National Youth Rights Association

I'm going to step down on a high note. I've had a great time working with everyone at NYRA. We're part of an excellent crowd of people who have done much in their own lives to make measurable change. NYRA members have played a huge role in keeping some of the most vital civil liberties and human rights issues alive.

Is it too self-important of me to discuss my last term on the Board of Directors? Maybe – but even now, very little information about what we do is actually passed on to members. We treasure transparency throughout NYRA, though, and I think it would do us good to review what happened over the past year.

For one thing, I completed what I set out to do last August. I've pitched in with our staff to help NYRA become a more efficiently-run and professional (hence respected) organization. We send out emails weekly. We're confident enough in the activity levels from our BOD, members and staff to take on more projects than ever before. Through dealing with the press, internal development and long-term budget planning we're really laying the foundation for growing the movement. I think NYRA is coming into its own.

I helped get members involved through the forums and direct action, and seen us pay more attention to our members through online outreach and increased Annual Meeting work. I also helped revitalize BOD committees. Committees still haven't seen as much activity as I'd like, but with clearer roles and new rules that allow for member participation, I think they're poised to take off in the future.

I'll still be working through July. Though I played a role in finding a new website developer and getting them up to speed, we're not finished yet. More recently, I proposed some good governance bylaws which should come to a vote during this election, and may well be added on to in the future. The only thing from my candidate statement last year that I didn't address was NYRA Freedom. It's a big project to be sure, and I'm still mulling over what kind of YR news source we need right now.

I accomplished what I promised, but I don't think I have the time to do it again. NYRA needs activist directors, not benchwarmers. Those candidates who do not bring either activity or personal connections to the table should gracefully rescind their candidacy. Those candidates who like the title but aren't otherwise involved are stealing the seat of a more deserving young person, and sapping NYRA's energy to boot. Our next directors better be willing to work on the front lines just as much as they are willing to lead.

After this summer, I can't commit to any level of activity on the BOD other than one meeting a month. I'm not going to be that type of director I have disdain for. Good news is I'll still be here, volunteering and donating as always. However, with a college transfer coming up, I can't make NYRA my first priority any longer.

As far as I'm concerned, all students and young people are obligated to spend some part of their lives in active support of youth rights. Thank you to all our members who, in pitching in on the forums or meatspace, have done their part (and helped to support others in doing so). It's a wide open election and I will miss the hell out of winning it. 2012 is going to be a great year for youth rights and NYRA. I wish all of the next BOD good luck.

this is completely irreverent but whats up with "An adult drink! What the hell is an adult drink?"–Sen. Mike Gravel, buying liquor for me at age 18
did he buy you liquor?

Thanks much, I'll still be here. I simply won't be the one to blame if we go broke from now on

eivilfoods;421286 wrote: this is completely irreverent but whats up with "An adult drink! What the hell is an adult drink?"–Sen. Mike Gravel, buying liquor for me at age 18
did he buy you liquor?

In another topic, I briefly wrote;

I was in Las Vegas helping to staff/tape Dennis Kucinich during a debate and speech. Gravel is also speaking at the event, along with the 6 other candidates. You had to be there; he ripped into timid Democrats and brought the house down. I hope I see another speech like it someday.

(As an aside, we all knew by then that Barack Obama was going to be President. He had such a following, it was like everyone else was campaigning against The Beatles. There were some 500 rich Democrats supporting different candidates in the ballroom, but 200 wild Obama supporters hanging out in the hallway just to catch a glimpse of him, months before the primary.)

Anyway, at the end of the night the different campaign staffs split off and hang out together. They typically paired up…teams from Obama and Biden, or Clinton and Richardson, for instance, would mingle. Kucinich's people always hung out with Gravel, and I was the only Kucinich guy left while Gravel had a contingent of 10 people. In typical Gravel fashion, the hotel bar was already closing but he didn't feel like leaving, so screw it, we're sitting down.

One of his people was taking drink orders and quietly noticed that I was 18; someone else laughed about an "adult drink"; and then Gravel gets all indignant like he would during the debates, examines me and says "An adult drink?! What the hell's an adult drink?! hmpfpf" They ordered me a martini, we drove to an all-you-can-eat buffet and left around 4am. It's probably my favorite campaign story.

I think its hilarious that the advertising bot has an ICQ number and says its from turkey :p