THE ADVANCEAMERICAN LEGION

THE AMERICAN LEGION

ADVANCE A National Headquarters Monthly Publication for Post Commanders

Vol. VIII September, 1965 No. 9

Begin Veterans Day Countdown HPHURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11—VET-

ERANS DAY-—provides American Le¬ gion Posts throughout the land with a serious duty assignment. This national holi¬ day is important to The American Legion because its date marks the anniversary of the armistice of World War I—the war which gave birth to our organization.

Now, Veterans Day has taken on an even greater significance in that it has become the one day, set aside by a grateful nation, to honor all who have fulfilled the greatest demand of their citizenship—hon¬ orable service in the defense of their coun¬ try in time of war.

Just as the veteran is proud of his own wartime military service, so The American Legion is proud of its identity as an or¬ ganization of wartime veterans.

Patriotism, Service, Heritage As the concern increases over the apparent hesitancy

of our countrymen to display their patriotism, the need becomes ever greater for The American Legion to make every effort to inspire all Americans to express their love of country. Veterans Day is more than an occasion for expression of our pride in the fact that we have served our nation in time of war. As Americans and as American Legionnaires, we must take an active part in a nationwide demonstration on this day that patriotism continues to be a virtue .... that service to God and Country does not end when the military uniform is put aside .... that there is still a sacred duty to exalt the precious heritage of American citizenship.

To falter in this task would be a serious breach of the faith—which we, as Legionnaires, have volunteered to keep—of those who made the supreme sacrifice for the perpetuation of the American ideal.

Our greatest obligation is to show the world that America is not only strong but also firmly united in her dedication to the lofty principles of liberty and justice for all mankind. A nationwide display of unity and patriotism on this occasion will contribute much to the

fulfillment of this obligation. Community Participation Important

While it behooves The American Legion to take the initiative in the planning of and participation in the observance of Veterans Day, the holiday should not be looked upon as one on which the Legion has a monopoly. This holiday is an appropriate occasion for a community-wide expression of appreciation. This day can retain its vital significance only if all share in its observance.

In planning the observance of Veterans Day, an American Legion Post should enlist the participation of its entire community. This can be accomplished by the post’s ap¬ pointment of a general committee which will have representatives from the city gov¬

ernment, other civic and veterans organizations, church groups, schools, etc. The mayor should be asked to issue a Veterans Day proclamation.

Organize All Phases The general committee should name special subcom¬

mittees to be responsible for the various phases of the observance—publicity, flag display, speakers and pro¬ gram activities, etc.

Publicity assignments can be divided into press, radio and television, and posters. Representatives of the local newspapers and radio and television stations should be enlisted in the campaign of advance promotion of your community’s celebration. Veterans Day is an appropri¬ ate occasion for a parade in any community. In fact, this holiday provides one of the year’s rare opportuni¬ ties for a community-wide expression of patriotism in its parade. Each school in the community should be represented in such a parade with a musical and/or marching unit. All civic organizations of the communi¬ ty should be participants.

Promote Flag Display Make a special effort to see that as many flags as

possible are displayed in recognition of this holiday. (Continued on Back Page)

NOVEMBER 11th

VETERANS DAY

Post Commander's

HOT LINE

A major legislative victory has been scored by The American Legion with the amendment of Title II, So¬ cial Security Act, extending educational benefits beyond age 18. Posts and Auxiliary Units asked to help convey information concerning availability of this extension of financial aid to the nearly 300,000 youngsters eligible for it this school year.

★ ★ ★ Midway through the 1965 membership year, all signs

point to a new “king” of the king-sized American Le¬ gion Posts—Lincoln Post 3, Lincoln, Neb.

★ ★ ★ A newly chartered American Legion Post can be ex¬

pected to grow an average of 10 per cent of its mem¬ bership each year for at least its first three years, a re¬ cent study of new posts show. The study, conducted of post charters issued and canceled 1962 through 1964, also pointed out that the cancellation of a post charter was normally the end of a fairly long period of mem¬ bership decline.

★ ★ ★ Some 115 key Legionnaires attended the National

Membership Workshop at National Headquarters as a kickoff to “Roll Gall ’66” and to analyze immediate problems relating to the membership drive as well as long-range endeavors.

★ ★ ★ The Virginia Legionnaire has been named the best

all-around American Legion publication for 1964-65, American Legion Press Association has announced. The Wally Plaque, for the best publication among posts of fewer than 2,000 members, goes to The Gibraltar Jour¬ nal, Post 326, Newark, N. J. Winner of the Jack R. C. Cann Plaque, for the best publication produced by mimeograph or other duplicating process, is The Legion Log, Post 868, Lower Burrell, Pa. The Wm. E. Romin- ger Memorial Award, best original editorial, goes to The Egyptian Legionnaire—Editor Robert L. Summar —Carmi, Ill.

★ ★ ★ Time is slipping away for those veterans eligible to

take advantage of the new GI insurance. The new in¬ surance will remain on sale until midnight, May 2, 1966.

Mr. Post Commander—Mr. Post Adjutant: Are all of your post’s officers for 1965-66 properly cer¬ tified to your department headquarters?

