How Do I Prepare?

Though much of the ALA VGS experience will become clearer to you once you arrive, there are a few steps you can take to be more prepared for the week:

• Get plenty of rest before coming to ALA VGS. Every day is full and requires 100 percent of you, both mentally and physically.
• Realize that you need not be an expert in government to excel at Girls State. Consider VGS a learning experience and remember that you have been chosen by your high school based on your abilities and leadership skills.
• Current issues play an important role at VGS, from determining party platforms and writing bills to debating issues. Read your local paper and stay abreast of current state issues and you will be ahead of the game, particularly when campaigning for office. Issues of particular interest at Girls State are education, health care and budget concerns on city, county and state levels.
• If you plan to run for office, bring art supplies and have your VGS campaign committee help. DO NOT prepare by making campaign materials. Preparing campaign materials before you arrive at VGS is strictly prohibited.
• Know your particular sponsor before arrival.  Citizens are encouraged to write a thank-you note to the persons responsible for providing this wonderful experience to them.

• If you plan to run for office, bring art supplies and have your VGS campaign committee help. DO NOT prepare by making campaign materials. Preparing campaign materials before you arrive at VGS is strictly prohibited.
• Know your particular sponsor before arrival. Citizens are encouraged to write a thank-you note to the persons responsible for providing this wonderful experience to them.

What Do I Bring?

We have compiled a printable checklist to help serve as a guide when you pack for Girls State.

Registration Forms (bring completed forms to registration) and $25 Activity Fee
• Medical form, completed and signed by parent or guardian (no doctor’s signature is necessary), with copy of insurance card attached
• Media permission form, signed by parent or guardian
• VGS rules, signed by citizen and parent or guardian
• Samsung application
If you are eligible – please visit our Samsung info page for details and eligibility requirements.
• $25 Activity Fee

Clothing
• Six days worth of casual clothes  
You will possibly spend some time outside, so nice shorts (no cut-offs) are appropriate. If your school allows you to wear shorts, follow those guidelines for what is acceptable. Casual clothing may also include pants, nice jeans, skirts, and comfortable shoes.

• Two to three nice outfits 
You will wear these outfits for various evening activities, when we have notable speakers, or if you decide to run for office. This can include nice pants, khakis, skirts, or a casual dress or sundress. (If you bring strapless tops or dresses, please include some sort of sweater or jacket in case you are participating in VGS proceedings.)

• One to two dresses, suits, skirts, or nice pants
These should be something that you would wear to church or another special occasion. This is not semi-formal.

• A pair of khaki shorts
You will wear these shorts with your Volunteer Girls State T-shirt which you will receive upon arrival at Girls State. This is your VGS uniform and will be worn for your VGS photo.

• Work out or gym wear including shorts, t-shirt, and gym shoes
This is for the VGS Olympics festivities.

• Shoes
Since citizens will walk from activity to activity,  comfortable shoes are a necessity. You should bring shoes for your less casual outfits and tennis shoes for VGS Olympics. Shower shoes or flip-flops will come in handy in the dorm.

• Sleepwear
You will need sleepwear for six nights. There will be night meetings in dorms where loungewear will be appropriate.

Toiletries and Other Personal Items
Please note that there are community showers on the dorm floors.

• Shower caddy
• Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
• Towels and washcloths
• Robe
• Flip-flops for the showers
• Bed linens – Bring twin-sized extra-long sheets, a warm blanket and/or comforter and a pillow.  Please note that the air-conditioned dorm rooms can get very cool at night.

• Necessary medication prescribed by your physician or over-the-counter medication that you take on a regular basis or take occasionally (i.e. Advil or Tylenol)

Miscellaneous items
• Umbrella and/or a rain jacket
• Sweater or jacket for cool, air-conditioned meeting rooms
• Alarm clock
• Musical instrument(s) – The Chorus provides opportunities to play during musical presentations.
• Clothes hangers – Each room provides hanging space and drawer space for storing clothing.
• Camera
• Pens, pencils and notebook paper
• Tote bag or backpack – You will be walking from activity to activity and may want to carry personal items and your notebook with you.
• Snacks, if you choose
• Water bottle, if you choose

Veterans’ Personal Care Donation
The 1998 VGS Legislature passed a resolution that requires VGS to provide community service donations each year. We have selected the Veterans Hospital in Murfreesboro as our service project. The veterans are in constant need of personal-care products.
Please bring these items (one of each) in a Ziploc-type bag: shampoo, shaving cream, disposable razor, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste. Other items the veterans need are powdered laundry detergent and reading glasses (which can be purchased in discount stores at various strengths). If you choose to bring these items, pack them in a separate bag.

