Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant

Help with CMN Requirements

Contestants

Register Here
www.MissAmerica4kids.com

The directions are on the site
Contestants should register for each pageant in
which she wishes to compete.
A maximum of $400 is required for you to compete
for the locals in each year.  You can continue to raise
funds after the $400 but it is not required.
After a local is won, you should register for the
state pageant where your goal is $250

If you need the form to send in a paper check
click here to download
______________________________________________
Directors

Website to check your contestant is here

________________________________________________

F A Qs
MAO National Platform

Documents attached at end of FAQ’s
Registration Instructions for Local Pageant Contestants
 Intro Materials & Examples
National Platform Donation Roll-Over Information
Executive Director’s National Platform Reports for Pageants

Questions & Answers:

1 -- As a Local director, what is my responsibility? 
Answer:  Two items.  One is to tell the contestant to register on line at www.MissAmerica4Kids.org and choose your pageant as the “Pageant competing for” and ask her to send out emails to raise funds for the National Platform (now, in July 2007 we are in the pageant year of 2008 so all local contestants need to register under 2008).

Second, after she has registered and sent out emails, prior to the pageant, simply to ask the contestant for her qualification report and check to see if your pageant is listed and that she has raised enough funds to qualify for your pageant.   The report looks like this:

In this example, the contestant entered two local pageants.  She qualified for the first one and still needs $20 to qualify for the second local pageant.   She “borrowed” her excess of $10 from the first batch of donations and applied that $10 towards her $100 minimum goal for her second local pageant.  In her second pageant she sent out emails and raised $70 in donations but still needs $20 to meet her minimum goal.

2 -- As a contestant, what is my responsibility?

Answer:  A contestant must register on www.MissAmerica4Kids.org.  Go to MissAmerica4Kids.org.  Select "New Contestants Click Here" at the bottom.  This brings up the below profile.  Complete all fields with an asterisk.  Name, State, Pageant year is 2008, Title competing for is the pageant you are going to compete in (not one you have won a title for), etc. etc.  upload a picture if desired.  For exact instructions, see “Registration Instructions for Local Contestants”.

3 -- Is there a simple outline of how a contestant registers?

Answer: Yes.  See “Registration for Local Pageant Contestants”.

4  -- How do I know what email addresses I have sent letter to?

Answer:  The easiest way is to send an email to yourself to your email address and then use your email provider’s system to track who you sent emails to.   The current MAO/CMN software program does not track emails sent.

5 -- Are there materials available for this National Platform?

Answer:  Yes.  These are Introductions booklets, Crowns for paper check donations, Pass-along cards to direct potential donors to the website and an introduction DVD that describes the relationship between Miss America and Children’s Miracle Network.   See “Intro Materials & Examples”.

6 -- It appears from reading the information that if a contestant competed in our State Pageant 2007 and is eligible to compete for 2008 local pageants, then she must re-establish a new ID and password?

Answer: Yes.  This is to help keep the pageant cycles clearer for all involved.

7 -- Is it the responsibility of the contestant to update her own profile after she has competed in a local to reflect this?  Who monitors this?

 Answer:  Yes, it is the responsibility of the contestant to update her profile to show what pageant she is or has competed in.  The Qualification Report will list all the pageants she has been in, will show how much money she has raised and if she is qualified for her current pageant.   It is the contestant’s responsibility to keep the pageant data correct.  It is easy and takes very little time.

8 --  How do local directors verify that a contestant is eligible if she has competed in other locals…is there a way for the director to see what locals the contestant has entered and if she has raised enough in donations?

Answer:  The Qualification report does this.   See Executive Director’s National Platform Reports for Pageants

9 -- Has Miss America/Children’s Miracle Network made available some place where directors can log in and have access to reviewing the info without appearing to be raising money like a contestant?

 Answer:  Yes.  That report is the Executive Director’s National Platform Reports for Pageants.

10 -- Can the local director ask the contestants to bring a print out of their CMN account to show the money raised during this local pageant.  Will all the pageants entered be reflected? 

Answer:  Yes & yes.  The contestant should bring a copy of their Qualification Report to the pageant.  The ED’s could also see the Executive Director’s National Platform Reports for Pageants.

11 -- What does a local director do if the contestant has competed more times than is shown in her profile?

 Answer:  Inform her that it is her responsibility to correctly update her MAO/CMN profile regarding the National Platform.  Every new pageant she enters needs to be listed there.  The Executive Director will be looking for the pageant that she is competing for and she will need to bring a print out of the qualification report to that pageant she is currently competing in.  It is not the duty or responsibility of the director to do this for her.   When a contestant competes at a pageant that ED simply needs to see that pageant on the Qualification report the contestant brings at registration for the start of the pageant.