THE AMERICAN LEGION ADVANCE

Published monthly by National Headquarters, The Ameri¬ can Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis 6, Ind.—for

American Legion Post Commanders

m (Formerly A he American Legion National Newsletter)

AMERICAN LEGION PRESS

ASSOCIATION

September, 1965 Vol. VIII, No. 9

Aug. 31 -6 6 17

Mail statement of dues to each member of your post. National Finals, “World Series,” Ameri¬ can Legion Baseball, Aberdeen, S. D. Labor Day. Constitution Day—Citizenship Day.

October 2- 3 National Boys State Conference; Ninth

Annual Uniformed Groups Congress; Indi- ianapolis, Ind.

3- 9 National Employ the Handicapped Week. 4- 5 Annual Conference of Department Com¬

manders and Adjutants; Annual Confer¬ ence of Department Chaplains; meetings of standing national commissions and com¬ mittees; Indianapolis, Ind.

6- 7 Fall meeting, National Executive Commit¬ tee, Indianapolis, Ind.

10-16 National Newspaper Week. 12 . Columbus Day. 20 Opening Day of AL (American Legion)

Weeks which extend through Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Mail second dues notice to those who failed to respond to your first mailing.

23 United States Day. 28-30 Middle Atlantic Area Child Welfare Con¬

ference, Atlantic City, N. J. November

4-6 Southern Area Child Welfare Conference, Oklahoma City, Okla.

7- 13 American Education Week. 11 Veterans Day. Last day of AL (American

Legion) Weeks. By now, your post should be well on its way toward qualifying for the 1966 “Post of Distinction” Award (see the August ADVANCE).

18-20 Midwestern Area Child Welfare Confer¬ ence, Lincoln, Neb.

25 Thanksgiving Day. 2 The ADVANCE, September, 1965

'Prospecting' Profitable HELP WANTED

Door-to-door salesman for nationally known product.

Local representative wanted for large na¬ tional concern. Leads and prospects pro¬ vided. No door-to-door selling.

JF YOU WERE A PROFESSIONAL salesman look¬ ing for a job, which of the above ads would you

answer? Obviously, the second one. Selling is always easier

when you start out with a known prospect, living at a known address, with at least an assumed interest in your product. Business firms spend hundreds of thou¬ sands of dollars for the sole purpose of getting the names of prospects for their products and services. They have learned that this is the key to successful salesmanship.

In its campaign to recruit new members for 1966, The American Legion is putting this same principle to

Here is a new “foldover” pros¬ pect card-brochure being provided this year by The American Le¬ gion’s National Membership and Post Activities Section. It can be¬ come the foundation for a success¬ ful membership campaign for 1966, as well as future years. Supplies of the cards are available without charge from your department head¬ quarters or from: Membership and Post Activities Section, The Ameri¬ can Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indi¬ anapolis, Ind. 46206.

work.

Who Do You I Know?

Suggestions for Use

To show any growth, the average post will need a minimum of 10 per cent, and probably 15 per cent, new members in 1966. Eligibles are seldom going to come to the post to ask to join. Human nature doesn’t work that way.

Many, perhaps most, will want to join if they have a personal invitation and a personal visit from a mem¬ ber of the post. The prospect card is the key to let your membership committee know where the eligibles are and to provide a bit of a “door-opener” to their homes.

Maintain Prospect File

Every post should maintain a file of prospect cards at all times. The best information on prospects normally will come from the post’s own members. All that has

The ADVANCE, September, 1965

to be done is to make the membership and, especially, the post officers and chairmen “prospect-conscious.”

There is a very effective way to start your prospect card file and to dramatize its importance. At a post or executive committee meeting, or any other gathering of Legionnaires, distribute one prospect card to each member present. Station your sergeant-at-arms at the door and announce that no one will be allowed to leave until the card is filled out with the name of an eligible veteran. If we are forced to think about it, all of us can come up with the name of at least one eligible who does not belong to the Legion and who should.

The person who makes out the card can often be called upon to make the contact, but, in case he doesn’t, you still have the name on record. Then, one of your membership workers can call on the eligible. If he doesn’t know the prospect, he can easily say, “., a friend of yours, has recommended you for membership in our American Legion Post, and I have been asked to call on you and let you know something of our pro¬ grams and plans for this year.”

Distribute Card with Dues Statement

More and more posts are also now distributing pros¬ pect cards with their dues statements, asking current members to suggest names of possible future members. This method normally will not bring a big response, but it will result in some good names. A more effective, although time-consuming, method is to set up a tele¬ phone committee to contact some of the post’s less active members and ask them for names of prospects.

As a post becomes more and more aware of the im¬ portance of prospecting, officers and active Legionnaires can be expected to start suggesting additional names. In every case, the name, address, and other available information should go on the prospect card immediately so the suggestion doesn’t become lost.

With a new Legion year now on the horizon, most posts are getting their 1966 membership campaign up to full speed. The first objective will probably be to renew all the 1965 members possible. This is the way it should be.

The renewal program provides the best opportunity you will have all year for getting the names of the pros¬ pective new members. Your workers might not have time to contact them while the renewal program is un¬ der way. But, you can get their names on file for use in that essential new member promotion, perhaps later in the year.

Now is the time to make the plans and take the ac¬ tions that will assure the successful completion of your membership campaign later in the year.

3

Posts Urged to Step Up Blood Donor Program

jy/JAKE A DATE to give blood and save a life!! It would be an excellent idea for each and every

member of The American Legion to resolve to give at least one unit of blood between now and the end of the year.

