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GIRLS STATE ORIENTATION
(This is a review if student had no orientation)
(This is a suggested format for orientation by the Unit for girls going to Girls State)
History of American Legion Auxiliary & Girls State -- go to History of Girls State
For Current Information on Girls State Session -- go to 2010 Girls State Session
Description of Girls State:
If Rhododendron Girls State were in the dictionary it would probably say something like: an opportunity for young women to experience a week of training in Americanism, citizenship and leadership. Girls State teaches that our form of government works and that its preservation depends on intelligent, informed and loyal citizens in combination with an honest and impartial administration of government activities.
This training is accomplished through a unique summertime program, one that does not emphasizes classroom lectures or textbook learning, but participation and personal experience in a model state, complete with its governing bodies and elected public officials. The citizens of Rhododendron Girls State set up a mock 51st State.
West Virginia Rhododendron Girls State was organized and held at Jackson Mills until 1997 when it was moved to Wheeling Jesuit University Campus. Girls States are held nationwide and is a very respected program. Students need to remember to include that she attended Girls State on all her resumes.
The selection process is by the American Legion Auxiliary Local Unit that is the sponsors of Rhododendron Girls State. Local Units may obtain contributors in the community to help with financial support by being a contributor for a student. Registration is $175.00 per student. NO INDIVIDUAL CAN BE A CONTRIBUTOR. A contributing organization is any civic or fraternal organization, school group or business or a combination of them. Students must be on the principals list -- top ¼ of Junior Class with GPA of 2.75, attending a West Virginia High School. Must be a citizen of United States and a resident of West Virginia. Be single (cannot have been married) and would be attending Girls State for first time. All applications must be processed by May 1st and no refunds will be made after May 15th.
Young women that are chosen to be Girls State citizens by local Units can look forward to a challenging experience, acquiring a better understanding and deeper regard for our nation’s legacy of freedom and democracy.
Girls are selected to represent their school because you are among the best in West Virginia. The week will involve the citizens in three phases of Girls State Program – Americanism, Citizenship and Leadership.
1) Americanism – Citizens learn about the fundamentals of patriotism and the aims and purposes of the American Legion Auxiliary. They are taught flag etiquette and will be expected to observe it throughout the week. They will be expected to participate in the basic ceremonial activities involving the flag including reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, flag ceremonies and the singing of patriotic songs.
2) Citizenship – This begins as soon as the citizens arrive and are divided into communities. The citizens will experience government at the city, county and state levels. Citizens will be elected and appointed to all offices that exist in government structures of West Virginia. Citizens will register to vote and vote in elections during the week. Citizens will also participate in service activities and be exposed to the importance of community service as productive citizens.
3) Leadership – Most of the students that come to Girls State are leaders in their school. The week gives them opportunities to be leaders in their “communities” and of the “state”. Citizens are also divided into two political parties and have leadership opportunities within each.
In addition to these phases, citizens will have a chance to participate in Girls State Chorus, work as cub reporters for The Rhododendron Daily newspaper, learn about public safety from West Virginia State Troopers and take part in talent night activities.
Yes, citizens will be in classes for a couple of days. This is not typically their favorite part of the week but it is an attempt to actually teach them about city, county and state government. We are pleased to have added a class in the area of college preparation and professional development. Citizens will also have a chance to learn about parliamentary procedure.
The week is filled with so much for all citizens and it will be helpful for them to know as much as possible before coming so they can take advantage of as much as possible. Citizens get out of the week at Rhododendron Girls State by what they put into the week themselves. As a citizen of Rhododendron Girls State, she becomes a citizen of a city, county and state. She has an active role in making ordinances and laws, in their enforcement and in the administration of justice. She is a member of a political party and, as such, will help to develop its platform and actively campaign in support of its candidates. As a voter, she will participate in primary and general elections. As an official, she will perform the functions of that office. Throughout the week, she will attend seminars, which address citizenship, leadership and governmental topics.
APPLICATIONS – when filling out application PLEASE make sure you write legibly on it and put correct t-shirt Size on it. This is use to order parade shirts that citizens wear for party parade on Wednesday. Cost of shirt will be $5.00
Preparation for the Week:
1) Once selected and your application along with a medical form has been processed into the State Headquarters by the local Unit –it will be processed and the Girls State Registrar will mail out information packet to you. MEDICAL FORM – must be signed by a physician or copy of a sports exam that is on file at school dated after July 1 will be accepted also. The information packet will contain the following information:
a. Your party assignment (party assignment will be either Nationalist or Federalist),
b. your Community assignment (community is where you will be housed during week—there are 13 communities –usually one floor in dorm will be a community of about 24 girls,
c. time, date, place, community for registration,
d. additional information like clothes, necessities, campaign material(no prepared material before coming to Girls State) , talent, community project for this year’s session , how to reach RGS Campus during the week, transportation to and from RGS, Questions frequently asked, etc.
e. State Web Site – www.wvaux.org for additional information on Girls State Program and photos will be posted at this site during week of girls state by Rhododendron Daily Staff.
f. waiver release that must be signed by a parent and notarized and a pledge of participation signed by both student and parent.
2) Please review all information mailed to you from the Girls State Registrar and if any questions contact her or the Girls State Director immediately with your questions or your local Girls State Representative.
3) Samsung Scholarship Application can be downloaded from www.legion.org -- select legion programs then select legion scholarship and scroll down to Samsung Scholarship. OR you can go to scholarship in this Girls State tab of this web site and download the Samsung Scholarship Application. REMEMBER have your application completely filled out --- give yourself credit for community service hours – must be turned into your Senior Counselor when you register at Girls State. NO APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED BY E-MAIL OR FAX.
4) Registration will be held on Sunday (June 13th) at Wheeling Jesuit University from 1 P.M. until 3 P.M. Girls State will be in session until Friday (June 18th) approximately 10 A.M.
5) Students are INSURED from the time they leave home until they return from Girls States. A nurse will be on duty at all times. Every care will be taken to avoid accidents and illnesses.
6) The Director of Girls State may dismiss any girl for just cause without the consent of the contributing organization.
Week of Girls State
1) Students must report at Wheeling Jesuit University campus to their assigned Community. Here they will register with their Senior and Junior Counselor. and turn in all paperwork ( Samsung Scholarship, Waiver Release, Pledge of Participation). Each Student will receive a Manual to use all week. It contains schedule, class information, Girls State Songs, etc. All information received in classes can be placed in this manual throughout the week.
2) Country Stores – these will be available with soft drinks, snacks, campaign material, souvenirs, t-shirts, etc.
3) BANKER – will be in Ignatius Hall all week. Here citizens can deposit money and withdraw money all week. Citizens should not keep large amounts of cash in their communities. Girls State is not responsible for any loss or theft of money or personal items. Thursday all citizens need to go to banker and close out their account. Do Not bring any valuables with you to Girls State.
4) Senior Counselor/Junior Counselor – there will be Senior Counselor and one or two Junior Counselors in each community. No citizen is allowed to leave community unless permission from Senior Counselor. There is bed check every night and if citizen is absent at bed check – it is reported to State Troopers, campus security, and Girls State Director.
5) Drivers – students that drive to girls state will park their vehicle at their dorm and keys will be turned in to you Senior Counselor and be returned to student at end of week. NO ONE IS TO LEAVE CAMPUS AT ANY TIME!
6) Girls State Director – she is the head of this program and all issues of week go through her for final response or action. The Assistant Director is responsible for class issues and election issues and assists the Director with any other issues.
7) State Troopers – there will be two(2) state troopers on campus all week for the security of the citizens. They work closely with the campus security throughout the week.
8) Nurse – there is a nurse on duty all week. We are close to Ohio Valley Medical Hospital and Wheeling Medical Park Hospital. State Troopers also assist here in times of emergency.