12 -- What about the contestants that show up to the local with a paper check(s) for a donation because her donors do not feel comfortable using the internet in making donations?

Answer:  Paper checks are fine.  The web page outlines that and provides a form for paper check collections.  Due to the timing of local pageants sometimes a paper check(s) may appear just prior to a pageant.  A contestant may use these to qualify for the pageant in regards to the National Platform goal.  The ED would check her off as meeting her goal and mail the checks to CMN for tally under that local pageant.

13 -- If a contestant is eligible to compete in two states, must the contestant set up two state accounts?

Answer:   Yes.  Such as, if the contestant is a student in Oklahoma where she is eligible and she is a resident of Missouri (for example) where she is eligible then she may compete in both States but must also register in both states.

14 -- Do the local directors have access to look at the all the contestants that compete in a state?

Answer: Yes. This is the Executive Director’s National Platform Reports for Pageants.

15 --Does the $100 need to be raised prior to a Local pageant?

Answer:  Yes.  And the system will allow the contestant to print a copy of the Qualification Report that proves she has raised the funds and is qualified for that specific pageant.  More than $100 may be raised prior to a local pageant.  If the contestant enters multiple pageants, $100 would be used for each pageant until the collected amount representing all donations for that pageant cycle is used up.  When a contestant wins a local, any unused donated funds will roll over to the $250 minimum expected goal at the state level and the same applies from the State to the National Pageant.  This is the Roll-Over formula. 

16 -- If a local would like to have a fundraiser to raise the $100 for each contestant, how do they/what is the process to send a check to CMN for each contestant?

Answer:  First, do whatever you would like to raise funds.  You may donate on line via credit card data, e-check or send a paper check to CMN stating the funds are for the attached list of contestants on an equal basis or for a split as shown on the paperwork attached to the check.  Mail the check(s) along with paperwork defining which contestant and the pageant name associated with the funds (this form may be found on the web page for donations) to:

 Children's Miracle Network,
             Attn Miss America Scholarship Accounting
             4525 South 2300 East
             Salt Lake City, UT  84117.

17 -- If a contestant raises $500 for her first local of the year, doesn't win and contestant elects to compete in another local during that pageant cycle, does the extra $400 carry over to another pageant?

Answer:  Yes.  The amount over the $100 for a local pageant is “excess”.  The excess of the initial funds (up to $100 for a local pageant and $250 for the state pageant) raised by this contestant will be applied to the minimum goal of the next pageant.  See the Roll-Over formula.   Funds are raised for the National Platform by the efforts of a contestant.  These funds are for the benefit of a contestant and are used to qualify her for a pageant(s) and are not tied to a specific “pageant”.

18 -- What are the consequences if a contestant does not raise $100 for the National Platform for a local pageant?

19 -- As ED, when may we view how contestants are doing in regards to qualifying for a specific pageant?    

Answer:  As soon as the contestant registers at www.MissAmerica4Kids.org the ED is may pull up a report.  See Executive Director’s National Platform Reports for Pageants for instructions as to how to view this report.

20 -- Can the local pageants receive a copy of the National Platform Introduction DVD?

Answer:  Yes, please contact your state ED first as they may have some in stock.  If they do not, contact David Harnicher at dharnicher@ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org  and request the Introduction DVD.   Provide a complete mailing address in the email.

21 -- The MAO organization continues to try and get us to recruit new contestants - now, in order for a contestant to compete at a local, isn’t it true that they will now have to raise $100 in order to compete?  Isn't that like us charging them an entry fee?

Answer:  The National Platform concept is not an entry fee.  If it was an entry fee it would be paid directly to MAO.  The contestants are not supposed to take money out of their pocket for this National Platform community service program.  Minimum expected goals for each level of pageant are small amounts that were chosen as a way to validate the community service portion of Miss America requirements.  These amounts were suggested as minimum amounts that are relatively easy to reach with the new on-line giving program that has been developed.  This starts the move to a national platform within which contestants may chose a concept that relates to the many issues within a hospital for children.  Do the contestants have to do some work?  Yes, but the time it takes to register is less than 5 minutes and another 5 to sent out some emails requesting a donation.

22 -- Is there an easy way to send out emails, versus typing them in one at a time?

Answer:  Yes.  Contestants can send an email to themselves.  One they get it, they can forward it on to anyone or everyone on their address list.  Before it is forwarded, the contestants can add a note which precedes the pre-formatted email.  This will personalize the standardized email.  The contestant may ask for $5, $10 or any amount the donor may be able to give.

23 -- How will I know as a contestant that I have raised enough money to be able to compete at our local?

