1. Welcome & Greetings

2. 2016 Contests In Review

3. 2016 National Finals Contests in Review
National Champion
Benjamin Crosby (WA)
2nd Place
Solomon Brown (MS)
3rd Place
Cheyenne Mathews (AK)

4. 2016 National Finals Contest In Review
2016 Semi-Finalists:
Abigail Hagel (AL)
Isaak Hoffman (CA)
Ryan Klimek (CO)
Meghana Bharadwaj (MO)
Brad Sells (TN)
Safia Masoom (WI)

5. 2016 National Finals Contest In Review
53 Department Finalists qualified for the National Finals.
100% Participation for 2017!!!!!
11 Repeat contestants from 2015
7 Home-schooled contestants
Saturday evening Parent and Chaperone “social mixer” was a HUGE SUCCESS!!

6. Oratorical College Department Final Contests
SHALL CONFORM with National Contest procedures, rules & regulations
It is strongly recommended that ALL contests follow the National Contest procedures, rules & regulations.

7. Oratorical College National Finals Contest Scholarships:
2nd -- $16,000
3rd -- $14,000
Semi Finals -- $1,500
Quarter Finals -- $1,500
And an all-expensed paid trip to Reno, Nevada, August 18th – August 22nd , In Reno the National Champion and his or her chaperone will be honored at The American Legion National Convention as part of the American Legion Youth Champions delegation.

8. Oratorical Alabama Finals Contest Scholarships: 1st -- $5,000
2nd -- $3,000
3rd -- $2,000
This is a increase of $5000 in scholarship monies over last years awards

9. Oratorical College
National Finals Contest Scholarships
May be used to attend any college or university in the United States or possession
Eight years to use the scholarship after it has been awarded
Alabama department winners have four years to use their winning

10. Oratorical College Prepared Oration
Contestants MAY have a copy of their Prepared Oration in the First Holding Room
They will leave the copy behind after commencing the contest!!

11. Oratorical College Prepared Oration Eight to ten minutes in length.
Assigned Topic Discourse
Three to five minutes in length.

12. Assigned Topics for 2017 Oratorical Contest
Oratorical College
Assigned Topics for 2017 Oratorical 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 any Court 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.
Amendment 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.
Amendment 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 executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive 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.

13. Oratorical College Props The United States flag is
considered to be a prop if
contestant were to grope or grasp the flag.
Simply pointing at the flag is NOT considered using it as a prop.
Dressing in a costume is considered to be a prop
No medals from previous competitions.

14. Oratorical College Judges
WILL be seated in DIFFERENT LOCATIONS in the contest facility.
WILL NOT be identified in advance to the Contestants!!

15. Oratorical College Tools to help you “The Contest on legion.org”
How to Conduct the Oratorical Contest
National Finals Contest
Judges Briefing
Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Rules Brochure
Chairman’s Guide
Promotional Brochure
Program Webpage
Department Commission
Do not hesitate to call, write, or send an

16. Oratorical College Printed program publications
Oratorical publications are bulk-shipped to the Department Headquarters by the middle of June.
Available ONLINE!!!
Don’t wait….Recruit 24/7 and 365!!!
Publications were distributed to District commanders at the Leadership Conference in Montgomery (30 Sept – 1 Oct)
If you need publication s please contact your District Commander or the Oratorical chairperson.

17. Oratorical College Contest Tabulation Process
Tabulation Procedures
Contest Tabulation Process
WILL be done in private NO CONTESTANTS, COACHES,
PARENTS in the same room
Don’t sacrifice accuracy for contest expediency!
DO NOT RUSH YOUR TABULATORS!!!!!!!!

18. Oratorical College
Tabulation Procedures
Record of Choice on Judge’s Score Card – Highest # of Final Total Points is the 1st place winner and so on
This data is transcribed to the Tabulation Card for each respective judge in the Contestant Record of Choice Block

19. Oratorical College
The National Americanism Commission STRONGLY recommends that Departments consider the use of the Excel Spreadsheet Tabulation Program for the scoring and tabulation of the Department Oratorical Finals Contest.

20. Oratorical College
Summary
Helpful Hints
Questions?

21. Tool Kit Resources: http://www.legion.org/oratorical/how-to-videos
Videos (1-9 & 11)
Brochure
Chairman’s Guide
Rules

22. Judges Score Card

23. Tabulation Card

24. Excel Spreadsheet Tabulation Program

25. Get organized A chair in each Post (adjutant by default)
in each county
in each district
A supportive commission/committee

26. Care and feeding recruit, recruit, recruit regular training sessions
encourage
support
congratulate

27. Schools – in person contact visit get in front of students
speech & debate clubs – awards – tourneys
school newspaper
government/civics classes
parent clubs (PTA)

28. Promoting contests – allies
Posts
Auxiliary Unit
SAL Squadron
Community-based Organizations
Past Participants
Other Youth Groups
Churches
Coaches/Counselors/Teachers

29. Home-school organizations
List of home-school organizations in your state

30. 2017 National Finals Contest Dates
April 22nd – 23rd
Wyndham Indianapolis West
Travel date is Friday, April 21st
ONLINE CERTIFICATION of Department winner due to National Headquarters by MARCH 18!
VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION OPENS ON NOVEMBER 1, 2016!

31. 2017 Contest Administrative Requirements
Online Department Certification link will be live mid November 2016 for national finals volunteers.
Contestant and Chaperone information must be completed ONLINE immediately following Department finals.

32. 2017 National Finals Contest Travel Requirements
Contestants will agree by completing their portion of the Online Certification to arrive Friday, April 21st .
Once flight is booked, contestants are financially obligated.
Travel arrangements are made by National Headquarters, not the Dept., not the Contestant.
Beware of Custody issues! (NC – 2012)

33. 2017 National Finals Contest Travel Requirements
We will try to fly contestant and chaperone from the airport as designated on the Online Certification; however if a more reasonable airfare can be obtained from a near-by larger airport we will use this airport for travel and reimburse mileage.
We can make airline reservations for other family members, etc. that desire to attend the National Finals via the Online Certification.

34. 2017 National Finals Contest Travel Requirements
A 400-mile limit/arrive by 4:00 p.m. requirement continues to be in place for those contestants that desire to drive – we are flexible with this requirement on a case-by-case basis
(APPROVAL MUST STILL BE GRANTED BY NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS TO THOSE THAT DESIRE TO DRIVE!)
This a National Americanism Commission mandated requirement

35. 2017 National Finals Contest Travel Requirements
Contestants MUST be accompanied by a CHAPERONE!! (Standing Resolution)
We still pay $18.00/day per diem to BOTH the contestant and chaperone ($4.50 per quarter day)
Mileage rate $.18 per mile to either the contestant or chaperone -- not both

36. 2017 National Finals
Contest pairing bracket drawn by the Youth Activities Subcommittee and approved by the National Americanism Commission during the 2016 Spring Meetings.
                                     
                 

37. 2017 Contest Pairings Bracket

38. Oratorical Commission Members
2017 National Finals
                 
Oratorical Commission Members
 Chair Willie Rogers
Member George Krigbaum
Member Earnestine Doubek
Member Jeff McNair
Member Rick Waller
                                     

39. For the good of The American Legion