Programs
Click on the following links for more information on our Programs:
Employment and Education Program Awards
Safety Essay and Safety Poster Contest
Public Relations and Publicity Awards
American Legion Americanism Award
American Legion Jersey Boys State
| American Legion Baseball |
To promote American Legion baseball to the end that every post in the state will sponsor a baseball team and coordinate the program throughout the department.
| Chairman | Frank Calandrillo |
| Vice Chairmen | Ronald Krowiak Robert Briant Richard Zalinkanskas Richard Freeman |
| Rules Interpreter | Frank Calandrillo |
| Dist #1 Chairman - David Kobrick |
Bergen | Morris | Passaic | Sussex | Hudson |
| Dist #2 Chairman - Richard Zalinkanskas |
Essex | Hunterdon | Somerset | Union | Warren; |
| Dist #3 Chairman - Richard Freeman |
Mercer | Middlesex | Monmouth |
| Dist #4 Chairman - Russell Kolins |
Atlantic | Burlington | Camden | Cape May | Cumberland | Gloucester | Ocean | Salem |
Click here for
New Jersey American Legion Baseball
|
Thirtieth edition of
THE AMERICAN LEGION High School Oratorical Scholarship Program “A Constitutional Speech Contest” |
The contest was developed primarily to instill a better knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States in high school students. Other objectives include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.
Another purpose of the program is to assist students in paying the high cost of a college education. The first place winner takes home $18,000 and the next two finishers receive $16,000 and $14,000. First round participants in the National Contest receive a $1,500 scholarship. Second round participants who do not advance to the final round will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship.
The New Jersey Contest will award a $4,000 scholarship for the first place winner, $2,500 for second place, $2,000 for third place and $1,000 each for fourth and fifth place.
The New Jersey winner will advance to the National Finals Contests, a weekend’s competition of Quarter-final, Semi-final and National final contests that are held in the headquarters city of The American Legion, Indianapolis, Indiana. The 2017 American Legion High School Oratorical National Finals will be held on April 22-23, 2017 at the Wyndham Indianapolis West Hotel.
The contact information listed is provided for your convenience. Find the county that you live in or attend school in and contact the associated District Chairman for guidance.
| Chairman | Clifford Griffiths cliffgriffiths@comcast.net 856-939-1531 |
| Vice Chairman | Steven Fisher Steven.v.fisher@comcast.net 609-502-8303 |
DEPARTMENT CONTEST TIME SCHEDULE
POST LEVEL to be completed by January 22, 2017 (Results to the County Chairman by February 1, 2017)
COUNTY LEVEL to be completed by February 11, 2017 (Results to the District Chairman by February 22, 2017)
DISTRICT LEVEL to be completed by March 4, 2017 (Results to the Department and Department Chairman immediately after contest completion)
New Jersey State Finals will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at the War Memorial Building, Trenton, NJ
National Quarter Finals Round will be held Saturday morning, April 22, 2017.
National Semi-Finals Round will be held Saturday afternoon, April 22, 2017.
National Final Round will be held Sunday morning, April 23, 2017
All National competitions will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana.
PDF District Chairmans Report Form
Registration Form and Information
| District Chairmen | |
| District #1- Robert Salvini
Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic bobsalvini@att.net 201-270-8711 |
Sunday, February 05, 2017 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Rochelle Park Post 170 33 W. Passaic St. Rochelle Park, NJ 07662 |
| District #2- Daniel McCole Morris, Sussex, Union and Warren danmc@hughes.net 570-296-2144 |
Sunday, February 19, 2017 American Legion Post 157 325 Rte. 206 South Branchville, NJ Contestants to report 10:00 a.m. Judging will begin at 11:00 a.m. |
| District #3 – Dan Dunn Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Monmouth danieldunn1@comcast.net 908-930-2314 |
March 4th, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Woodbridge Municipal Building 1 Main St. Woodbridge, NJ 07095 |
| District #4 – James
Barrett Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Ocean jamesbarrett2@comcast.net 856-228-7075 |
Sunday, March 5, 2017 - 9:00 AM. Stetser-Lamartine American Legion Post 281, 2101 Chews Landing Rd. Blackwood, NJ |
| District #5 – Russell Robinson Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem amerlegpu81@yahoo.com 609-645-8542 Cell: (609) 513-5514 |
Saturday, March 4, 2017, 10:00 am American Legion Rudolph-Elmer Post # 158 527 Philadelphia Ave. Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215 609-965-0390 |
| Oratorical Contest |
Eligibility
Eligible participants in The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program 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) years on the date of the national contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or home school) in which the curriculum of said 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 High School Oratorical Scholarship Program.
High school students that graduate early during the school year are eligible to compete if they are not enrolled in a college, university, trade school or other institution of higher learning at the time of the department finals contest. Contestants must either be legally domiciled within or attend an educational institution within the department (state) where they enter competition. Contestants can enter competition in only one department.
The three finalists of the national contest will be ineligible for further participation at any level.
