2015 cac conference - presentation

1

46th Annual Oratorical Chairpersons Conference

Welcome & Greetings2

2015 Conference Objectives

EducateEducate our contest staff on how to conduct the contest correctly , with proper tabulation, and procedures.

Ensure contest uniformity and consistency.Ensure that our contests are the same for everyone and every time.

Continue to increase contest participation.

Opportunity to evaluate National and Department procedures

3

2015 Conference Agenda Review4

46th ANNUAL MEETING OF DEPARTMENT ORATORICAL CHAIRPERSONS17th ANNUAL NATIONAL AMERICANISM CONFERENCE

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANASeptember 25 - 27, 2015

The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program –“A Constitutional Speech Contest.”

8:15 a.m.Call to OrderDavid King (KY

Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance & POW/MIA Empty Chair Ceremony

Victor Desloover (IA)

Remarks; Introductions; Conference ObjectivesDavid King (KY)

Welcome & GreetingsRichard Anderson (CT)

ChairmanNational Americanism Commission

Dale Barnett (GA) National CommanderThe American Legion

8:45 a.m. Review of the 2015 Contests

Shayne Abrahams Sr. (IN)

9:00 a.m.Oratorical College (Session 1)

“How to Conduct the Oratorical Contest”Anthony Paternostro (NY)

9:30 a.m. Oratorical College (Session 2)

Tabulation & Tie-breaking Procedures on Excel Contest Scoring & Tabulation Program

Jan Scott (AK)

10:00 a.m.Break

10:15 a.m.Samantha O’Conner

Executive DirectorIndiana High School Forensic Association

10:45 a.m.Cherian Koshy

Director of DevelopmentNational Speech & Debate Association

11:30 a.m.Lunch (On your own)

1:00 p.m.“How to Promote Your Contest”

Small Groups Break OutsDavid King (KY)

3:00 p.m.Break

3:15 p.m.2016 National Finals Planning

Shayne Abrahams Sr. (IN)

3:30 p.m.Open Forum; Questions and Answers

David King (KY)

4:00 p.m.Recess

7:00 p.m.Reception Honoring Program Chairpersons and The American Legion

VolunteersMeridian Ball and Circle Suites

Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel –Lower Lobby – Light Refreshments & Cash Bar

Hosted by S. A. Van Dyk, Inc.

2015 Conference Agenda Review5

Sunday, September 27, 2015

7:30 a.m. Catholic Mass:Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel - Meridian West, Lower Lobby

7:30 a.m. Protestant Worship Service: Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel - Meridian Center, Lower Lobby

9:00 a.m.Call to Order

David King (KY)Conference Chairman

Panorama Ballroom, 21st Floor, Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel

Post Everlasting ServiceVictor Desloover (IA)

Conference Action Items; Staff Follow-Up

Shayne Abrahams Sr. (IN)Assistant Director

Americanism Division

For the Good of The American Legion; Closing Remarks; Benediction; Adjourn

David King (KY)Conference Chairman

6

http://www.legion.org/oratorical/226815/florida-youth-wins-oratorical-finals

2015 Contests In Review

http://www.legion.org/oratorical/226815/florida-youth-wins-oratorical-finals

2015 National Finals Contests in Review

National Champion

Geeta Minocha (FL)

2nd Place

Rowan MacWan (IL)

3rd Place

Emma Skahill (IA)

7

2015 National Finals Contest In Review

2015 Semi-Finalists:

Austin Muraille (Fr) Oona Mackinnon-Hoban (ME) Caroline Donaldson (MN) Aubrey Snider (OK) Jonathan Corbin (VA) Cady Crosby (WA) Geeta Minocha (FL) Rowan Macwan (IL) Emma Skahill (IA)

8


52 Department Finalists competed in the National Finals.

100% Participation for 2016!!!!!

9 Repeat contestants from 2014

13 Home-schooled contestants

Saturday evening Parent and Chaperone “social mixer” was a HUGE SUCCESS!!

9


The rewards are enormous in terms of memories, friendships, knowledge gained & Scholarships received.

Goal of the contest operation is invisibility therefore letting the contestants shine through.

10


After Action Results:

Overall , great event!

Wyndham, great venue!

Outstanding volunteer and staff contributions!

Online Certification!

11

Oratorical College

“How to Conduct the Oratorical Contest”• Mr. Anthony Paternostro (NY)

Department of New YorkOratorical Chairman

12

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.

13

Oratorical College

National Finals Contest Scholarships: 1st -- $18,000

2nd -- $16,0003rd -- $14,000

Semi Finals -- $1,500Quarter Finals -- $1,500

And an all-expensed paid trip to Cincinnati, Ohio,August 26th – August 30th , 2016. In Cincinnati 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.

14

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

15

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!!

16

Oratorical College

Prepared Oration

Eight to ten minutes in length.

Assigned Topic Discourse

Three to five minutes in length.

