CLICK HERE to access the information sheet that needs to be filled out for each applicant.
CLICK HERE for the 2023 Girls State Transportation Charter Bus Waiver Form.
2023 INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Location: Texas Lutheran University – Seguin, TX
Dates: Sunday, June 18, 2023 – Saturday, June 24, 2023
Fee: $425.00 per delegate (does not include transportation to and from Girls State)
MILITARY ACADEMIES
They must be junior girls and we are also looking for junior girls that are wanting to attend a Military Academies (if they want to go to one of the Military Academies must have Girls State on their resumes) or girls that are interested in Government and who are members of a debate class at their school (if you don’t belong to a debate class that will not keep you from going to Girls State).
PURPOSE
The purpose of American Legion Auxiliary Texas Bluebonnet Girls State is to educate young women in the duties, privileges, rights, and responsibilities of American citizenship. We teach that a well-informed, intelligent, participating citizenry serves to protect and preserve our American institutions and democracy. Girls State is a mythical 51st State in which its citizens organize their own city, county, and state governments. The young citizens “learn by doing.”
THE PROGRAM
Each day is carefully planned so that each student will have a part in the function of Girls State and the opportunity of learning for herself that her government is what she makes it. A visit to the State Capitol is included which offers an opportunity to assemble in the halls of our legislative bodies and meet state officials. The entire program is non-partisan — the “National” and “Federal” political parties organized during the session are purely mythical and for the sole purpose of enabling the students to set up their own city, county, and state governments, using the existing constitution and laws as guides.
ELIGIBILITY
● Eligibility is limited to any female student currently enrolled in the junior or third year of senior high school. All Texas high schools are eligible whether public or private.
● Students may not participate in more than one session of Girls State as citizens.
● Participation in Girls State is not confined to daughters of members of the American Legion Auxiliary.
● A student whose religion does not permit her to pledge allegiance to the U.S. flag is not eligible to attend.
● Students must be able to participate in all scheduled activities.
● The Girls State Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any application for citizenship in Girls State.
● To qualify for a certificate and pin, the student must attend the entire session. She may not leave the campus except on scheduled trips of the entire group.
● All registration materials sent to a student and her parent/guardian by Girls State must be completed and submitted in a timely manner or the reservation will be cancelled without refund of fee.
SELECTION OF STUDENTS
● The basic qualifications for Girls State citizenship are leadership, citizenship, scholarship, and character. Selection should be based on these qualifications rather than on a single achievement such as excellence in scholarship or proficiency in athletics.
● Selection should be determined by nominations from the faculty of the school attended by the candidate and approved by a school official. Please do not select a student and request the school to approve.
SPONSORSHIP
● The fee to reserve a spot may be funded by an ALA unit, school, or any interested community organization.
● Under no circumstance shall a student or her parent/guardian/family pay the registration fee.
● The cost for the entire session is $425.00 exclusive of transportation to and from Seguin. The Bus Fee to Sequin will be $85.00 per delegate and the bus will be furnished by the American Legion Auxiliary 22nd District.
● An alternate delegate should be selected in the event the student who is chosen is unable to attend.
● Each student, if invited, is EXPECTED to appear before her sponsoring group and describe her experiences at Girls State after the session.
● Students should not be instructed to return from Girls State with “high honors” or election to a particular office.
REGISTRATION DATES
● February 1, 2023 – May 1, 2023 Reservations open for ALA Unit 77. Reservation Forms post-marked earlier than February 1st will not be accepted NO PHONE PHOTOS WILL BE EXCEPTED.
● February 15, 2023 – May 1, 2023 Reservations open for schools to reserve spots directly. ALA Unit 77 does support schools going direct to the Department Girls State Committee.
REGISTRATION RULES
● No more than 6 students from any single school may be registered.
● A school may be sponsored by an ALA unit in an adjacent city or district if no unit within close proximity participates.
● A school may register for delegate spots directly without ALA sponsorship.
● An ALA unit may sponsor a home school student if she meets all eligibility requirements and qualifications.
● Reservations tend to fill up quickly. If reservations are full, you will be notified, and your reservation will be added to a waitlist. As spots become available, reservations will be moved from the waitlist in the order received.
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS/PROCESS
● Mail Fee and completed “Reservation Form” to American Legion Auxiliary Dept Headquarters in Austin. Upon receipt, the Girls State Registrar will send to you “Delegate Information Forms” for the number of spots reserved. Please do not notify a student of her selection until you have received a “Delegate Information Form” as this form verifies that space is available for the student.
● Complete the “Delegate Information Form” for each student and return to the Girls State Registrar. Be sure all email addresses provided on the form are accurate and legible. This form must be signed by a School Official.
● Upon receipt of the “Delegate Information Form”, Girls State will email the student and her parent/guardian directly with a link and instructions for completing the registration process on-line.
● With-in a few days of the student completing and submitting the on-line registration form, she will receive a “Girls State Citizen Instruction Packet” via email. These instructions will also be sent to the parent/guardian.
● The parent/guardian will receive an additional, separate email to electronically fill out and sign a health information form, a travel form, a media release, and a waiver of claims.
● Once all the above items have been completed, the student will be fully registered for the Girls State program. CANCELLATIONS
● Contact the Girls State Registrar by phone or email to cancel a reserved spot or delegate. Cancellations must be followed up in writing. Any cancellation on or before May 15th, 2023 will receive a full refund.
● Cancellations after May 15th, 2023 will receive a two-thirds refund so long as the Girls State session opens with 500 delegates.
● No-shows are not eligible for a refund.
PREPARING YOUR DELEGATES FOR GIRLS STATE
● Provide delegates with your contact information in the event they have questions or need to cancel their participation.
● Work with your delegates to arrange for transportation to and from Seguin. Transportation must be provided by the unit, school, or parents. Girls State does not provide transportation, including transportation to or from area airports.
● Encourage delegates to visit the Girls State website (www.girls-state.org) for additional information including an overview of the program, the schedule of events and packing suggestions.
● Do not tell a delegate that she may leave the program early to attend another camp or that she may leave the program to attend another event and then return to Girls State as full-time participation is required.
● Contact the Girls State Registrar or a member of the ALA Girls State Committee with questions.
● Two citizens from the 2023 session of ALA Texas Girls State will be selected to attend ALA Girls Nation in Washington DC. To be eligible to attend, the delegate may be required to provide proof of citizenship or legal residency.
BETTY R. MANBECK, GIRLS STATE CHAIRMAN
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 77
PO BOX 41883
HOUSTON, TX 77241-1883
713-201-5271