|
Department of Michigan Veterans of
Foreign Wars
Phone Number: (517) 485-9456
|
|
" We'll Do Anything for this Country " |
 |
|
|
|
2008-2009 “PATRIOT’S PEN” ESSAY COMPETITION
All information pertaining to the theme, judging, eligibility, awards and other aspects of this program are contained in the National program. District chairman are responsible to ensure that their District programs are conducted within these rules and deadlines. District chairmen are solely responsible for the conduct of the program within their district. Mail copies of all materials to the Posts in your District.
The Patriot’s Pen Competition is a joint program with the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Michigan. Post and District Chairmen are expected to include their Ladies Auxiliary counterparts in all activities concerning the conduct of Local and District programs.
THEME: “Why America’s Veterans should be Honored”
ELIGIBILITY: 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in public, parochial, private or home schools in the State of Michigan. (Foreign exchange students are not eligible). There is no requirement that a student be related to a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars or its Ladies Auxiliary.
ESSAY: Essays must be typed or computer printed in English, between 300-400 words, on a single sheet of paper, with no added color or art.
ENTRIES: POST
To receive credit for participation in the Youth Essay competition, a Post must: Sponsor the program in their community. While it is still important to offer the Youth Essay program in our schools, it is not solely a program for the schools. You may now offer the program to any seventh or eighth grade student. All entries MUST be submitted directly to the Post. They may be submitted by local schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church youth groups, etc. The Post is encouraged to solicit from as many sources as possible.
NEW! The Post will hold their own judging and may submit to District the number of students permitted by the following breakdown. 1-15 student participants = 1 top Post entry is allowed to advance to District. 16-30 student participants = 2 top Post entries are allowed to advance to District. 31-45 student participants = 3 top Post entries are allowed to advance to District. 46-60 student participants = 4 top Post entries are allowed to advance to District. 61-75 student participants = 5 top Post entries are allowed to advance to District. Etc. Note: There is no maximum. Posts may advance as many winners as possible based on the number of students participating. Forward a list of all entries to District along with the 1st place winner(s) materials. Each student must be a 1st place winner. In other words, each student sent on to District from a Post, must have won the same prize. For example; a Post has one hundred student entries and is eligible to send four students to District for judging, those students must each receive a 1st place prize from the Post. If the Post listed them as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place then they can only send in one.
DISTRICTS
Each District may submit only one entry to Department for judging. This entry must be certified on the proper National entry form by the District Chairman to be the District First Place Winner.
Each District shall be responsible for the conduct of the program and judging of entries within their Districts. District Chairmen are expected to promote the expansion of the program by encouraging the participation of additional Posts. Posts may now solicit student participation from any area. It is not always possible to restrict sponsorship strictly along VFW District boundaries. District Chairmen are expected to assist in the coordination of sponsorship of all schools in their District. It is unacceptable that a school is not contacted.
The following item MUST accompany the District entry to Department for judging: A. One student essay in accordance with the above rules. B. One completed student entry form. C. One good quality picture, preferably wallet sized. D. Completed District report form.
It is the responsibility of the District Chairman to ensure that all materials are included. Any entry that does not include all materials will not be judged.
REPORTING: To receive proper National credit for Post participation in this program, the Post must only submit a properly completed Student Entry Form. Credit will be given for State and National programs based on the District report of Post participation. District Chairmen are required to prepare and submit a complete report of Post participation within their Districts using the District Report Form provided by Department. This report must accompany the District entry to Department for judging.
DEADLINES: All student entries must be submitted to the Post by November 1, 2008. Post judging may not start before November 2, 2008 and must be completed in time to ensure the winning entry is in the hands of the District Chairman by November 15, 2008. Post Chairmen must refer to their District program for their District program requirements. Post judging is the responsibility of the Post Chairman, to be conducted in accordance with the National Judging Criteria.
District judging may not start before November 16, 2008, and must be completed in time to ensure that the winning entry and all materials are in the hands of the Department Director by December 7, 2008. This deadline is absolute. The conduct of the District program and the District judging is the sole responsibility of the District Chairman.
Department judging will be closed and will be the responsibility of the Department Committee. The committee has the sole authority to disqualify from the Department judging any entry that is in violation of the rules.
AWARDS: Post and District awards are the responsibility of those organizations in accordance with National Program recommendations.
DEPARTMENT AWARDS:
FIRST PLACE: $1000.00 I Bond presented by the Department of Michigan Veterans of Foreign Wars and a plaque. SECOND PLACE: $700.00 I Bond presented by the Department of Michigan Ladies Auxiliary and a plaque. THIRD PLACE: $300.00 I Bond presented by the Department of Michigan Veterans of Foreign Wars and a plaque.
Department awards will be presented at the 2008 Department Mid-Winter Conference. The first three winners will be notified as soon as possible and invited to the conference. Each District must assume the cost of their winner’s transportation and lodging. Banquet tickets will be provided to the parents and student winner (3).
Ernest E. Meyers, Sr., Director Gloria Dobbie, Auxiliary Chairman 925 Forest Street 12451 Clinton River Road Charlotte, MI 48813 Sterling Heights, Michigan 48313 517-543-0014 586-739-8095 Email: emeyers76@att.net Email: wadobbie@prodigy.net
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
