London Strawberry Festival
London, Ohio

2011 Royalty Contract

Contestants\

1	Contestants will compete in the age division according to their age on June 1 of the current year.
2	Baby divisions: 0-6 months, 7-12 months, 13-18 months 19-24 months There will be one boy and one girl winner in each division. No contestant will be moved to another age division. Babies must live in Madison, Franklin, Union, Champaign, Clark, Greene, Fayette or Pickaway County.
3	Shortcakes are 25 months to 4 years. Contestants/winners must live in Madison Co. only or attend a Madison Co. School. There will be one winner for boys and one for girls. No contestant will be moved to another age division.
4	Royalty contestants will compete in the age division according to their age on June 1 of the current year. Little Miss 5-7 yrs.       Young Miss 8-10 yrs.       Jr. Miss 11-13 yrs.       Queen 14-18 yrs. Little Mr. 5-7 yrs. Prince 8-10 yrs. The London Strawberry Festival reserves the right to adjust age categories depending on participation. If less than 3 girls/boys enter a category, the oldest contestant(s) from the next younger category may be moved up to compete in the older category. Contestants/winners must live in Madison Co. only or attend a Madison Co. School.
5	Contestants for the Shortcakes, Little Miss/Mr., Young Miss/Prince, Jr. Miss, & Queen must attend the contestants' meeting with at least one parent/legal guardian prior to competition. Photos will be taken at this time. Contestants must agree to the Queen's contract. Parents must agree to the parents and royalty contracts before a contestant may participate in the pageant. Babies will have their photo taken but do not have to stay for the meeting.
6	Contestants, other than babies, are required to participate in stage practice prior to judging. This affects their score.
7	Contestants, including shortcakes, cannot hold any other festival or attendant title at the time of the contest or during the year of reign. This does not apply to babies. Any Strawberry Royalty will relinquish her/his title if she/he participates in or wins another festival or bicentennial royalty contest during her/his year of reign. Royalty members may compete for Prom, Homecoming Queen, Madison Co. Fair Royalty or specie ambassador or in professional type (paid entries, exp. Jr. America, American Co Ed, Nat'l American Miss) pageants & hold this type of title as long as duties do not interfere with her Strawberry Festival duties. Prior written, approval from the Queens director is required to hold a second title. Those selected as Strawberry royalty must be willing & able to travel.
8	Girls must be single, never married, and never had children. This status may not change during the year of reign. If a girl should get married or become pregnant during the year of reign, her title will pass to the next in line.

Royalty Expectations & Behavior

9	A mandatory meeting will be held with the newly crowned royalty and their parents to acquaint them with expectations, answer questions about travel, luncheon, etiquette, etc. Attendance is mandatory for the royalty member and at least 1 parent. Failure for royalty &/or parent to attend will result in required appearance before the board before the title may be worn & probable removal from the court. Photos will be taken of winners at this meeting. Health form, liability waiver, and this contract must be signed & notarized before participating in any event & no later than July 15. The Queens' committee requests that other family members and adults traveling with royalty provide a health statement for travel emergency purposes.
10	Court members need to keep their crowning folder. It must be brought to all meetings. All information should be added to it throughout the year.
11	All royalty, excluding babies, must participate in 50% of all Queen’s fundraisers.
12	Royalty members give their consent for their photos to be used in publicity of the London Strawberry Festival. Be aware that many events are broadcast live on TV or radio.
13	The responsibility of the Queen & her entire court will be to represent the London Strawberry Festival to the best of their ability. A high standard of moral conduct will be expected at all times.
14	The Queen & her entire court will refrain from the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products. Any usage of such products while royalty is wearing title or representing the London Strawberry Festival will result in her/his title being passed to the next in line. Representing the festival includes all travel time to & from an event and the time at an event, regardless if a member is wearing title or not.
15	The use of profanity, inappropriate slang terms & ethnic/racial jokes/slurs is prohibited.
16	Academics are a top priority. Royalty member must maintain a C average or home school equivalent to travel. Inadequate progress will result in member not being permitted to travel until progress/grades improve as travel time should be spent on study. A copy of grade report must be submitted to the Queens' director at the end of each grading period. Royalty who are ineligible to travel 2 grading periods may be dismissed from the court.
17	Title must be relinquished if a royalty is expelled from school/college or is convicted of criminal activity.
18	If a court member chooses to use/have business cards, they are the expense of the member. Card design & content MUST BE APPROVED by the Queen's director BEFORE cards are printed.
19	Nothing inappropriate (photos, comments, etc) may be posted anywhere on the internet by a royalty member. This includes blogs, websites, My Space, Facebook & other similar sites. Do not post personal information or your exact travel plans due to safety concerns.
20	Any actions or statements that are detrimental to the London Strawberry Festival will result in the loss of title and scholarship or savings bond. Behavior is considered from the moment of crowning until the close of the next London Strawberry Festival. This includes anything you may post on the internet. Always be polite & courteous.
21	Problems/conflicts between royalty members & family members must be left at home and only discussed with the Queens' director if a private resolution cannot be reached. Gossip is to be avoided.
22	Queen and court must be in attendance during the entire London Strawberry Festival unless excused by the Queens' director. The royalty must also be on hand to crown the new royalty. The Queen and Jr. Miss will present her pass down pin to the next Queen at crowning. Newly crowned Queen and court will begin their reign the Monday after the festival ends and will reign through the following year’s festival. Various duties will be assigned to each royalty member during the festival.

