THE WEEK THAT SHAPES THE FUTURE!
Sons of The American Legion
Detachment of New Jersey
NJ Boys State Committee
Committee Report
April 10, 2021
My fellow Comrades,
The 2021 session of NJ Jersey Boys State will be a joint session of both senior class and junior class students. NJ Jersey Boys State Corporation President Ted Howarth conveyed to this committee that the NJ Jersey Boys State organization is currently planning an in-person session for June 20th to 25th at Ryder University with an anticipated 1400 students. Senior, class of 2021, students may attend but are restricted from running for and holding the office of Senator due to National Boys State by-laws restriction that senators must be students of their junior year.
The NJSAL Detachment currently has credit for the three (3) positions paid for from the postponed 2020 session but delegates have not yet been assigned to these positions.
The Department's NJ Boys State County Chairmen representing Sussex, Union, and Warren Counties, as well as NJ Boys State President Howarth, were contacted and informed on Detachment's request for a delegates. The three County Chairmen explained that the schools are just now starting to return but no delegates have been selected. President Howarth assured Chairman Bascou that if the Department's County Chairman cannot fulfill the Detachment's request for delegates, alternates up until the time the session starts will fill the positions.
The committee is currently discussing forgoing the two (2) 2021 fiscal year delegate positions to help ease the financial burden on the Detachment due to the current COVID pandemic's effect on the Detachments' reduced membership and subsequent reduced annual income based on annual dues. This information was conveyed to the NJSAL Budget Committee at its meeting on March 7, 2021; however, the final decision will be based on this committee's need.
If you have any questions or concerns for this committee, please contact the Chairman and/or committee members Tom Marsden, PDC and Sean Howarth, PDC. For all updated information on the NJ Jersey Boys State program, please visit their website at www.ALJBS.org.
For God and Country,
Robert Bascou, PDC
Committee Chairman
2020-2021
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Previous Reports
2020 SESSION POSTPONED UNTIL 2021
Due to Covid-19, the American Legion Department of NJ along with the NJ Boys State Corporation has postponed the 2020 session of American Legion Jersey Boys State. The plans are to hold a joint session for the eligible 2020 juniors (who will then be seniors) along with the 2021 juniors. All 2020 delegate sponsorships will be held for the joint 2021 session. The names of the delegates will be due into the Department by Fall 2020. Sponsorship for the 2021 juniors will proceed as normal. There will be some changes as to how the 2021 session will proceed; however, essentially it will be a joint session with the two grades. Any fees paid for 2020 will be held for the eligible 2020 delegates. New fees are required for the 2021 delegates as usual. For more information on the joint session and for any Covid-19-related policies, procedures and updates, please visit the official ALJBS website: http://www.aljbs.org
PLEASE ENJOY SOME OF MY PAST REPORTS:
The three recipients of the William H. Breen Memorial Boys State Scholarship have been selected. For the 2019 session, Salem and Somerset Counties were represented (there were none available in Passaic so we took two from Somerset). Thanks to two counties’ recruiting efforts, three outstanding and deserving candidates were selected to represent the Detachment at ALJBS, and they represented the Detachment valiantly. Their names were: Neerah Arunkumar from Princeton who attended Montgomery High School recruited by the Somerville Post 12 in Somerset County, Kevin Lauducci from Branchburg who attended Somerville High School also recruited by the Somerville Post 12 in Somerset County and Christopher Wood from Carneys Point who attended Penns Grove High School recruited by Walker Dyer Post 181 in Penns Grove.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE THREE DESERVING DELEGATES TO AMERICAN LEGION JERSEY BOYS STATE!!!!
American Legion Jersey Boys State will be held in 2020 -- OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY! -- as usual at Rider University in Lawrenceville from Sunday, June 21st through Friday, June 26th with staff reporting on Saturday, June 20th. The three counties that we will recruit from in 2020 will be Sussex, Union and Warren. As we do this alphabetically, we begin back up to Atlantic County in 2021 and start the cycle all over again!
**QUICK UPDATE: NEW for 2019 participants - Rider UniversityRider University Agrees to Grant College Credit to ALJBS Delegates!
Good News! Through a recent agreement between The American Legion Jersey Boys State and Rider University, Rider's Institute for New Jersey Politics will grant three (3) semester hours of college credit to those who successfully complete the American Legion Jersey Boys State program and fulfill certain other requirements. This agreement is effective with the 2019 session of ALJBS and is in response to New Jersey PL 2015, C221 that was signed by then Governor Chris Christie in January 2016.
The core of this agreement requires those delegates who wish to take advantage of the college credit program to enroll in Rider University's course entitled: "POL 200, New Jersey Politics and Government." Enrollment in this course is strictly for ALJBS delegates and carries certain requirements that have to be met before credit will be granted. The majority of the course requirements is satisfied through the various readings and activities during the ALJBS session itself. Applicants must complete all aspects of ALJBS and attain at least a "B" on the ALJBS final exam. Additionally, applicants will be required to submit a final paper (memo) that outlines their experience at ALJBS.
FOR MORE DETAILS, PLEASE VISIT http://www.aljbs.org/collegecredit/
About American Legion Jersey Boys State (ALJBS):
In its 74th year, ALJBS is a week-long experience that educates and motivates New Jersey’s youth so that each statesman may become
a citizen leader dedicated to service, respect, and Americanism. Together, the delegates form the mythical “51st” state of the union each year, where they elect their own local, state, and national representatives. Activities at ALJBS include legislative sessions, general assemblies, court proceedings, athletics, band, and career seminars, among many others. All expenses associated with attending ALJBS are typically donated by a sponsoring American Legion Post, a local business, or a community-based organization. To learn more, please visit www.aljbs.org
REPORT FILED June 20, 2020
ROB LASKY (ALJBS '84)
S.A.L. DETACHMENT OF NJ ASSISTANT ADJUTANT AND BOYS STATE CHAIRMAN
ALJBS DEAN OF ADMINISTRATION EMERITUS
E-MAIL: njaljbs@alpost455nj.org