17

Oratorical College

Assigned Topics for 2016 Oratorical Contest

Amendment 8

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment 26

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Article 1 Section 9 Paragraph 2

The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

Article 1 Section 6 Clause 1

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

18

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.

19

Oratorical College

Judges

WILL be seated in DIFFERENT LOCATIONS in the contest facility.

WILL NOT be identified in advance to the Contestants!!

20

Oratorical College

Tools to help you “The Contest on legion.org”

How to Conduct the Oratorical Contest

National Finals ContestJudges BriefingPublic Service Announcements (PSAs)

Rules Brochure (online) Chairman’s Guide Promotional Brochure Program Webpage National Staff

Do not hesitate to call, write, or send an e-mail

21

Oratorical College

Printed program publications Oratorical publications are bulk-shipped to the Department Headquarters by the middle of June.

Available ONLINE!!!

National Headquarters apologizes for delays!!!

Don’t wait….Recruit 24/7 and 365!!!

It is the responsibility of the Department Headquarters to distribute as they see fit.

22

Oratorical College

Resources:

• http://www.legion.org/oratorical/how-to-videos

Videos (1-9 & 11)

• http://www.legion.org/documents/pdf/oratorical_the_judges_briefing.pdf

•

http://www.legion.org/documents/pdf/oratorical_the_judges_briefing.pdf

23

http://www.legion.org/oratorical/how-to-videos



Oratorical College

Summary

Helpful Hints

Questions?

Parking Lot Issues?

24

Tabulation and Tie Breaking Procedures(Tabulation & Tie-breaking Procedures on Excel

Contest Scoring & Tabulation)

•Jan Scott (AK)Department of Alaska Oratorical Chairperson

25

Tabulation Procedures

Five judges are designated as PRIMARY; the other two judges are ALTERNATES.

The more the merrier!

Discussion of methods to determine the primary and alternate judges.

Whatever method is used ensure at least two people are involved in the process!

When to use alternates?

Let’s hear from you!

26


Number the judges scorecards 1 – 5 for the five primary judges

Write a BIG “A” on the alternate judges’ scorecards!!

ONLY the FIVE PRIMARY JUDGES’ SCORECARDS ARE USED TO DETERMINE A WINNER!!!!

27


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

28


Contest Tabulation Process

WILL be done in private NO CONTESTANTS, COACHES,

PARENTS in the same room

Don’t sacrifice accuracy for contest expediency!

29

Judges Score Card30

1 2 3 4

Prepared Oration 12 points

Assigned Topic 4 points







1 2 3 4







Prepared Oration

Assigned Topic

THE AMERICAN LEGION

A. CONTENT

3. Were body actions -- poise, eye

contact, posture, gestures, facial

expressions -- appropriate?

3. Was the speech logical, well organized,

and developed?

4. Did the student show a

comprehensiveness of knowledge of the

subject matter?

1. Was the speech original, fresh, and

direct, applying the student's

knowledge?

2. Did the student skillfully select

examples, descriptions, analogies, and

specific data?

HIGH SCHOOL ORATORICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - "A CONSTITUTIONAL SPEECH CONTEST"

JUDGE'S SCORECARD

Score all contestants - NO TIES PERMITTED

Final Total Points

NAME OF JUDGE:

SUB-TOTAL

PENALTIES: 1 point for each minute or

fraction thereof over or under allotted

time

1-10 points for failure to speak on the Constitution

Position Number - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

(Highest Points = 1st place, second highest points = 2nd place, etc.)

B. SPEAKING SKILLS

1. Did the student use volume, rate, pitch,

and diction effectively?

2. Rate the speaker's style: language

use, word arrangement and selection,

and transitions.

Contestants

Tabulation Card31


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.

32

Excel Spreadsheet Tabulation Program33

http://www.legion.org/oratorical/resources


Two - Way Tie - Breaker

CONTESTANTS

RECORD OF CHOICE

CONTESTANTS

FINAL TOTAL POINTS

JUDGES C #1 C #2 C #3 C #4 C #5 C #1 C #2 C #3 C #4 C #5 1 5 4 3 2 1 62 67 71 78 91 2 4 1 5 2 3 74 93 69 87 84 3 2 3 1 4 5 89 85 92 80 79 4 5 4 3 1 2 65 73 79 90 88 5 4 5 2 3 1 74 67 91 85 94

TOTALS 20 17 14 12 12 364 385 402 420 436

34

Three - Way Tie - Breaker

CONTESTANTS

RECORD OF CHOICE

CONTESTANTS

FINAL TOTAL POINTS

JUDGES C #1 C #2 C #3 C #4 C #5 C #1 C #2 C #3 C #4 C #5

13 2 1 5 4 81 87 90 62 74

21 3 4 2 5 93 82 73 87 68

34 3 2 1 5 67 74 81 88 63

42 3 1 4 5 87 81 93 67 61

52 1 4 3 5 79 86 74 76 72

TOTALS 12 12 12 15 24 407 410 411 380 338

35

Second Place Winner?

