NOVEMBER 2011
Greenback Student Ms Kate King Addresses American Legion Post 256
(1st Row, L to R) Post 256, Pat Brooks, Greenback Student, Ms Katie King, Post 256, Vic Vickery (2nd Row, L to R) Linda Riley, Kim Woods of the Rarity Bay Women’s Club, Photo by James Patterson
During this months American Legion Post 256 meeting, Ms Katie King of Greenback High School delivered an emotional and most informative testimonial of her experience while attending Volunteer Girls State. She and forty other female students from around the state went through a week long education process of hands-on, practical learning of how city, county and state governments are built and operate. In Ms. Kings own words, “I feel honored to have been chosen to participate in this amazing experience. I have so many unbelievable memories. Not only was the experience a bonding of many new friends, but it was a fun way of learning without knowing you were learning”. Ms King and five other students from Greenback and Sequoyah High Schools were chosen to attend Volunteer Boy’s and Girl’s State through a selective interview process. Sponsors for the students were The Republican Women’s Club of Loudon, The Rarity Bay Women’s Club, The American Legion Post 256 and Hall’s Florist & Gifts of Madisonville. These programs are leadership and citizenship-training experiences offered to students once a year. Additional information about these programs may be obtained from Post 256 Vice Commander Vic Vickery, 423-884-6476 or visiting the Post 256 website, www.tellicolakepost256.org.
American Legion 2011 Boys and Girls State Program
(L to R) Bill Anderson, Patrick Brooks, Linda Riley, Taylor Harris, Gary Cole, Tom Simcox and Kim Woods.
BOYS STATE
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American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each participant becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government.
Boys State has been a program of The American Legion since 1935 when it organized to counter the Fascist inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
At American Legion Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.
High school juniors are selected by local American Legion Posts to attend the program. In most cases, expenses associated with attending this program are paid by a sponsoring American Legion Post, a local business or another community-based organization.
American Legion Boys State is currently conducted in 49 Departments of The American Legion. Hawaii does not conduct a program. As separate corporations, Boys States vary in content and method of procedure, but each and every Boys State adheres to the basic concept of the program - that of teaching government from the township to the state level.
The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a similar program for young ladies called Girls State. For online details visit http://www.boysandgirlsstate.org/girls.html
For complete information click on above logo