Boys State

Updated July 9, 2010
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Boys' State Chairman's Report


 

65th Session of Boys' State RECAP


2010 Lt. Gov. Eric Tang and Gov. Anthony Covington
 
Lawrenceville, NJ -  862 registered delegates on Sunday, June 20th, swarmed the campus of Rider University beginning at 8AM to embark on their week-long journey that is American Legion Jersey Boys' State.  The program celebrated its 65th year of existence.  The program ran this year - as it does every year - on Fathers' Day, June 20th until Friday, June 25th.  Additionally, this year marks an achievement for PDC Tom Marsden: He received his 10-year pin during graduation! Above is a picture of this year's Governor and Lt. Governor!  Congrats to all!

2009-2010 Recap


2009-2010 has been a very busy year for me as I have been helping to update the Government Handbook that each statesman receives upon arrival at ALJBS.  Many changes were made to the 100 plus-page booklet.  Additionally, I have attended three county ALJBS orientation meetings - Burlington, Ocean and Mercer.  This year marks the first year that I was appointed assistant Boys' State Chairman for my home post - Post 455 New Egypt, Ocean County.  In that position, I held a recruitment session for the entire junior class at New Egypt High School for both Boys' and Girls' State and then held the interviews for the prospective delegates at the legion.  I also made a trip to nearby Allentown High School to recruit an alternate for the program.
Our efforts that was begun as a motion at last year's convention for the $4,000.00 donation for the Boys' State Foundation Legacy Scholarship was quelled at the Department level, but I am assured that we will be able to donate something in a different way.
In addition to the previously mentioned duties, I will be busy over the next few weeks updating various documents needed for the session and attending a final senior staff meeting just prior to the session.
Altogether, it has been a very productive year.

 

 American Legion Jersey Boys State is held at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ beginning on Fathers' Day each year.  It is a mythical 51st state where delegates who just completed their junior year in high school learn about local, county and state govenments in the week-long leadership seminar.  There are fifty Boys' States in the United States and all are sponsored by The American Legion.  The 65th session of ALJBS had an initial registration of over 862 delegates from around New Jersey and finally reached 866. 

The all-volunteer staff is comprised of a mixture of legionnaires, SAL members, former statesmen and friends of the program.  There were several SAL members on staff this year, but we could always use more.  Next year's session is June 19-24, 2011 with staff reporting on June 18th. The day that extra help is needed is on Registration Day, always on Fathers' Day, June 19th from 7:30am until around 11:00am.  For more information on joining the staff of ALJBS, please contact the Det. Boys' State Chairman, Rob Lasky at lasky@njsal.org. 
Report filed by Rob Lasky: lasky@njsal.org