RELIVE 2008 ILLINOIS BOYS STATE
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Saturday Update

Registration and First Experience
As the busses and cars from all over Illinois arrived at Eastern Illinois University today we mark the beginning of the 73rd annual session of Premier Boys State. After traveling from their hometowns, many spending 3 hours or more on a bus, delegates will begreeted by staff members guiding them through the registration process of county and city assignment. Each young man also will receive a white shirt and navy pair of shorts known as his Class "A" uniform. These will be worn at retreat and memorials.
Once registration is complete the young men are guided to their housing. Each city has its own floor with the different dormitories on the quadrangle. This allows for camaraderie to grow and group activities to take place. Upon arriving in their cities, delegates meet their counselors and learn that informative meetings will take place later in the day.

Model County Awards
This evening the delegates to Boys State were sworn in as citizens at their first general assembly. This was the first official step in their journey down the road of civic duty and governmental learning this week. The entire camp assembled in the Lance Gymnasium to enjoy a band concert performed by our own Boys State Band that had only been formed a few hours before.
Tonight citizens were also introduced to the Model County competition. The citizens have not yet been thoroughly explained the idea and system behind the program you can tell the know it is something to be excited about. Although the awards presented were a carryover from last years winners this served as a starting point of group teamwork for the week's contest. Below is a brief explanation of how the county competition works:
The Model County Award is made to the county which carries the best balanced program of activities during the week, and secures maximum participation by its citizens.  The winner is determined by an accumulative point system which gives recognition to various types of activities, both individual and group.
Credit is given for political activities, civic leadership, literary achievement, conduct ratings, citizenship participation, and athletic attainments.  In addition to the activities previously described, points toward the Model County Award may be accumulated by individual citizens have a bearing on the final results in this contest.

2007 Model County Winners
Overall - Geiger
West Wing - Savage
East Wing - Hayes

Boys State is a new experience for me. I’d been to leadership outings before, but nothing like this. Other leadership workshops taught leadership skills through the same old exercises. At Boys State, however, you are thrown into the action almost as soon as you get here. You learn to make new friends, campaign, speak publicly, and do work. I’ve done things in these first few days that I never thought I was capable of, especially since I’ve never been much of a people person. Boys State is a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.


Anthony Paneral
Savage County, Nooner City
Berwyn, IL
St. Laurence High School - Burbank, IL

Boys State has, thus far, been nothing but a great experience. I have been learning the way that city, county, and state governments work while at the same time having fun. I have been able to develop many good friendships with the other citizens as well as some of our counselors. Boys State has taught me some of the responsibilities that will be necessary to become a successful leader in the future.


Matt Hussey
Mahoney City, City Clerk - Hayes County
Morris Community High School - Morris, IL

 
 
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