THE AMERICAN LEGION

DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA

HIGH SCHOOL ORATORICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

“A Constitutional Speech Contest”

Cash Prizes, Scholarship Awards and Contest Contact Information

In addition to the monetary prizes awarded at the local Post and District levels, here are the cash prizes available for subsequent Department of Georgia contests (see Official Rules below for Scholarship Awards at the National American Legion Oratorical Contest:

AREA CONTEST (There are four Areas in Georgia)

First Place … $  350.00

Second Place … $   250.00

 Third Place … $  175.00 

DEPARTMENT (STATE) CONTEST

 First Place … $ 1,300.00

  Second Place … $    900.00

  Third Place … $    650.00

   Fourth Place … $   450.00

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DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA CONTEST DEADLINES

LOCAL /POST COMPLETED NOT LATER THAN ….………….   February 20, 2011

(Please NO NOT conduct the local contest before January 10, 2011)

DISTRICT COMPLETED NOT LATER THAN …………………   February 27, 2011

AREA COMPLETED NOT LATER THAN …..……………………   March 6, 2011

DEPARTMENT CONTEST: Saturday. March 12, 2011, 1:00 p.m., Location TBA.

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2011 POST, DISTRICT, AREA AND DEPARTMENT CHAIRMEN, CONTEST LOCATIONS,

DATES AND TIMES

 DEPARTMENT FINAL

 AREA FINALS

 DISTRICT FINALS

 LOCAL POST CONTESTS

All Post Contests are TBA as the information is made available.

Acworth/Kennesaw Post 304. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. Location TBA. Chairman David Burdette, dburdette488@bellsouth.net – (770) 428-0400

 Albany Post 30. Contact Roger Marietta, (229) 878-0944

Albany Post 512. Chairman Houchi Lumpkin,

Athens Post 20. Chairman Harry Evans, hevans@vs.state.ga.us

Cartersville Post 42.  1 Roosevelt St., Cartersville, GA 30120. Chairman Dale Cockrill, MDaleTeach@aol.com - (770) 387-2270

Columbus Post 323. Chairman Gary Murphy, SFKI@aol.com - (706) 563-2004

Griffin Post 15. Chairman Jerry Patterson, pattersonrobert1635@comcast.net

Mableton Post 264. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2011, 1:00 p.m., 6251 Ivey Rd., Mableton, GA 30126. Chairman Tony Probst, tdp0214@hotmail.com – (770) 633-6390

Marietta Post 29. Chairman Roy Lantz, roy@roylantz.com – (678)-560-1082 

Peachtree City Post 50. Chairman Arnie Geiger, geiger117@bellsouth.net – (770) 487-2128

Powder Springs Post 294. Chairman Donna Redner, rednergs1dm@bellsouth.net - 770-439-0180 (h) or 770-846-5503 (c)

Woodstock Post 316. Woodstock Community Center, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, 1:00 p.m. Chairman Charles Denmark, chdenmark@bellsouth.net

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The American Legion

High School Oratorical Scholarship Program

“A Constitutional Speech Contest”

Official Rules – 2010-2011

General Information

 The purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program “A Constitutional speech Contest” is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.

 Scholarships

Scholarship awards are presented to the three finalists in the final round of the national contest as follows: 1st place — $18,000; 2nd place — $16,000; 3rd place — $14,000. Each department (state) winner who is certified into and participates in the first round of the national contest will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round, but does not advance to the final round, will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship to pursue education beyond high school.

 The scholarships awarded by the national organization of The American Legion to the three finalists, to the department winners, and to the first round winners who are eliminated during the second round of competition may be used to attend any college or university in the United States.

A contestant must give both their prepared oration and the assigned topic discourse in order to receive the scholarship.

 In addition to the scholarships awarded by the national organization, there are several hundred scholarships awarded at the discretion of the intermediate organizations, to participants at post, district or county, and department levels of competition.

Department Contests

Arrangements for contests leading to the department finals shall be the responsibility of each department (state) organization of The American Legion. For those levels of competition prior to the department finals, the rules and regulations set forth in this brochure are not mandatory — they are offered as a guideline. However, all department finals contests shall conform with national contest procedures, rules and regulations. In Georgia, to reach the Department (State) Contest, a participant must have competed in and won a local Post contest, the District contest in which the Post is located, and the Area contest in which the District is located.

