Sons of the American Revolution

Texas Society

Oration Contest
printable copy

A.  Introduction:

The information outlined below is intended to assist our TXSSAR members, chapter presidents, regional oration chairpersons, and youth committee members on how to proceed and conduct an Oration Contest.  All necessary registration, judging forms, guidelines, and rules are found by going to the National SAR Website.  A completed Permission/Release Form must also also be submitted with your entry package.

1. A contestant can choose their own subject centered on pre, during, or post Revolutionary War subject material.
2. Open to 9th through 12th graders.
3. Speech must be at least 5 minutes but no longer than 6 minutes.

B.  There are 4 basic phases to the Orations Contest:

1. First, there is a contest conducted at the Chapter level.  A winner is selected on the judging criteria as set forth by the SAR National requirements on their web site.  This contest is conducted any time between October 1 and December 31st.  It is suggested this contest be conducted on a Sunday afternoon at a library, church, or other location which is available to you.  The Oration leader should try to coordinate a date and time with the local school (public, private, religious, or home school representative) which best works for you and for THEM.  The chapter should consider their schedule and work around their needs.  Definitely, a better response for possible candidates will come forth.  Registration forms are available on the National SAR web site.  The chapter can establish their own reward, i.e. cash, bond, or other form of your choice.
2. Second, there is a Regional Contest arranged by the Regional Chairman representing your chapter along with other possible chapters in your region.  Please refer to the attachment for a list of regions.  The Regional Chair sets up this contest location and arrangements for judges and space.  This contest is conducted between January 5th and February 28th.  The judging rules, which are the same, and necessary forms are located on the National SAR web site.  The Regional Chair can work with the appropriate chapters in the Region to establish a form of reward and expenses for travel if necessary.
3. Third, there is the Texas State Contest held usually during the month of March at the State Convention on a Saturday during the noon luncheon.  The awards and expense policy provided by the State are listed below.  The first place winner goes to National.  The Texas Society of the War of 1812 uses the second place winner as their first place winner with a designated cash award.
4. Fourth, the final contest conducted by the National SAR is held at the Annual Congress, which generally takes place towards the last week in June and the first week in July.  The location will vary from year to year.

C.  Summary of National SAR Oration prizes:

D.  Helpful Suggestions in locating viable Contestants:

1. Contact the local school Speech Teachers directly.  Principals are too busy.
2. Contact not only public schools but private, religious, and home schools.
3. We have found sometimes that churches know of members who are home schooling.
4. Find out what day, week works best for them and the students to hold your Chapter Contest.  There are many activities surrounding the students:  UIL, State, and Local functions.  Try to stay clear of those days or weekends.
5. Sometimes weekends, especially Sunday, will be better than a weekday.  Even though you might want to do the competition the night of your normal meeting, it might not be workable for the student.
6. Hold the competition at a local library, church, or civic location.  Most libraries have a small and larger conference room.
7. Some schools (public, private, or religious) will provide a room.
8. Check with your local newspaper.  They will have some contacts within the various types of schools in your area.  Sometimes they also know the contact person.
9. Your local DAR might also have contacts in the schools, so check with them.

E. Statement of Commitment:

This form is used to secure the commitment that the chapter-winning contestant will move forward and compete in the Texas Regional, State Contest, and the National SAR contest.  We had an occasion where a chapter contestant had changed their mind after winning due to more attractive events.  This is unfair to the follow-up second place contestant.

“We welcome you, your family, and your teacher to be part of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Rumbaugh Oration Contest.  Through this competition, the SAR has provided a program by which students can enter an Oratorical Contest for the benefit of obtaining scholarship awards.  The event begins at the Chapter (local) level and will evolve through a Regional Contest, a State Contest, and a final contest at the National Level.

In order to conduct a contest of this type, it is necessary for the participant to commit to and be able to follow through with the chapter, the regional, the state, and eventually participation at the National level.  We ask that you recognize a posture of fairness in accepting the responsibility of this commitment.  We asked that you consider the rights of the other contestants who are entering the contest with the anticipation of being able to win.  A last minute withdrawal is not fair to the other contestants, the local chapter, or to TXSSAR.  Should the winning contestant withdraw for any reason from the competition, any awards or prizes received are required to be returned."

________________________________________________________________________________
I, (your signature)                        , acknowledge this commitment                                          Date

________________________________________________________________________________
Parent or Guardian signature                                                                                                  Date

F.  Guidelines for Conducting an Oration Contest including TXSSAR policy, travel, and awards:

Please contact chapters in your region as rapidly as possible for promoting this coming year’s competition.  The following are suggested deadlines in order to meet the requirements for our State competition.

Notes/Suggestions:

1. Asking your local contacts “what is best for them” will provide an opportunity for a better turn out of students for the contests.
2. Some regions might have their competition later than the above date, that just might happen; however, please be aware that students will be competing in University Interscholastic Events (UIL) during January and February.
3. Regional Chairmen must have their entries certified to the State Chairman by March 10th, 2012.
4. Local chapters belonging to a given Region are encouraged to financially support the Regional Contestant's travel to the State Annual Meeting.

Travel Expenses:

The Regional Oration Contest winners will be reimbursed according to the Travel and Convention Expense Allowance schedule for travel to the Texas State Oration Contest.

Regional winners are responsible for any/all other costs including additional meals.  If there are any questions about reimbursements, please contact the Chairman of your respective contest.

The Texas Society, Sons of the American Revolution will award these scholarships at its Annual Meeting on March 22 through 25, 2012:

1. For 1st place - $1,500.  The winner of the contest will be the Robert F. Ritchie Winner of the Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest.  In addition, the winner will receive an Olympic Size Medal.
2. For 2nd place - $500 and a Certificate (will be supplemented by a $500 cash award from the War of 1812 Society).
3. For 3rd place - $300 each and a Certificate.
4. For 4th place - $200.
5. For 5th place - $100.
6. For 6th place - $100.

Students will be given a letter of commitment from the TXSSAR in the appropriate amount.  When the student enrolls in a community or senior college or university, the student presents the letter to the financial aid office.  The financial aid office will contact the TXSSAR and the money in the approved amount will be sent directly to that institution as credit against the student’s tuition account.  The student will not receive a check at the convention.  PLEASE INSURE THAT THE WINNER IN YOUR REGION IS AWARE OF THIS SO THAT THERE WILL BE NO MISUNDERSTANDING.

These scholarship funds and travel funds are paid from the TXSSAR Col. Joe M. Hill Patriot Fund.

The State Society will provide the following for the State winner to compete at the 122nd NSSAR
Annual Congress July 6 through July 11, 2012, at Phoenix, AZ.

The winner will receive reimbursement for his expenses to travel to and from their location, including a room at the convention hotel up to a maximum of $1,000 upon presentation of receipts to the State Treasurer.

The National SAR scholarship awards are listing on the National SAR web site.

G.  Chapters assigned to the Six Regions including the Regional Chairpersons:

Consolidated Table of Regions in TXSSAR Rumbaugh Oration Contest Purposes

H.  Texas SAR Oration Contact Chairperson:

Peter H. Rowley
Email:  ewfarm87@airmail.net
Cell Phone:  214-533-9981