Appearance/Dress Code

23	Royalty are to look professional at all times when in title.
24	No excessive earrings. No visible piercings or tattoos. Any studs/rings on the face or visible location must be removed when in title. Tattoos must be coverable by appropriate clothing, not just bandages.
25	Make up, hair, clothing & jewelry are subject to approval from the Queens’ director.
26	All girls are expected to wear a formal dress or gown (floor length) and their tiara/crown & sash when representing the London Strawberry Festival. Boys are to wear a suit or dress pants, dress shirt, dress shoes (not tennis shoes, or sandals), sash and crown. Queens director will notify royalty members personally when there is an exception to the dress code due to the nature of an event or weather. Avoid deep plunging necklines, skirts split more than 3 inches above the knee, bare stomachs or sides and anything see-through. Clothes that are school appropriate may be worn during travel to and from an event. No sleep wear may be worn. Flip flops, tank tops, T-Shirts, bare stomachs, clothes with holes or that are faded are not to be worn with title. Tennis shoes/sneakers are not to be worn with formals. Sunglasses are not to be worn during parades or on stage. Girls may change into dressy, casual clothes to walk around events after their duties are completed, however, formals are preferred. Only 1 formal is needed for the year.
27	Elastic may not be used on any crown or tiara even if covered by hair. Pin crowns through loops only to avoid damaging the crown. If clips or combs are used to help secure crown they must match hair color & be HIDDEN from sight by hair; approval is required from queens director.
28	It is requested that royalty members try to color coordinate clothes being worn when in a parade together. The outfits do not have to match but should not clash. White capes are to be worn in cool weather by girls. Cream or beige capes or capes with colored trim are not acceptable. Boys are to wear black capes. All capes are to match & will be ordered together. Sweatshirts, hoodies & jackets are not acceptable outerwear.
29	Winter events will require the queen’s court to have a black suit & white fleece cape. The queen should wear a red or white shirt or sweater under the jacket & her attendants should wear white or cream. Black slacks, red sweaters are required for younger queens/kings, green or cream sweaters for attendants, white, fleece capes and white gloves (provided by festival) and black fleece capes & gloves (provided by festival). Hats are not acceptable with crown/tiara. This will be needed by the end of October.
30	Buttons, badges, pins may be worn on the BACK of the sash. These must be limited to those associated with festivals/events attended or crown pins. Please, do not wear pins on your sash that are not related to your reign. Do not make buttons for your sash using the name of any other event. Your title may not be covered in any way. Pins may not be placed on baby sashes due to safety. A few crown & strawberry pins may be worn on the front at the top or bottom of the sash but cannot cover or interfere with title or run down the sides of the sash. You may be asked to remove excessive pins from the front of the sash. Buttons from other events may not be on the front. Do not wear event buttons from previous years.
31	Charms placed on the royalty charm bracelet must be from an event you personally visited as a London Strawberry Festival representative. Charms unrelated to your reign or from events/festivals you did not attend are not to be put on your bracelet. It is to show where you traveled. Some events/festivals do not offer charms.
32	It is recommended that the sash & tiara be kept in a container that will protect them from becoming damaged or soiled during travel. London Strawberry Festival will not pay for replacement or repair of damaged items.
33	Royalty must wear the crown or tiara which they received at crowning. Royalty are not permitted to purchase or wear a different crown/tiara or sash. If crown/tiara or sash is lost/damaged it must be replaced with identical item at cost of royalty member. Babies are not to purchase or wear a tiara or crown; a sash may be worn by babies only if it is presented at crowning. No alterations may be made to the sash or crown.
34	Sash may have royalty members name embroidered on the back at the expense of the royalty member. This will be done by same place so that all names are positioned & sized the same. If the sash must be relinquished for any reason after being embroidered, the relinquishing royalty member must pay for its replacement within 15 days.
35	The royalty title is to be used only to represent the festival. It is not to be loaned to anyone or used as part of a costume. It may never be worn as part of another title, during reign or after completion of reign.

