Welcome the new, re-designed website for the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS). Our pages is continually being updated with new content about events, our membership and their activities, and photos from events - not to mention the latest news! 

This is an exciting year for NCSS as it marks the 100th Anniversary of the flowering of the Cherry Blossom Trees in our Nation’s Capital, the 64th Anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Princess Educational and Cultural Exchange Program, during the 60th Anniversary of The National Conference of State Societies.

Please check back periodically, as we will be adding new content to the pages as well as more exciting news about the upcoming Centennial celebration and what NCSS has in store for our societies this summer.  Let's just say it has to do with a softball tournament and may the best team win....

Thank you,

NCSS Executive Committee

ATTENTION ALL STATE AND TERRITORIAL SOCIETIES:  On Friday, April 13, 2012, the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) will sponsor our annual Silent Auction in conjunction with the Official Coronation of the 2012 United States Cherry Blossom Queen and 100th Anniversary Cherry Blossom Grand Ball at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel . The silent auction will be open the entire evening beginning at 6:00pm when guests arrive, closing at 10:15pm; with everyone having a chance to bid on all the unique items donated.

We will be continuing the tradition that we began last year for our Silent Auction by asking each State/Territorial Society to provide a basket or box or "container", etc. (whether you have a princess or not) of items unique to your State/Territory that will reflect the State/Territory’s individuality. The proceeds from the Silent Auction will support the NCSS Charity & Educational Fund. If you are having difficulty coming up with ideas for your baskets, several websites are available with a multitude of suggestions on the Internet. In addition to designing your basket, please list the contents and what you would consider to be its value, and e-mail this information to Marie Frank at marie.s.frank@lmco.com no later than Monday, March 26th. This information will be used on the bid sheets as well as the Silent Auction Program, distributed to all Grand Ball attendees upon their arrival at the Ball.

To drop off your basket/box/container, 2 dates have been determined:
•     Thursday, April 5, the NCSS Governing Board meeting at 6:30 PM. The meeting is being held at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel * 999 9th Street, NW * Washington, DC in Meeting Room #4 (check the monitor to confirm room location)
•     Saturday, April 7th, between 9am and 3pm in the Princess Gift Exchange Room (Mt. Vernon Square B), during Princess Orientation, at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel.
If alternative arrangements need to be made for pick-up, please contact Marie at the above email address.

For anyone else wishing to make a donation to the Silent Auction being held during the Official Coronation of the 2012 United States Cherry Blossom Queen and 100th Anniversary Cherry Blossom Grand Ball, click here to download the Silent Auction Pledge Form.

We thank everyone for their generosity for this worthy cause.

Operation USO tabs for Education

This year, the 2012 Cherry Blossom Princesses, their state and territorial societies, family and friends - will be collecting can tabs to present to the USO at our Care Package Suffing event – Our Goal: 1 million!!!

These tabs (soda, beer, energy, even V-8) are turned into a local organization that allows the schools and families on base to use them like cash to purchase school equipment and supplies. In 2011, the Princess from Maryland collected thousands (enough to fill a 35oz container). We would like to see this amount collected by each state society – approximately 20 thousand tabs!!

Set up a container at work, when you have a party, at your church, collect them at a Tailgating Party. We have one family member that works at a golf course and she is collecting approximately 500 per week!

Drop off will be Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Princess Orientation at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel or give them to your Princess for delivery.

Below is the wording for the containers (in 40 font or larger):
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!
Deposit Your Can Tabs to Assist in Operation USO tabs for Education
All Proceeds are being Donated to the USO for military families
We are collecting 1 million tabs by Friday, April 6, 2012

The Collection of Campbell Product Labels
We will be collecting Campbell Product labels that will be given to the Kennedy Institute when we visit there to plant a cherry tree and spend some quality time with the children at the school. These labels serve as cash for the Kennedy Institute and allows them to purchase equipment needed for the school and the needs of the children. Drop off will be Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Princess Orientation or give them to your Princess for delivery.   Click here for a listing of all the different labels that can be collected.


New or Slightly Used Books for the Heart of America Program
The Princess Class of 2011 was recently recognized for their community service and involvement in the Heart of America Program.  This year again, when we visit the Schools and Hospitals, we will be giving the books collected by the Princesses. We are asking that each Princess donate a new or slightly used book and any additional books donated from our societies and embassies are greatly appreciated. As a reminder, the older children books should range from 5th - 12th grade. Drop off will be Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Princess Orientation or give them to your Princess for delivery.  Help our 2012 class achieve this recognition again with our donations. 

Thank You - The Princess Committee and Pi Alpha Kappa Sorority