 A winner certified to the National Americanism and Children & Youth Division of The American Legion by a department which did not conduct its final competition in conformity with the rules and regulations as set forth herein may, in the judgment of the Director, Americanism and Children & Youth Division, or his representative, be disqualified from competition in the national contest.   Each department may certify one (1) contestant into the national contest. If for any reason the department winner is unable to compete in the national contest, the department first runner-up may be substituted following approval by The American Legion’s National Americanism Commission. A department first runner-up accepted into national competition will be entitled to all national awards, entitlements and compensation that the department winner would have received had he/she participated at that level.

 Eligibility

 Eligible participants must be citizens of or lawful permanent residents of the United States. All contestants must be bona fide students herein described as any student under the age of 20 years on the date of the national contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or home school). The curriculum of the school must be considered to be of high school level, commencing with grade 9 and terminating with grade 12. Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest. Contestants must either be legally domiciled within or attend an educational institution within the department that they enter competition. Contestants can enter competition through only one department.   The three finalists of the national contest are ineligible for further participation at any level.

The Prepared Oration

 The prepared oration must be on some aspect of the Constitution of the United States with emphasis on the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The same subject and oration used in the department contest must be used in the national contest. In the prepared oration, as well as in the assigned topic discourse, quotations must be indicated as such. Where quotations are more than ten words in length, the author’s name must be given in the manuscript and cited orally.

 The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must not take up less than eight (8) minutes or more than ten (10) minutes for delivery. It must be delivered in the English language. The singing of a song(s) is not permitted and will result in the immediate disqualification of the contestant. The contestant may, however, quote a verse(s) of a song provided proper attribution is made.

 Contestants may have in their possession a copy of their prepared oration in the first holding room. They may consult the copy of their prepared oration, until they exit the holding room in order to begin the contest, at which time the copy of the prepared oration will be surrendered to the contest official who is monitoring the first holding room.

 Assigned Topic

 The assigned topic discourse must not consume less than three (3) minutes or more than five (5) minutes for delivery. The purpose of the assigned topic discourse is to test the speaker’s knowledge of the subject, the extent of his or her research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution.

 The assigned topic shall be drawn by the contest official in full view of the audience immediately before the last speaker begins delivery of his/her prepared oration and will be made known to the audience and each contestant approximately five (5) minutes prior to the time of delivery. The topic will be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States, as listed under assigned topics for the current year’s contest in this brochure.

 All contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same assigned topic. It is acceptable to utilize or incorporate short phrases of a foreign language into the prepared oration and/or assigned topic in order to develop the argument, establish a point, etc. It is to be understood that the vast majority of the prepared oration and/or assigned topic must still be delivered in the English language.

 Assigned Topics for 2010-2011

 Amendment 8

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

 Amendment 10

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

 Amendment 26

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

 Amendment 27

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

Contest Regulations

A drawing shall be held by the official in charge of the contest to determine the order in which the contestants will appear. The contest chairman shall announce the title of the contestant’s prepared oration immediately after introducing him/her as contestant No. 1, contestant No. 2, etc. The chairman will request the audience to refrain from applause until the judges have made their decision.

A raised platform is not compulsory; however, it is strongly recommended. The use of notes, amplification, lectern or speaker’s stand by contestants or prompting in any manner is NOT permitted. Props are NOT permitted.

 The use of any type of electronic/digital data gathering, receiving and/or transmitting equipment in any form by contestants or members of the audience is prohibited.

 The time allotted for each contestant to deliver their prepared oration shall not be less than eight (8) or more than ten (10) minutes and for the assigned topic, not less than three (3) or more than five (5) minutes.

An official timer shall be named by the contest chairman whose duty it shall be to keep an accurate time record of each contestant, and he shall be located on the main floor in full view of the contestants. The timekeeper shall begin timing each contestant at the start of the prepared oration.

The timer should be equipped with a stopwatch and time cards for the prepared oration carrying the figures 8, 9 and 10. When eight minutes have been used, the time warning card with the figure 8 thereon shall be placed in full view of the speaker, following with 9 and 10 as the speaker progresses. The same procedure shall be used with cards bearing 3, 4 and 5 during the assigned topic discourse. The contest chairman shall announce the time consumed by each contestant for the prepared oration and the assigned topic immediately after each contestant speaks for the benefit of the judges.

