Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Mary Rides Danish Prime Minister's Fabulous Coattails to Washington, DC



So tall, elegant, smart and dignified Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt will be paying a visit to Washington, DC February 23-25, 2012, to meet with Christine Lagarde of the IMF and then go to the White House to see President Obama. Daisy and Henrik visited Michelle Obama in the family quarters of the White House on their visit to the US in 2011, and then-Princess Alexandra was invited to have tea with Laura Bush in the White House in 2004, but Derf and Yrma have yet to receive an invitation. If only Wikileaks would publish the diplomatic cables between the US Embassy in Denmark and the State Department on that pair - what a hoot! As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Mary will then arrive this weekend for next week's Conference on Women's Shelters to watch two Mary Fund staff members discuss the Buddy Backpack program Mary stole from Australia's Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

Typical of Mary to ride into town on the coattails of someone else, trying to override their thunder, all while showing off a flimsy agenda of materialism. Helle will come to town to accolades, Mary will feed off of that (and her Tonight Show and The View appearances with the Finnish First Gentleman checking out her Daisy portrait - because, seriously, what cleavage?!) and then fail to deliver by not actually participating in the conference that her Mary Fund lackies will perform at, thinking that her royal presence will be enough to attract people and that this official excuse for her to be in DC will distract from her real goal: shopping. What vanity! This should be a fun show!

In typical lack-of-style, and in between photo ops at the conference and waving to the star-struck peasants, er, distinguished speakers, Crown Princess Mary will be hiding out at a mid-range, suburban hotel/conference centre across the Potomac river from Alexandria, Virginia and south of Washington, DC. Mary visited the shops at Crystal City on her 2010 visit but might prefer the Pentagon City Mall nearby for JCrew, Gap, Michael Kors, A/X Armani Exchange, Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic & Club Monaco. There is also a Claire's Accessories in case she's in the market for new wedding tiara add-ons.

Not surprising that the Mary Fund's conference offering is on financial empowerment, something Mary and her crew at ALERKA know quite a bit about.

Official Website: World Shelter Conference, Workshops on Economics of Our Movement

Financially Empowering Victims of Domestic Violence
Helle Østergaard and Dorte Fredskilde Braad

Workshop 2A
Date & Time: Tuesday, 11:25 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.
Room: Maryland Ballroom

“Advice for Life” is a project led by The Mary Foundation – HRH Crown Princess Mary’s Foundation, providing financial and legal counseling to women at Danish Women’s Shelters by voluntary professionals. Another project within the main focus area of Domestic Violence, is “Backpacks – for children at women’s shelters”. The backpacks are customized different age groups and are stuffed with materials addressing basic needs (like towels and toothbrushes) as well as providing an opportunity to address the violence in conversation with the children. This workshop gives you an insight into our projects and ways of working, focusing mainly on the content of the “Advice for Life” project and an insight into the untraditional partnership behind.

Learning Objectives: (1) A Danish example of a program giving financial, legal and social advice to women at shelters. (2) An example of innovative partnership engaging new partners in the strive to reduce social isolation among battered women.

Keywords: Economic Justice/Empowerment, Innovative Partnerships
Country: Denmark


Mary enjoyed shopping at Banana Republic in Newport, Rhode Island in 2006 with Xian's favourite nanny, Mette. Bet Mary didn't bother to buy her anything! Nanny Mette wore this exact outfit for the entire three years she was in Mary's employment.

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