Monday, March 7, 2011

Introducing Utah's New 2011 Mother and Young Mother of the Year!

Congratulations to Sally Fitzgerald Olsen Utah's new Mother of the Year 2011!









And to
Emi Dalton Edgley Utah's new Young Mother of the Year 2011!



















Both were honored by and awarded certificates from Utah's Governor Gary Herbert on Capitol Hill on February 18, 2011.










Sally Olsen
and some of her family with Governor Herbert.





Emi Edgley
with her husband, daughters, parents, and in-laws with Governor Herbert.


The Governor also addressed all of those present with touching words about the importance of motherhood. He spoke about some of the past American Presidents and their adoration for their mothers, namely Abraham Lincoln as he quoted him, "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."












Governor Herbert also honored and presented two of Utah's Merit Mothers with certificates as well.
Linda Knavel from Brigham City (left) and Martha Harris from Ogden (right)





Claudene Gordon, our National Convention Chair is giving Governor Herbert and invitation to our National Convention to be held here in Utah on April 28-31st at the Little America Hotel.




Members of American Mothers Board with the Governor.




(from L to R) Diane Weese (State Board), Deanne Taylor (National President), Claudene Gordon (National Convention Chair), Jenneice Beckstrand (Utah AMI President), Governor Herbert, Jodi Wilding (Utah Young Mother Search Chair), Dixie Clifford (Utah Mother Search Chair), Susie Heaton (AMI State Board), Shirley Tong (2010 Utah Mother of Year).



Utah County ladies with the Governor.
(from L to R) Deanne Taylor, Dixie Clifford, Governor Herbert, Sally Olsen, Shirley Tong


After meeting with the Governor, our Mothers were introduced to the Senate.





Utah's Mother of the Year Sally Olsen and Utah's Young Mother of the Year Emi Edgley spoke to the Senate.





They received a well deserved standing ovation! (*See below to hear their amazing speeches!)

















They were also scheduled to meet with the House, but due to a important and urgent bill, the House was unable to take a break and so instead their Representatives came out to meet them in the waiting room.

Congratulations to our great new Mother and Young Mother of the Year! The AMI Utah Association is looking forward to a wonderful year with both.



*An audio recording of the senate proceedings are found online here:

American Mother's Speaking to the Senate

You can click on "Part 1" (in the upper left-hand corner) to download. If you advance to approximately 1:35, you can then hear the proceedings honoring Utah Mothers. Sally's speech begins at approximately 1:39 and Emi's at 1:41.

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