Money
Though your sponsorship fee covers the expense of your meals and accommodations, please consider the following when deciding the amount of extra money to bring:

• $25 Activity Fee
This fee covers the cost of your VGS t-shirt and city tax (used for items needed in your city through the week) and will be payable at registration.
• Food
All of your meals are covered by your sponsorship fee. However, some meals will take place at the MTSU Grill. For these meals, VGS will provide $6.00 toward each citizen’s meal, and each citizen will be responsible for any overages. You may also want to bring change for snack vending machines located in dorm buildings.
• Bookstore
You will have the opportunity to purchase items from the VGS Bookstore. Items may include sweatshirts, t-shirts, shorts, and other souvenirs. Prices range from $0.50 to $50.00. The bookstore also accepts checks and credit cards. 
• Keys
Please note that all citizens are encouraged to lock dorm rooms with a key provided by MTSU. If a citizen loses her key, MTSU charges approximately $60.00 to the citizen.

Unnecessary items
Do not bring the following items, which are unnecessary during your stay at VGS:
• Refrigerators
• TVs
• Laptops or other computers (no wired/wireless Internet connection or printer access available)

While You Are at ALA VGS

Counselors
Volunteer Girls State staffs each city with four to six counselors (all previous citizens of varying ages) who serve as mentors, facilitators, and chaperones for the week. Counselors also facilitate every event and assembly. Aside from being good sources of information because they all have experienced VGS as citizens, counselors are uniquely qualified to lend a hand when you need it. 

Health Issues
VGS has a registered nurse on staff to address minor medical issues. Because it is a strenuous program, we are not prepared to manage health concerns that will limit your full participation. 

VGS Rules
The safety of our citizens and staff is of the utmost importance to the VGS organization. To ensure a safe and effective learning environment, staff and counselors utilize and enforce these guidelines, among others:

• No citizen of VGS is permitted to leave the MTSU campus after registration, except in the case of an emergency.
• No citizen of VGS, counselor or staff member is allowed to be on campus alone.
• Citizens will show respect and pledge the American flag and show reverence to God and country.
• Citizens may not have visitors while at VGS.
• Because all citizens are under the age of 18 and MTSU is a non-smoking facility, smoking is prohibited while at VGS.
• Do not prepare for VGS by making campaign materials. Preparing campaign materials before you arrive at VGS is strictly prohibited.
• Please see below for the VGS cell phone and electronic communication policy.
• All citizens, counselors and staffers will be treated courteously, with respect and cooperation.

Assemblies and Meetings
As stated above, you’ll have the opportunity to listen to speakers during assemblies. It is important to treat these assemblies, speakers and your fellow citizens who run for office with respect, as each speaker has important information to present to you. In addition, your counselors will review proper flag etiquette and other guidelines prior to your first assembly.

Safety
While at VGS, the security and safety of our citizens is the top priority. Each citizen will be part of a group receiving continual supervision from a team of counselors and staff. No citizens are ever allowed to walk alone on campus to any activites, day or night. MTSU provides front desk security in each dorm and monitors dorm access with security cameras. In addition, MTSU police are present as we walk to and from group events.  

Organization of ALA Volunteer Girls State
In order to provide citizens as much of a “real-world” government experience as possible, ALA Volunteer Girls State is organized as follows:

• Each citizen is assigned to one of two fictional political parties (Nationalists and Federalists).
• Each of 12 dorm floors in two dorm buildings represents a city, comprised of approximately 40 citizens and four to six counselors.
• There are six counties, each comprised of two cities, and six senatorial districts, each comprised of two different cities.
• All counties together make the state of Volunteer.
• To maximize the experience, citizens from the same high school or family are placed in different cities. 

Election process
To actualize the city, county and state governments, citizens can run for various offices. Examples of the offices for which you can run are:

• City government – mayor, city councilwoman, city judge
• County government – county mayor, county councilwoman
• Party politics – party delegate, party chairwoman
• State government – legislator (senator/representative), Supreme Court justice, governor 

Other Activities
To complement the government aspect of VGS, the organization provides several fun, more relaxed activities during the week. These include: 

• VGS Olympics – Made up of various sports and activities for both the serious and novice athlete alike, VGS Olympics is a fun, fast-paced competition.
• Fast Song – More details of this singing competition will be available once citizens arrive at Girls State, but Fast Song gives each city the opportunity to utilize both the creative and organizational talents of its citizens.
• Girls State Jeopardy – During this game-show-type competition, citizens can showcase what they’ve learned throughout the week.
• VGS Chorus – Citizens can audition for the VGS Chorus. Three citizens from each city are selected to join this special group and will participate in many of the VGS assemblies and special events. 

Communication

Contacting ALA VGS
Prior to the week of Girls State, the best way to contact the organization is to submit any questions you have to us via our contact page. We will respond as soon as possible.

While at VGS, you may purchase stamps, mail letters, and receive mail at the VGS post office. Your address at VGS is:

Your Name
c/o Volunteer Girls State
Corlew Hall
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Cell Phone and Electronic Communication Policy
You may use cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and MP3 players in your dorm room during break times. These breaks will be rare since the program is packed with activities. Cell phones, PDAs – either for calls or text messaging – and iPods or other MP3 players will not be allowed in assemblies, meetings or other activities, including walking between activities. Phones are not available in the dorm rooms, but MTSU phones can be made accessible for emergency situations. Internet and e-mail access will neither be available nor necessary to enjoy the week.

"While I
met some amazingly, incredible, strong women
this week,
I truly feel
as if
I met
myself
this week."

Sevier City citizen