New Jersey Girls State

The 2008 New Jersey Girls State Program wiill be held at
Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ, from June 22 - 27.

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The American Legion Auxiliary's Girls State program is held annually, and provides an opportunity for young women who are high school juniors to become active participants in the fundamentals of self-government. The program simulates city, county and state levels of government and is designed to assist participants to understand, comprehend, and appreciate their roles as United States citizens. Specific program goals are to:
• Develop leadership and pride in American citizens
• Educate participants about our system of government
• Instill in participants a greater understanding of American traditions
• Stimulate a desire to maintain our government processes

The 2008 NJ Girls State program will be held at Georgian Court University from Sunday, June 22 through Friday, June 27. Representatives from the Girls State program in each state will be elected to attend the national program, Girls Nation, which is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., from July 19 — 26, 2008.

Girls State began as one and two day sessions in the late 1930's, and since 1948 has been a regular part of the Auxiliary's Americanism curriculum. The program has grown from a few hundred participants to nearly 25,000 Girls State delegates annually. The American Legion Auxiliary has been recognized many times by Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and the National Association of Secondary School Principles (NASSP) for outstanding Girls State and Girls Nation programs.

Girls State has provided an outstanding learning experience for hundreds of thousands of accomplished young women during the past half century, and given them a deeper understanding of government at the local, state and national levels. Among the past participants of Girls State are

Jane Pauley	Broadcast Journalist
Ann Richards	Former Governor of Texas
Jessica Mitchell	VP of Design/Dir. of Apparel for Liz Claiborne
Cpt. Michelle Johnson	1st Woman to serve as Wing Commander at the U.S. Air Force Academy
Sandra Dorsey Rice	V.P., Eastern Region, Emma Bowen Foundation
Kate Shindle	Miss America 1998 (from Burlington Cty. NJ)
Ericka Dunlap	Miss America 2004
Lynne Cheney	Wife of Vice President Richard Cheney
Jennifer Dunn, Washington Constance Morella, Maryland Barbara Cubin, Wyoming	Present and Past United States Representatives

 

Unit 281 Participation in the 2007 New Jersey Girls State
Unit 281 proudly selected and sponsored thirteen delegates to attend the 60th session of Jersey Girls State, American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Jersey.

Joining approximately 400 girls who have completed their Junior year of Senior High School, the following outstanding girls will attend, sponsored by Unit 281:

Highland H.S.
Katie Hunt	Lynette Jones
Kristin Kisielius	Neina Langford
Kelsey Romond	Nargish Sultana

Timber Creek H.S.
Alexandra Carella	Jamie Colon
Jennifer Estrada
Triton H.S.
Lindsay Griendling	Angela Martinelli
Brittney Rehrig

During this one-week intensive course in citizenship, the Girls Staters learn by doing. Beginning at the city level, to county and then to state, they register to vote, file nomination papers, conduct political campaigns, make speeches and prepare campaign posters. The week culminates in the election of State Constitutional Officers and the Governor of Jersey Girls State.

The American Legion Auxiliary, Department of New Jersey Girls Program is conducted in cooperation with the University Department of Government Affairs. During the week, speakers on government at various levels share their expertise with the delegates. Jersey Girls State is staffed by 40 American Legion Auxiliary member Volunteers who serve as counselors, house mothers and office aides under the direction of Director and Assist Director who are also Auxiliary members volunteers.

The total cost for meals, dormitories and use of the facilities at Georgian Court University is $210 per girl for the 2008 program. Our dedicated financial co-sponsors, who share in our enthusiasm for this program, have made it possible for us to greatly expand our program. Both the Girls State Delegates and Unit 281 would like to express our appreciation. THANK YOU!

American Legion Post 281	Glendora VFW 8714
Hilltop Garden Center	Blackwood Rotary
Kiwanis Club of Gloucester Twp./Blackwood
Glendora Volunteer Fire Company No. 1
Mayor Cindy Rau-Hatton	Assemblywoman Sandra Love
Susan Griffiths

If you or your company are interested in being a financial co-sponsor to the Girls State Program, contact Unit 281. To sponsor one girl is $210.00, to co-sponsor is $105.00, etc. We would appreciate any contribution you may give to continue our work and interest in furthering the education of our youth in the duties, privileges and rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.

If you have a daughter granddaughter interested in this program, please contact Unit 281 for more information.

Susan Griffiths, Girls State Chairman