The Votes Are In for USA Today's Ultimate Idol and Clay Finishes 3rd

For most of the summer, readers of USA Today's Idol Chatter Blog have been voting for their favorite Idol in their Revisionist Idol contest. USA Today announced the winner of the contest along with the order of the remaining idols. Coming in first and second place were Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Clay's ranking was 3rd.

USA Today says about the ranking system:

Voters were asked to choose their favorite 10 Idols from a list of 15 and rank them in order. First place votes received 10 points, second place got 9, down to 1 point for a 10th place vote.

The top four winners in the rankings also have had the most sales of their CD's. Clay's Measure of a Man has sold about 2.8 million.

USA Today also mentions as a side note to the article that in the revisionist votes, four of the idols who did not win their seasons would have won according to these votes...Bo Bice, Eliott Yamin, Melinda Doolittle, and Clay Aiken.

The Bubel Aiken Fundraisers - 3 A Day To Remember - Part 5

In the last week or two we have been listing some of the Bubel Aiken Fundraisers that are going on in ClayNation. We started out mentioning three a day, then had a couple of articles where we just mentioned one. Today we will mention three more.

Now, we know that every person cannot take part in every one of these fundraisers. There is a limit to the money we all have access to, unless we decide to mortgage our house or rob a bank!! But sometimes we forget that there are lots of people working very hard to raise money for Clay's charity, The Bubel Aiken Foundation, and especially trying to help them reach that goal of being able to have 100 camps in 2008. If we don't remind ourselves of these fundraisers, they will dance right out of our minds possibly never to re-enter again. So these reminders are not to get each of you to help every one of these fundraisers. But it is to make you aware of them so that you can choose one or two, or whatever works into your time and budget, to help.

Well, enough of that, let's talk about some more fundraisers. Our 3 fundraisers today are:

***All Kids Count and Rhode Islanders for Inclusion Awareness Groups The Mikayla Project
***Connecting For Inclusion Beta Alpha Group's BAF Bumper Stickers and Canvas Tote Bags
***Southern Cal's Mall Outlet Shopping Extravaganza for BAF and Wrapping For Inclusion


***All Kids Count and Rhode Islanders for Inclusion Awareness have a joint chapter project, approved by TBAF, to create inclusion awareness and to support the TBAF mission of inclusion. They hope to help get the 100 Lets All Play camps open in 2008.

This joint project is The Mikyala Project. You can go to the All Kids Count website, click on "Mikayla Project" on the left side of the home page, and view their items. 100% of the proceeds go to TBAF. 50% of the proceeds get reported on the All Kids Count Beta Alpha scoreboard and 50% get reported under the RIFIA scoreboard. While there, you can read about how you too can be a part of a partnership project with All Kids Count to benefit TBAF. It is all explained on the website as to how it works.

Right now, this project is selling the following Mikayla items, which have all been approved by TBAF:

• kids aprons
• travel pillowcases
• coasters
• small tote bag
• large tote bag-more like a backpack

You can also read more about this at the Clayboard TBAF On TCB thread.



***The Beta Alpha Group, Connecting For Inclusion
(formerly Trainers Connecting For Inclusion AND STILL The Clay Train Connection), has 2 items to offer with 100% of profits going to The Bubel-Aiken Foundation.

• The first item is a BAF Bumper Sticker. The price is $5.00.
  
  
  
  
  
• The second item is a BAF Canvas Tote Bag, which costs $15.00 plus Priority Shipping of $4.85, for a total of $19.85.

You can visit their approved Fundraiser Page at: www.connectingforinclusion.com/Store.html

Paypal or checks are accepted. You can also go to their Clayboard thread at TBAF on TCB.


Attention Southern California Shoppers!

Two local outlet malls, The Lake Elsinore Outlet and Citadel Outlets, have invited TBAF and Wrapping For Inclusion to participate in their Shopping Extravaganzas!!

1. The Lake Elsinore Outlets' 5th Annual Shopping Extravaganza! Shopping Extravaganza gives local non-profit organizations a chance to raise money and have fun!

What is "Shopping Extravaganza?"
This special day of shopping will include exclusive store discounts and give-a-ways, a catered lunch, wine tasting, energy and pamper station, entertainment, one entry in a $500 shopping spree drawing, one entry in a raffle drawing (over $35,000 in raffle prizes will be awarded), entertainment, free Santa photo and free gift wrapping by the WFI volunteers!!!

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Registration hours: 9 AM -12 PM
Event hours: 10 AM - 4 PM

Cost is $20 per ticket and TBAF will keep a significant percentage (up to 100%) of the ticket proceeds.

You can get more information about this as well as purchase a ticket and/or volunteer to help by going to their TBAF on TCB thread at The Clayboard. Once you get there, check out the first post in the Attention So Cal Shoppers thread and send a pm or email to the email at this site. You can also purchase tickets at the door the day of the event.

For more information:
Lakeelsinoreoutlet

2. The Citadel Outlets' 2nd Annual Shopping Extravaganza!

Saturday, October 13
Registration - 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Event Hours - 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Cost - $20 Event Ticket includes over $40,000 in prizes; also included are exclusive discounts, goodie bag, baggage check, entertainment, raffle, lunch by Ruby's Diner.

For more information go to: citadeloutlets

Tidbits 10/6

• The CB's hippoga reports Clay is mentioned in an ad for "American Idol: Singer's Advantage", a kit which claims to improve your singing skills (yeah, right!) -

  It's the time of year when countless catalogs start to arrive in the mailbox! In the What on Earth catalog that arrived yesterday, they are selling "American Idol:Singer's Advantage-The Ultimate Voice Training Program" which is a collection of DVD's and CD's to improve your singing. BUT the first two lines of the blurb are what caught my attention!
  
  "Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood, move over. With these voice training programs, you're going to be the next person to wow (or at least cow) Simon."
  

• Undercover.com.au - article about Kara DioGuardi who co-wrote Clay's "The Way" -

  She is the name behind hits by Kelly Clarkson, Faith Hill, Pink, The Veronicas, Christina Aguilera, Santana, Gwen Stefani, Pussycat Dolls, Britney Spears, Hialry Duff, Jewel, Nick Lachey, Ashlee Simpson, Anastacia, Jesse McCartney, Natasha Beddingfield, Jessica Simpson, Delta Goodrem, Lindsay Lohan, Kylie Minogue, Clay Aiken, Marc Anthony, Paris Hilton, Ricky Martin and Laura Pausini.

• Nothing here yet
  

Christmas In The Heartland Tour 2007: St. Louis, MO; Erie, PA Dates Announced

The official fanclub has confirmed two new dates for Clay's 2007 Christmas tour.

Tuesday, November 27
Fox Theatre
St. Louis MO

Sunday, December 16
Erie Civic Center Complex
Erie, PA

Ticketing info is to be announced for both dates.

Clay and AI2 Rewind -- Looking at Pictures From Four Years Ago - 2nd In Series

On Saturday, October 6, the second show from American Idol 2 Rewind will be shown. This show will be the Miami/Detroit auditions. And, of course, Clay will be narrating the show once again.

The thing about not watching American Idol until halfway into the second season was this...I really hadn't a clue what all went into choosing these singers who performed before the judges or why they were even singing before the judges. I didn't know that thousands of people where auditioned in cities all around the United States. When I first watched it, I couldn't for the life of me figure out why these kids would want to stand in front of these three judges, whoever they were, and be cut down and told how horrible they were. And, of all things, why was Olivia Newton John, who was a big time singer when I was a teenager, why was she on this crazy show that I couldn't figure out? I missed all of this, so watching these auditions from the second season has been a lot of fun for me. Seeing the different singers who were in the top 12 audition for the first time has been an eye opener. And having Clay narrate it and give his thoughts has made it even better!