CONTESTANTS

RECORD OF CHOICE

CONTESTANTS

FINAL TOTAL POINTS

JUDGES C #1 C #2 C #3 C #4 C #5 C #1 C #2 C #3 C #4 C #5

13 2 1 5 4 81 87 90 62 74

21 3 4 2 5 93 82 73 87 68

34 3 2 1 5 67 74 81 88 63

42 3 1 4 5 87 81 93 67 61

52 1 4 3 5 79 86 74 76 72

TOTALS 12 12 12 15 24 407 410 411 380 338

36

1

Four - Way Tie - Breaker37

For National Contest, decided by meeting of all judges!

May vary for Post and Department level Contest!

Let’s hear from you!

Summary

Best Practices?

Questions?

Parking Lot Issues?

Resources:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVOVG44qTtQ

• http://www.legion.org/oratorical/resources

Tabulation & Tie-breaking Procedures on Excel Contest Scoring & Tabulation

38

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVOVG44qTtQ


How To Promote Your Contest

• Mr. David King (KY)Conference Chairman

Department of KentuckyOratorical Chairman

39

Today’s High-School Student

Access to smart phones89 % — high school students (grades 9–12)

73 % — middle school students (grades 6–8)

Project Tomorrow, Speak Up survey (of 3.4 million students, teachers, administrators and parents) (last

quarter 2013)

40

Electronic Promotion41

“Everything is online. Everyone is online. The Internet is where we all go for information about everything. If you’re not online, you don’t exist.

Even if you’ve done OK without a website, times change. Just because it’s worked so far, doesn’t mean it will continue to work for you.“

Ken Mueller, author

Does Your Program Exist?

Four states do not have a website.

Six states get an “error” message.

Ten states link to the main Department site, which has noinformation on the Oratorical program.

42

Care and Feeding

Recruit, Recruit, Recruit!

Regular training sessions!

Encourage!

Support!

Congratulate!

43

Schools – In Person

• contact• visit• get in front of students• speech & debate clubs – awards – tourneys• school newspaper• government/civics classes• parent clubs (PTA)•High school Forensic Associations •24/7….365!!

44

Posts

Auxiliary Unit

SAL Squadron

Community-based Organizations

Past Participants

Other Youth Groups

Churches

Coaches/Counselors/Teachers

Promoting Contests – Allies 45

Legion.org


46


How To Promote Your Contest

Summary

Best Practices?

Questions?

Parking Lot Issues?

Small group break outs sessions

47

2016 National Finals Contest Planning & Arrangements

•Shayne Abrahams Sr. (IN)Americanism Division

48

2016 National Finals Contest Dates

April 15th - 17th

Wyndham Indianapolis West

Travel date is Friday, April 15th

ONLINE CERTIFICATION of Department winner due to National Headquarters by MARCH 18!

49

2016 Contest Administrative Requirements

Online Department Certification link will be live mid November 2015.

http://www.legion.org/administration/oratorical/registration/officials

Password: YpBsR3p

Contestant and Chaperone information must be completed ONLINE immediately following Department finals.

50

http://www.legion.org/administration/oratorical/registration/officials

2016 National Finals Contest Travel Requirements

Contestants will agree by completing their portion of the Online Certification to arrive Friday, April 15th .

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)

51


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.

52


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

53


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

54

2016 National Finals

Contest pairing bracket drawn by the Youth Activities Subcommittee and approved by the National Americanism Commission during the 2015 Spring Meetings.

55

2016 Contest Pairings Bracket56

Future Dates - National Finals

April 15 – 17, 2016

April 21 – 23 , 2017

April 13 – 15 , 2018

57

Future Dates – Oratorical Chairman's Conference58

September 24th – 25th, 2016

September 23rd – 24th, 2017

September 29th – 30th, 2018

American Legion Scouting59

On October the 27th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm (ET), the American Legions Americanism Division will conduct its third annual Scouting Chairman’s Conference Session.

This year’s conference session will be held via TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL and is for all American Legion Scouting Department Chairmen and or their designees.

The cost of the conference call is free and conference agenda topics will include; updates from your National Headquarters staff, updates from your American Legion Boys Scouts of America liaison, and opportunities for you to dialogue with other departments!

Agenda and additional details to follow. To register, please follow the below link.

http://www.legion.org/scouting/scoutingconference

http://www.legion.org/scouting/scoutingconference

Post Everlasting 60

46th Annual Oratorical Chairperson Conference

Staff Action Items:1. Pending Resolutions

2. DVD’s?

3. Stop Watch Feature on Smart Phones?

Shayne Abrahams (IN) Americanism Division

61

46th Annual Oratorical Chairperson Conference

Open Forum & Parking Lot Issues

David King (KY) Oratorical Conference Chairman

62

For the good of The American Legion63

2015 cac conference - presentation

Documents