March 2013 Southeast JSA Newsletter

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Issue #2 March 2013

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Join us at Spring State, where you will

find kind, outgoing, and knowledgeable

people who are interested in the same

thing as you: expressing your opinion and

learning about issues that face our nation.

This year’s Spring State will be held at

Orlando Marriott Lake Mary in Orlando,

Florida from April 20th through April

21st. Be sure to have your Chapter

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President

sign up before the deadline on March

20th. Double check to make sure your

chapter is tax paid and all members

attending the conference have made an

account on myjsa.org. The cost for the

convention, including hotel fees, is $105;

make sure to bring extra money for food

and possibly souvenirs.

Spring State 2013

“Spring State is an

amazing opportunity!

My only warning is that once you’ve gone, you will become addicted to JSA; I’ve seen it happen time and time again.”

-Gia Coleman

Expansion Agent

Southeast State Junior State of

America Newsletter

For questions, comments, or ideas for

future issues, please contact Jenny Chen at [email protected]

Upcoming Events

April 20 & 21 2013, Orlando, FL

Spring State

Georgetown Summer School

Princeton Summer School

June 16 - July 7, 2013 July 14 -August

July 7 - July 28, 2013 June 30 - July 21, 2013

Stanford Summer School

JSA Diplomat Program

June 26 - July 21, 2013

University of Virginia

June 29 - August 3, 2013

Spring State Registration

March 20,

Naples H.S. Mini-Con

April 6, Registration from 9-10, Mini-con ends at 5 p.m.*

*For more info, please contact Jessica Zimmerman at [email protected] or (239)-961-3399

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Lorem Ipsum Issue | Date

January-May Activism Initiatives: 1) community service 2) host a mini-con or chapter conference 3) hold a dinner and debate or parents preview night 4) letter writing campaign 5) attend a school board or county meeting

JSA Summer School By: Gabe Corso The Junior State of America Foundation offers summer courses for high school students. These courses can be taken at a variety of locations including Princeton University, Stanford University, and China! These programs allow high school students to experience a different kind of education from the traditional high school classes. Students live in dorm rooms and attend seminars specific to their chosen course during the day. Beyond the academic work students develop leadership skills, lifelong friendships, and memories that they will hold forever. Students choose from 11 courses, including AP US History, International Relations, and Constitutional Law. Please visit http://jsa.org/summer-programs/summer-school/ for more details, or contact Director of Summer School Promotions and summer school alumni Gabe Corso ([email protected]).

No Labels Bill Passed By House

By: Michelle Vereb

The “No Budget, No Pay” bill proposed by No Labels was recently passed by the House of Representatives. No Labels is a non-partisan organization whose goals are to break the gridlock in Congress and encourage representatives and senators of both parties to work together to solve the issues facing America. The “No Budget, No Pay” bill says that if Congress does not pass a budget on time, they will not be paid until a budget is passed. There were more than 90 co-sponsors of the bill and support from both Democrats and Republicans.

“Without a budget, Congress is essentially spending taxpayer money first and asking questions later, but No Budget, No Pay creates a serious incentive for Congress to handle our nation’s finances more responsibly. It is not a partisan issue – it’s common sense.”

-Congressman Reid Ribble http://www.nolabels.org/press-releases/no-labels-proposal-%E2%80%9Cno-budget-no-pay%E2%80%9D-

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My First Spring State Experience By: Gia Coleman

My first Spring State started off as bundle of uneasy nerves. I had been a member of JSA all year, but I wasn’t able to go to Fall State or Winter Congress, so Spring State was my first official JSA convention. I was several hours away from home with only a handful of people from my chapter with me and I was nervous; I had a debate that I was speaking main for in the first block. I can still remember hearing my heart pounding in my chest. I don’t even recall what it was that the main pro speaker was saying, I just remember gazing out into the crowd and thinking that I was speaking next.

And then it was time, I rose up shakily and I began stuttering before I slipped into a sort of flow, reiterating what I had practiced countless times. Then, the Lieutenant Governor of Southeast State waltzed in and I began mentally panicking. It was hard enough remembering words in front of strangers, but now someone well versed in JSA, was listening to my debate. It was overwhelming and I thought I did terribly but after I spoke. I realized that I had managed to express my point with success. The debate was well received, my fellow chapter companions were proud of me, and I even won the vote of the vast majority of the room.

That weekend would mark the beginning of a wonderful experience in JSA. Prior to Spring State, I thought I was an active JSA member but it’s like being in a whole other world at conventions like Spring State. Everyone is nice and has a viewpoint that they’re willing to share with you. Also, everyone understands the feeling of speaking in your first debate and they’re supportive of you. I remember speaking with the Lieutenant Governor later that day and him telling me that he admired the way I debated. Spring State for me was the beginning of a whole new world-and that’s no exaggeration.

After Spring State I started planning right away for Fall State and Winter Congress. Spring State is an amazing opportunity; you get to meet your fellow delegates of your state, make friends, stay up late prepping for debates, explore new places, be involved in your state, and so much more including voting for your future Governor and Lieutenant Governor. My only warning about Spring State is that once you’ve gone, you will become addicted to JSA, I’ve seen it happen time and time again. Spring State was the beginning for me and in just the same way it could be you or your chapter’s beginning, so you should make sure to sign up as soon as possible!

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Winter Congress 2013 By: Laura Delaney and Sara Marinuzzi Over President’s weekend, hundreds of JSA-ers from the Southeast, Ohio River Valley, and Midwest gathered in our Nation’s capital. At this 2013 Winter Congress, students debated bills from education improvements to marijuana legalization. Organized to model Congress, these students were divided into House and Senate. The division of these students was done in a way so that members of different states were able to meet, socialize, and exchange political ideologies and life experiences. Sara Marinuzzi, a fellow Southeast statesman, noted this experience as “a great opportunity to unite JSA members from across America”. For many JSA-ers, it was their first visit to the Nation's capital and their first chance to see vast monuments and historic locations. On Saturday night, students had the opportunity to go on a “Moonlit Monument Tour”. During this event, students toured various monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Roosevelt Memorial, and many others. As the weekend came to a close, students made new friends, exchanged new ideas, and had a new mindset of what “being the people” is all about. If you have never been to Winter Congress, you are missing out on this experience like no other. It is strongly encouraged that you attend a Winter Congress not only to get the experience, but also to fulfill your title as a JSA statesman.

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Contact your leaders:

Kathryn Edmunds- Governor

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (954)-826-2895

Natalie Davison- Lt. Governor


Phone: (954)-918-9383

Jenny Chen- Chief of Staff


Phone: (813)-403-7122

Bancy Makavana- Director of Finances


Phone: (954)-980-9035

Costin Anghel- Director of Expansion


Phone: (954)-825-9303

Jessica Zimmerman- Convention Coordinator


Phone: (239)-961-3399

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David Jakubowicz- Director of Debate


Phone: (954)-319-2340

Laura Delaney- Director of Publicity


Phone: (941)-483-6140

Michelle Vereb- Director of Activism


Phone: (813)-210-5162

Documents

March 2013 Southeast JSA Newsletter