In this series, CDD is including "behind the scenes" pictures of Clay from Season 2. We've all seen the ones of him singing, but not everyone has seen some of these other pictures. Hope you enjoy.


Clay and Quiana - a friendship that has grown closer through the years.


Clay is happy with his American Idol experience!


We like your ears just fine, Clay.


Clay was wearing those t-shirts even way back then!

Tidbits 10/5

• Entertainment Tonight - their story about Clay's appearance at Jenna Bush's book launch earlier this week is the most emailed story today ... who says that Clay mania has died down?
  
• ESPN - nice Clay reference in sports article -

  Neither Clay Aiken nor Chris Daughtry won "American Idol," and yet I'd say platinum records are pretty good spoils. If I could score that kind of spoilage by finishing second (or fifth) in my main league, I'd be rich by now.
  

• Idol Stalker - Its Clay Aiken Day again on Idolstalker.com and some of the fans have sent in YouTube videos of Clay. One video is called Let's Do The Time Warp and the other, Footloose. Also sent in was Clay's Entertainment Tonight interview and a picture of Clay.
• TUSKmag.com - Chris Daughtry joins American Idol elite -

  As leader of the band that bears his name, he cut a debut album late last year that’s hit No. 1 for two weeks on Billboard, joining fellow “Idol" alumnae Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken -- all of them either winners or first runners-up -- in that pantheon.

• Salt Lake Deseret News on "scary ... extreme fans" -

  A few years ago, I reviewed the Kelly Clarkson/Clay Aiken concert in what used to be the Delta Center (now the EnergySolutions Arena). I wrote that Clay put on a better show than Kelly.
  
  Oh, man, did that open the floodgates. Kelly Clarkson fans bombarded me with e-mails. Even fans who didn't attend the show took me to task. "I've seen her before and know you are wrong" is an example of the e-mails I received.

• Christmas tour mentions:
• Wichita Eagle
• Times Herald-Record
• Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
• Lowell Sun - former AI2 contestant headlines "Circus 2.0" show -

  The pert, petite headliner, was one of the top 30 contestants in American Idol's second season that produced winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken.
  

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay ready to make big appearance on "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?"
• Clayigraphy - Clay Aiken Christmas tour brings out Christmas memories -

  So Clay has announced his latest contest! And we should all write down our favorite holiday memories in 20 sentences or less and then submit them. The winners will then be invited to present their special and unique memories on stage during his upcoming Holiday tour.

Bubel Aiken Fundraisers - Part 4 - Ebay Auction Fundraiser Will End on October 13

For the last couple of weeks or so, the Beta Alpha Group, Aiken Breakin' Broads Remembering Inclusion, have hosted an Ebay fundraiser to raise money for The Bubel Aiken Foundation. This fundraiser called Ebay Auction Remembering Inclusion, has raised over $900 (before Ebay fees and Paypal fees)so far. After fees are taken out, the total is probably closer to $700. Our hope is to clear $1000 for BAF by October 13 and we need your help.

Above is a picture of some of the items we have to offer as of the writing of this article. Some of the members of our Beta Alpha group have donated their own items for the auction. Before Friday, October 5, more items will be added to the auction and we will add for the next couple of days until our time to be able to add runs out. The store "rent" with Ebay comes to an end on October 13 so all auctions must be ended by then.

We hope that you will come by the store and bid on some of our items. We have had lots of good comments about the items we have had to offer, and the beginning bids are quite reasonable. So come check out our auction and help us reach that net figure of $1000 for BAF and the 2008 Summer Camps. Our store link is:

http://stores.ebay.com/Aiken-Breakin-Remembering-Inclusion

Thank you very much.

Date For Clay's Appearance on "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" Up At Official Fan Club's Public Page

IMPORTANT UPDATE:
FOX is moving Clay's episode of "5th Grader" to November 1 - the start of November sweeps. Clay's segment will be aired during a special 2 hour broadcast of the hit game show.
More info

---

The date that we have been waiting on for weeks has finally been announced. The public page of the Official Fan Club. Here's what they say:

10/04/07 : Don't Miss Clay on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader"! By Team Clay

Clay's "Are You Smarter Than A 5th grader" air date is scheduled for October 11th - next Thursday! Check your local listings for channels and show times.

