PROCESS FOR SELECTING GIRLS NATION DELEGATES
Girls Nation – An exciting, fulfilling week in our Nation’s Capitol to learn about and experience our Federal Government in action. It will be the reward for the most qualified Girls State Delegates. Girls Nation will be held in Chevy Chase, Maryland, generally starting the third weekend in July.
Activities include organizing political parties, working “in committee”, electing party and federal officials, holding a national convention, participating in Senate sessions, debating bills, learning federal government procedures, and receiving federal appointments.
The week may also include “Changing of the Guard” at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol Hill, The White House, distinguished guest speakers and a tour of the monuments.
This year Girls Nation will be held July 23-30, 2017.
Two Delegates are nominated for Girls Nation by each city, for a total of sixteen. Names of the Delegates and Girls Nation questions from the cities are to be submitted during the staff meeting on Wednesday morning. These sixteen Delegates then answer four questions selected and asked by the Girls State Director in front of the entire delegation. Following this, all Delegates vote for two they wish to represent at Girls Nation. After the Delegates votes are tallied, the results are presented to the Girls State Committee. The committee interviews the top six Delegates and makes their selection. Final selection will be announced at Inauguration and the finalists (and parents if available) will meet immediately following Inauguration to complete necessary paperwork.
City Selection: Each City will select two Girls Nation candidates. Delegates in each City elect one; Senior and Junior Counselors in each city choose one (should highly consider the vote of the Delegates in making their selection). Stress to the entire City several times during the week and right before the interview the importance of this decision.
- Have all Delegates in the City interested in attending Girls Nation wait outside the City meeting room.
- Each Delegate shall give a short speech, listing qualifications, desire to go, etc., and then be required to answer an impromptu questions chosen by the Mayor and City Council, with approval by the Senior and Junior Counselors. (Current issues are very big at Girls Nation. Direct question concerning a current issue would be very valuable).
- Conduct the proceedings as though they were actual Girls Nation interviews. Each Delegate is brought in one at a time to deliver her speech and answer the question, and then asked to remain in the room upon completion thereof.
- Make a request that none of the Delegates talk during, in between or after the interviews have taken place, so they will make an individual decision when they vote.
REMINDER: The two Girls Nation Senators selected to attend Girls Nation will be expected to return to next year’s Girls State session to assist as Junior Counselors.
DO NOT COMPETE FOR ONE OF THE GIRLS NATION POSITIONS IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND GIRLS NATION OR RETURN NEXT YEAR.