9) Dress Code for the week will be -- CITIZENS – Navy Blue (NO JEANS) or Khaki slacks, capris or knee-length skirts with a white Polo Shirt. White Polo shirts are available at all retail stores and the country store at Girls State will also have them for sell as well. STAFF – Navy Blue (NO JEANS), white or Khaki slacks, capris or knee-length skirts with Staff Shirts. This will be all week at all functions except for Inauguration which will STILL BE White Dress for all citizens and staff. This dress code is for safety issues and makes it easy for Girl State Staff and Wheeling Jesuit Staff to identify them as Girls State Citizens. White dress can be dress or white skirt & white top.
10) 1st Assembly on Sunday – A Judge will perform a Naturalization Ceremony that will swear all students in as Citizens of Rhododendron Girls State. All students will then be official for filing and running for offices in the mock 51st state of Rhododendron Girls State. Also on Sunday you will have “Get Acquainted” time in your community, have Party Organization (all federalists meet and all nationalist meet in caucuses throughout the week), Government business in communities (setting up city and county officials so citizens can register to vote and ready for candidates to file for elections)
11) Flag Ceremony will be held every morning and every evening. Staff and all citizens are to attend this ceremony.
12) Classes will be held Monday and Tuesday morning. They will be City, County, State Government, College Preparation, Professional Development. Also there will be elective classes for students – Girls State Chorus, Public Safety, Leadership Development, Public Relations, Journalism (Rhododendron Daily Cub Reporters). These elective may change from year to year.
13) College Fair may be available on Monday morning for citizens to visit on campus. This is coordinated by Rhododendron Girls State and has representation from approximately 10-15 different colleges/universities in West Virginia. Students will be given time to attend.
14) Party Caucuses (National & Federalist) will meet to set platform for your party, support your party candidates, and prepare for Party Parade held on Wednesday. Each party will be in parade according to your community and all candidates will be introduced for the General Elections.
15) Filing for office -- Citizens will be able to file for any city, county or state office. She can campaign for her office by placing campaign posters throughout the campus. ALL CANDIDATES ARE RESPONSIBLE TO COLLECT ALL THEIR CAMPAIGN POSTERS ON CAMPUS FOLLOWING ELECTION --- It is not the responsibility of the staff or Wheeling Jesuit Staff to do this. There will be campaign supplies available in the country stores for citizens. NO GOING OFF CAMPUS BY ANY CITIZEN AT ANY TIME!!!!!
16) Campaign Material – No PREPARED Materials can be brought to Girls State. If you wish to bring supplies you think you will need such as poster paper, markers, scotch tape, etc. Signs and Posters are to be made after you file for office. The Country Store and the University Campus Shop carries limited supplies. NOTE: The University has requested that no tape be used on the walls. Please bring reusable adhesive ( i.e. HandiTak)
17) Primary election is held Tuesday afternoon. General Elections are held on Wednesday afternoon after the Party Parade. There will be Electronic Voting Machines for General Election.
18) Speakers -- Throughout the week there will be various speakers from State Offices and some National Offices (if they are not in session at time). Governor of West Virginia, senators, legislatures, state officers, etc. On Wednesday and Thursday House and Senate will meet. There will be legislative caucuses.
19) Talent – There will be talent at the assemblies. If you wish to participate, bring your costumes, instruments, sheet music, tapes, etc. with you. ( If you play a trumpet, two players are needed for Inauguration Ceremony—Bring your trumpet.)
20) Thursday will be community pictures, and various elected group pictures taken. The Inauguration Ceremony will be held and all citizens and staff will be dressed in White. A judge comes in for the swearing in of the state elected officials. The Girls State Chorus will perform at this ceremony. If any student plays trumpet – please bring and be a part of the Inauguration. All elected Mayors and all elected Sheriffs will be part of the Inauguration. Following the inauguration ceremony there will be a special banquet held for all.
21) Governor of Girls State – when elected this year will have the honor of attending Girls State next year and preside over the entire session of Girls State as Governor of Girls State. The two (2) Citizens selected as Girls Nation Senators will attend Girls Nation in July in Washington DC. Here will be government on National Level experience for these two Senators. It is a marvelous experience for Girls Nation Senators. Once in a life time experience. All citizens will receive information on this and the two Girls Nation Senators from previous year will be at Girls State to tell their experience and answer any questions citizens may have.
