Recruiting Kids to be on Billboards

I am trying to recruit kids from the ages 5-15 to be in a picture with me that will be placed on a billboard. The billboard message will be geared toward recruitment of foster families and adoptive parents out of foster care. Depending on the selected photo and story of the child [if there is one] the quote with the picture will be, "A house full of kids...is a heart full of love." - Become a foster parent or adopt a child out of foster care. These billboards will be up statewide and I want to feature children, or children that have been a foster child and adopted or have a great foster family.

Here are the specifics and dates:

Age: 5-15

Gender Both Male & Female

Date for Photo Shoot: Monday, September 28th at 6:00pm

or

Monday, October 5th at 6:00pm

Location: Cedar Lakes

Clothing: Normal, clean school clothes - age appropriate

I will be selecting the photos that will be used. I hope to have a great deal of interest from any type of family and will take pictures of as many would like to be a part. Within a few days of the shoot, I will notify those who have been selected and email them the selected picture.

Please contact me if your child is interested at taliamarkham@yahoo.com and I will then give you my cell number.

Shoney's Celebrity Waitress

Tonight I was at Shoney’s attending a fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network. There were celebrity waiters and waitresses there helping the Shoney’s servers with anything they could – get drinks, refill drinks, serve food, clean off table, etc. I was lucky enough to get invited to come and spent the evening with LouMasi, a Monarch Miss, and Nicole Shockor a former Miss West Virginia contestant. We signed autographs, talked with people, and helped in any way that was needed.

It was so much fun being with the Shoney’s staff and the Froggy 99 Radio Station staff.

BUSY WEEK

This has been a great week, but busy. I spent the first couple days working on getting radio stations to play my Public Service Announcements, finalizing the projection and multimedia needs for my school tour, a million other details that take more time than you think they will.

Had a crazy day on Thursday. Arrived in Bridgeport and was the opening speaker for the WV CASA Seminar - what an honor that was! I am a trained CASA worker, but I have yet to be given a case since my schedule has changed, so I was speaking to the dedicated workers who do so much with so little recognition. I stayed for lunch to be able to spend more time with them, which put me late for my next event. Here's where it all goes to pot! I didn't want to take time to get gas (first mistake!), so I ran out of gas....lucky to run out of gas on the ramp with a gas station within walking distance! Luckily the Coke and Pepsi distributors were stocking the fridge and saw me walking into the gas station in 4.5" heels and a dress. I guess they felt sorry for me because they decided to push me to the gas station, all three of them. After I arrived at the pump, I wrote out some interesting autograph cards, in thanks that they pushed me to get gas! lolol


In trying to make up for lost time, I got a speeding ticket! Right after getting the speeding ticket, I get a call that the parade I was supposed to be in on Friday as the Grand Marshal, they didn't have a car for me and had forgotten to tell me that. I was ready to cry already, and that just sent me over the edge! While I'm driving as fast as I can (legally, of course!), a friend calls and rescues me with an offer to help me find a car.


Thank you, thank you, to I-77 Ford in Ripley who allowed me to borrow a car (and even provided me with a driver!) On I sped (I mean, slowly drove) to Beckley for a modeling event and photo shoot for Jean Ann's Bridal and Prom Fashions. These commercials will be shown in the Marquis Cinema chain, so that is really exciting! Too bad I can't get free tickets to the movies to watch myself - LOL!

Jason Michael Carroll Concert

Jason Michael Carroll was “the bomb dot com!” I was able to get tickets with a close friend, and the concert was held at Snowshoe Ski Resort. Because of the location, the concert only held 100 people and I was able to meet Jason before he performed. He has a song about child abuse – Alyssia Lies – and I wanted to let him know that was my platform and that I would be using his song within my school, community and church tour. He was so gracious and I was thrilled to be able to meet such an amazing artist!

Italian Heritage Festival Parade

Saturday morning started off at 5:00am. After packing up and getting ready, I headed to Clarksburg to the Italian Heritage Festival parade. After getting there I made a few new friends and signed some autographs. Before you knew it, it was time to jump in the car with Miss West Virginia President, Barb Brunetti.

The parade lasted about 40 minutes and after that I caught up with Barb and the owner of the hot red convertible, Susan. We talked about Miss America, boys, etc. Loved spending time with them and look forward to it again.