Gainesville-Northeastern Bar Association, Georgia Contact: James E. Mahar, Jr., President Gainesville-Northeastern Bar Association P. O. Box 1457, Gainesville, GA 30503-1457 Activity Summary: Students in Grades K-3 participated in a poster contest in which there were 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards for each grade level. The contest was judged by one of Gainesville's local judges. Students in Grades 4-6 participated in an essay contest in which there were also awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each grade level. This contest was judged by the local paper, The Times, and 1st place winners were published in The Times. Each 1st place winner and his or her teacher was an honored guest at the Law Day luncheon. Activity Narrative: The Law Day Committee sent letters to the principals of all the elementary and middle schools in Gainesville-hall County asking them to inform their teachers and students about the Poster and Essay contests. [See Appendix 1.] All posters and essays were based on this year's theme "Celebrate Your Freedom." The essays were judges by The Times, Gainesville's local newspaper, and the posters were judged by Judge Girardeau. Students in grades kindergarten through third participated in the poster contest. The top three winners of both the Kindergarten and First Grade Poster Contests were all Enota Elementary School students. From Miss Braff's kindergarten class, Alexandra Hayes won first place; Franco Quintero won second place; and Asheley Brownlee won third place. For the first grade contest, Kaniesha Stovall won first place; Kate Valpey won second place; and Lauren Dalton won third place. The top three winners for the Fourth Grade Essay Contest are all Riverbend Elementary School students. Tori Ivey won first place; Bushra Masoon won second place; and Casey Harrison won third place. The top three winners of the Fifth Grade Essay Contest are all Fair Street Elementary School students. Will McAbee won first place; Tony Neidenbach won second place; and Brent Benson won third place. In total, there were 63 entrants into the Essay Contest. Fortunately, all of the winners of both contests (with the exception of one child who was sick) were able to attend the Law Day Luncheon with representatives from their respective schools. During the Law Day Luncheon, all the posters of the thirty-six entrants into the Poster Contest were displayed along the wall of the banquet area for the benefit of the attendees. All of the students and teachers in attendance were very appreciative of their recognition and were able to meet Georgia's Secretary of State, Lewis Massey. The Poster and Essay Contests for this year's Law Day activities were an unqualified success. This combined event was so good that it helped the Gainesville-Northeastern Bar Association win the State Bar of Georgia's Award for the Best Law Day in the State and its Award for Best New Entry in the State Competition. APPENDIX 1 Dear _________________________: As part of the nationwide celebration of Law Day on Thursday, May 1, 1997, the Gainesville-Northeastern Bar Association is sponsoring several activities in which we invite you and your students to participate. These activities are outlined below: I. POSTER AND ESSAY COMPETITION Grades K-3: A poster contest in which there will be first, second and third place awards for each grade level. This contest will be judged by one of our local judges. Grades 4-6: An essay contest in which there will be first, second and third place awards for each grade level. The Bar Association is attempting to have the winning essays judged by The Times and published in a future edition of The Times. The theme for Law Day 1997 is "Celebrate Your Freedom." A brief discussion of law Day Facts and the meaning of this year's theme is enclosed. Any student who wishes to participate in a contest should direct his or her poster or essay toward this theme. In doing so, students are encouraged to incorporate the purpose of Law Day, which is to call the attention of American citizens to both the principles and the practice of American law and justice, and to reflect on our legal heritage, the role of law in our society, and the rights we enjoy under the Constitution. All posters should be drawn on a standard sheet of poster board or foam board of a similar size. Any further details regarding the poster are left to the creativity of the student. The essays must be 350 words or less and may be handwritten so long as they are legible. Scott Ball at Smith, Gilliam and Williams is coordinating the poster and essay contests. All entries must be received in his office on or before Wednesday, April 16, 1997. Mr. Ball's office is located on the second floor of the old Coca-Cola Building at 301 Green Street, N.W. Mr. Ball has indicated that he would be happy to pick up any posters or essays from your school on or before April 16 if you so desire. Please call him in advance at 536-3381 if you have any questions or if you would like for him to pick up your school's entry. Each first place winner and his or her teacher will be honored guests at the Law Day luncheon to be held at 12:00 noon on Thursday, May 1, 1997, at the Georgia Mountains Center. In addition, all first, second and third place winners will receive certificates of award. II. COURTHOUSE TOURS The Gainesville-Northeastern Bar Association also will sponsor tours of the Hall County Courthouse during the weeks of April 14-18 and 21-25, 1997. These tours, which will be conducted by local lawyers, will include visits to various areas of the courthouse and, depending on trial schedules, an opportunity to observe actual courtroom proceedings. Tours will last for approximately one hour. Mike Biglow, with the Hall County Solicitor's Office, is coordinating the courthouse tours. To schedule a tour, please call Mr. Biglow by April 1, 1997 at 531-7012. Mr. Biglow will need to know when you would like to come, the age of your students and how many students will be attending. III. CLASSROOM TALKS In order to reach as many students as possible, this year we will be offering classroom talks as a part of our Law Day festivities. Members of the bar association can visit your classroom or, perhaps, a school or grade-wide assembly to discuss the legal profession, the court system or any similar topic you desire. Abb Hayes, with Hulsey, Oliver and Mahar, is coordinating the classroom talks. If you would like to schedule an attorney to visit your school or classroom, please contact Mr. Hayes at 532-6312. Thank you for involving the students and teachers of your school in this program. If you need any further information, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me or any of the other individuals listed above. Sincerely, Thomas A. Gump 1997 Law Day Chairman Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization