STATE AND NATIONAL CONTEST SCHEDULE
Department of California State Finals Contest Date: February 27, 2005 - 1:00 pm Location: Modesto City Council Chambers, 1010-10th St., Modesto, CA Parking: Free next to Modesto City Hall
More information on the Local, District and Area contests will be available soon. Links to these contest locations will be placed here as made available.
National Finals Contest Date: April 9-10, 2005 Quarter-Final and Semi-Final Contests will be held Saturday, April 9 Championship Contest will be held Sunday, April 10 Location: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Conference Center & Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana All contestants and chaperones will arrive Friday, April 8. All contestants and chaperones will be lodged at the IUPUI 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 8. A banquet honoring all contestants will be held Sunday afternoon, April 10. All contestants and chaperones will depart for home late Sunday afternoon, April 10.
PURPOSE - The purpose of the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest is to develop a better understanding 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.
ELIGIBILITY - Eligible participants in The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest shall 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 twenty (20) on the date of the National Contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or state accredited home school) in which the curriculum of said high school is considered to be of high school level, commencing with grade nine (9) and terminating with grade twelve (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. Further, to participate in the California contest, students must be residents of the state of California. Students whose parents or guardians are legal residents of another state must participate in that state.
HOW TO ENTER - There is no application required to enter. Just contact your local American Legion Post for entry into the local or district contest.
You can also contact the Department Chairman by using this e-mail link
SCHOLARSHIPS - The Department of California awards $4,600 annually for Oratorical Scholarships to the six finalists in the Department Finals. Scholarships are as follows:
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Winner |
$1,200.00 |
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1st Runner Up |
$1,000.00 |
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Runners Up |
$600.00 |
District contestants competing in the preliminary round who do not advance to the State finals may receive a $100.00 scholarship. In addition to the Department scholarships, a $1,500.00 scholarship is awarded to each first round Department winner who participates in the National Contest. 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.
National scholarships awarded to the three finalist in the Final Round are as follows:
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First Place |
>$18,000.00 |
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Second Place |
$16,000.00 |
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Third Place |
$14,000.00 |
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.
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 research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution. All Contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same Assigned Topic.
What to Wear -- Uniforms are not permitted. Appropriate business attire is required by all contestants. Contestants are not permitted to wear awards and medals from previous competition. Travel Expenses -- The Department of California will pay the travel and lodging expenses of Area Winners and their chaperone to the State Contest. All contestants must be accompanied by a chaperone over 21 years of age. Speaking Order -- A drawing will be held to determine the order in which the contestants will appear. Contestants will be introduced by number only. Notes or Podium -- The use of notes, amplification, lectern or speakers stand by contestants or prompting in any manner is not permitted. Props are not permitted. Participation -- 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.
Article 2 Section 3 He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
Article 3 Section 3 clauses 1, 2 Clause 1 - Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. Clause 2 - The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Amendment 5 No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment 13 Sections 1, 2 Section 1 - Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Section 2 - Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
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, selected from Articles and Sections as listed under Assigned Topics for the current year's contest.
All contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same Assigned Topic.
After extensive arbitrations with the federal and state government officials it was determined that the federal government provides sufficient acreage on the former Fort Ord Army base known as Parker Flats for a veteran's cemetery. The State legislature offered to support a Central Coast Veteran's State Cemetery with funding for design and building the cemetery grounds. Nonetheless, because of State budget restraints, the State has mandated that the responsibility for funding the maintenance and upkeep of the grounds must be provided by veterans supplemented by private and public grants.
Again it should be noted a state cemeteries are not limited to California veterans from a single area. State cemeteries are open to all veterans throughout California. Their spouses may choose to be buried with their Veteran husbands in a state cemetery. We anticipated the new federal burial allowance, veterans receive, will be in keeping with the cost of burials in the Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery. To cause the Central Coast State Cemetery to become a reality, the United Veterans Council of Monterey County established a Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to create and maintain the Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery. The state legislation process for funding the cemetery requires the Foundation demonstrate the ability to provide substantial funding for the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery. The Foundation, in a very short period, must essentially solicit endowments and financial pledges from individuals and organizations. These endowments will demonstrate the ability to accept the responsibility of the expense for the maintenance and general upkeep of the cemetery.
The Foundation needs generous financial assistance and support. The Foundation is providing memorial tiles as incentives for donations. The Foundation plans to place these tiles on a Memorial Wall at the cemetery. Each donation will be inscribed appropriately and range from $250 for a bronze tile, $500 for a silver tile, $1000 for a gold tile, and $5000 or more for a Platinum tile. The donor's name or post name or branch names or civic or fraternal organization on a memorial tile. They will exhibit sponsorship for the Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery.
The Foundation is asking for your help and that of your organization to accomplish this first critical stage of gaining a Central Coast State Veteran's Cemetery. This is our cemetery for veterans and their families to appreciate. At this time, the Foundation is accepting funds and pledges in any amounts.
Current information on the progress of the Central Coast State Cemetery project is available at www.co.monterey.ca.us/cemetery/. Your funds, grants, and pledges should be forwarded to the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation, c/o 28th District American Legion, 1244 Buena Vista Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Click on Calendar 28th District, Area 2, Department of California
Click on Post Locations, Post Commanders and Post General Meeting Nights
National Forty of Eight
La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux, Voiture 621
State of California. American Legion Auxiliary Headquarters
State of California Sons of the American Legion
