S4 • Daffodil Festival, 2012
Special Daffodil Festival Insert
daffodilfestival.net
Ambassador title bestowed to the Daffodil Royalty LEADERSHIP: Daffodil Royalty named Official Ambassadors of Pierce County for their service within and representation throughout the region. BY MEREDITH LAWRENCE
Establishing ambassadors of Pierce County
Last year, the Daffodil Festival began an effort to revive the festival by reaching further out into the community to connect with it through community service and the princesses became the unofficial ambassadors of the community, appearing at hundreds of events. This year, the thousands of hours of community services were recognized when this year’s princesses and all future princesses were named the Official Ambassadors of Pierce County by the Pierce County Council and County Executive. “This honor has special meaning because most simply think of our Grand Floral Parade as our contribution to the community and miss our greatest impact, as ambassadors. This resolution provides a title and value to the work these high school girls perform each year,” said Daffodil Festival Executive Director Steve James. The official resolution was passed in a council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 and was read aloud to the princesses by Councilman Rick Talbert at this year’s Princess Promenade. “They do so much to promote the community of Pierce County, not only within Pierce County, but throughout Washington and the rest of the Northwest,” said Councilman Stan Flemming. Because of volunteerism and goodwill that the festival exercises throughout this work, it seemed appropriate to recognize the work and the princesses who do the work. “By giving them the official recognition, we are formally recognizing the organization and the work that they do,” Flemming said. Over the course of the Daffodil Festival season, the princesses make hundreds of appearances and put in thousands of hours of community service at organizations like the Pierce County Libraries, Boys and Girls Clubs and the Point Defiance
Zoo and Aquarium. Being named official Ambassadors of Pierce County brings legitimacy and visibility to the work that the princesses do. “Now the festival isn’t minimized to one day, it is truly highlighted for four to five months,” James said. The change started 16 months ago when the members of the Daffodil Festival made a conscious effort to become more important to and in Pierce County. Like any good ambassador the members of the festival, and the princesses themselves, set about proving themselves to be valuable community assets through community appearances. This year, they presented the results to Pierce County Council and city officials and were met with overwhelming support, which was sealed by the official title. “Having the executives and Council support the Daffodil Royalty has opened up new doors within governmental departments and increased our stature as a worthwhile and growing community service organization,” James said. Not only does the Daffodil Festival seek to serve the community, but in particular it aims to inspire the next generation. “Last year’s Royal Court spent 55 percent of their appearance time teaching, serving and inspiring children, and 63 percent of their time this year,” James said. The Festival aims to touch all corners of the county spreading goodwill to its citizens and to make an impact on both young and older, making the festival relevant to all age groups and economic divisions. “As we continue with our efforts with our partner non-profits, civic and charitable organizations, schools, business partners, and other community outreach events, we will become vitally important. Then, we will travel and serve our community to extend goodwill to the 2 dozen communities outside of Pierce County that we travel to each year,” James said. The title of Official Ambassadors of Pierce County is a critical step, one which will not only recognize the princesses’ hard work, but will pave the way toward James’ goal of continuing to expand the festival’s sphere of influence and enable the princesses to do even more good work in the future.