All About Blogging!

Website consultant Jennifer Haubein talks about the basics of blogging, and your different choices for blog creator sites. Plus how to add things like photos, catching the attention of search engines, and the biggest mistakes new bloggers make.

Blogging for Contestants & Directors

Mrs. Oregon International Debra Gilmour talks about how she got into blogging, what she thinks makes good content, and what you should avoid posting. Then - The director of the Oklahoma International Pageants Lauri Rottmayer discusses how she uses her blogs to help her sponsors and attract elite contestants.

Ask Valerie!

In this edition of the Q & A, Valerie discusses choosing local prelims for teen contestants, creating a winning image for the judges, improving your on-stage modeling skills, and the glut of negative comments clogging up the message boards. Plus why you should look to the Olympics for this weeks inspiration.

Debra Gilmour

After her parents and baby brother were seriously injured in a head-on collision, then later nearly losing another family member to drug and alcohol addiction, Debra Gilmour, Mrs. Oregon International 2008, dedicated herself to promoting health and public safety policies related to substance abuse & addiction and impaired driving. Among her many achievements she has received a Certificate of Commendation from the National Association of Governors’ Highway Safety Representatives and the Outstanding Service Award from the DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force. Debra has also been appointed to numerous Boards and policy committees for her expertise and dedication to solution driven strategies related to drug and alcohol abuse and addiction. Debra serves as the executive director for the non-profit Oregon Prevention, Education, and Recovery Association. She is also a liaison to the Oregon Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs, was recently elected to the Board of Directors of NW Addiction Technology Transfer Center and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the national non-profit State Associations of Addiction Services. Since winning her title Debra has been actively promoting her platform \"Healthy Families and Safer Communities\" through numerous television appearances and speaking engagements to youth groups, parent organizations, policy makers and other media outlets. She works tirelessly educating people about the dangers of underage drinking and impaired driving in addition to giving advice on things we can all do to make our communities safer. She will partner with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Oregon Partnership throughout her reign. Debra and her husband Campbell are the parents of three daughters and recently welcomed the family’s newest addition, their first granddaughter, Madeline.

Click Here to Read Her Blog

Jennifer Haubein

Jennifer Haubein is the owner of Best Biz Website Solutions, helping small business owners develop client attractive websites. Jennifer is trained in internet marketing and client attraction strategies. She loves helping small business owners develop website solutions targeting their ideal customer. Jennifer is the author of a special report “5 Reasons Your Current Website Just Isn’t Working”. She also publishes an award winning email newsletter “SiteNotes” which contains easy to use technology tips designed to help you work less. She encourages small business owners to “let your website do the work”.

Click here to visit her website

Lauri Rottmayer

Lauri Rottmayer is the executive director of the Oklahoma International Pageants. She has directed since 1999 and is beginning her third year with the International Pageants system. A self-professed “tech geek” Lauri likes to try new technology to see how well it works as a tool in running her business. She and her husband, David, live in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and are the parents of 3 sons.

Click Here to Read Her Blog