Thanksgiving 5k

Thanksgiving Day 5k at the Fisher Cat stadium in Manchester, NH.  More than 17 states were represented for this Thanksgiving Day turkey trot.  Here with the fabulous Jamie Staton from WMUR News and Mayor of Manchester, Ted Gastas.  Go Fisher Cats!

Miss Manchester '11-'12

November 20th: I was honored with the title of Miss Manchester 2011-2012 and was awarded $2,600 in scholarship dollars.  I also tied for the overall talent and interview award as well as being voted congeniality by my peers.  Looking forward to preparing for Miss New Hampshire 2012 this coming April.  A big thank you to all the volunteers, supporters and sponsors of the Miss Manchester Scholarship Program!

Luck Me a Lady

October 28th: I attended the first annual 'Luck Me a Lady' casino night for Breast Cancer Stories at the Sheraton in Portsmouth, NH.  I served as a back-up black jack dealer, but ended up working most of the evening at the chuck-a-luck table.  There were always winners at my table! 

Making Strides

October 16th: Team Sisters participated in the Dover Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk for the American Cancer Society.  Dover, NH raised more than $90,000 for cancer research.

Miss Greater Derry 2012

 Last night I had a great interview with the Miss Greater Derry panel of judges.  The pageant starts tomorrow at 7pm at the Adams Memorial Opera House.  Come celebrate Miss Greater Derry's 25th anniversary with some of the most intelligent, talented, and beautiful young women.  I will be performing a ballet en pointe variation from the ballet Don Quixote.  See you there!

Snow White

I've been asked back again to perform with Great Bay Academy of Dance cast as the Evil Queen in their Spring production of Snow White.  GBAD is producing its child friendly version of Snow White & Fairy Festival for production on June 11th at 1pm and 4pm. The production will be held at The GBAD Studio at 1 Raynes Avenue in Portsmouth, NH. Tickets are currently on sale and are $15 for adults and $10 for children and seniors. Last year's event was completely sold out, therefore advanced ticket sales and reservations are strongly encouraged.  Each show involves one hour long production of the story ballet with complete narration as well as a fairy festival with arts and crafts and picture opportunities with Snow White.
See you there!

Off to the Races Kentucky Derby

May 7th I was asked to join the committee for the first annual 'Off to the Races' Kentucky Derby fundraiser for Susan G. Komen NH-VT.  The Kentucky Derby party was held at the Sheraton in Portsmouth, NH.  More than 160 guests came dressed up in their fashionable derby attire to raise funds for the cure and to bet on their favorite horses.  Thank you so much to Anne Janeway, Executive Director for Susan G. Komen NH-VT, for inviting me to serve at such a wonderful event. 

Miss NH 2011

Here with Krystal Muccioli, Miss NH 2010, receiving the Donald C. Anderson Platform Award on the final night of Miss NH 2011.  In total I received $7,200 in scholarship this year as Miss Winnipesaukee, and I'm so thankful for that.

Tina and Gary you made this year such a memorable one.  You were supportive of everything I wanted to do and wanted to accomplish.  You gave me your honest advice and were excited for everything leading up to Miss NH.  The two of you truly idealize the Miss America Organization.  The amount of hours that you put into the Miss Winni/ Weirs Beach program alone is astonishing.  I love both of you so much.  Tina, I will miss our late night phone calls, chatting at bingo and being able to talk to you about anything.  Gary,  thank you for your dedication to the program despite all you were dealing with this year.  I'll miss giving you a hard time on the bingo floor :).  Thank you for everything.

Thank you to the Miss NH staff, countless volunteers and local directors.  Every one of you truly believe in empowering young women and helping us achieve our educational goals and career ambitions.  Thank you for all the time you give up to serve us.

To the Miss NH class of 2011, I had the best week with all of you girls.  You are inspiring, dedicated, and such great role models for all ages.  Love you all.  Congratulations to Regan Hartley!  Have a wonderful year.

Lastly to my family, I know that I have the best support system in New Hampshire.  Mimi (and Beryl too), thank you for coming to support me at any and every event.  Zach and Tiffany, you're the best two siblings anyone could ask for.  Thank you for your constant encouragement.  Phil, thanks for keeping me grounded and being so supportive along the way.  Finally, to my parents who believed in me every step of the way since I started pageants three years ago, you are my rock.  Mom, thank you for the countless early mornings you spent with me, shopping, running errands and words of encouragement.  The time you spent with me preparing means more than you know.  Dad, I value your advice more than anyone I know.  Thank you for your input along the way to Miss NH and reminding me just to do my absolute best and let God do the rest.  I love you both so much.