The Prepared Oration
The prepared oration must be on some aspect of the Constitution of the United States with emphasis on the duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The same subject and oration used in the department contest must be used in the national contest.
The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must not take up less than eight (8) minutes or more than ten (10) minutes for delivery. It must be delivered in the English language.
Contestants may have in their possession a copy of their prepared oration in the first holding room. They may consult the copy of their prepared oration, until they exit the holding room in order to begin the contest, at which time the copy of the prepared oration will be surrendered to the contest official who is monitoring the first holding room.
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. The singing of a song(s) is not permitted and will result in the immediate disqualification of the contestant. The contestant may, however, quote a verse(s) of a song provided proper attribution is made.
Assigned Topic Discourse
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 as listed under assigned topics in Chapter Four.
All contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same assigned topic.
It is acceptable to utilize or incorporate short phrases of a foreign language into the prepared oration and/or assigned topic in order to develop the argument, establish a point, etc. It is to be understood that the vast majority of the prepared oration and/or assigned topic must still be delivered in the English language.
Assigned Topics for 2017 contest
Amendment 7
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in anyCourt of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment 10
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Ammendment 16
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
Ammendment 17
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the execu!ve authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the execu!ve thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.
Dress
Uniforms of any kind are not permitted. Appropriate business attire is required of all contestants. Contestants are not permitted to wear awards and medals from previous competition.
| Awards For 2016-2017 New Jersey Department Finals |
|
| 1st Place | $4,000 |
| 2nd Place | $2,500 |
| 3rd Place | $2,000 |
| 4th Place | $1,000 |
| 5th Place | $1,000 |
| American Legion College |
The 60th Annual American Legion Leadership College at the National Guard Training Center, Sea Girt, New Jersey.
Dates: April 28th, 29th, 30th, 2017
Application will be on-line in December and
mailed to Posts in January.
Applications must be
received at Department Headquarters by
April 8, 2017. The deadline line for Substitutes is April 15,
2017.
For Forms click
HERE
| Courses Offered | |
| 1. | Basic: The Basic Course of the NJ American Legion College will expose the students to the programs of the NJ Department including but not limited to Americanism, Baseball, Boy Scouts, Children and Youth, Constitution and By-Laws, Economics, Scholarships, Legislative, Oratorical, Public Relations, Sons of The American Legion, etc. Overviews of these subjects will be presented so the students are aware of their purposes and applicability. They will be provided with sufficient information including brochures, and other hand-outs., so they may refer back to that information to assist with the implementation and/or enhancement of those programs at their respective Posts and Counties. Advanced: The Advanced Course will build on the Trainees’ experience from the Basic Course where they were exposed to, the organization and structure of the American Legion, as well as its history, policies and Post operations. It will expand the trainees” knowledge in all Legion areas of ceremony, and history while exposing them beyond Post Operations, and introducing them into the Leadership of the County/District/Department. Club Management: In this course you will learn the fundamentals of the operation of your Post Canteen, Proper Procedures for Games of Chance, ABC Rules and Regulations, Bar Operations and IRS Form 990. This course is suggested for any member interested in becoming a bar or canteen chairman at their Post home and for those interested in learning the proper protocol for having Games of Chance at your Post Homes |
| 2. | Service Officers Course |
| 3. | Chaplain's Course |
| 4. | Membership Course: The goal of the Membership Course is to provide the student with a basic understanding of the membership function at the Post level and how it interfaces with the County, State and National Organizations. To help facilitate this understanding, topics covered will include, Membership Chairman Responsibilities and how it relates to the Adjutant’s Position when it comes to the Post Membership function. Also, the use of Computer Programs to help manage the Post Membership Function, in particular mylegion.org. Other topics to be covered are retention and revitalization, and renewal. |
| Scholarships |
The American Legion, Department of New Jersey, Scholarship
Two(2) $4,000 Education Scholarships ($1,000 year for four years)
Four(4) $2,000 Education Scholarships ($1,000 year for two years)
Two(2) $1,000 Education Scholarships ($1,000 for one year)
One(1) $1,500 John Casey Scholarship ($1,500 for one year)
Application forms must be postmarked no later than February 15, 2017.