Travel

36	Notarized medical release forms and liability waivers must be returned to the Queen chairperson before any member of royalty will be permitted to attend festivals or events. A copy will be provided to any chaperone traveling with royalty other than own daughter/son.
37	Contestants/royalty must be willing and able to represent the London Strawberry Festival at many other statewide festivals. Royalty will be expected to participate in other promotional activities representing the London Strawberry Festival such as pageants, luncheons, parades, speaking engagements, interviews, etc. Most of these events/festivals will be on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. May through October are very busy months. There will also be some events in the winter, especially around the holidays. There are events that are restricted to specific court members, meaning not all members will be permitted to attend. Royalty must have at least half of the travel requirements met by Jan. 1, keeping in mind all of the close events will be over by this time.
38	The queens' director reserves the right to determine who may attend any event.
39	The Queen must participate in 30 events & the Jr. Queen must participate in 20 events. At least 15 of the Queen's events & 7 of the Jr. Miss's events must be luncheon & parade combinations. Most of these should be OFEA events, especially for the Queen. Jr. & Miss courts may travel with other London Strawberry families on an occasional basis, however, the royalty on the Little & Young/Prince courts travel with a parent/guardian. All attendants, Prince, Little Mr., Young Miss & Little Miss are required to attend 7 events.
40	Photos are required as proof of attendance. The royalty member must be in the photo at a recognizable site (sign, stage, luncheon) while at the festival. Photo shopped photos are not acceptable. Photos will also be used for slide show.
41	Mr. & Miss Shortcake are encouraged, but not required, to attend at least 3 of the following events: Any London parade, London Old Fashioned Christmas, London Arts Festival, London First Fridays, Ox Roast, West Jefferson Christmas, West Jefferson 4th of July, Mt Sterling Good Ole Days, Plain City Steam Show, Plain City 4th of July or South Vienna Corn Festival. Special permission from the Queens' director must be obtained to attend any other event (not encouraged). Shortcakes not attending at least 3 events will not get to do a window or attend the luncheon. Mr. or Miss Shortcake may only complete a window or attend the luncheon if he/she has attended a minimum of 3 events, contributes 3 door prizes and meets other contract guidelines. They are not required to contribute to the gift bags. Riding on the float will be at the discretion of the Queens' Director.
42	Travel may be suspended any time for inappropriate behavior for any or all court members. Length of suspension will be determined by the queens’ director and may be for the remainder of the year. Travel may be limited to only events chaperoned by the queens’ director. This can affect your ability to complete your requirements.
43	The Queens' director will make all contacts and registrations with other festivals and events. Do not participate in an event without permission of the director. No one else may contact other events or make reservations. Royalty must submit luncheon payment (check/money order made payable to the hosting event-NO CASH) to the Queen's director by the deadline to be included with reservations. Many festivals limit the age of the royalty who may attend their event and number of adult chaperones. If you did not pay, you may not sit in the luncheon room due to space limitations at most events. This applies even if you do not eat. Some events will occasionally invite unpaid chaperones in to watch, in this event it is ok to enter. A thank you may be sent after the event to the hosting Queen.
44	Royalty only attending parades must still notify the Queen's director by the deadline. Royalty not meeting the deadline will not be permitted to participate in the event.
45	The Queens' director must be notified immediately if your plans to attend an event change for any reason (illness, family commitment, weather, etc.). Refunds cannot be made after the reservation is mailed to the hosting festival/event. No shows create problems for everyone & must be avoided. If a court member or chaperone has paid to attend an event but does not attend, it is usually ok (ask director first) for someone to go in that person's place, however, a refund must be given to the person who paid the registration by the person attending.
46	All invitations received to another event/festival belong to the London Strawberry Festival and must be given to the Queen's director immediately. No invitations are to be kept for an individual. After the event, the highest ranking royalty member attending may request the invitation for scrapbooking.
47	Travel expenses (meals, gas/mileage, rooms, souvenirs, etc) are the responsibility of your family.
48	Appearances of royalty as London Strawberry Festival representatives must be approved by the Queen’s Director ahead of time. In the event of a spur of the moment appearance request, royalty members are asked to confer with parents/chaperone and avoid any appearance that might be controversial or in any way detrimental to the London Strawberry Festival. The Queen's director must be notified within 24 hours or sooner of appearance.
49	The royalty members' parents are responsible for most travel. The Queens' director may travel with the court or provide occasional transportation for Queen/Jr. court. However, this is a special time for the royalty member and should be shared by her/his family. If a girl rides to an event/festival with someone other than her own parent she must have written permission from her parent. She must return with that person unless otherwise stated in the permission letter. This is a privilege, not a right. Royalty member must respect and abide by the decisions of her chaperone.
