Military Essay Contest

I was looking up contests and found this one! think you might know which family I had in mind when I saw this and anyone else who may be interested in this foward this to them please


http://www.moaa.org/essaycontest
MOAA Military Professional Essay Contest

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is seeking entries for its Inaugural Military Professional Essay Contest. Essays may address any topic that has relevance to MOAA’s stated mission of preserving a strong national defense. Examples of acceptable topics include immigration, health care, military end-strength, benefits, law of the sea, and NATO expansion. This contest is open to current, former, and retired members of the military, members of their families, and students, staff and faculty members at any Professional Military Education Institution. Members of the MOAA Board of Directors, MOAA staff members, and members of their families are ineligible. Writers must be at least 18 years old and an essay must be the writer’s own work. Multiple entries are permitted. The Contest opens May 1, 2009. Final entries are due to MOAA by July 31, 2009. Entries will be judged by an independent panel, and the top three essays will be printed in an upcoming issue of the Military Officer magazine. Judges will base their selections on original thought, clarity and logic of writing, and style. Readers will vote for the final placement and prizes of $1000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. All entrants will be eligible for a drawing for to win a handheld GPS system. A submission should be sent electronically – in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format – and e-mailed as an attachment to profseries@moaa.org with the e-mail’s subject line reading “MOAA ESSAY CONTEST.” An essay should be typed, double-spaced, with a minimum 12-point font, and no more than 750 words long. The 750-word limit excludes a title page.
Include the following information on the Title page: Essay Title Writer's name and rank/Branch of Service (if applicable)Full mailing address Phone number E-mail address Submission of an essay constitutes permission by the author for MOAA to publish all or part in MOAA-sponsored publications. Official Rules: No purchase necessary to enter or win. Entry period begins May 1, 2009 and ends at midnight EDT July 31, 2009. How to Enter:
Entries must be received via email to profseries@moaa.org Only entries received between May 1, 2009 and July 31, 2009 are eligible for entry into the random drawing for prizes. Multiple entries are permitted but an individual may only be awarded one prize. MOAA assumes no responsibility for entries that are corrupted or otherwise not received correctly, or for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of e-mail, or on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site or combination thereof, including injury or damage to participants or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading materials in the contest.

Announcement of Winners:
Three finalists will be selected by a panel of judges. After publication, reader voting will determine final order of prizes. First, second, and third place prizes of $1000, $500 and $250 respectively are guaranteed to be awarded. Additionally, one handheld GPS system will be awarded through a random drawing from all valid entries to be held by August 31, 2009. Prize claiming:
Winners will be notified by mail. The winners will be announced on the MOAA Web site on December 31, 2009. Any notification of winning returned as undeliverable may result in the awarding of the prize to an alternate winner. No responsibility assumed for lost, mutilated, misdirected, illegible or postage due mail. Taxes are the sole responsibility of the prizewinner. All claims are subject to verification by MOAA, whose decisions are final and binding in all matters.

Odds of winning will depend on the number of entries received.

Contest is open to current, former, and retired members of the military, members of their families, and students, staff and faculty members at any Professional Military Education Institution, age 18 or older, except employees of Military Officers Association of America, its agents, and members of their immediate families. Each entrant must complete the following information on their record to be eligible: Full name, military information (if applicable), valid e-mail address, street address, city, state and zip code. Claimant may be required to complete an Affidavit of Eligibility that must be signed and returned within 14 calendars days from the date printed on the notification of winning.
Awarding of Prizes:
Entry and acceptance of a prize constitutes permission to use the winner’s name, photograph, or other likeness for the purpose of advertising, trade and promotion on behalf of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), without further compensation to the winner unless prohibited by law. Prizes are not transferable and there will be no substitutions, except due to unavailability. Entry constitutes permission from author for MOAA to reproduce all or part of the essay, however MOAA will not share essays with third parties. Entries will not be acknowledged. By accepting any prize, the winner releases MOAA and its affiliates from any loss, damages, cost, or expense associated with the prize product. All federal, state, and local laws apply. Sweepstakes is void wherever prohibited by law. Complete rules posted online here at http://www.moaa.org/essaycontest. MOAA reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the contest in the event that the contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of promoter which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the contest. In the event of a dispute as to the winner's identity, entries will be deemed made by the holder of the mailing address associated with the entry. For winner’s list
Visit the MOAA Web site at www.moaa.org/essaycontest for a list of winners, posted by December 31, 2009. Contest is sponsored by Military Officers Association of America, 201 N Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.