Director/Chairman Cheryl Hovorka welcoming girls to Girls State. sheriff or deputy. If they are one of the top three scores in their county then they can be a part of the Forensic Investigation Team. This year the SD Highway Patrol, Clay County Sheriff Department, Vermillion Police Department, and the Yankton Police Department all helped out. “It [Girls State] is a great opportunity for the delegates to learn about state and local government firsthand so they can make a difference.” Every year there is an American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation which selects two girls from each ALA Girls State to spend a week in Washington, D.C. in July to learn about national government. Cheryl had the privilege of serving on the staff three different times. Cheryl served as office staff, as a counselor, and her third time she was appointed Northwestern Division ALA Girls Nation Chairman. There are six states in this division; SD, ND, MT, WY, MN, and CO. Her primary responsibility as the chairman was to serve as a liaison, to assist with any questions or concerns, and to help plan and facilitate the session. The process to prepare for each years ALA Girls State is “somewhat of a year round process.” Immediately following the session there are final reports that need to be completed for both the South Dakota American Legion Auxiliary and for the National Organization. The rooms on campus are reserved for the next session. Later on in the summer, with the help of Tiffany Newman who is Assistant Director, the brochure will be started and then shortly after the first of the year they start contacting speakers/presenters and volunteers. Application packets are then sent out to the ALA units who are responsible for selecting the delegates. After they are chosen, they submit a pre-registration form and from that information Cheryl and Tiffany email them the link to complete the online registration. The parents/ guardians receive a link to complete the online health waiver form. Once all of this data is collected Tiffany and Cheryl can start preparation for the week. This includes preparing the manual that is used throughout the week, dividing the delegates into cities, and assigning dorm rooms as well as all the other logistics for the week. 2018 ALA South Dakota Girls State Governor Calico Ducheneaux. vGIRLS STATE continued on page 17 Expert health care FOR ALL AGES Amanda Duxbury, MD, Heather Kleeman, DO, Mary Jo Olson, MD, and Anastasia Searcy, DO, Family Medicine; Chan Park, MD, General Surgery Make a personal, lifelong connection with the physicians at Sanford Vermillion. Our team specializes in preventive care, diagnosis and management of chronic conditions as well as general surgery. Call (605) 677-3700 to schedule an appointment. 018027-00342 6/17 HERVOICEvJULY/AUGUST 2018v5