50	If a royalty member will be driving to an event without an adult in the car, the Queens' director must have written permission from the member's parent(s). Royalty member may not drive to any event outside Madison County other than the South Vienna Corn Festival, Plain City Steam Show & other Plain City events. Special written arrangements can be made if a royalty member goes out of the county to college.
51	Members’ parents are responsible for obtaining/providing appropriate transportation to and from an event or festival and for parades. Coordinate with the Queens' director for number of royalty attending, as all court members must ride together in a parade, using 1 vehicle. All drivers must be at least 21 and have a valid driver's license and current insurance. Vehicles are not to be decorated with paint or chalk.
52	A wagon or float may be used in parades instead of cars in local events and when more than 4 royalty travel to an event. The wagon/float may by pulled by the Queen’s chairperson, festival representative or parent. When the float is used, all royalty members participating must ride on it. It requires a 2 inch ball hitch. Insurance is the responsibility of the driver. No one under 21 may pull the wagon/float or drive members. A fire extinguisher must travel with the float. The person pulling the float is responsible for coordinating the decorating/setting up the float and for removing items without damage. Decorations & skirting must be removed & float tarped before transporting the float. Parents of other royalty members riding on the float need to help with its set up and tear down. Do not "drop off & run."
53	During the final London Strawberry Festival Parade, the Queen, may choose to ride on a convertible rather than the float. If she chooses to ride on a convertible, her 2 attendants may ride on a convertible or on the float. All other court members will be on the float.
54	No royalty from any other event, festival or pageant may ride on the same vehicle/float with any London Strawberry Festival royalty. This applies even if royalty members are related, regardless of whose vehicle is being used. The Queens’ director is the only one who may grant an exception to this on a rare occasion.
55	The Queen's director is not required to attend any event, provide any transportation, or purchase any items for the royalty. The Queen's director is to coordinate activities. Surprise event visits may be made.
56	Keep a travel log of events attended with photos. This will be required to verify events attended.
57	Royalty will keep their own name signs; each will be responsible for bringing them to events. Magnetic festival signs will remain with the Queens' director or float. If the Queen's director does not attend an event, the parents are responsible for picking up and returning the needed signs. Queen's director may determine how long signs may be in royalty member's possession. Signs will be ordered by the Queen's director for each royalty member. Cost is the responsibility of the family. No other signs may be ordered or used. Royalty member causing damage or loss to personal sign, OFEA sign or festival sign will be financially responsible for its replacement. Cold & folding will crack signs. Sliding signs on vehicle will scratch paint. Signs are only to be used during parades then removed.
58	Punctuality is expected at all times. If you have a conflict with another event or know you will be late, let the Queens' director know as soon as possible. If a problem occurs during travel, please, call others attending to let them know.
59	If several festivals/events occur simultaneously, the Queen and court may be asked to attend separate events with their parents/director.
60	Boyfriends are not acceptable chaperones for the royalty. If a boyfriend does attend an event, the royalty member must in no way ignore her responsibility to the London Strawberry Festival or hosting festival/event. No public display of affection will be tolerated by any court member.
61	The Queen's meal at luncheons is usually free. Sometimes a festival will permit the next highest ranking court member to have the free meal if the Queen does not attend. If Queen registers and is a no show at two events, the London Strawberry Festival will require her to give a $20 deposit to be used if she is a no show at a future event or to reimburse the next royalty member in line for the meal if she attended the event in which the Queen was a no show. The deposit is required before she will be permitted to register for more events. Younger queens/kings, attendants and parents must pay for their own meals. The Queen is expected to attend the luncheon, participate in the parade; other planned events, and speak on stage. Court members are encouraged to participate in luncheons whenever possible but are not required. You do not have to attend the luncheon to be counted as present at an event/festival. Court members are expected to participate in parades, not just attend luncheons or walk around. Members may get credit for an event without participating in a parade by permission only.
62	All London Strawberry Festival royalty attending a luncheon must sit in reserved seats or sit together as a group, if possible. Chaperones must not be seated with royalty. If a young court member needs help during the meal, other than in the buffet line, she/he should not attend the luncheon. Each royalty member has her/his own duties and wants to enjoy the event. Royalty cannot baby-sit younger court members. Young siblings should not attend luncheons.
63	Restrictions/rules of other events or festivals will be followed when traveling.
64	Awards (ribbons, cash, trophies or other items) from other events given to the festival will remain property of the London Strawberry Festival and must be given to the Queens' director immediately. Monetary awards will be applied to the Queens' program. If an individual award (spirit, costume, congeniality, etc) is presented, the royalty member may keep it but must notify the Queens' director.
65	Valuables & electronic devices should not be carried when traveling. Personal possessions are the responsibility of the court member, not the chaperone.
66	Cell phones must be turned off or on vibrate & not visible during parades, luncheons, or while representing the festival. They must never be used during a parade. Be polite & courteous to those with you.