Contestants are required to remain in a private room, where the discourse of the other speakers cannot be heard, until it is their turn to speak (contestants will be under the supervision of an individual appointed by the contest chairman). As the contestants conclude their prepared orations, they must return to a soundproof holding room. As each speaker concludes his or her assigned topic discourse, they shall not be allowed to associate with contestants who have not fulfilled the assigned topic requirement.

Approximately five minutes prior to the time of the delivery of the assigned topic discourse, contestant No. 1 will be informed of the topic drawn for the assigned topic and shall be permitted to retire to privacy under the direction of an individual appointed by the contest chairman, whose duty it shall be to see that no contestant is permitted to consult any text matter or notes having any connection with the subject matter upon which he/she is to speak, other than the actual words of the topic provided on the card drawn.

 Each succeeding contestant will be called upon in the order in which he/she previously appeared. He/she shall also, in turn, be informed of the topic of the assigned topic discourse and shall then be escorted to privacy in the manner as provided for contestant No. 1.

 What to wear

Uniforms are not permitted. Appropriate business attire is required for all contestants. Contestants may not wear awards and medals from previous competitions.

Travel Expenses

 The national organization of The American Legion will pay the travel and lodging expenses of department winners and their chaperones to the national contest. All contestants must be accompanied by a chaperone over 21 years of age.

The national organization of The American Legion will not assume liability for personal injury, property damage or loss sustained by any contestant or chaperone en route to or from the contest; however, The American Legion does carry a nominal group accident insurance policy on contestants certified into the national competition. Contestants will travel by an air carrier selected by the national organization of The American Legion or personal automobile if previously approved by the national organization of The American Legion.

 TV and Radio

 Live television and radio broadcasts are permitted in all contests as well as taping or other types of media for later showing, provided: 1) the lighting and other site conditions are the same for all contestants; 2) the taping or broadcasts shall in no way distract the contestants or interfere with the announced scheduled time of the contest; 3) the normal speaking voice of the contestant is not interfered with or amplified within the auditorium; and 4) The American Legion is in no way financially obligated without its prior approval.

Judges

 The judges are a very integral part of the oratorical contest. Their qualifications are considered carefully as the decision of the judges is final and must be reached without bias. Impartial judging in all contests is the key to fairness and success of the program which results in the selection of a national champion.

 All department finals and the national contest must utilize five judges. No publicity shall be given to the names of the judges in advance of the contest. During the contest, the judges will be seated in different locations in the auditorium and each judge shall render his or her final decision without consultation with other judges or any other person.

 Judges will be advised that a lack of emphasis in the prepared oration and the assigned topic discourse on the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government must result in their downgrading the contestant involved. Judges are permitted to downgrade a contestant up to a maximum of ten (10) points for failure to speak on the Constitution. The contest chairman will announce any violation of time for each contestant. A penalty of one point for each minute, or fraction thereof, shall be assessed against the contestant’s total score.

The judges, timekeepers, tabulators and the contest chairman, following the last assigned topic discourse, may proceed to a private room for final review and tabulation. The decision of the judges is final.

 Tabulators

 The contest chairman will appoint no less than three tabulators for the department finals contest. It will be their responsibility to review the judges’ scorecards to be certain they are fully tabulated and signed before they are submitted for final tabulation.

 Judges’ scorecards for department finals and the national contest will not be divulged to anyone at the site of the contest. The judges’ scorecards become the property of The American Legion National Headquarters.ers MUST BE certified to the

 National Finals Contest Information

• The national finals contest will be conducted, April 15-17, 2011, at the University Place Conference Center & Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana. Quarter-final and semi-final contests will be held Saturday, April 16. Championship contest will be held Sunday, April 17.

• All contestants and chaperones will arrive Friday, April 15. All contestants and chaperones will be lodged at the University Place Conference Center Hotel, 850 West Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46202.

 • A mandatory pre-contest orientation session for all contestants will be held Friday evening, April 15.

 • A banquet honoring all contestants will be held Sunday afternoon, April 17.

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For information concerning the American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program and the Constitutional Speech Contest please contact:

Chairman - David L. Burdette

4210 Lakes End Drive

Kennesaw, Ga 30144

Phone 770-428-0400

Please support our contestants by your presence at all levels of competition!

You are the Visitor Since July 15, 2010