So get those VCR's revved up and let's be ready to cheer Clay on all over the country! This is one show I for sure will not miss!

New Candid Shots - Clay in NYC

Looks like Clay is still in NYC following Monday's Jenna Bush book launch party he attended.

Splash News has 5 new photos of Clay leaving a restaurant in NYC.

Tidbits 10/4

• KTLA is polling us on our favourite American Idol 2 contestant ... VOTE Claymates!
  
• ETOnline - Scroll down and look on the left side of the page. The video Clay in NYC is #1 of the Top 10 Emailed Stories on ETOnline!
• Syracuse.com - Idol Thoughts by Donna Reynolds tells about the premiere of American Idol 2 Rewind:

  The series will also offer viewers a chance to catch up with the top 12 (Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Josh Gracin, Trenyce, Carmen Rasmusen, Kimberly Caldwell, Rickey Smith, Corey Clark, Julia DeMato, Charles Grigsby, and Vanessa Olivarez) all of whom will talk about their experiences on the show.

• USA Today - the votes are officially in for their "Idol Revolutionist" poll - Clay comes out #3 out of all Idol alumni, beaten narrowly by Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood -

  EARLIER UPSETS
  
  In season-by-season revisionist votes in the Idol Chatter blog, four Idol also-rans would have won their respective seasons:
  
  -Clay Aiken, Season 2
  -Bo Bice, Season 4
  -Elliott Yamin, Season 5
  -Melinda Doolittle, Season 6
  
  It was a close race, based on a simple reverse-point system (10 points for a No. 1 vote, 9 for No. 2 and so forth), as fourth-season champ Carrie Underwood (who fell behind Bo Bice in the revisionist vote for that season) finished a close second, and second-season runner-up Clay Aiken was close behind in third.
  

• E! Online -

  A few years ago, a Santa Monica-area DMV office let Madonna come in through the back to avoid, in the words of a spokesman, a "mob scene." Other stars, such as Clay Aiken, have been known to walk in the front door of their local DMVs.

• A few "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" mentions -
• Daily Camera -

  "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?" is hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy and will spotlight celebrity contestants this season including TV personality Regis Philbin, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk and "American Idol" finalist Clay Aiken.

• Orlando Sentinel -

  If these kids don't provide enough incentive to watch, the game show this season will feature celebrities playing for charity. They include Regis Philbin, Clay Aiken, Kellie Pickler, Tony Hawk and Billy Bush. You'll probably see those installments in the November ratings period.

• MovieWeb -

  In addition to a new set of pupils, the second season of this atypical game show, hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, will also feature celebrity contestants Regis Philbin Live with Regis and Kelly), on-air personality Billy Bush (Access Hollywood), American Idol finalists Clay Aiken and Kellie Pickler, skateboarding icon Tony Hawk, and Miss America Lauren Nelson testing their knowledge for charity.
  

• Nothing here today
  

Tidbits 10/3

• People.com - A picture of Clay taken at the Jenna Bush Book Party is at People.com. By the picture it says:

  GOODWILL HUNTING - Singer – and UNICEF ambassador – Clay Aiken stops for pictures at the launch of First Daughter Jenna Bush's new book, Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope, at the New York UNICEF House on Monday.

• The Pittsburgh Post Gazette says Clay is in talks to join the New York broadway production "Spamalot" ... not exactly sure where their source is, but I don't see how Clay can perform on Broadway with him doing a Christmas tour and recording album #3...

  America's most popular "American Idol" runner-up, Clay Aiken, may be in talks to join the cast of "Spamalot," reports "Entertainment Tonight."
  