Blood donations drop sharply during the summer vacation period and large quantities are urgently needed to replenish the dwindling supply. There could be no finer contribution of community service than for every Legionnaire to give a “gift of life.”

Started in World War II

One can hardly believe, in light of the common usage of whole blood and its derivatives today, that prior to World War II, no program to speak of existed. With World War II, the need for the creation of a vast blood program was imperative. At the request of the Army and Navy, the American Red Cross established a nation¬ wide blood procurement program. The American Le¬ gion became a part of this national effort, which saved the lives of thousands of our servicemen.

After World War II, the volume of blood donations, from a public which had become accustomed to giving blood, justified the maintenance of laboratories for the processing of plasma and the blood derivatives. Today, there is little or no loss of donated blood.

Program Continues

After the war, recognizing the need for continuing this activity, many posts kept their blood donor lists intact but turned their attention to providing blood for pressing needs in their own communities.

Victims of natural disaster, veterans’ hospitals, post members and their families, the community in general— all became recipients of this community service activity. Korea brought added demands for blood. More posts organized, and some departments formalized the blood donor activities of their posts to insure maximum par¬ ticipation and benefit.

National Awards

In 1955, The American Legion by authority of its National Executive Committee, following a groundswell of post and department activity, instituted the National Blood Donor Program. Individual post, department and national awards were created as incentives.

Since that time, The American Legion Blood Donor Program has grown in scope and activity until now it is one of the Legion’s foremost community service pro¬ grams with accent on servicing local needs. Truly, The American Legion and Auxiliary, together with hundreds of other groups comprising millions of individuals, are rendering a wonderful service to mankind.

Winner of the first of two National Commander Awards this year is the Department of Rhode Island, with 98.7 per cent of its posts participating in the Blood Program. The Department of Missouri garnered the second award with 61.09 per cent of its total member¬ ship actively participating in the program.

Last year, nearly six million units of blood were used —750,000 gallons—enough blood to fill a large oil tanker. More may be needed soon with the escalation of the war in Vietnam.

‘Miracle of Nature’

The value of blood is incalculable. It is a “miracle of nature” and has become one of the great healing medicines of modern science. We cannot be sentimental about the donation of blood, recognizing that soon great quantities of plasma may again be needed for our armed forces. In a situation such as we face today, blood can be of tremendous potential military value. It would indeed be comforting for our servicemen to know that an adequate supply is available.

The cooperation of all Legionnaires and Auxiliary members is needed to assure the effectiveness of this worthy program.

REMEMBER: 1. Your post blood donor program can help your

own members and their families!

2. It can save the life of a veteran!

3. It can provide valuable blood stockpiling for our servicemen and civil defense workers!

4. It can give new life to fellow citizens in your own community—young and old!

American Legion Departments and Posts planning blood donor programs can obtain detailed information from:

National Security Division

The American Legion

1608 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

The ADVANCE, September, 1965 4

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ORATORICAL CONTEST

* 1966 *

A National

Americanism Activity of The American Legion

Approved by The National Association of Secondary-School Principals

Since 1943

Sponsored by

THE AMERICAN LEGION National Headquarters

P. O. Box 1055 Indianapolis, Indiana, 46206

★

National Americanism Commission History

*A brief review of the progress of the National High School Oratorical Contest of The American Legion follows:

States Contest Year Winner Address Competing Site 1938 John Janson, Phoenix, Ariz. 1939 H. Fletcher Padgett, Jr., Saluda, S.C.. 1940 Thomas E. Haggerty, Rosedale, N.Y... 1941 Frank Church, Jr., Boise, Idaho. 1942 Albert P. Smith, Jr.,

Hendersonville, Tenn. 1943 Burton Bernard, Granite City, Ill. 1944 Brent Bozell, Omaha, Neb. 1945 Robert A. Kelly, Jersey City, N.J. 1946 William O. Wollin, Los Gatos, Calif.. .. 1947 Roy F. Greenaway, Fresno, Calif. 1948 James H. Grant, Orlando, Fla. 1949 Paul T. Heyne, Concordia, Mo. 1950 James A. Robinson, Blackwell, Okla... 1951 Miss Jeanne-Mann Dickinson,

Roanoke, Va. 1952 Cliff Thompson, Kansas City, Kan. 1953 Joel M. Bernstein, Buffalo, N.Y. 1954 Jack McNees, Kansas City, Mo. (Kan.). 1955 Michael Miller, Los Angeles, Calif. 1956 Daniel A. Duckworth, Cleveland, Tenn. 1957 Dan McCall, Modesto, Calif. 1958 Reed M. Stewart, Brazil, Ind. 1959 Roger R. Majak, Lansing, Ill. 1960 Lanny Unruh, Newton, Kan. 1961 Robert J. O’Connell, New York, N.Y... 1962 Miss Patricia Ann Turner,

Muskogee, Okla. 1963 Stephen A. Oxman, Short Hills, N.J.. .. 1964 David Bruce Marth, Wausau, Wise. 1965 James F. Kay, Fullerton, Calif.

11 Norman, Okla. 20 Springfield, Ill. 40 Boston, Mass. 46 Charleston, S.C.

46 Milwaukee, Wise. 42 New Orleans, La. 46 Boonville, Mo. 42 Buffalo, N.Y. 43 Grinnell, Iowa 44 Charleston, W.Va. 45 Savannah, Ga. 45 Philadelphia, Pa. 45 Phoenix, Ariz.