22) Talent Tryouts -- There will be talent tryouts on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
23) The Rhododendron Daily is published daily and each citizen will receive a copy in their community. Citizens will be asked to sign up in their community to be appointed on Rhododendron Daily Staff ( only 3 per Community). There will be a section in the Manual for you to keep your copies of the newsletter "The Daily". Being on Rhododendron Daily Staff you will be like a cub-report with assignments on stories throughout week. Interviews, reports on speakers, candidates, staff, etc. Rhododendron Daily Editor will make the assignments in the Journalism classes and here you can ask questions during the classes.
24) Samsung Scholarship – this must be turned into your Senior Counselor when you register in your community. Faxed or E-mailed copies will NOT BE ACCEPTED! There must be a COPY (Not orginal) of DD214 with application.
25) Pictures – There is a cost of $5.00 per picture. Order forms will be given out in your community by your Senior Counselor. You will be given a deadline to place your order and money enclosed in order envelope and give back to your Senior Counselor so she can turn all orders in at one time for processing. There will be Party Pictures (Nationalist & Federalist) and Staff Pictures on Tuesday. There will be Community Pictures along with elected officials ( Senate, House, President of House/Senate, Board of Public Works, Sheriffs, Mayors, Trumpeters, Flag Bearers, Rhododendron Daily Staff and Chorus taken on Thursday afternoon. The pictures are processed by Photographer and back to campus by Thursday evening and will be distributed to communities that night for citizens to receive before leaving on Friday. Make sure you get your pictures – tell Senior Counselor if a problem with pictures.
26) Community Project – Community Service is an important program that the American Legion Auxiliary encourages all year long. Girls State picks a Community Project each year for the citizens at Girls State to support. THIS IS A VOLUNTEER PROJECT. Students are asked for a donation towards this year's project and all money collected goes to the Project of the year. 2010 Rhododendron Girls State Project will be The Family Readiness Group which supports the WV Army National Guard Company C. The monetary donation is requested but not mandatory. A formal presentation of total donations will be made during the Girls State Session.
27) IF FOR ANY REASON UNABLE TO ATTEND – Do The Following
Contact your Local Unit Representative
Contact Ann Buchanan, Registrar at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 304-654-9932
Contact Irene Weber, Director at 443-783-0899
It is vital that you contact someone so the vacant place can be filled. Someone furnished the registration of $175.00 for you to attend that cannot be refunded after May 15th. NO SHOWS (are students that do not show up with no one being contacted about why) A letter will be mailed to the contributor of the Registration, to the School and to the Parents of the student that was a NO SHOW. PLEASE it is important to the program and safety reasons that someone is contacted if student can not make it to Girls State prier to the registration day.
28) The Week of Girls State – is a fast pace week. What the citizens do in 5 days to set up City, County and State government and do community activities takes months if not years to do in real life. Every year is never the same. There are 350-400 different students, different talents, different personalities and they all make each Girls State Session very unique in itself. This is the only time in your life that you will experience this and only 400 students per year from the entire state of West Virginia has this opportunity. Even if you have no desire to run for any political office – come with fun in your heart, work with others in your community running for office, enjoy the opportunity you have to meet other students from other schools and make friendships that will last a life time. No matter what college or university you attend --- this program is nation wide and you will meet someone that has attended Girls State.
Girls Nation:
Girls Nation is a continuation of Girls State that began in 1947 in Washington, DC, with a focus on national government. Two girls are selected from each Girls State program (with the exception of Hawaii) and these “Senators” meet in Washington DC for a week to campaign for political office, debate national legislation, visit national monuments and met with their representatives and senators. The week is often capped with meeting the President of the United States at The White House.
This year Girls Nation will convene at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on July 17-24, 2010. Girls State Directors should designate two girls to represent their State as Girls Nation Senators. Directors should work with their Senators to help them prepare legislative initiatives to be presented at Girls Nation and to inform them about campaign rules and running for elected office.
A National Girls State Committee supervises the activity of Girls Nation and provides materials to Departments regarding selection and representation at Girls Nation. A compulsory registration fee is required from each Department for participation in Girls Nation.
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