Here she is...Miss America!

Pageant Headshots by Matt Boyd Photography

Hair and Makeup by Meredith Boyd

Drum roll please! Matt and I are so excited to unveil Emily Cook, Miss Georgia's new pageant headshot that is now featured on Miss America's Web site! We are beyond blessed to have this opportunity to shoot Miss Georgia. We will be cheering you on Emily in Las Vegas at Miss America! Another incredibly talented young lady in the great peach state is Brianna Godshalk, Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen. Congrats to Brianna for winning a four-year scholarship to Troy University!

Thank you Emily and Brianna for making us look so good! We are so proud to have you as clients!

Matt Boyd Photography and Mere Cosmetics are official sponsors of the Miss Georgia Pageant

The U.S. Marine Corp Toys For Tots Program and the Powder Springs Police Honor Guard have teamed up to host Tournament

As many of you know, my husband Matt is Lieutenant of Detectives with The Powder Springs Police Department, which is a 40-man department within Cobb County. He is also the commander of the Honor Guard Unit. The department is in desperate need of funds to buy uniforms for its 6-person Honor Guard. The city cut all expenses for the police department this year, so the guard is hosting a fundraiser to help get uniforms on their own.

The primary role for honor guards is to provide funeral honors for fallen officers. Honor guards may also serve as the "guardians of the colors" by displaying and escorting the state and national flag on ceremonial occasions at official city functions as directed by the Chief of Police. They are ambassadors to the public, presenting a positive image of their service, and assisting with the recruiting effort.

Honor Guard members are not paid for their time to attend these important events, they do it because of their love for their comrades and community.

In partnership with the U.S. Marine Corp, the goal of this tournament is to raise funds and toys; which will bring the Marine Toys For Tots program closer to their goal of 810,000 toys and provide funds to assist both the Marine Corp and the Powder Springs Police Department’s newly formed Honor Guard Unit.

Here's how you can help: I will be selling raffle tickets for $10 to win a new GLOCK (the lucky winner will have a background check prior to winning) and golfers are $85 per person. I will also be collecting toys! Please see attached flyer for event details.

Matt and I personally thank you for supporting those who put their lives’ on-the-line everyday for our safety and the well-being of our communities.

Monday, September 28, 2009
Dogwood Country Club

$85.00 PER GOLFER
$300.00 PER 4-MAN TEAM

For questions, please call:
Lt. Matt Boyd, 404-787-1229
mboyd@cityofpowdersprings.org

Speaking to UCB's Canadian Sales Force

Talk about inspiring! I wanted to share a special message I was greeted upon when I entered the UCB Training Campus this afternoon, it said, "We are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process, we will catch excellence."
Today I had the unique opportunity to speak to the entire Canadian sales force for UCB, a global biopharma focused on severe diseases with operations in more than 40 countries! In the midst of insurance paperwork, scheduling to see doctors, cruicial scientific testing and research is the child or adult battling a disease trying to live day by day. It was inspiring for me to share my story with UCB's Canadian sales force to bring home a patient's perspective of having rheumatoid arthritis and why their job is so important. UCB is passionate about enabling families with severe diseases to enjoy normal, everyday lives and I just want to thank them again for everything they do to help the 46 million people living with arthritis!

Take Action Today

Health care reform continues to be a hot and controversial topic. Members of Congress want and need to hear from voters, like us! Together we can voice our concerns about health care reform legislation. I urge you to email or call, or better yet, see your Members of Congress while they are home in the district or state. Tell them about the health care needs of people with arthritis. Now is the time!

Good news - Senator Rockefeller (D-WV) recognizes the importance of access to affordable medications. He introduced on August 6, "The Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act of 2009" (S. 1630). This legislation would cap out-of-pocket costs for medications - including arthritis drugs under Medicare Part D as well as those with private insurance. It would cap prescription drug costs at $200 out-of-pocket per monthly prescription and a total monthly out-of-pocket cap of $500 for all prescriptions. Senator Rockefeller is working to include this legislation in health care reform legislation. Please tell your Senators about this important legislation and how it would greatly benefit people with arthritis.