Registration
ALA Illini Girls State
Registration
ALA Illini Girls State
STEP INTO LEADERSHIP
START YOUR JOURNEY HERE
The American Legion Auxiliary Illini Girls State is open to high school juniors (or home school equivalent) with an interest in learning about government and leadership. Our program offers an opportunity to grow, engage in civic education, and make lifelong friendships. To apply, please review the following guidelines and complete the application form below.
Building Leaders for Tomorrow
How to Apply
1
Register Now
Complete the application form certified by your school principal, guidance counselor, or home school administrator, verifying your leadership qualities, good character, and U.S. residency.
2
Attend Orientation
Attend an orientation sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary before the program.
3
Secure Sponsorship
Secure a sponsorship from an American Legion Auxiliary Unit. If you need help finding one, contact the Department office at 1-309-663-9366.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
AUXILIARY UNIT AND SPONSORS
Sponsoring a girl to attend ALA Illini Girls State is a great way to support the youth of your community. You can work with the high school counselor or principal to find the right girl or girls to send. This provides you with community exposure as well. Members, this is OUR program. Please take an active part in selecting your applicants.
You should also select an alternate at the time you select your applicant should your girl be unable to attend at the last minute. Qualified citizens and alternates will be accepted at ALA Illini Girls State until the opening session on Sunday evening.
Do not send a young lady just because she belongs to the American Legion Auxiliary or her family belongs. She may not be interested in attending.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUES AFTER JUNE 1, 2025. Therefore, it is important that you have an alternate in place in case of unforeseen circumstances.
The cost to send a girl is $300. You can and should send your fee in as soon as possible. There is no need to have your applicant yet. We will know you intend to send someone and will hold a spot for that girl.
There are many ways to raise money to send a girl to ALA Illini Girls State. You can hold bake sales at your post events or at a local business (i.e. bank, grocery store, physician's clinic). You can seek monetary gifts from local businesses or other organizations to sponsor the girl. Remember, you are the sponsoring Unit, so any money that you receive should go through your Unit before going to Department. If you have an interested girl, but will be unable to acquire the funds, please reach out to the Department before turning a potential citizen away. We work to match all interested delegates with a sponsoring unit.
All applications should be sent to:
American Legion Auxiliary Department of Illinois Headquarters
P. O. Box 1426
Bloomington, IL 61702-1426
Applications will be accepted until quota of participants is reached
Once you have your applicant chosen, you want to stay in contact with her. There are many orientations around the state. You should accompany your applicant to one of the orientations if possible. If that is not possible, be sure you get the orientation information to her. It is vital that she makes every effort to attend an orientation. This will give her an opportunity to ask questions about the program. It will also give the parents an opportunity to ask questions. Orientations will be given by members of the American Legion Auxiliary Illini Girls State Committee.
Check back with your applicant to be sure she has received all of the necessary paperwork from the Department Office. The Citizen and her parent/guardian will be receiving an email with instructions for accessing the necessary paperwork for completing her registration.
Some Units provide the applicant with a small gift bag of essentials like markers, construction paper, a disposable camera, or other things she may need during her week. This is not required and is up to each individual Unit.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
The purpose is to promote pride in America and to create a mythical state that the citizens will govern at the city, county, and state level.
American Legion Auxiliary Girls State is first and foremost an exercise in citizenship and leadership. In order for any government to function, it must have the active participation of its citizens. Your daughter will be actively helping to create a city, county, and state government. The delegates will be grouped into cities. Each city will be responsible for making its own laws, electing officials, and carrying out its governance. In addition, the cities are grouped into Counties, and together they form a state government and then vote as a state on who will lead them.
American Legion Auxiliary Illini Girls State is a well-known program of the American Legion Auxiliary. The staff is 100% volunteer, most are members of the ALA or are former ALA IGS citizens. The $300 fee is paid by the Auxiliary unit sponsoring the citizen or a contributing organization who has provided the fee. Each delegate brings some spending money for souvenirs, snacks, and other essentials throughout the week.
If she is the delegate and has received the official email with the registration paperwork, the Director and the sponsoring unit will need to be notified immediately. Given ample notice, we can notify an alternate who is "waiting in the wings" for the opportunity to go. If someone does not tell us before June 1st, or "just doesn't show up", the Auxiliary unit or the contributing organization forfeits the fees. You may be required to reimburse the sponsor for some or all of the cost if an alternate can not be found.
ALA Girls State delegates are women on the move . . . morning 'til night. There isn't much free time, especially at the beginning of the week. Building governments from the ground up requires a lot of time and energy. Cell phones are allowed during the day to take pictures, but the girls will only have time to call or text after the session activities are concluded for the day.
There is a counselor assigned to each city. She acts as a leader until the city government officials are elected; then she steps back and acts as advisor to the city. Along with the city mayor and other elected city officers, they are responsible for the city's behavior at all times. There are two Staff advisors assigned to each county to assist and supervise activities as well. There is at least one adult staff member with the city at all times. Counselors and Staff Advisors also sleep on the same dorm floor along with the citizens. In addition to County Staff, there are other staff members working in the ALA IGS Office, Shopping Center, Elections and the Legislative office. There are nurses on staff to handle any medical problems that might arise and a local hospital is located nearby.
The delegates are housed in two dormitories on the Eastern Illinois University Campus. The dorms are locked and access is restricted to the ALA IGS program. The delegates are issued keys to their individual rooms. No delegate will be allowed to leave campus at any time and will be either with her city or in her chosen activity at all times. The EIU Campus police also provide additional security to ensure the safety of all delegates and staff.
Everyone loves to get mail! You may write to the following address:
Delegate's Name
2151 4th Street
Lawson Hall ALA IGS_
Charleston, IL 61920
NOTE: In case of an emergency, parents can reach their daughter with messages by phoning the number
below. This number will be in effect beginning Sunday, 9:00 a.m. through Saturday, 1:00 p.m.
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY ILLINI GIRLS STATE OFFICE (24 hours a day when in session) 217-581-5131
University Police Department Number 217-581-3213
Reminder: If your call is not an emergency, girls may not receive your message for 2 to 3 hours due to the
scheduling of activities. Their time to return calls will depend upon their schedule.
We have assembled a comprehensive list of things to bring. It is recommended that girls NOT bring any expensive jewelry or electronic equipment. Please make sure your daughter brings sheets, a pillow, towels, hangers, toiletries, casual and dress clothes, and comfortable shoes (there is a lot of walking.)
You don't need to worry about meals while your daughter is attending ALA Illini Girls State. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the residence hall dining center. Menus vary daily, but there are always fresh fruits and vegetable choices, and there is a salad bar set up for lunch and dinner. Any special dietary needs or allergies should be brought to our attention when completing the registration paperwork. The sooner this paperwork is submitted, the easier it is to ensure appropriate meal options are available, particularly for the first banquet of the week.