To all Miss Minnesota Org Competitors (Current and Former):

I believe that a phenomenal group of empowered women should be given a say in the type of information that gets shared about them, their mentors, their friends, and their program.  An anonymous message board that thrives on negative energy, slander, and unfounded commentary, stands diametrically opposed to the values that the Miss Minnesota (America) Organization strives to uphold. Whether directly or indirectly, as [former] competitors we all know the pain the Miss Minnesota Discussion Board (aka the voy board) cruelly inflicts. In its current form, this board should not be allowed to stand as a reflection of us and our organization. We ask that the moderator please restructure the parameters of posting and that our supporters, directors, and friends do not post on this board until things significantly change.

A vision for change:

While living in Oklahoma, I stumbled across the Miss Oklahoma voy board. Expecting the vitriol that often comes with an anonymous pageant message board, I was pleasantly surprised at the board's content. Informative, supportive, and often used as a recruiting tool, this board was wholly aimed at growing and supporting the system. If ever a comment bordered on slander or speculative gossip, other posters asked the moderator to remove it and the comment was quickly gone. Not only did this process keep the board free of negativity, the way the entire community of posters rallied around keeping it so meant that any cruel comments lost their power. 

If you agree with this vision, I ask that you sign this petition and, in a very 'un-anonymous' way, demand that the Miss Minnesota Discussion Board be kept to a standard deserved of the women that represent the organization publicly.

To the Moderator and anyone that supports someone who has signed this petition:

It’s up to you to make the board informative, supportive, and, most importantly, free from defamation and character attacks. Please don’t let us or the next generation of competitors down.

Sincerely,

Drew Adelia Trahms -Miss Waseca County Sleigh and Cutter 2016

**These views are wholly my own and this petition was started of my own volition.**