• MTV - no love for Idol losers ... except Clay Aiken:

  Paul Fischer, an associate professor in the recording industry department at Middle Tennessee State University, has a theory about why labels are reluctant to sign "Idol" runners-up.
  
  "The fact that they tried and failed on 'Idol' could be seen as a negative," he said. "For many, being on the show may truly be their only shot at a music career. For most music-star wannabes, there's no shortcut to success. You've got to hone your craft, play shows, get better, build up a network, maybe write some songs cut by others, and hope for a break."
  
  [...]
  
  "You have to be like Clay Aiken, who is a very distinct artist," she said. "What happens is the audience has to be so blown away and feel like there's nothing like them out there. All those R&B singers, they're a dime a dozen."
  

• Raleigh News & Observer - "Clay Aiken New York Calling": This article says:

  Even though "Idol: The Musical" was a huge bomb in New York City, Raleigh homeboy Clay Aiken has a pretty high-profile Big Apple gig coming up later this month.

  This is talking about Clay's performance at the Neil Sedaka: 50 Years of Hits tribute on October 26 in Lincoln Center in New York.
• Town Online also has a mention of the Neil Sedaka concert Clay will perform at -

  “I got a call just last week from Neil Sedaka about a show he’s doing at Lincoln Center on Oct 26, with Natalie Cole, Clay Aiken, the Captain & Tennille and others, to mark his 50th year as a singer and songwriter and to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation. I recorded Neil and Howard Greenfield’s first hit, ‘Stupid Cupid,’ and they also co-wrote ‘Where the Boys Are,’ so Neil said he couldn’t imagine celebrating this anniversary without me. I told him right away that I’d be there.”
  

• MovieWeb - American Idol Rewind returns with Clay Aiken as narrator -

  American Idol Rewind is back, and this time the popular syndicated series will highlight Season 2, the year that put American Idol on the map with legendary talent and unprecedented ratings. Premiering Saturday, September 29th in most syndicated markets nationwide, American Idol Rewind will feature an introduction from Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard, narration by runner-up Clay Aiken and the best never-before-seen clips and interviews to-date.

• New Orleans Time Picayune - article mentions songwriter who has worked with Clay -

  Enter Adam Anders. A songwriter-producer who has worked with Steven Curtis Chapman, Clay Aiken and the Backstreet Boys among others, Anders was hired by Fox to produce the opening "K-Ville" theme.
  

• JustJared has a small write up about Clay's appearance at Jenna Bush's book launch on Monday night -

  American Idol alum Clay Aiken arrives at the launch of Jenna Bush’s book Ana’s Story: A Journey Of Hope at NYC’s Labouisse Hall, UNICEF House on Monday.

• Nothing here yet
  

Clay Blogs In A Search For Your Christmas Stories

Clay is looking for your help in crafting this year's Christmas tour. Clay is asking fanclub members to submit their most memorable Christmas stories in the next few weeks. He will be personally reading and picking three winning entrants for every concert. These winners will be invited to share their stories on stage.

Fanclub members - read Clay's blog

Clay's CD's Move Up In Rank on Amazon's Sales

Demeter at Clayversity has kept track of Clay's Amazon sales. Notice the jump in rank from Monday, October 1 to Tuesday, October 2.

Monday, October 1, 2007
MCWL (11/16/04) #3,722
ATDW (09/19/06) #4,047
MOAM (10/14/03) #4,164 $8.97

Tuesday, October 2, 2007
MCWL (11/16/04) #2,928
ATDW (09/19/06) #1,530
MOAM (10/14/03) #2,167 $8.97

The difference in the ranking from Monday to Tuesday is as follows:

MCWL - Moved up 794 places
ATDW - Moved up 2517 places
MOAM - Moved up 1997 places

Don't know why the sales went up from one day to the next, but it sure is a good thing to see!!

Clay Video Is Up At The Insider and ET Online Website

Videos of Clay speaking from Jenna Bush's party yesterday are up at the home pages of both The Insider and ET Online.