(For applications see Forms and Documents, or contact Post/Department)
| Rules | |
| 1. | Applicant must be a natural or adopted descendant of a member of The American Legion, Department of New Jersey (son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, etc.) |
| 2. | Applicant’s forbearer must be a current member of The American Legion, Department of New Jersey, or if deceased, a MEMBER AT TIME of death. (For the John Casey Scholarship, the Forbearer must be combat wounded.) |
| 3. | Applicant must be a member of the graduating class of high school including Vo-tech for the year 2017. |
| 4. | Applicant must use the award the year it is received. Four year scholarship to be completed in four consecutive years. |
| 5. | The scholarship will be awarded on the following categories: a) CHARACTER - 20% - high standards of conduct; keen sense of right;strength of character; adherence to truth and conscience and a belief in God (i.e. letter from pastor, rabi, etc., volunteer work) b) AMERICANISM/COMMUNITY SERVICE - 20% - fine ideals; love of Country;ability to accept a citizens responsibility (e.g. Boys and Girls State, Scouting, Flag, Education, Community Service, etc.) c) LEADERSHIP - 20% - ability to lead and to accomplish through group action (e.g. Club/School President. Drum Major, etc.) d) SCHOLORSHIP - 20% - certified transcripts since freshman year, including all grades, GPA, class rank, SAT scores, etc. e) BASIS OF NEED - 20% - actual need of financial assistance to continue their higher education. Family's IRS 1040 is mandatory |
| 6. | Applicant must file a questionnaire properly completed as per enclosed form |
| 7. | If the applicants selected for the awards fail to qualify for admission to such school or college of his or her selection by August 1, 2017. The award will be forfeited. |
| 8. | Applications to be signed by both the applicant and Comander of the sponsoring post. Application received by post 1000 should not be signed by a post Commander but directed to state headquarters in Trenton for the department commanders signature. |
| Safety Essay and Safety Poster Contests |
2016 - 2017 Safety Poster Contest
SAFETY POSTER CONTEST FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED AND HANDICAPPED.
This is a project of the Department Safety Committee to bring our challenged youth into the Department Safety activities. This project was approved by the Department at a Department meeting held on Saturday, August 18, 1990 at the War memorial Building in Trenton.
The contest is to be started in each participating school.
Safety Poster Contest Submissions
for 2016-2017:
All posters must be in the hands of the Post Chairman no later than January 21,
2017
The First Place Winner at the Post Level to the County by February
18, 2017
The First Place winner at the County Level to the State Chairman
no later than March 11, 2017
For Forms and Additional Documentation please click HERE
2016 - 2017 Safety Essay Contest
Safety Essay Contest is open to 6th, 7th and 8th Grade students in Public, Private and parochial Schools throughout New Jersey.
Safety Essay Contest Submission
for 2016-2017:
All essays must be in the hands of the Post Chairman no later than January 21,
2017
The First Place Winner at the Post Level to the County by February
18, 2017
The First Place winner at the County Level to the State Chairman
no later than March 11, 2017
For Forms and Additional Documentation please click HERE
Department Judging will take place at Clark Post 328, 78 Westfield Avenue, Clark, NJ 07666 on March 25th at 1:00 p.m.
| Public Relations and Publicity Awards |
The Public Relations and Publicity Committee will judge the following awards:
FITHIAN AWARD
Awarded to the Post that best demonstrates the history of that Post for the year
(Mar 2016 - Feb 2017)
NEW JERSEY PAST DEPARTMENT COMMANDERS' AWARD
Awarded to the County that best
demonstrates the history of that County for the year (Mar 2016 - Feb 2017)
MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF MEDIA AWARD
Awarded to the Post that demonstrates the best use of local media outlets to promote The American
Legion and creating community awareness, as determined by the committee. (Period Covered
will be March 1, 2016 to February 28, 2017 in chronological order and must be delivered to
Department Headquarters by; March 31, 2017)
WEBSITES
Awarded to the Best Post and County, as determined by the committee.
NEWSLETTERS
Awarded to the Post newsletter that best meet the goal of keeping
their members informed, as determined by the committee.
All winners will receive a Plaque.
For Forms and Additional Documentation please click HERE
| American Legion Americanism Award |
Coloring Contest
2017 coloring contest shall be distributed to students in the 4th and 5th Grades by various Posts throughout the state. The coloring of the picture will be attested to by the student's teacher. Neatness and accuracy in coloring the picture are most important in this undertaking.
Posts will judge their own contests. First place winners will be turned over to the County Americanism Chairman who will select the first place county winner to be turned over to Department Chairman.
| Awards For 2016-2017 New Jersey Department Finals |
|
| 1st Place | Gold Medal and $300 check |
| 2nd Place | Silver Medal and $200 check |
| 3rd Place | Bronze Medal and $100 check |
| Other Americanism Awards |
| Time frame for all awards is March 1-2016 to February 28-2017, inclusive |
| Department Community Service - Post |
| Americanism - Post |
| The All Round Americanism Award - Post |
| Department Distinguished Service - Individual |
| Department Medal of Valor - Individual |
| Special Heroism Award - Individual |
| Unarmed Public Safety Personnel Dedicated |
| Service/Valor - Individual |
| Fire Fighter of the Year "Valor Award" |
| Fire Fighter of the Year Award |
| Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) / Team of the Year Award |
| Law Enforcement Officer of the Year |
| Educator of the Year Award |
Deadline for posts to submit entries to the County To Be Determined
Deadline for counties to submit entries to the department chairman; Date To Be Determined.
For Forms and additional Documentation please click HERE
| American Legion Jersey Boys State |
The 2017 American Legion Jersey Boys State will be held at Rider University. ALJBS has a strong tradition of education, patriotism and excellence in the development of Tomorrow’s Leaders.
This year the dates for this 72nd Session will be June 18-23rd 2017. For further information please link with their website www.aljbs.org