I am the Green Queen Candidate for 2009. I love to fish, sip mint juleps and don my riding cap to watch the Kentucky Derby. When I'm not running my business, Barefoot Appraisal Company, I'm donating my time and energy to local causes including AIDS Help, Wesley House Family Services, Key West Sunrise Rotary, AIDS Memorial, MCC, Sister Season and the Key West Poker Run. My work has been very rewarding and I was honored a Volunteer of the Year from the Key West Business Guild and CAP named me an Outstanding Community Member. I am the high energy girl-next-door who considers my two grown children to be my most wonderful accomplishment and my four beautiful grandchildren a runner-up.

My reasons for taking on this monumental effort are many and each one has a name. Before I moved to Key West 19 years ago, I lost Larry, my hair stylist; my friend's brother, Jeff; my landscaper, Rick; two suppliers for my business, Chuck and Tim, and two close friends, Bert and Craig, to this horrible disease. When I arrived here, new friends in Key West were decimated by the AIDS pandemic. I have lost many friends and attended too many funerals.  I am grateful for the HIV medicines that are now available helping people live a more comfortable life. It is important to me to try and help. Much more needs to be done. The money I raise will go to AIDS Help to provide valuable housing and medical assistance to people in Monroe County. Vicki Dollars will fund education efforts to stop the spread of this disease. All of the publicity will educate the public to Reduce, Recycle and Replenish. Every dollar puts me closer to becoming  the Green Queen and helps an individual with HIV/AIDS.

In my typical fashion, I want to take on two tasks at the same time: raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and helping Key West become a greener place. Now I want you to help me become the 2009 Queen of Fantasy Fest.  With Green Queen Vicki, we can do both.