In The Insider video, Clay talks about how much he enjoys being in New York now. He also talked about how we get bogged down in checking out which celebrities have been arrested, etc. But he feels its important to take the responsibility to talk about things that are important to him, namely the over 150 countries that UNICEF works with that need a voice.

The ET video is very similar except Clay talks a little more about Jenna Bush and how he knows what she has gone through since he also has been over in countries similar to where she has been.

Both videos are very good and feature Clay talking about what he loves the most...helping children whether they are overseas or here at home. With all the things going on in the entertainment industry these days, Clay certainly shows that he has his head on straight and continues to focus on those things that are important and in which he can make a difference.

Update: The Raleigh News & Observer also has a nice write up for Clay's visit to NY on their website:

Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Clay Aiken: New York calling

Even though "Idol: The Musical" was a huge bomb in New York City, Raleigh homeboy Clay Aiken has a pretty high-profile Big Apple gig coming up later this month. The "American Idol" star is on the bill for Neil Sedaka: 50 Years of Hits, an Oct. 26 Lincoln Center tribute concert to the Tin Pan Alley songwriter that also features everyone from Connie Francis to The Bad Plus. New York's an appropriate venue for Clay right now because, based on this picture, it looks like he's been getting in touch with his inner Donald Trump lately.

(Props to Jennifer B. for the picture point-out.)

Tidbits 10/2

This ad appeared in the Las Vegas Review Journal today, promoting Clay's taping of the NBC Holiday Celebrations on Ice Christmas special at Las Vegas' Orleans Arena next month. The Christmas special, featuring Clay as the exclusive musical guest will air on Christmas day on NBC. Thanks to the CB's LVClayCDparty for the scan.

• Clay was mentioned on CBS' new show Cane, reports the CB's d4kkkks:

  I came from the kitchen. I was surprised when I heard Clay's name was mentioned in "Cane"show. They are having a family dinner and asking who are coming in the club, I heard Celine Dion, and one of the kids said "Clay Aiken". I hope someone got this in Tivo.
  

• Lycos 50 - Clay has moved up from #16 on the Lycos 50 to #13 for the week of September 23-29. Under his name it says, "Measure of a Man". Keep searching for Clay via Lycos!!
• MLive.com - article about revamping the Clio Amphitheater -

  In its heyday, the 15-year-old amphitheater hosted the likes of blues legend B.B. King and contemporary acts such as "American Idol" fan favorite Clay Aiken

• MTV.com - article about a violin player who has played with Clay -

  While Harvey is deep into her career, Chicago psych-pop squad the 1900s are only getting started — they're stepping up with their Cold & Kind debut this week. Oddly enough, the septet's violin player, Andra Kulans, is also a part of the Quartet Parapluie, who have performed with everyone from Kanye West to Clay Aiken. The Fleetwood Mac-esque band features keys, piano, strings and more.

• Diamondback Online - article about Dashboard Confessional -

  What negative thing can be said about Dashboard Confessional that hasn't already been said by every hipster in between drags of his American Spirit cigarette? Lead singer Chris Carrabba has probably had his sexuality questioned more than Clay Aiken, but he presses on - and Dashboard's new album, The Shade of Poison Trees, is not much of a departure for the band.

• Nothing here today
  

Bubel Aiken Fundraisers - Part 3 - Scrapping 4 Inclusion To Hold Fundraisers in Queens NY and Greensboro NC

We've had two articles so far to remind you of some of the many fundraisers that are going on in ClayNation for The Bubel Aiken Foundation. If you missed reading those articles, you can find them at:

The Bubel Aiken Fundraisers - 3 A Day To Remember - Part 1
The Bubel Aiken Fundraisers - 3 A Day To Remember - Part 2

Today we will only tell you about one of BAF's fundraisers - Scrapping 4 Inclusion. Scrapping 4 Inclusion's website says it best as to what it is all about:

The mission of Scrapping 4 Inclusion is to combine one of the fastest growing hobbies in North America with the need for creating awareness and raising funds on behalf of children with disabilities and their advocates at The Bubel Aiken Foundation (TBAF). This is an awareness and fundraising campaign where Volunteer Organizers across the USA will plan a full day of Scrapbooking Crop in their own community.