45 Richmond, Va. 45 Baton Rouge, La. 47 Jersey City, N.J. 47 Los Angeles, Calif. 47 Blackwell, Okla. 48 St. Louis, Mo. 47 Waterville, Me. 48 Portales, N.Mex. 48 Lodi, Calif. 48 Penn Yan, N.Y. 49 East Hartford, Conn.

49 Salt Lake City, Utah 50 Eau Claire, Wise. 50 Tampa, Fla. 50 Portland, Ore.

Several thousand secondary school students participated in The American Legion’s Twenty-Eighth Annual Na¬ tional High School Oratorical Contest, with fifty Depart¬ ment winners entering National competition.

The National Finals Contest was held in the John Marshall High School, Portland, Oregon, April 8, 1965.

The 1965 winners were: First Place—James Franklin Kay, Fullerton, California

$4,000.00 Scholarship Second Place—Gary Dale Priour, Ingram, Texas

$2,500.00 Scholarship Third Place—Dennis Ray Holub, Rapid City, So. Dakota

$1,000.00 Scholarship Fourth Place—Paul Kevin Casey, Williamstown, Mass.

$500.00 Scholarship

National Contests *The National Finals Contest for 1966 will be held at

New England College, Henniker, New Hampshire, April 7, 1966. Announcement of sites and dates for Regional and Sectional Contests will be made as soon as scheduling is complete.

Department Contests *AU Arrangements for Department Contests, including

Local, County, District and other sub-divisions, shall be made by Departments of The American Legion. Each De¬ partment can certify one contestant into the National Contest program. All Department Finals Contests should conform with National Contest procedure, rules and regu¬ lations.

A Department winner certified to the National Ameri¬ canism Division which did not conduct its Department Finals Contest in conformity with the rules and regula¬ tions set forth in this Twenty-ninth Annual National High School Oratorical Contest leaflet for 1966 may, in. the judgment of the Director, be disqualified for competition in National Contests. DEPARTMENT WINNERS MUST BE CERTIFIED TO THE NATIONAL AMERICANISM DIVISION, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, NOT LATER THAN MARCH 15, 1966.

James F. Kay Gary I). Priour Dennis R. Holub Paul K. Casey California Texas South Dakota Massachusetts

(First) (Second) (Third) (Fourth)

RULES Subject To Be Used For Prepared Oration

:isThe subject to be used for the prepared oration in the 1966 Oratorical Contest must be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States which will give emphasis to the attendant 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 subjects listed below are recommended as desirable topics but not mandatory:

An American Citizen’s Rights and Responsibilities Un¬ der the Constitution.

Fulfilling the Aims of the Constitution. Checks and Balances—Our Basic Governmental Princi¬

ple. Our Constitution—Worth Having, Worth Defending. Our Constitution—Ordained by Free Men, Sustained by

Free Men. The People’s Constitution—Ours to Defend. The Constitution in a Changing World. The Constitution in Our Every-Day Life. The Bill of Rights—Reciprocal Rights and Duties. The Constitution—A Barrier Against Tyranny. The Constitution—Guardian of the People’s Rights. In Defense of Our Constitution. The Constitution—Temple of Liberty. Our Living Constitution. Communism Threat to the Constitution. The Constitution and the Federal Courts. Powers of the States Under the Constitution. Our Constitution and Free Capitalism.

THE PREPARED ORATIONS MUST BE THE ORIGI¬ NAL EFFORTS OF EACH CONTESTANT AND MUST NOT TAKE UP LESS THAN EIGHT MINUTES NOR MORE THAN TEN MINUTES FOR DELIVERY. THE PENALTY FOR PLAGIARISM WILL BE DISQUALIFI¬ CATION.

Substitutions for Disqualified Contestants or Contest¬ ants unable to compete in the National program, for any reason, are not permissible. Contests cannot be delayed from the official scheduled time and dates, unless officially approved by the National Americanism Division.

THE EXTEMPORANEOUS FEATURE

*The Extemporaneous Discourse must not consume less than three minutes nor more than five minutes for de¬ livery. The purpose of the Extemporaneous Discourse Feature is to test the speaker’s knowledge of the subject, the extent of his research, and the ability to discuss ex¬ temporaneously the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution. Judges will down¬ grade contestants if they suspect parts of their Extempo¬ raneous Discourse have been memorized.

The full text for the Extemporaneous Discourse Fea¬ ture Topic (drawn, but not announced, immediately before the last speaker begins delivery of his prepared oration) will be made known to 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, selected from Articles and Sections as listed under Ex¬ temporaneous Topics for 1966 in this pamphlet.

In the prepared orations, as well as in the Extempo¬ raneous 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 or cited orally.

EXTEMPORANEOUS TOPICS FOR 1966

*By action of the National Americanism Commission, the Extemporaneous Discourse Topics to be used in 1966 Contest are as follows:

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES Article I, Section 1 (Legislative Powers) Article I, Section 5, Paragraph 1 (Authority Vested in

Congress) Article VI, Paragraph 2 (Supreme Law of the Land)

AMENDMENTS

Article I (Freedom of Speech, etc.) Article II (Militia)

Article IX (Rights Retained by the People)

NOTE: All contestants are required to participate in both the Prepared Oration Presentation and Extemporaneous Discourse Feature of this Contest.

Eligibility

*A11 contestants must be bonafide students in second¬ ary schools (Public High School or Parochial, Military and Private Schools whose academic curriculum is of Public High School level) and enrolled in classes equivalent to the regular 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grades on January 1 of the year when such national contests are being conducted. Students taking post-graduate high school courses are not eligible, excepting students who graduate during the middle of the school year, which date of graduation must be after January 1.

Dress

^Uniforms of all kinds will be barred because a uni¬ form worn by one contestant and not by the others might create an unfair advantage. Informal dress will be re¬ quired.

Awards

*The contestant scoring highest, in the opinion of the Judges, in the National Finals Contest will be awarded a $4,000.00 scholarship; second, a $2,500.00 scholarship; third, a $1,000.00 scholarship; and fourth, a $500.00 scholarship.

Finances

*The National Organization of The American Legion will pay the travel cost of Department winners as they progress in National competition. A girl winner must be accompanied by a chaperon whose travel cost will be paid by National. Travel for an escort of a seriously handi¬ capped boy winner may, in the judgment of the Director, be authorized at National expense.

The National Organization of The American Legion will not assume liability for personal injury, property damage or loss sustained by any contestant or his or her chaperon enroute to or from the Contest; however, The American Legion does carry a nominal group accident in¬ surance policy on contestants certified into the National competition.

Judges

*Arrangements for Judges shall be made by the Contest Representative in the Regional, Sectional, and National Contest centers. The names shall be submitted to the National Americanism Division for approval prior to the Contest. Each Contest shall have five judges. No publicity shall be given to the names of the judges in advance of the Contest. During the contest the judges shall be seated in different locations in the auditorium and each judge shall render his final decision without consultation with other judges or any other person. Official score cards will be furnished by the National Americanism Commission for the use of Judges in National Contests. Each judge must sign his score card. Departments should provide their judges with suitable score cards, of their own design, for their respective Contests.

6 The ADVANCE, September, 1965

The American Legion NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ORATORICAL CONTEST

The manner of scoring and selecting the winner in the Regional, Sectional and Final Contests shall conform to the following point scoring schedule:

Each judge shall insert the total number of points credited to the contestant and also insert in the proper column the standing of each contestant. The judges shall not confer prior to the announcement of their decision as to the standing of the contestants. The contestant re¬ ceiving the low score total will be declared the winner. (For example, if one contestant receives two firsts, two seconds and a third on the judges’ score cards, his total low score points will be nine. If the second contestant re¬ ceives two firsts, two seconds and a fourth, his total low score will be ten. Even though the second contestant re¬ ceives two firsts, his total low score of ten will place him second.)

Lack of emphasis in the prepared oration and the ex¬ temporaneous discourse on the attendant duties and obli¬ gations of a citizen must result in the judges downgrading the contestant involved. Judges will also downgrade con¬ testants if they suspect parts of their extemporaneous discourse have been memorized.

In the event that two or more contestants receive the same point score total, the tie shall be broken by refer¬ ence to high total percentage points received from all judges. The total percentage method shall be applied only to those contestants tied for any positions on the basis of the low score method. In the case of a tie on the per¬ centage basis as well as the low score basis, the judges will then meet, compare their scores and discuss all fea¬ tures of the Contest in order to arrive at a final choice. The decision of the judges will be final.

National Representatives and Tabulators are not per¬ mitted to divulge judges’ score cards to anyone at the site of the Contest.

National Representatives are required to send all judges’ cards to National Headquarters following Contests.

Persons interested in the exact scoring, for professional purposes, may be furnished copies of cards, with judges’ names deleted at the discretion of the National American¬ ism Division, upon request in writing. This pertains to National Contests only.

Contest Regulations Contestants shall draw for the order in which they

appear, the drawing to be conducted by the Contest rep¬ resentative of the National Americanism Commission who will introduce the speakers as Number 1, Number 2, etc.

National Representatives will request the audience to refrain from applause until the Judges have made their decisions.

The Contest representative will be expected to intro¬ duce each contestant by name immediately before he an¬ nounces the decision of the judges.

Public announcement of the first-place winner only shall be made in Regional and Sectional Contests.

The time allotted for each contestant to deliver his prepared oration shall not be less than eight nor more than ten minutes, and for the extemporaneous discourse not less than three nor more than five minutes.

If a contestant fails to use all of his allotted time or uses more than his allotted time in the delivery of his prepared oration or extemporaneous discourse, a penalty of one point for each minute or fraction thereof shall be assessed against the contestant’s total score.

An official timer shall be named by the Contest rep¬ resentative whose duty it shall be to keep an accurate time record of each contestant, and he shall be located on the main floor in full view of the contestants. The timer should be equipped with a stop watch and time cards for the prepared oration carrying the figures 8, 9 and 10. When eight minutes have been used, the time warning card with the figure 8 thereon shall be placed in full view of speaker, following with 9 and 10 as the speaker progresses. The same procedure shall be used with cards bearing 3, 4 and 5 during the Extemporaneous Dis¬ course. The Contest representative shall announce the time consumed by each contestant for the prepared oration and the Extemporaneous Discourse, immediately after each contestant speaks, for the benefit of the judges.

It is assumed that all National Contests will be con¬ ducted in an auditorium having a platform from which contestants will speak; however, the use of notes, lectern or speaker’s stand by contestants OR PROMPTING IN ANY MANNER, is not permitted.

