Officers Sidney Shouse President Silas M. Noel Director Kent Hart Secretary/Treasurer Parvin Gibbs Dean of Counselors Board of Directors Ron Perry Bill Krebs Dearl Kinster Bill Moser Adrian Cooper Jim Johnson		The American Legion Department of Kentucky Announces the 68th Anniversary
	Visitors and Mail Visitors are welcome at Kentucky Boys, State. We ask those who plan visits to please respect the amount of time that the boys have and do not leave the Boys State area. For any exceptions, please contact the Director. All mail should contain the boy’s full name and address. Please address their mail: C/O Kentucky Boys State Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center 4675 State Route 181 N, Greenville, KY 42345 Telephone calls are discouraged during the scheduled activities but the headquarters staff will deliver messages Emergency Telephone number is: 270-338-8800 Visit our WEB site at www.kylegion.org then select Boys State.
			June 15th to June 20th, 2008 Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center Greenville, KY

Eligibility and Selections of Candidates Only those boys who have completed their junior year in high school (11th grade), who have one complete year of academic work to finish and who are enrolled in an accredited Kentucky high school are eligible. Only individuals with good moral character, good grades and the voluntary willingness to abide by the rules and regulations need apply. The administrative staff of Boys State reserves the right to reject the application of any candidate or to send any boy home for infractions of any rule or regulation. Each applicant must be recommended by his high school principal, vice principal, or counselor, with final approval from the sponsoring American Legion post. All enrollee questionnaires, medical forms and fees must be received by The American Legion, Department of KY Headquarters no later than May 1, 2008 in order for an applicant to be accepted to the 2008 session of Boys’ State. Fees will be returned for no shows. The following eligibility requirements have been adopted by the Board of Directors. Each candidate must be enrolled as a full time student in an accredited Kentucky secondary school (Public, private or home schooled) and must be scheduled to graduate in the year 2008. Candidates must possess outstanding qualities of leadership, character and scholarship. Selection should be on the following basis: Leadership 50% Character 25% Scholarship 25% 3.. Additional qualities considered in the selection of citizens are mental alertness, physical fitness, enthusiasm for the program, pleasing personality. Honesty, trustfulness and the ability to get along with others. Boys who have previously attended Kentucky Boys’ State are not eligible to return as citizens.

Sponsors The sponsor’s fee is $185.00 per boy. This fee helps pay for the basic expenses such as meals, lodging, insurance and Boys’ State shirts while the boys are attending Kentucky Boys’ State. It does not cover the cost of transportation to and from and personal expenses. The fee must accompany the application, medical form and enrollee questionnaire. Any organization, church or club may sponsor a delegate to Kentucky Boys’ State. The American Legion, Department of Kentucky is the host organization and acts as a clearing agency for the delegates. Organizations may work with the local American Legion post and the Boys’ State Chairman. Time and Place The 2008 session of Kentucky Boys State will be held on the grounds of the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center, 4675 State Route 181 North, Greenville Kentucky. You may start checking in at noon Sunday, June 15, The first meeting starts at 4:00 pm (Central Standard Time) Sunday. Please be in your room by 3:00 pm. Your first meal will be served at 6:00 pm. The 2008 session ends on Friday, June 20th. Recreation Athletic activities and competitive sports are organized to occupy the recreational periods. Each boy is encouraged to participate in the athletic program. Volleyball, softball, tennis, basketball and swimming are some of the activities. The activities are under the supervision and control of athletic directors. Boys are cautioned that the primary purposes of this program is educational and not athletic. The pool of applicants will be limited to 100 candidates

The History of Kentucky Boys’ State

Early in 1935 a few prominent Illinois Legionnaires met to discuss a new youth program which would teach the lessons of good citizenship. The first Boys State, held at the Illinois Fairgrounds in Springfield in June, 1935 was the result of this discussion and planning. Two hundred boys were enrolled in the initial Boys State. At the 17th National Convention of The American Legion, held in September, 1935, The American Legion embraced the Boys State as a national Program for youth. The Boys’ State Conference is held annually at the national Headquarters in Indianapolis.

The first session of Kentucky Boys’ State was held on the campus of Western Kentucky State College, Bowling Green, KY, August 4th through 10th, 1940. Since the initial session, over 20,000 outstanding Kentucky young men have had the opportunity to attend these sessions and learn first hand about democratic government, As a result of the tremendous success of the Boys State program, in 1946 The American Legion originated the Boys Nation Program. This program selects two outstanding participants from each of the Boys’ State programs to attend Boys’ Nation, an extension of the state-level experience but at the national level.

