's party and you could tell they were thrilled to be able to attend another one.

When we were finally ready, the kids were antsy and waiting at the door. We had about 15 kids attend and some parents also came in. During the course of the party we made mickey mouse masks, decorated book marks, ate pizza and cake and played a couple of games. At one point we started up a Wii and Tulip Queen Karen got her dance on with the kids while they played the Micheal Jackson Experience. Another highlight of the party was our competitive, yet funny game of Mickey Says.  By the end of the party kids were smiling and enjoying the fun, just like kids should. It's so rewarding to know we could help give all of them an afternoon to feel special. The happiness and smiles we saw that day are just another reminder of why we all wanted to be a part of the Tulip Court. Thank you Fazana for allowing us to be a part of your wonderful project!


Posted by: Kelly Landers, 2011 Tulip Court

Wednesday July 20, 2011

 

Hello Albany!

 

These past couple months have been crazy fun! I’ve also learned a lot too!  This past weekend we went out to GE's Kids Day at the Plaza and had a blast painting faces all day.  Before I was a member of the 2011 Tulip Court, I never thought I would ever paint faces.  I’ve never considered myself artistic at all! However, I’ve realized a simple rainbow on a child’s cheek can make his or her day.  My favorite part of that day was running into a child that I met at a prior event that I went to.  

Albany Community Charter School held a Grand Prize Reading Celebration where the two students who read the most books for each grade were honored and celebrated.  I was happy to see one of the little girls I sat with at that event in my line to get her face painted.  Marjorie also ran into a young boy who was at the Salvation Army Family Fun Night which we also attended.

Making connections and meeting new people have been some of my favorite parts of being a member of the 2011 Tulip Court.  You realize what a small world it is as you interact with different organizations and programs.   I think that in our months to come we will all continue to meet the wonderful diverse people of this beautiful city!


Posted by: Katie Headd, 2011 Tulip Court

Tuesday July 12, 2011

 

Hi Albany!

I have been having so much fun the last few months being a part of the 2011 Tulip Queen and Court. This past week Kelly and I even got the opportunity to meet Thompson Square at Alive @ Five. There was an amazing turn out that night and we had so much fun!

Currently we are working together to finalize our project for The Mayor Jennings Literacy Campaign. Part of our goal with this project is to make sure that kids keep reading all summer! We will be at several events this summer that will emphasize having fun while reading. As the Tulip Queen and Court we have had the opportunity to meet a lot of children and we hope to meet even more of you soon! Please don’t hesitate to come over and say hello, you could even tell us about any good books you have read lately! I hope you are enjoying your summer so far, happy reading!


Posted by: Marjorie Adriance, 2011 Tulip Court

Tuesday July 5, 2011

 

 

Summer is in full swing and with it many activities.  We’ve enjoyed working with children at the many events we have attended.  We’ve met some really great kids at the Salvation Army’s Family Fun Night.  They are so funny and we cannot stop talking about them and look forward to seeing them again next month.  Alive at Five has been a personal favorite of mine.  We got to meet Vertical Horizon and have our picture taken with them and thoroughly enjoyed Thompson Square last week.  We are hoping for beautiful weather so that everyone can enjoy them at the Albany Riverfront Park - I hope to see you all there.

We are also very busy finalizing our project proposal for the Mayor Gerry Jennings Literacy Campaign.  We are excited about our idea and hope that we will be able to begin sharing it will all of you very soon.

Look for us at Albany city events - we're the ones wearing matching outfits and sashes.  We'd love to meet you! 

 


Posted by: Karen Colehour, 2011 Tulip Queen

Tuesday June 14, 2011

 

Greetings Albany!

Get to know the 2011 Tulip Queen and Court a little better:

-Three of our first names begin with “K”

-Two of us are graduate students

-Two of us have been skydiving

-One of us wrote and published a children’s book

-One of us likes the smell of skunks

-All of us love Albany!

 

Can you believe it’s been over a month since my Court and I began our year of reign?  We can’t! Following a wonderful coronation and Tulip Festival weekend, we quickly found ourselves enthusiastic for and busy with many events.  Our first official début as the 2011 Tulip Queen and Court was at the Teresian House, where we assisted the residents in participating in their annual fashion show.  To conclude our first week of reign, we had the privilege of cutting the ribbon to officially begin the 42nd annual Grecian Festival, where we feasted on a variety of Greek dishes and food, including my personal favorite, spanakopita!  We also had the pleasure of enjoying and partaking in the Mendelssohn Club Concert, Eagle Point Literacy Celebration, Bens Jammin Art Project, and Memorial Day Parade.  It has been nothing short of an honor and delight to be the 2011 Tulip Queen and Court as we conclude our first month of reign.

We not only look forward to an exciting summer filled with events, but a year of reign that will bring fun, happiness, appreciation, and education to Albany County and to us!  We are also extremely eager to plan and put into action our own projects to enhance the Mayor's Literacy Program.  Please visit albanytulipqueen.com and our blog often for updates and we hope to see you soon!