PROMPTING CAN BE PERMITTED BY DEPART¬ MENT OFFICIALS IN DEPARTMENT CONTESTS, BE¬ LOW THE DEPARTMENT OR STATE FINAL CONTEST, IF DESIRABLE. DEPARTMENT (STATE) FINALS MUST CONFORM TO NATIONAL RULES.

As each speaker concludes his prepared oration and Extemporaneous discourse, he will return to a private room, under the supervision of an individual appointed by the Contest representative, where the discourse of the other speakers cannot be heard.

Approximately five minutes prior to the time of the de¬ livery of the extemporaneous discourse, contestant number one will be informed of the topic drawn for the extempo¬ raneous discourse and shall be permitted to retire to pri¬ vacy, under the direction of an individual appointed by the Contest representative, whose duty it shall be to see that no contestant is permitted to consult any text matter or notes having any connection with the subject matter upon which he is to speak, other than the actual words of the topic provided on the card drawn.

Each succeeding contestant will be called upon in the order in which he previously appeared. He shall, also, in turn, be informed of the topic of the Extemporaneous Discourse and shall then be escorted to privacy in the manner as provided for contestant number one.

Live Television and Radio Broadcasts are permitted in all Contests as well as KINESCOPES, FILMING OR OTHER TYPES OF MEDIA FOR LATER SHOWING, provided:

1. The American Legion is in no way obligated finan¬ cially.

2. Satisfactory arrangements are made in advance with all persons concerned.

3. The broadcasts will in no way interfere with the pre-announced scheduled time of Contest.

4. The normal speaking voice of the contestant is not interfered with or amplified within the auditorium.

The first-place winner of a National Finals Contest will be ineligible for further participation.


ORATORICAL PROGRAM AWARDS

Oratorical Program The High School Oratorical Contest has been a suc¬ cessful activity of many Posts for several years. Awards, matching the high quality of those available for the School Award Program, have been designed for presentation to co-operating schools and partici¬ pants.

A. ORATORY PLAQUE. Bronze plate mounted on walnut stained backboard 10 x 141/4". Embossing in¬ cludes "Awarded Annually By" with your Post name, number, town and state location. Fourteen raised plates for engraving names of winners. (Engraving on panels 10c per letter or numeral.) Two weeks de¬ livery. No. C.O.D. shipment. No. 73559_$33.00

B. ORATORY MEDAL I Va inches with design featur¬ ing Patrick Henry. No. 73558____$2.00

C. BROOCH. To supplement your oratory award. New oratory brooch. Bronze, No. 73560_$1.00 Gold Filled, No. 73561___$1.90 (Add 10% Federal Excise Tax to No. 73561 Brooch)

D. CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION. Engraved 8 x 10. Ideal for recognizing all participants. No. 75258 ...$0.25

ON ALL ORDERS UNDER $3.00, ADD 25c POSTAGE AND HANDLING

See the current Emblem Catalog for additional Oratory Medals and Awards.

1965 ORATIONS BY ALL DEPARTMENT (STATE) WINNERS This publication contains the full text of all of the Department (State) Win¬

ners’ Orations for 1965, along with pictures of Winners, brief biography of each and the history of the Oratorical Contest since its inception in 1938. Cop¬ ies should be in all high school libraries for the benefit of speech teachers and students wishing to enter The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest.

They make excellent gifts and all who read them will not only enjoy the Orations but will be better citizens because of the experience.

Order single copies, or in quantities, from The American Legion, National Emblem Sales, by filling out this Order Blank and sending with remittance of $2.00 per copy.

Note: 1957, 1959, I960, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964 editions are still available at $2.00 per copy. The 1958 edition is no longer available.

THE AMERICAN LEGION National Emblem Sales—P.O.Box 1055—Indianapolis, Indiana 46206

ORDER BLANK

Enclosed please find $_. Rush the following items for our Oratorical Contest:_

TO: Name

Street

City _ State

Send a current Emblem Catalog

43


American Education Week Set Nov. 7-13 J^ACH YEAR SINGE 1921, The American Legion

has had a vital role in American Education Week which this year will be Nov. 7-13. This annual observ¬ ance grew out of the revelation during World War I that an alarming proportion of America’s population was illiterate and physically unfit.

Representatives of the National Education Associa¬ tion and the newly formed American Legion discussed this problem, and their talks led to the first joint observ¬ ance of American Education Week in 1921. Since 1922, this annual observance has also been co-sponsored by the U. S. Office of Education. In 1938, the National Congress of Parents and Teachers became a fourth co¬ sponsor.

The fundamental objective of American Education Week is to acquaint not only the parents, but also all citizens, of every community with the achievements, aims, and needs of their schools.

Theme of the 1965 observance is “Invest in Learn¬ ing.” No other agency is more vital to the well-being of the nation than a school system which will enable all students to advance to the maximum of their capacity. This annual observance, which occurs during the week of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, deserves special attention and consideration within each community.

For an effective observance in each community, it is recommended that the post’s Americanism or educa¬ tion chairman obtain the materials described below. An American Education Week Committee should be named prior to Oct. 1 in order to coordinate the post’s efforts with those of the local parent-teacher group and school officials.