Awards

67

Monetary awards/scholarships will be held until the successful completion of reign. Royalty member must provide her/his social security number to the Queens’ director in order to receive savings bond or scholarship. Court members failing to provide their social security number by June 1 will forfeit her/his bond/scholarship. Scholarships will be available 2 weeks following the festival & savings bonds will be ordered. This is to ensure that all duties are complete, all festival items are returned to the festival. Royalty member or parent/guardian must sign for receipt of scholarship/bond. Babies & shortcakes will not receive savings bonds/scholarships.

68

Royalty members will be permitted to keep tiara/crown, sash, pins and gifts received as a memento of their reign upon its completion. Should a member be required to relinquish title during reign, the tiara/crown, sash and any items presented at crowning must be passed to the next in line. Pins & other items collected during travels may be retained.

Completing Reign

69	At the successful conclusion of the reign, the Queen & her parents are responsible for organizing decorations and gifts for the Queens’ luncheon. Outgoing Queen, Jr. Miss, Young Miss & Little Miss will serve as hostesses; Prince & Little Mr. will serve as hosts. Attendants and their parents are responsible for assisting in preparations for the luncheon. Established guidelines must be followed.
70	Royalty members who successfully complete their reign & meet their travel requirement may be permitted to decorate a local business window. Business windows will be arranged and assigned to you according to rank & amount of travel. Royalty not meeting travel requirements will not be permitted to decorate a window or attend the luncheon. Established guidelines must be followed.
71	Exiting Queens, Prince & Little Mr. must sit out the following year before competing for another London Strawberry Festival title, even if moving to the next division. Attendants do not have to sit out a year before competing for a title. A girl may only hold the title of Little Miss, Young Miss, Jr. Miss, Queen, one time. A boy may only hold the title of Little Mr. or Prince once.
72	Mr. /Miss Shortcake winners may run the following year if they move to Little Miss/Mr. and have not attended any events at all representing his/her title. Attending a single event will prevent the Shortcake winners from running for Little Miss/Mr. The shortcake title may only be held once.
73	Baby winners are permitted to run the following year.
74	Any royalty member that does not successfully complete her/his reign will not be permitted to compete in any future London Strawberry Festival Pageant. The family will be held responsible until all items received at crowning have been returned.

Misc.

75	The Queens’ contract may be amended during the course of the year at a royalty meeting with the Queens' director, at least 2 board members, and at least half of the royalty members present. All royalty members and their parents must be given at least 2 weeks notice prior to the meeting. A vote by royalty is Not needed to amend the contract.
76	The judgment of the Queens' director is final in any and all conflicts involving the Queens' program. Rules/guidelines are not open to debate.
77	This contract is not all inclusive. Decisions of the Queens' director are final.
78	All rules apply to Little Miss & Mr., Young Miss & Prince, Jr. Miss, Queen and their courts. Rules also apply to Mr./Miss Shortcake & babies if they travel.
79	Failure to abide by these guidelines or any one infraction of guidelines in the contract or duty assignments may result in a mandatory appearance before the board, loss of savings bond and forfeiture of title. Tiara/crown & sash will be passed to the first runner up/next in line who will assume those responsibilities. The second runner up/next in line will assume responsibilities of the runner up.

Those selected as Royalty will be given an official copy at the Royalty Meeting that must be signed and notarized.