Saginaw County Bar Association & Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary Contact: Donald A. Gilbert, Labor and Employment Attorney Masud, Gilbert & Patterson, P.C. 4449 Fashion Square Boulevard, Saginaw, MI 48603 Activity Narrative: The Saginaw County Bar Association and Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary presented its annual Law Day Program on April 30, 1997. The majority of Law Day activities involved Saginaw County elementary, junior high and high school students. Extensive support was received by countless individuals and numerous organizations. The supporting materials below clearly reveal Saginaw County's ability to expand the public's awareness of the rule. More than 145 students participated in the Career Opportunities Program on the morning of Law Day. Theses students were representatives of twelve area high schools. The students attended the Career Opportunities Program as well as the Mock Trial program conducted in the Saginaw County Circuit Courts with their teacher and attorney advisor. All students were provided a complimentary ticket to the Law Day Banquet that was held the evening of Law Day. The Saginaw County Law Day program has formed a number of very important and significant partnerships with the community and schools. Each of the schools participating in the Mock Trial program are assigned an attorney advisor. Many of the attorney advisors have worked with the teacher advisors for a period of years in a very effective and efficient manner. Additionally, as outlined in the supporting materials, numerous organizations worked in a cooperative and efficient manner to provide a very high profile Law Day program. The Saginaw County Bar Law Day program is extremely innovative, effective and of high quality. A large number of individuals have responsibilities for each of the activities associated with our program. The Steering Committee continually monitors the effectiveness and quality of each of its programs and survey the intended recipients. This program has consistently been recognized by the Michigan Lawyers Auxiliary as an award winning program. A great number of the schools in Saginaw County have come to rely on the Saginaw County Law Day program as part of its curriculum. From the coloring contest to the mock trial activities, this program has become part of the school work undertaken by elementary, junior high and senior high students. Additionally, the Speakers Bureau serves high school students as well as senior citizens. One of the benefits of these relationships is that the high schools as well as senior citizens centers call upon attorneys to speak or otherwise work with their organization during other times of the year. Extensive efforts were also undertaken to highlight this year's theme provided by the American Bar Association. In addition to the coloring contest, essay contest and poster contest which concerned the theme of "Celebrate Your Freedom," there were also a number of publications. One such article was published in the Saginaw News in the guest editorial column. The focus of that article was our Law Day activities and their importance as it relates to our freedoms and system of justice. This year, our Bar Association was extremely pleased to receive two new sponsors. The Sons of Italy, Saginaw Lodge, a charitable organization, and Exhibit A, Inc., a legal support company, both came forward to sponsor specific events. In addition to playing key roles in this year's programs, each of these sponsors have stated their intention to be involved in the future. ESSAY CONTEST Activity Summary: This year, student participants submitted an essay on the "Celebrate Your Freedom" theme. Locally, one winner was selected for each grade level. Criteria used for judging was the accuracy of information, clarity of expression, content and originality. Each winner received a $100 U.S. Savings Bond and complimentary ticket to the Law Day Banquet, as well to the winner's parent(s). The focus of the banquet was the awards and honoring of Law Day participants. Due to her enthusiastic support of children, the Steering Committee recruited Honorable Faye M. Harrison, Saginaw County Probate Court Judge, to present this year's essay winners. Target Audience: Grades six through eight Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Bar Association, Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary, Saginaw County Schools Date/Duration of Activity: Deadline was March 1, 1997. Preliminary judging occurred March 5 through March 12, 1997 with final judging taking place March 13 through March 21, 1997. SCRIPT WRITING CONTEST Activity Summary: The Script Writing Contest is the center of the entire Mock Trial competition in that it is used as the case for which high school participants compete. Criteria used for judging is originality, comprehensiveness and completeness of materials submitted, and adaptability to the video-making process. The winning entry concerned a missing social security check that resulted in a criminal prosecution. Exhibit A, Inc. Filmed the script in which the winners made their debut as actors. The students were presented with a plaque and certificate. A $100 donation was also given to the school's scholarship fund and the students' names and school appeared in the film's credits. Target Audience: Saginaw County High Schools Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Law