With the cooperation of The American Legion and other sponsoring organizations, the National Education Association has prepared a packet of more than 30 items of promotional materials which may be used in the planning and observance of American Education Week. These packets are available at $2 each (payment to accompany order) from: American Education Week, National Education Association, 1201 16th St., N. W., Washington, D. G. 20036.

American Education Week is an appropriate time for your post to present the revised 15th edition of Need A Lift? and copies of the updated A Guide for Parents and Students to each high school and library in the community.

Need A Lift? is available at five copies for one dollar; A Guide for Parents and Students may be obtained at the printing and postage cost of $5 per 1,000 or $2.50 per 500 (payment to accompany order). These excellent materials may be obtained from: The American Legion, Dept. S, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206.

suggested

news release

(American Education Week) Plans for extensive participation in the observance of

American Education Week, Nov. 7-13, here in. (Community).by.(Name of Post).Post No.

.of The American Legion were announced today by Post Commander.(Full Name).

Representing Post No.on a special committee for the observance will be.(Full name or names of post representatives)., Commander.(Last Name Only).said. Chairman of the American Education Week Committee is.(Full Name and organization or other identification).In addition to the represent¬ ative (s) of Post No., the committee includes. (Full Names, organizations).

“Invest in Learning” is the theme of the 1965 ob¬ servance of American Education Week, co-sponsored nationally by The American Legion, the National Edu¬ cation Association, the U. S. Office of Education, and the National Congress of Parents and Teachers. The observance will be marked by special programs and ac¬ tivities which will help to call attention to the en¬ deavors of the local schools and to remind citizens that good schools and an effective education process are the responsibility of everyone in the community.

Plans for the local observance of American Educa¬ tion Week include the following: (Briefly summarize the events of the observance in your community, especially those in which your post has a definite role.)

“American Education Week was established in 1921 under the sponsorship of the then newly formed Amer¬ ican Legion and the National Education Association after World War I had found an alarming number of Americans illiterate and physically unfit,” Commander .(Last Name).said. “This observance of Amer¬ ican Education Week throughout the United States should remind all of us that no other agency is more vital to the well-being of our nation than our school sys¬ tem. I urge every citizen of.(Community).to visit our schools and attend the various activities and programs planned in conjunction with this year’s ob¬ servance of American Education Week.”


American Legion Life Insurance Month Ending June 30, 1965

Benefits paid Jan. 1-June 30, 1965_$ 361,719.00 Benefits paid since April 1958_ 2,727,869.00 Basic Units in force (number)_ 111,489 New applications since January 1, 1965 5,789 New applications rejected . 669

Child Welfare Report Shows Program Scope

HE CHILD WELFARE REPORT to The Ameri¬ can Legion’s 47th National Convention, Aug. 20-26,

Portland, Ore., reflects the greatest amount of annual child welfare expenditures—a staggering $8,379,097.32 —ever recorded for the Legion, the Auxiliary, and the Eight and Forty.

The annual Child Welfare Report is an accounting of child welfare expenditures and activities for the 12 months’ period ending May 31, 1965. Such activities and expenditures, as described in individual reports filed by posts, units, and departments, ranged from the pro¬ viding of life’s necessities for needy children to medical research into pediatric virology.

Written reports from 48 per cent of all posts, when combined with child welfare expenditures by depart¬ ment and national organizations, reached an all-time high—$6,025,584.30—for The American Legion. Simi¬ lar reports by 86 per cent of all Auxiliary Units, com¬ bined with contributions by the department and na¬ tional organizations, totaled $2,114,629.16. Forty-five Departmentaux and the national organization of the Eight and Forty reported $238,883.86.

This year’s report puts the grand total spent since 1925 by The American Legion and its affiliated or¬ ganizations at $202,337,144.09.

Mr. Post Commander: Please convey an expression of appreciation from the National Child Welfare Com¬ mission to your child welfare chairman, your Legion¬ naires active in this program, and to your post’s Auxil¬ iary Unit for the individual efforts which make possible this wonderful program.

★ ★

This is the Early Bird for 1966 which will identify those departments which meet the requirements of their first goal of their "Double-Six” campaign. Posts can help their departments gain this distinc¬ tion with an early membership turn-in.

Employ the Handicapped Week Set Oct. 3 to 9 rJTHE PLIGHT OF THE DISABLED veteran and his

dependents has been a primary concern of The American Legion since its very beginning. The Legion has continued to champion the cause of vocational training and rehabilitation of the handicapped. To carry such endeavors to their logical goals, the Legion participates in a nationwide program to encourage the employment of the handicapped in order that the dis¬ abled veteran may be given an opportunity to provide for himself and his dependents.

As a part of this continuing program, The American Legion participates in the annual observance of Na¬ tional Employ the Handicapped Week which, this year, will be Oct. 3-9. A highlight of the Legion’s annual observance is the presentation of a citation award to the outstanding employer within each state in recogni¬ tion of the employer’s favorable policies and practices concerning the hiring and retaining of handicapped workers, especially those who are war veterans.

The awards are based upon recommendations of American Legion department officials, and may origi¬ nate with a nomination for such recognition by the post submitted to its respective department headquar¬ ters.

All worthy employers should be considered, based upon an over-all employment policy where the services of the handicapped are utilized.

Total number of employees within the firm is ir¬ relevant. A small businessman may be more worthy than a large' concern.

The award should be made to a company or firm, not to an individual. If the efforts of one individual qualify the company or the firm, accompany the post’s recommendation for citation with a letter or resolution commending the individual.

