FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 CONTACT:    Mary McAfee

March 9, 2010                                                                                                YLD Director

            404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865

YLD Sponsors ‘Democracy and the American Family’ Essay Contest for Georgia Students

ATLANTA – The Law-Related Education Committee of the State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division is sponsoring an essay contest for Georgia students in grades 6 through 8. Cash prizes will be awarded as follows: $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $100 for third place.

The essay topic is “Democracy and the American Family,” and the following elements should be included:

• What does democracy mean to you? Give a personal, rather than a dictionary, definition.
• How democracy applies in a family setting. For example, in what ways is a family like a democracy, and in what way is it different?
• Provide specific examples when discussing democracy and family. Examples may come from your own family or from a fictional family on TV, in a movie or in a book.

The recommended length of the essay is five paragraphs, not to exceed two typed, double-spaced pages. Essays must be submitted by e-mail or postmarked no later than April 16, 2010, to:

Rachel R. Krause

Ford & Harrison LLP

271 17^th Street NW, Suite 1900

Atlanta, GA  30363

rkrause@fordharrison.com

Entries will be judged by members of the YLD Law-Related Education Committee. For more information, contact Rachel Krause at 404-888-3824 or rkrause@fordharrison.com.

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The YLD has been strengthened over the years through guidance by the State Bar of Georgia, its Executive Committee and Board of Directors, the Supreme Court, and through dedicated service rendered by its members. In keeping with its motto of “working for the profession and the public,” the YLD has more than 25 hard-working committees that produce an array of projects and programs. Through the years, the YLD has also gained national recognition by winning several American Bar Association awards for its projects and publications.

We will be having a teacher vs. student Mission Impossible Friday after school.  The cost of admission is 5 Maverick dollars.  We will have refreshments and snacks for $1 U.S. money at the contest. 

I invite any student to come and try your luck against the reigning champions…The Teachers!

If you have not turned in all your field trip money, please do so Monday.  Monday (3/15) is the last day we can accept money. 

We would love for everyone to be able to go to Medieval Times.

got hope???

You may have heard that there is a t-shirt sales campaign going on at McClure and not know the background of the ”why”.  At McClure, we have several students dealing with significant medical issues (among those cancer and organ transplant needs).  We as a school community wanted to reach out to help those families and to show our support for them financially and visually.

Each advisement group was asked to develop a theme – one line – that would show visual support for these students as we wear the shirts, but also generate conversation about why we are wearing them.  Each advisement group submitted suggestions and the student body as a whole chose the winning theme “got hope?”

We are currently selling the t-shirts for $10 or a bracelet that says got hope? for $3.  You can purchase both as a set for $12.  All proceeds from the shirts will be given to these families to meet the additional financial needs that they are incurring.  The families may choose to give the funds to the charity of their choice if they personally don’t need the funds.  One of the families has been assisted tremendously by the Rally Foundation and may earmark the funds they receive for that organization.

This is a time where we can all step out and make a personal difference to students at our school.  We hope that you will purchase a shirt and talk to your friends and neighbors about purchasing one as well to help these families!  The shirts are on sale for the next few days and are available in black with white print, black with hot pink print and brown with turquoise print.  Checks may be made payable to McClure Middle School PTSA.

Thanks for your support!

Susan Wing, Principal