Answer:  Each contestant that has registered has the ability to log in to their site and look at the Qualification Report that shows how much they have raised and what pageant(s) they qualify for.  Reports are also available re amount raised, who contributed…etc.  Each ED also has that ability.  The report module available for ED’s to log into the system is shown in the Executive Director’s National Platform Reports for Pageants. 

24 -- What will the deadline be in order to raise the funds for our local?

Answer:  The Local ED’s can dictate an earlier date, but the system will track amounts right up to the day of the pageant.  The contestant will need to print off a Qualification Report to bring to the pageant.  She will know her amount raised.  The new reporting module provides data to ED’s on an ongoing basis.  The Qualification Report may be printed out at any time.

25 -- Is this an indication that we should have all contestants change their personal platform to one of a National Platform (the Children's Miracle Network charity and the MAO scholarship fund)?

Answer:  Yes and no.  The plan, as announced, is to have a National Platform based around the Children's Miracle Network.  Within a hospital are many programs that lend themselves to choosing an individualized platform within the National Platform.  The fund raising capability and collective capacity will result in a substantial amount of monies raised which will set Miss America apart from other pageants.  But, a contestant may still have a personal platform if she desires.

26 -- How much of the donated dollars actually go to the Children's Miracle Network? Are there expenses? 

Answer:  The split of monies raised is 60% to MAO and 40% to Children's Miracle Network after expenses.  The split of the 60% to MAO varies between the National Pageant and the local or state pageant.  In the case of a Local pageant, the Local retains 20% and MAO-national gets 40%.  State pageants retain 30% and MAO-national gets 30%.  Like any program, costs associated will be deducted and used to pay for expenses.  Printing, credit card processing fees, etc.  The overall percentage is expected to be small.  As the program matures, the percentage of expense is expected to decrease which is what has happened in other programs Children's Miracle Network has developed.

27 -- How do individuals contribute to the National Platform?

Answer:  If they get an email from a contestant there is a link in the email that leads the recipient to the donation site.   Or, if a potential donor knows the name of the contestant they may go to www.MissAmerica4Kids.org/search   then put in the contestant’s last name & click search with the mouse arrow. (Not the enter key).  Select the correct name and state from the search list and click on the “click here” button at the right side of the line.  This then takes the donor to the contestant’s Personal page for the National Platform to make a donation.

28 -- Will the donated dollars collected in the contestants name stay in the local area?

Answer:  Yes.  The MAO portion returns to the scholarship funds for the state and local pageants.  The portion that goes to the Children’s Miracle Network goes to the hospitals that service the children of that area. 

29 -- Does a contestant set a minimum goal per pageant or per title?

Answer:  If a pageant has two titles offered the minimum goal is still only $100 for the local pageant even though the effect is entering two pageants.

30 -- How will ED’s know if a contestant has raised enough money to be able to compete at our local?

Answer:  The ED has a Reporting system in which the ED can look at the Qualification Report for a specific pageant.   See

31 – If a company/employer would like to provide matching funds for a contestant and requires a Tax ID number, what number do they use?

Answer:  The Tax ID for Children's Miracle Network: 87-0387205   

National Platform Donation Roll-Over Information

Donations, in excess of the minimum amount required for each pageant, collected by a contestant, may be rolled-over for use in multiple Local pageants or State & National pageants within a pageant cycle.  A pageant cycle starts with the Local pageant(s) that leads to State, which leads to the National pageant (Miss America title).  When a contestant starts a new pageant cycle at a Local pageant (which could involve several Local Pageants for that cycle), no funds are rolled over from the prior pageant cycle (Miss America title).  That means everyone is at the same starting place for the National Platform fundraising.

Local Level:
All contestants must register at www.MissAmerica4Kids.org.  Even though a contestant may have been involved in the Miss America Pageant system the last pageant cycle (leading to a State 2007 title), a new ID is needed when the contestant enters their first Local Pageant of the Pageant Cycle.  That ID chosen for the first Local Pageant will be used by that contestant throughout the pageant season for that pageant cycle.  DO NOT create a new ID for each pageant within a pageant cycle.

Any donations collected, in excess of the $100 Minimum for Pageant 1, will automatically roll-over into the contestants excess account and will be used toward their fundraising goal for Pageant 2.  Any excess funds from Pageant 2 will automatically roll-over and will be used toward their fundraising goal for Pageant 3, etc.

Contestants will still need to raise a minimum of $100 per Local pageant entered and must register on line for each local pageant entered by going to www.MissAmerica4Kids.org and logging into their CMN personal page and selecting the new pageant for the title that they are then currently competing for.  When changing the “Pageant competing for:” do not change your ID.