Veterans of Foreign Wars
Voice of Democracy Public Speaking Contest
YOU CAN WIN $30,000!

WHO CAN ENTER:

The Voice of Democracy Program is open to students in grades 9-12 (on the Nov. 1 deadline), who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories.

HOW TO ENTER:

The deadline for submissions for the 2014-2015 program is November 1, 2014. The 2014-15 entry form will be available around March 1, 2014.

The theme for 2014-2015 is: "Why Veterans are Important to our Nation's History and Future"

Students should record their reading of the draft to a CD. The recording can be no shorter than 3 minutes and no longer than 5 minutes (plus or minus 5 seconds).

Entries begin at the Post level. Once the student creates their essay and completes burning the audio version to a CD, they can submit their typed version, CD and the Voice of Democracy entry form to their local participating VFW Post by the November 1 deadline.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Originality is worth 30 points: Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest.

Content is worth 35 points: Clearly express your ideas in an organized manner. Fully develop your theme and use transitions to move smoothly from one idea to the other.

Delivery is worth 35 points: Speak in a clear and credible manner.

THE PROCESS:

Students will give the presentation orally at local level. Then, if they win, they give it at District level. If they win there, they do it at state level. If they win there, they do it at national level. Winners receive some sort of monetary prize, possibly at each level. Initial entry would go to Greenville Post 7262 on North Ohio Street. Current contact information:

President Gail Snyder, LAVFW 7262

817 Twelfth Street

Greenville, Ohio 45331

548-9143 (home)

423-4854 (cell)

gails669@embarqmail.com

Get additional information from the Veterans of Foreign Wars at http://www.vfw.org/Community/Voice-of-Democracy/