The American Legion believes that one of the most dramatic ways of demonstrating that “It’s Ability that Counts” is to let the public see what the handicapped can do. One major problem to overcome is in the field of education where employers need to be assured that “It’s good business to hire the handicapped.”

Mr. Post Commander: If you know of an employer in your community who deserves recognition for his employment practices and policies concerning the hir¬ ing and use of handicapped workers, forward such in¬ formation to your department employment chairman or department adjutant as a nomination for The American Legion Citation Award which will be presented by your department.


Al Weeks Co-op Ads ^MERICAN LEGION POSTS can

help create greater public interest in both our organization and the mem¬ bership enrollment aspects of our ob¬ servance of AL (American Legion) Weeks through the use of co-operative newspaper advertisements.

Pictured here is the ad, which is available in newspaper mat form, for the 1965 AL Weeks observance and the promotion of the 1966 member¬ ship campaign. This ad is also avail¬ able in reproduction proof form for use in publications using the offset type of printing process.

Mr. Post Commander: When you (or your public relations officer) re¬ ceive the advertising material you have requested, contact your local newspaper advertising department for the space costs involved. Perhaps your newspaper will take over the task of lining up the necessary amount of co-operative spon¬ sorship to pay for the ad.

If you wish to have posters or win¬ dow cards to tie in with this promotion, your newspaper may be able to offer these as “reprints” of the ad for a small additional charge. (It might help in lin¬ ing up sponsorship for the ad if the potential sponsors could be told that the post would pick up the tab for the “reprints” and display them in promi¬ nent locations in the community.)

(Use the coupon below to order this advertising material.)

working tools of an American Legionnaire

In everyday life, the working tools of an American Legionnaire vary. From all walks of life, from all occupations, from the small town to the big city, American Legion¬ naires meet on the common ground of a dedication to God and Country. As veter¬ ans of World War I, World War II, or the Korean War, Legionnaires have been united by the bond of patriotism “to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to community, state, and nation.”

During AL (American Legion) Weeks, October 20 through November 11, The American Legion gives special emphasis to its annual membership enrollment with a cordial invitation to those eligible to join the ranks of the world’s largest veterans organization and become a part of the Legion’s great programs.

(SPONSOR’S NAME) in cooperation with

(Post’s Name, No., Address)

V__/

MEMBERSHIP & POST ACTIVITIES SECTION

The American Legion, P. O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206

Please ship AL (American Legion) Weeks co-operative advertising materials in type and sizes specified:

(Check One) (How Many?) □ MATS □ REPRO PROOFS (Offset) _ 3-column .. 5-column

(Please Type or Print)

NAME.....Title.Post No..

ZIP ADDRESS__CITY......STATE___CODE___


Countdown.... (Continued from Page 1)

The local committee should utilize the full week pre¬ ceding the holiday with the appearance of guest speak¬ ers before school assemblies, civic luncheons, and at in¬ dustrial establishments and shops. Seek the cooperation of local clergy to include patriotic themes within their worship services to give added emphasis to the observ¬ ance of the holiday.

The editorial writers and radio and TV commenta¬ tors of your community should be asked to prepare suitable comments concerning both the approach and significance of Veterans Day. Special feature articles in the press and documentaries on radio and TV could feature your community’s contributions to the military forces in all wars. Special attention should be given the local roll of honor—those who have made the supreme sacrifice.

Plan Special Post Observance

While Veterans Day should receive community-wide observance, your post should also plan some special events in conjunction with the occasion. Veterans Day is an appropriate occasion for a dinner honoring the Gold Star Mothers of your community, the charter members of your post, or your Past Post Commanders.

Some American Legion Posts have sponsored high school essay contests for the best original composition on

the significance of Veterans Day. The awarding of first prize in this contest could be a part of your post’s spe¬ cial observance.

Veterans Day—November 11—is the fourth day of the 45th observance of American Education Week, spon¬ sored jointly by The American Legion, the National Education Association, the National Congress of Par¬ ents and Teachers and the United States Office of Edu¬ cation. Your Veterans Day program can and should be a significant part of this week-long observance.

Membership Target Date

The last day of AL (American Legion) Weeks, Vet¬ erans Day is considered as an important membership enrollment target date in nearly every American Legion Post. Many posts will observe Veterans Day with an invitation to all eligible veterans to attend some special post function especially planned for the occasion.

Veterans Day is an appropriate occasion to honor those membership workers who have already recorded notable enrollment achievements in the 1966 campaign.

Mr. Post Commander: A highly appropriate and suc¬ cessful observance of Veterans Day by your post can help to set the pace for a notable record of achieve¬ ments during your year in office. Thorough planning now can contribute much to the assurance of a memo¬ rable observance. This issue of ADVANCE has offered some “food for thought” in planning the big event. The next issue will contain some suggested promotional ma¬ terials you may wish to use. In the meantime, give some consideration to the co-operative advertising materials, available free of charge, as explained on Page 11 of this issue.

THE AMERICAN LEGION

ADVANCE P. O. BOX 1055 • INDIANAPOLIS 6. INDIANA

NOTE TO EDITORS: PERMISSION GRANTED REPRINT ALL “ADVANCE” ITEMS.

TO USE OR

RETURN REQUESTED PRINTED IN U. S. A.

Documents

THE ADVANCEAMERICAN LEGION