Grow the Oratorical program through communication

For the past 80 years, The American Legion’s Oratorical program has been educating high school youth about the history of America’s laws and how to develop a better understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

Nearly 6,000 youth nationwide participate in the contest at the post, district and department level. But let’s grow participation because it’s a premier program of ours. So as we embrace another school year and prepare for the 2018 Oratorical Contest, let’s focus on bringing greater awareness to the program.

During the Legion’s 19th annual National Americanism Conference in late September, Oratorical chairmen gained insight on how to accomplish this thanks to a relationship with the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA).

The concept of connecting and communicating with speech and debate leaders in the community to build a relationship was the advice NSDA’s Director of Community Engagement Steve Schappaugh referenced to conference attendees. Schappaugh delivered a contact list of NSDA’s volunteer leaders in its 111 districts nationwide to initiate communication.

"Reach out to them and start talking with them about how you can fold them into your (Oratorical) program and get more students involved," he said. "Make that connection and talk to them about the ease of participation in your Oratorical Contest."

The ability for Schappaugh to provide the contact list was thanks in part to the relationship formed in 2010 between The American Legion and NSDA.

"The mission of NSDA is to connect, support and inspire a diverse community committed to empowering students through competitive speech and debate," he said. "The American Legion Oratorical Contest is an opportunity for us to connect students to competitive speech and debate. The scholarships you provide are an opportunity for us to support and inspire students through competitive speech and debate. You can see with the mission of the organization why it is so critical for us to work with The American Legion to help provide opportunities to our students."

NSDA has 150,000 students as members and 5,500 educators who are NSDA coaches. "It would be amazing if every coach we had would bring one student to The American Legion Oratorical Contest," Schappaugh said. "I attended the national contest last year and I was blown away by what I saw with how the tournament was run, the volunteers and the students who participated."

Through the relationship, the top three finishers in the Legion’s National Oratorical Contest qualify to enter into NSDA’s original oratory or United States extemporaneous speaking category at its national competition.

"That’s how special our relationship is with The American legion. We would not let students come to our national tournament if we did not think they were worthy of that distinction of honor," Schappaugh said. "And we think the process that you have put in place merits that type of consideration for the students who make it to the top three at your contest."

For the NSDA contact list, contact your department Oratorical chairman. www.legion.org/departments