Post 326 hosts 2009 Boys/Girls State Scholarship Recipients and their families at the August 5, 2009 General Meeting; the following Boys/Girls State Citizens were recognized (L-R): Joshua Delgado (Hays), Past Commander Don Jones, Ian Nestlyn-Mogab (Hays), Sergeant-at-Arms Rowland Greenwade, Luke Broddrick (Hays), Nathaniel Sigman (Hays), Matthew Lopez (Bowie), John Ferguson (Akins) and Commander/Past Boys/Girls State Committee Chairman Ken Baucom; not pictured are:  Marisa  Vera (Akins) and Jordan  Williams (Akins).  Each Boys/Girls State Citizen received a Certificate of Appreciation signed by Governor Rick Perry and First Lady Anita Perry.
   

2010 BOYS/GIRLS STATE GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

The American Legion Boys/Girls State program is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school juniors (boys and girls).  It is a participatory program where each participant becomes part of the operation of their local, county and state government through the concept of “Learn by Doing.”

At the national level, the Boys State is administered by The American Legion and the Girls State is administered by The American Legion Auxiliary.  Both the Boys and Girls State programs are scheduled annually within each state for approximately one (1) week in duration and are typically conducted in a local university setting but are at separate locations and dates.

Students, also known as “Nominees or Candidates”, are first recommended by their respective high school counselors, teachers, campus principals or other administrative high school personnel.  Typically, each qualified or eligible high school forms a Student Selection Committee gathering input and recommendations from a diverse group of educators, including military service instructors where those programs are offered as part of their curriculum.

Once the Student Candidates are recommended (making the “Short List”), those recommendations are provided to the local American Legion and/or  Auxiliary Post, who  generally has appointed a Boys/Girls State Committee Chairman.  The Chairman selects local post members charged with the administration of the program according to the local Post and Department of Texas operations and procedures policy.  In some cases other community based organizations are also encouraged to submit the names of potential Student Candidates.  However, the final selection and appointment of Student Candidates to become Student Nominees or Appointees “must always be vested in the Boys/Girls State Committee, followed by a final recommendation and approval by the local Post Executive Committee.

TEXAS BOYS STATE-OVERVIEW

The American Legion Boys State is currently conducted in 49 State Departments of The American Legion across the nation.  Within the State of Texas, the program is referred to as Texas Boys State.  The State of Hawaii does not conduct a program.  As separate state organizations or corporations, each Boys State program varies in content and methods of procedure.  However, each Boys State adheres to the basic concepts of the program, which places emphasis on the teaching of government, character, leadership and strong moral values of “Americanism” from the township to the state and national level.  The Texas Boys State is conducted annually during the first week in June, beginning on Saturday and ending the following Friday. 

Historically, The Texas Boys State program is hosted on the Main Campus of the University of Texas-Austin.  Delegate or Appointee registration is held in Jester Center Hall, MLK Boulevard & Speedway Street, Austin, TX.

TEXAS BLUEBONNET GIRLS STATE-OVERVIEW

The American Legion Auxiliary is a similar program for young women and is appropriately referred to as Texas Girls State.  Within the State of Texas, The American Legion Auxiliary Girls State is referred to as The Department of Texas Bluebonnet Girls State and is responsible for the administration of the program in Texas.

The Texas Bluebonnet State is a mythical 51st state where for a week, Student Delegates or Appointees organize their own city, county and state governments.  Delegates also elect their own officials and learn the duties of the various elected officials, they introduce and debate their own bills in a mock legislature.  The program concludes with a visit to the Texas State Capitol where the Delegates are given an opportunity to visit and meet elected state officials.  The purpose of The Texas Bluebonnet Girls State is to help educate young women in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.

TEXAS BOYS STATE QUALIFICATIONS

To be eligible for nomination or appointment as a Boys State Delegate, the nominee must:

    • Be a male high school student
    • Have successfully completed his junior year
    • Have at least one semester remaining
    • Have not previously attended Boys State
    • Volunteer to participate in Boys State
    • Sign the Boys State pledge
    • Be recommended by his high school officials
    • Have parents/guardians’ permission to attend
    • Be certified by the sponsoring American Legion Post

TEXAS BOYS STATE SELECTION CRITERIA

In the actual selection of Boys State citizens, merit and ability alone are the basis for selection.  No candidate or appointee is allowed to attend because of poverty or wealth.  The Boys State is not a program for underprivileged boys, or a summer camp for recreation.  The American Legion Post or other community based organizations pay registration fees, or “tuition” costs, with no expense to the young men, except for personal expenditures and miscellaneous purchases.  However, most programs do require a medical/parental consent certificate signed by a parent and a licensed medical practitioner.  The actual selection process often varies in the various Departments of The American Legion.

The intent of the Boys State program is to secure equal delegate representation from all areas of the State of Texas.  Therefore, the Department  of Texas Boys State Committee ask for one or more boy(s) from each accredited high school (public or private) to be nominated by the school to attend.  To be selected for nomination or appointment as a Texas Boys State delegate, the Student Nominee must demonstrate and be competitively ranked in seeking the maximum point value:

    • A sincere desire to attend-25%
    • Strong leadership abilities-15%
    • Outstanding scholastic achievement-15%
    • Good character-15%
    • Competitive spirit-15%
    • Ability to work with others-15%

2010 BOYS/GIRLS STATE RECOMMENDED PROGRAM SCHEDULE*

Friday-February 5th:  Local Post Boys/Girls State Committee Chairman communicates program goals, objectives and submission deadlines with the High School Counselor, their designee or other key contact from each accredited high school included in the area served by the local Post.    Counselor coordinates the activities, input and recommendations from their Nominee Recommendation Committee.

Wednesday-February 10th:  Counselor, designee or other key contact distributes Boys/Girls State Nominee Applications and Written Narratives to nominees and coordinates their completion.  See links for applicable American Legion Forms below.

Friday-February 19th:  Counselor, designee or other key contact submits completed and signed Nominee Applications & Narratives to the Post 326 Boys/Girls State Committee Chairman.

Wednesday-February 24th:  Post Boys/Girls State Committee Chairman convenes the Selection & Interview Committee to review evaluate and select potential Nominees for an invitation to a personal interview before the Committee.

Monday-March 1st:  Post Boys/Girls State Committee Chairman announces and communicates the invitation of the selected potential Nominees to the High School Counselor.

Tuesday-March 9th to Thursday-March 11th:  Potential Nominees are scheduled for interviews with the Selection & Interview Committee from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, in the Private Dining Room, Onion Creek Club.

Monday-March 15th:  Post Boys/Girls State Committee announces the 2010 Nominees to the respective High School Counselors.

Wednesday-March 31st:  Boys/Girls State Committee Chairman submits original Nominee Applications to the Department of Texas, Boys/Girls State Committee program coordinators.

(*Actual program dates are subject to change based upon school schedule changes)

AMERICAN LEGION FORMS

Boys State Application

Boys State Brochure

Girls State Brochure (TBP)

IMPORTANT WEB SITE LINKS

The American Legion Department of Texas
www.txlegion.org

The American Legion-Department of Texas Boys State www.txlegionbstate.org

The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Texas www.alatexas.org

The American Legion Auxiliary-Department of Texas Girls State www.girls-state.org

The American Legion-Onion Creek Post 326 www.alegiononioncreek.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Ken B. Baucom
Chairman Boys/Girls State Committee
512.292.0630 (Home)
512.282.1238 (Fax)
512.507.9722 (Cell)