Day Steering Committee, Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary, Saginaw County High Schools, Exhibit A Date/Duration of Activity: Deadline was February 7, 1997. COLORING CONTEST Activity Summary: Appearing in the Saginaw News during March and April was a picture of a family enjoying fireworks. Young participants were to color the picture with crayons, paints and/or markers and send it into the Saginaw News for entry. Winners were picked by random drawing. Four winners from each of the two categories were selected. Each winner received a $25 gift certificate for Toys R Us. The winning entries were displayed at the Law Day Banquet. Although the contest is for children, it promotes Law Day awareness to the public in general and to children and adults alike. Target Audience: The contest is divided into two groups; one for ages five and under and one for ages six through eight. Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Bar Association, Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary, Toys R Us, Saginaw News Date/Duration of Activity: Deadline was April 11, 1997 POSTER CONTEST Activity Summary: The Poster Contest solicits an artist's conception reflecting the Law Day theme encouraging Americans to make a commitment to work together for the improvement and protection of our justice system. Entries were placed on an 8-1/2 x 11" sheet of paper or posterboard with wording identifying the design as being associated with "Celebrate Your Freedom." Judging was based on originality, expression of theme and visual appeal. One winner from each grade level received a $100 U.S. Savings Bond and a complimentary ticket to the Law Day Banquet as well as to his/her parent(s). The winners were honored at the banquet and their posters displayed. Target Audience: Grades three through six Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Bar Association, Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary, Saginaw County Schools Date/Duration of Activity: Deadline was March 14, 1997. BILLBOARD CONTEST Activity Summary: The Billboard Contest is a reflection of the Law Day theme. The design needed to identify it as being associated with "Celebrate Your Freedom," Law Day 1997 or Law Day U.S.A., 1997. Judging was based on originality, expression of theme, visual appeal and adaptability to enlargement and reproduction to a billboard. A ninth grader was the winner of this year's contest, whose design depicted fireworks surrounding the Law Day theme. The design was displayed on three billboards throughout Saginaw County. The winner received a $100 U.S. Savings Bond and complimentary ticket to the Law Day Banquet where she was honored. Target Audience: Grades nine through twelve Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Bar Association, Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary, Saginaw County Schools, OCI Sign Company, Sons of Italy, Saginaw Lodge Date/Duration of Activity:Deadline was February 25, 1997. SCHOOL SPEAKERS BUREAU PROGRAM Activity Narrative: The School Speakers Bureau Program consists of volunteer attorneys who speak to elementary, junior high or high school students. If desired, the teachers and students have the option of selecting their speaker's topic(s). The purpose of this program is to help students become more aware of the law and law-related areas and careers. It also promotes Law Day by assisting the students in learning how our government is run and what their rights are as Americans. The program has been extremely successful and is one that has been enjoyed by the schools as well as attorney volunteers. Target Audience: All levels of students in public and parochial schools. Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Bar Association> Date/Duration of Activity: Throughout the months of April and May. SENIOR CITIZENS SPEAKERS BUREAU PROGRAM Activity Summary: Each year, the Senior Citizens Speakers Bureau has volunteer attorneys who speak at Saginaw County's nineteen senior citizens centers. Attorneys address topics such as the First Amendment, wills, power of attorney, living wills, patient advocate designations and other topics which may be requested. In an attempt to monitor the effectiveness of the program, each attorney speaker is provider a "reply card" to complete after the engagement. This helps to monitor the attendance and topics requested by the senior citizens. The program has been very successful and the seniors look forward to this event each year. Target Audience: Nineteen senior citizen centers throughout Saginaw County Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Bar Association, Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary Date/Duration of Activity:This program takes place during the months of April and May. GOLDEN APPLE AWARD Activity Summary: This award is presented to a person in the educational field who is recognized for their outstanding achievements and promotion towards education and the community. The recipient is one who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and who takes pride in going the extra mile. This year's winner was an eighth grade teacher who has a proven interest in her students' knowledge of government, judicial system, current events and social issues facing our community, and who utilizes innovative learning methods to educate her students. The recipient was provided a complimentary ticket to the Law Day Banquet where she was honored. Target Audience: The award is open to nominations on a county-wide basis of persons in the educational field. Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary Date/Duration of Activity: The recipient is honored at the Law Day Banquet. LIBERTY BELL AWARD Activity Summary: As part of the Law Day program, this award recognizes an outstanding citizen within the Saginaw community. The award is given to a person who promotes a better understanding of our government, encourages a greater respect for the law and courts, stimulates a deeper sense of individual responsibility to the end that citizens recognize their duties and rights, who contributes to the effective functioning of our institutions of government and instills a better understanding and appreciation of the law. With the exception of attorneys who are excluded from nomination, any individual who has met these requirements may be considered. This year's award recipient was honored at the Law Day Banquet. Target Audience: The award is open to nominations on a county-wide basis of persons recognized as being an outstanding citizen. Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations:Saginaw County Bar Association, Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary Date/Duration of Activity: Deadline was April 7, 1997. F.H. MARTIN MEMORIAL AWARD Activity Narrative: The F.H. Martin Award was a new addition to this year's program. The award is intended to honor an individual who made substantial contributions to the Law Day program. This year's recipient went to a co-chairperson of the Mock Trial Committee for his significant participation in and contribution towards the program for a period exceeding 23 years. This individual expended an enormous amount of time and energy to ensure that Saginaw had enough successful Law Days. He was honored at the Law Day Banquet with a plaque bearing his name. Target Audience: The award is open to nominations of any person who made outstanding contributions to the Law Day program. Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Bar Association Date/Duration of Activity: The winner was honored at the Law Day Banquet. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM Activity Summary: The Career Opportunities Program is run in conjunction with the Mock Trial Competition Program. Participating high school students and their teacher advisors arrived at the First Presbyterian Church on the morning of Law Day and were given the opportunity to receive firsthand information concerning law-related employment opportunities. Speakers who met with the students included law enforcement personnel, probation officers, court reporters, administrative law judges and others. The students were provided a complimentary snack during a morning break and then a complimentary lunch before the Mock Trial sessions began. More than 145 students and their teachers participated. Target Audience: The program is open to all students who participate in the Law Day activities. Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Bar Association, Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary, Saginaw County High Schools Date/Duration of Activity: The morning of Law Day, April 30, 1997. MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION Activity Summary: This year, twelve Saginaw County high schools participated in the Mock Trial competition. The students prepared their case with the assistance of their teacher and attorney advisors. This year's mock trial was a criminal case concerning a missing social security check that resulted in a criminal prosecution. Students competed against other participating high schools in a courtroom with a Saginaw County judge presiding. All students and their teacher advisors were provided a complimentary ticket to the Law Day Banquet. The students were honored with a certificate for their participation and achievements. As there are so many individuals involved in this activity, it is one which the community enjoys as a whole and that is eagerly anticipated each year. Target Audience: High School Students Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Bar Association, Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary, Saginaw County High Schools Date/Duration of Activity: The afternoon of Law Day, April 30, 1997. LAW DAY BANQUET Activity Summary: This year's Law Day Banquet was held at Treasure Island Restaurant on the evening of Law Day. The focus of the banquet centered on the Mock Trial participants, recipients of Law Day awards and recognized those who expended a tremendous amount of time and energy towards the Law Day program. Tickets for the banquet were $20 per person or $200 for a table of ten. Those purchasing a table had a plaque dedicated to the firm or individual. Thanks to the tremendous amount of ticket sales, donations and sponsors, every high school participant, teacher advisor and award recipient received a complimentary ticket to the banquet. Target Audience: Attorneys, high school students, teachers, volunteers, award recipients and all others who participated in the Law Day program. Cooperating/Co-sponsoring Organizations: Saginaw County Bar Association, Saginaw County Lawyers Auxiliary, Saginaw County Schools, Exhibit A, Inc. Date/Duration of Activity:The evening of Law Day, April 30, 1997. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization