To Be A Local Contest Coordinator You Must Do The Following:

1) Gather at least 100 letters of support for our troops serving overseas by Veterans Day: 11/11/04. Each letter must have an Official Entry Form filled out and attached to it. If you have received a pad of Entry Forms in the mail and would like to have more forms, these may be quick copied. Additional Entry Forms can also be downloaded from this web site.

2) Separate the letters into the 3 age categories: under 12; ages 12 through 18; and ages 19 and above. Please make sure the Entry Forms stay attached to the Entry Letters at all times.

3) Read and judge the letters and choose a winner in each age category. Letters are to begin "Dear Service Member, I just want to say thanks for . . ." and be between 100 - 200 words in length. The letters are not to be judged on proper grammar or correct spelling, but on sincerity of content. The letter that you feel expresses the most heartfelt "thanks" should be chosen as the winner in that age category. Pick the letter you would like to receive if you were currently stationed overseas. NOTE: If a letter is not legible or contains material that is obscene or negative to the military in any way, please discard the letter.  PLEASE SEE "TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE A WINNING LETTER" BELOW.

4) Mark the Entry Forms of the 3 winners and place them on top of the letters and mail ALL of the letters, no later than 11/18/04, to:

5) If your group would like to award the local winners their prizes, include the name of your group, a contact name and phone number and a mailing address where the prizes should be shipped with the Entry Letters you ship to us. If you do not send this information, the awards will be mailed directly to the local winners.

6) All local winners are automatically entered into competition for the Grand Prizes.

7.) Any questions regarding being a Local Contest Coordinator should be e-mailed to Marsha Roberts at lettersfrom@mindspring.com.