Kentucky Boys State is

A program designed to train Kentucky youth in the fundamentals of good citizenship and governmental operations. It is not intended that the program take the place of the curriculum in civics or government as taught in the schools of the commonwealth. It is planned so participants may put into practice the theories of American Government through the actual operation of city, county and state offices, as organized under the plans of this mythical 51st state. The program’s purpose is to develop a constructive attitude toward our form of democracy. To install a firm belief that our system of social control is not an old, outmoded idealism but a workable efficient system that needs only intelligent, alert and informed citizens and honest administration to make it the effective instrument of protection and regulation visualized by our forefathers. To accomplish this purpose there must be training, not only in theory of government but its actual practice and administration. The sponsors believe that a prepared and trained youth will more effectively preserve and perpetuate our precious heritage and more readily assume the trust and responsibilities that go with American Citizenship.

The Program

As active citizens of Kentucky Boys’ State the student citizens receive comprehensive training in the practical aspects of city and state government by actually performing the necessary functions themselves. In effect the program consists of a mythical 51st state and functions so during the entire session. Every citizen is urged to become involved by campaigning for a city or state office. Above all he is expected to demonstrate his ability to live effectively with other Kentuckians as good citizens.

Within the political framework there are eight mythical cities. When a candidate is accepted as a citizen of Kentucky Boys’ State he is assigned to a city and a political party. He will be identified with these political subdivisions throughout the entire program. It should be understood that the selection and assignment of citizens to political parties in no way connected with existing political parties in Kentucky. Thes parties are purely mythical, the Federalist and the Nationalist. Time does not permit additional political parties. The member of each party develop their platform without interference, except that adult counselors experienced in government are present as advisors only. Kentucky Boys’ State cities are usually named after prominent Legionnaires of The American Legion of Kentucky as a tribute to the unselfish services rendered to Kentucky Boys’ State and to The American Legion.

Political Office Every citizen of Kentucky Boys’ State should be determined to aspire for elective or appointed office. He therefore should take an active part in the primary caucus, primary and general election campaigns to insure the election of either himself or his candidate or party. It is suggested that each young man attending familiarize himself with the duties and responsibilities of the office for which he feels he is best suited. Elections will be held for the following offices on the state level: Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture and State Auditor. Elections will be held for the following city level offices: Mayor, and Councilman, House of Representatives and State Senator. Each citizen may run for only one office and only one candidate will win an office. Many important offices in government are appointed, such as Adjutant General. Medical Examinations and Services To guard against the spread of contagious disease and to make sure that each young man is capable of participating in the program (physically), each candidate must send in a medical form along with the enrollment application and parental consent for emergency medical treatment. Without parental consent we cannot consider the application. Throughout the entire session, first aid services are available with trained personnel on duty at all times. Boys are cautioned to report all injuries and illnesses to the Director. Boys State carries group insurance to cover citizens and adult counselors. Coverage is effective at the time of normal departure from point of origin. Delays en-route, other than delays caused by common carrier, void coverage. Talent Show Awards will be given for the best talent in three categories so bring whatever you need for your talent..

General Information Sponsors may be civic, fraternal or service organizations who desire to assist their local American Legion Post in promoting this training program. The fee is $185 per enrollee. This fee includes room and board, insurance, medical expense and other items used by the young men. For additional information or applications, please contact: The American Legion Kentucky Boys’ State P.O. Box 2123 Louisville, KY 40201 Counselors are selected on the basis of their knowledge of government and on their desire to contribute to the knowledge of young men a broader understanding of the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. They serve without compensation and are under the direction and control of the Executive Director and Dean of Counselors. Possession of drugs, alcohol, firearms, explosives, playing cards or other gaming devices, obscene literature and the use of vulgar and profane language are strictly prohibited. Citizens who take prescribed medication must inform the director upon arrival. Young men who bring their own vehicle to Boys’ State must park the vehicle for the entire session. No citizen may leave prior to the end of the session without written permission from his parents or guardian and the approval of the Director. PLEASE, No Exceptions. Do not bring a large amount of money. Do not bring campaign material. Clothing The young men MUST bring their own sheets, blankets and pillows, towels, wash cloths, soap and toilet articles. Also, a sufficient number of shirts, jeans, shorts, socks to last 5 days. No clothing with profanity, NO Cutoffs.