You can go to their site to find out even more about Scrapping 4 Inclusion and how you can get involved.

There are two Scrapping 4 Inclusion Fundraisers that will take place very soon in Queens, NY and Greensboro, NC.

The Queens fundraiser will take place on Saturday, October 20, at the Queens Occupational Training Center. The cost is a $20 donation to take part, and the proceeds will be split between The Bubel Aiken Foundation and The Queens Occupational Training Center, a facility which specializes in Special Education. Volunteers are needed for set up, tear down, and photography. More information can be found at their thread at The Clayboard and in the ad below.



A second Scrapping 4 Inclusion Fundraiser will take place in Greensboro on Saturday, October 27, at Moriah Methodist Church. The $40 crop fee is a donation to The Bubel Aiken Foundation. There will be lunch, dinner, and snacks, as well as door prizes, raffles, and a grand prize of a 2008 Weekend Crop Retreat valued at $130! More information can be found at their thread at The Clayboard and in the ad below.


Both of these fundraisers are great ways to help support The Bubel Aiken Foundation as well as have some fun with other people who love scrapbooking. Check the Scrapbooking 4 Inclusion website for future dates of fundraising events. Dates already at their site, including the above two dates, are:

Waco, Texas - October 20
Denver, Colorado - November 3
Lovettsville (not sure of the state) - November 10
Columbia, South Carolina - January 5, 2008

This is just one of the many ways that fans are making a difference by raising money and awareness for The Bubel Aiken Foundation with fundraisers. In our next article, we'll tell you about three more.

Clay Attends A Party Celebrating Jenna Bush's New Book

Clay attended a party given to celebrate Jenna Bush's new book, "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope" on Monday, October 1, in New York, according to Yahoo!News. The book, which is based on the life of a single mother from Central America who is living with aids, was written by Jenna after she met the 17-year-old mother last fall.

Like Clay, Jenna has a passion for education as well as for working with the underprivileged. She also has worked with UNICEF, interning with them in Central and South America where she met Ana. Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit UNICEF. You can read more about Jenna's book by reading the Associated Press story, Jenna Bush, author: First daughter starts promoting new book.

To see more pictures of Clay from the party, go to Getty Images and Film Magic.

Update 10/2: ETOnline.com has posted a video from this event:

Tidbits 10/1

• An interview with a Clay fan that aired on WDKY-TV before the May 2007 AI6 finale is now on YouTube ... hit PLAY on the YouTube player above to watch it!
  
• MassLive.com - The Republican ... Taylor Hicks article -

  The Big E is getting some mileage out of television's "American Idol" beauty contest. Along with Hicks and Chris Daughtry, who also performed this year, the fair has played host to Idol contestants Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood.
  

• Christmas tour mentions:
• The Times Tribune
• antiMusic - random Clay mention: "Of course the whole crock hall was spearheaded by the guy that brought us Clay Aiken with his midriff exposed on the cover of his magazine (yes, Rolling Stone) so these nominees are not surprising at all."

• Carolina On My Mind brings our attention to Clay Aiken Kids, a wonderfully designed website aimed towards Clay's younger fans.
  

Clay and AI2 Rewind -- Looking at Pictures From Four Years Ago

Many of us have already enjoyed watching the first show of American Idol 2 Rewind (New York tryouts), narrated by none other than our own Clay Aiken. If you are like me, I hadn't even planned to start watching AI2 Rewind until the Atlanta auditions...until I heard Clay would be narrating it. All of a sudden those first couple of audition shows sounded a lot more interesting and fun to listen to..uh, er, to watch.

