PAGE 212 • 2024 STATE TECHNICAL STANDARDS CONTEST: CONTEST: OPENING & CLOSING CEREMONIES OPENING & CLOSING CEREMONIES CONTINUED CONTINUED Official SkillsUSA Championships Opening and Closing Ceremonies: Opening Ceremony The officers will walk in from the outside entrance to their respective places and remain standing. President: (Raps twice with gavel.) The meeting will come to order. The thought for the day will be given by the (designated officer). Designated Officer: (Gives the thought for the day at the speaker’s stand and returns to his or her seat.) President: (Raps gavel once to seat the officers.) The emblem is symbolic of the SkillsUSA organization. You are about to witness the emblem ceremony, in which the meaning of each component of our emblem will be given and the significance of the colors described. (Raps gavel once, calls for Mister or Madame Parliamentarian and steps directly back.) Parliamentarian: (Picks up the shield and moves to speaker’s stand and presents emblem piece, then pauses.) The shield represents patriotism. (Pauses.) The shield denotes our belief in democracy, liberty and the American way of life. (Moves to the emblem, presents piece to judges, pauses, and affixes the shield to the SkillsUSA emblem stand, calls for Mister or Madame Reporter and returns to seat.) Reporter: (Picks up the gear and moves to the speaker’s stand and presents emblem piece, then pauses.) The gear represents the industrial society. (Pauses.) The gear, symbolic of the industrial society, denotes the interdependence and cooperation of the individual working with labor and management for the betterment of mankind. (Moves to the emblem, presents piece to judges, pauses, and affixes the gear to the emblem, calls for Mister or Madame Treasurer and returns to seat.) Treasurer: (Picks up the torch and moves to speaker’s stand and presents emblem piece, then pauses.) The torch represents knowledge. (Pauses.) The flaming torch reflects the light of knowledge, which dispels the darkness of ignorance. In the light of the torch, progress will be made toward the vocational goals of the individual. (Moves to the emblem, presents piece to judges, pauses, and affixes the torch to the emblem, calls for Mister or Madame Secretary and returns to seat.) Secretary: (Picks up the orbital circles and moves to speaker’s stand and presents emblem piece, then pauses.) The orbital circles represent technology. (Pauses.) The circles represent the challenge of modern technology and the training needed to accept and master new technical frontiers and the need for continuous education. (Moves to the emblem, presents piece to judges, pauses, and affixes the circles to the emblem, calls for Mister or Madame Vice President and returns to seat.) Vice President: (Picks up the hands and moves to speaker’s stand and presents emblem piece, then pauses.) The hands represent the individual. (Pauses.) The hands portray a search for knowledge and our desire to acquire a skill. In the process of attaining knowledge and skill, we will develop a respect for the dignity of work and become productive and responsible citizens. (Moves to the emblem, presents piece to judges, pauses, and affixes the hands to emblem, calls for Mister or Madame Historian and returns to seat.) Historian: (Moves to emblem and pauses.) With the affixing of the golden hands, we add the final official color of SkillsUSA. The colors of the emblem represent our organization.Red and white represent the individual states and the chapters; blue represents the common union of the states and the chapters; and gold represents the individual, the most important element of SkillsUSA. (Calls for Mister or Madame President and returns to seat.) President: (Picks up the letters ‘SkillsUSA” and moves to emblem. Presents piece to judges, then pauses and affixes the letters to emblem; pauses.) All of the components constitute our emblem. Separately, they could be applied to many organizations, but as one unit, they represent the fundamental principles and purposes of our organization. The emblem represents SkillsUSA. (Returns to speaker’s stand and pauses. Raps three times with gavel for all to stand.) We will respect the flag with the Pledge of Allegiance. (In unison, team members turn to flag and place their right hands over their hearts.) In Unison: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. (In unison, right hand is lowered to side and all turn to front.) President: (Raps once with gavel for all to be seated.)
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