With much passion and love,
Lissa Silk, Miss Winnipesaukee 2010-2011

Amy in Bloom

 April 17th I had the pleasure of being a part of the fourth annual Amy in Bloom auction for Amy's Treat, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing solutions to the day-to-day difficulties of living with cancer and offer unexpected 'treats' to renew the spirit.  The Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center was overflowing with people bidding on silent and live auction items for the cancer center.  Here with two of the prestigious nurses at the Seacoast Cancer Center, Sheila and Alice, and probably the youngest bidder in the room, Lainey.

Miss NH Ball

 April 10th was the annual Miss New Hampshire ball at the Executive Court in Manchester.  I had a wonderful time with my family, friends and fellow title holders.  Congratulations to all the volunteers who put on an exquisite ball to raise money for Miss New Hampshire 2011's wardrobe. 

Celebrate Pink Women's Expo

April 8th I worked at the 2nd Annual Celebrate Pink Women's Expo held at the Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center.  The event is an annual fundraiser for BreastCancerStories.org and their new local My Breast Cancer Support programs.  The Expo truly celebrated beautiful women everywhere who have been touched by breast cancer and raised hope for seacoast area sisters who need a little extra strength and encouragement.  Thank you to Wendy McCoole for inviting me to serve again. 

Voting Begins at Midnight

Voting starts at midnight (April 1st)! Vote for your own Miss Winnipesaukee at www.missnh.org AND the Miss New Hampshire Facebook page.  Every vote counts as the count down to the Miss New Hampshire crown draws closer. 

 

Travels to NJ

Friday March 25th my Miss Winnipesaukee directors, Tina Gebhard and Gary Vincent, flew myself and Miss Weirs Beach down to New Jersey for the day to work with former Miss Massachusetts 2001 and first runner up to Miss America, Abbie Rabine.  Thank you so much for preparing this wonderful trip Tina and Gary, and thank you Abbie for spending your whole day with us.  You are truly an inspiration. 

Miss NH 2011 Public Voting

The public is being invited to vote for two contestants who will join ten contestants selected by a Panel of Judges as semi-finalists in the 2011 Miss New Hampshire Competition April 28, 29 & 30, 2011, at the Stockbridge Theatre at Pinkerton Academy in Derry NH. Voting will take place on the Miss NH web site and it’s Facebook page from April 1-27, 2011.  Get ready to mark your calendars this week and become a 'fan' of Miss New Hampshire on Facebook.  

-Lissa

Dancing with the Stars

On Saturday night, March 26th my partner Danny Woodman and I took home the title of grand champions for the concluding season of 'Dancing with the Farmington Stars'.  Two other former champions were vying for the grand champion title.  Danny and I performed a Cha-Cha to Dynamite by Taio Cruz and a freestyle routine to Shake It by the Metro Station.  All proceeds went to the Farmington Park and Rec Center's after school and senior activities program.  For a great write up visit Fosters.com!

Strike Out MS

Thursday, March 24th I caught the end of Miss Strafford County's fundraiser at Dover Bowl, 'Strike Out MS'.  Here with Miss University, Kacie Ferraro trying to go for our double strike out.  Congratulations Kamilah on raising over $1,000 for MS!  It's still not too late to donate by going to http://www.active.com/donate/OrangeBowl.  

'Carribean Cruise Night'

March 12th was a 'Caribbean Cruise Night' fundraiser at Church's Landing in Meredith for the Lakes Region Boys and Girls Club.  Miss Weirs Beach and I arrived at the cocktail hour and sold five dollar keys for a chance to open the pictured treasure chest that contained an overnight stay at Church's Landing and fifty dollars cash.  The night continued with silent auction, dinner, live auction and dancing.  Congratulations on a successful fundraiser.

No Strings Attached

As one of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center committee members it was a privilege to be apart of the first collaboration between the Nashua Symphony Orchestra and the Norris Cotton Cancer Center Friends.  The fundraiser was titled, "No Strings Attached".  Only the wind instruments were conducted on stage in the benefit for the Cancer Center.  The evening consisted of a pre-performance cocktail hour at the Adult Learning Center in Nashua, and of course an exquisite evening conducted by Jonathan McPhee, Music Director and Principal Conductor for the NSO.  Here with Eric Valliere, Nashua Symphony Orchestra executive director, Brian Lavoie, the esteemed NSO trustee who headed up the collaborative evening, and proud supporters of the 'Friends'.  Looking forward to next year. 

National Pancake Day

March 1st was the annual National Pancake Day for the Children's Miracle Network.  IHOP set a goal for 2011 to raise more than $2.3 Million dollars for the cause.  I was up early before classes at the University of New Hampshire at the IHOP in Newington, NH.  I spent my hours greeting customers and informing them of the excitement of the National Pancake Day benefit for CMN, and handing out and helping people sign or hang their balloon donations up on the wall.  Thank you to the owner, Bob, and one of the managers, Alice, for participating once again in National Pancake Day.