Listening to Clay narrate and watching these shows from the second American Idol are especially fun for me. I didn't get to watch the first half of AI2 the first time around. I didn't watch the first season of AI because I thought it was just "some of that awful teen music that was being played". So why would I watch the second season? Until I found out that a "hometown girl" had made the final 12. That would be Kimberly Caldwell, who is from the Houston area. "Hmmm," I thought, "Maybe I'll watch a couple and root for the hometown girl." Well, all it took was watching the first show to hook me on the skinny southern guy, who I had heard from being on America Online was a nerdy guy with a great voice. That's all I knew about him other than that I had seen a picture of him online at AOL that looked to me like he had stepped right out of the 50's or 60's, and he always came in 2nd place when the AOL voting took place...2nd place to a guy named Ruben Studdard who I knew nothing about either. (2nd Place...seems the AOL members knew as little as the American Public knew about who should have come in first place!).

By now, CDD readers know that I love doing article series with lots of pictures in them. So for the next two or three times, I thought we would look back at some pictures of Clay from AI2 first time around. Not the pictures of him on stage singing. We looked at those not long ago in yet another series! But just hanging out type pictures of him. These AI2 Rewind shows will bring back some great memories, so let's bring back a few more memories with some pictures of our man Clay.


He may have missed making it in Charlotte, but he showed everyone that he doesn't give up easily!


Clay talks to the media after trying out for the three judges in Atlanta.


They liked me...I can't believe they liked me!!


No, I'm not trying to tell yall that I am "square"!

The Bubel Aiken Fundraisers - 3 A Day To Remember - Part 2

CDD starting a series a couple of days ago where we will remind you of the approved fundraisers that are raising money for The Bubel Aiken Foundation so they can reach their goal of 100 camps in 2008. In our last article, we mentioned our first three fundraisers: Goodsearch, Goodshop, and Empties4Cash - Printer Cartridge Fundraiser.

Today we want to reacquaint you with three more fundraisers.

Bubel/Aiken Foundation Window Cling Fundraiser
Illinois Voices for Inclusion, Illinois' Beta Alpha group has available for sale the Bubel/Aiken Foundation Window Cling. Each cling is 5x5 and features the Foundation's star logo along with the tag lines CREATING AWARENESS and SUPPORTING INCLUSION.

You can purchase a cling and "create the awareness" at the cost of $5 each. All profits will be sent to TBAF. Checks are preferred but will accept Paypal as well, but it can not be tied to a Debit or Credit card. Please send email to illinoisvoices4inclusion@yahoo.com with your order, including # ordering, name and address, and choice of payment type and we will send you payment instructions.

Charming For Inclusion
This fundraiser offers a variety of Italian charm items including the TBAF logo, "I Love TBAF," "Let's ALL Play," and our Let's ALL Play Kids (designed by Jen - jlk1982).
Each item is a great conversation starter and a wonderful way to tell people about TBAF, inclusion, and the Let's ALL Play Camps!

All profits from the sales in our store are donated to TBAF. This fundraiser will be ongoing with other items added frequently so bookmark this site. Purchases can be made at the secure Yahoo store which you can visit at: www.charming4inclusion.com

TBAF Dawg Tag and Water Bottle Wet Suit
This is the Inclusion Revolution Brigade Beta Alpha Group's fundraiser for BAF. You can go directly to the Inclusion Revolution Brigade website for easy ordering. The water bottle wet suit is $12.00 and the dawg tag is $5.00.

Buying the Water Bottle Wet Suit and Dawg Tag is a wonderful way to show the world your support for the BAF and their projects. But more important, it is a show stopper item that will offer you countless opportunities to raise your voice to tell others about INCLUSION and how going to The Bubel Aiken Foundation they will find all the information they need to become part of the solution.

Remember, all of these fundraisers can be found at The Bubel Aiken Market Place site.

So far we have shared six BAF fundraisers with all of you. The first three costs you nothing more than a minute of your time. The cost for these last three fundraisers is minimal. Try to do whatever you can to support as many of these as possible. The "100 For 1 Million Challenge" needs out help and support!