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NYRA Freedom
ISSN 1933-5229
Volume 5, Issue 10
October 10, 2005
Contents:
Introduction
NYRA Hiring Interns
NYRA’s Executive Director to Speak at Drug Policy Conference
NYRA Seeks Grants
Call for Donations
Staff Changes
Chapter News:
--NYRA Berkeley Elects Officers, Calls for Donations
--Chapter Meeting Summary
--NYRA-NYC Calls for Donations
News From the Web
Conclusion
Introduction
NYRA has had another good month. We are continuing to expand at a pace that is
slow, but constant and steady. If this continues, it will not be long before
we are a far more effective organization, truly ready to begin chipping away at
ageism in America. NYRA continues to grow at the regional and local level; new
chapters are springing up everywhere. NYRA’s National Office now has an
actual, physical office, and will soon begin hiring interns. NYRA has caught
the attention of other non profit organizations, and our Executive Director has
been invited to speak at a prestigious conference.
NYRA Hiring Interns
For many years, NYRA did not have an office. The organization was run almost
entirely from the homes and computers of its members. This changed when The
Center for Voting and Democracy provided NYRA with an office in Takoma Park
Maryland, a suburb of Washington D.C. NYRA has also begun paying its Executive
Director to work on youth rights full time.
NYRA is looking to hire both a communications intern, and a youth legal research
intern. Both positions are unpaid. The communications intern will help write
and send press releases, write and solicit op-eds for youth rights related news
stories, and generally help with all of NYRA’s activities in regard to the
media. The Communications Intern must have strong oral and written
communication skills. A journalism or public relations major is helpful but not
required. The youth legal research intern will research laws that are pertinent
to youth rights, and translate them in to plain English for the youth rights
network.
Interns in both positions must have an interest in promoting youth rights, and
expanding civil liberties for young people. If you live in the DC area and you
are interested in either position, please email FAlex Koroknay-Palicz.
NYRA's Executive Director to Speak at Drug Policy Conference
Next month, Alex Koroknay-Palicz will travel to Long Beach California, to speak
at a conference organized by the Drug Policy Alliance. Alex will speak about
youth rights, and probably lead a panel discussion about the drinking age. A
few weeks ago, Alex was contacted by Ethan Nadelman, the director of the Drug
Policy Alliance, and invited to the conference. NYRA did not have enough
money to send Alex to the conference, so Common Sense for Drug Policy agreed to
pay his way. NYRA would like to extend a heart felt thank you to Common Sense
for Drug Policy.
This conference will bring together many organizations in the drug policy reform
movement, and it will be a great place for NYRA to make connections. NYRA is
confident that Alex will effectively present our message, network, and find
many new allies in the fight to lower the drinking age.
NYRA Seeks Grants
Since its founding, NYRA has survived almost entirely on small donations from
individuals. While every bit counts, NYRA can not continue in this manner if
it is ever to become the large, viable organization we hope it will be. That
is why some months ago the board voted to pay Alex Koroknay-Palicz to work for
NYRA, spending much of his time seeking grant money.
Since then, Alex has applied to the Resist Foundation and Community Change. .
Resist is a foundation that gives small grants to groups that do not have
access to traditional sources of funding. NYRA applied for a three thousand
dollar grant from Resist. Community Change is a group focusing on low income
and minority issues. We applied for a twenty five thousand dollar grant from
Community Change, through a program of theirs dealing with voter turnout and
civic participation. Alex also intends to apply for a grant from the Herb
Block Foundation. All this activity reflects NYRA’s desperate need for
funding. It is important that NYRA continues to receive significant donations
from its members, so that we can get by until we start to get large grants.
Call for Donations
Some time ago, NYRA board member Keith Mandell announced he would purchase a $50
gift card to whichever NYRA member donated the most money by October 21st.
Since then NYRA members have contributed over $600. While we are grateful for
this amount of money, NYRA can not continue to operate at this rate. It is not
clear when we will start to get significant grant money, and it is really
important that everyone give whatever they can. Please mail cash or checks to
the National Youth Rights Association 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 610, Takoma
Park, Maryland 20912 USA.
Staff Changes
Rio Bauce is now the Regional Captain for the west. If you have questions about
chapter formation in the western part of the country, please email
Rio. Tina Philips has been hired as NYRA’s “California
Outreach Coordinator.” If you have questions about outreach in the state of
California, please email Tina.
Chapter News
NYRA-Berkeley
NYRA’s Berkeley Chapter continues to function as one of NYRA’s most active
chapters. Recently, the chapter elected officers. Zach Hobesh was elected
President, Pam Tatz was elected Vice President, Joia DeVita was elected
Secretary, Chris Howell was elected Treasurer, and Rio Bauce was elected
Chairman. NYRA-Berkeley is looking for $200 in donations to fund an upcoming
campaign. If you can contribute something, please go here:
http://www.youthrights.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5193
NYRA-Vermont
NYRA’s Vermont chapter remains a vital part of the organization. Cecila Dekorne
has set up an active branch of NYRA-Vermont at Burlington high school. The BHS
chapter is currently fighting the school’s unfair lunch policy. There is also
an active chapter at South Burlington High School. The SBHS chapter is writing
letters to legislators and letters to the editor in support of NYRA-Vermont’s
positions. There are four additional chapters still forming on college
campuses in Vermont.
The chapter is still fighting its campaign to lower the drinking age. They are
compiling a list of people willing to testify in favor of lowering the minimum
legal drinking age in Vermont. In addition, the chapter is trying to get a
lawmaker to introduce voting age legislation.
Chapter Meeting Summary
One of NYRA’s top priorities is chapter formation. Through the creation of
chapters, NYRA can expand its membership and get a lot more done. On September
18th, NYRA held its first chapter meeting. Chapter leaders and officials from
the National office met to discuss what the various chapters have been doing,
and where they need help. The meeting was a resounding success, and similar
meetings will be held frequently from now on.
Some chapters had serious difficulties, and others reported remarkable success,
but one got the overall impression that chapters are doing well, and that NYRA
is gaining momentum. Among the chapters represented were NYRA-Dallas High
School, NYRA-Paterson, NYRA-Orange County, NYRA-Vermont, NYRA-Gainesville,
NYRA-SSDS of Essex and Union, NYRA-Berkeley, NYRA-Myrtle Beach, NYRA-Flagstaff,
NYRA-Albany, NYRA-Fulton County, NYRA-Asheville, and the Brooklyn wing of
NYRA-NYC. If future chapter meetings are as productive and well attended as
this one, communication between chapters and the national office will be much
better, and it will be much easier for us to fight for youth rights in a
coordinated way.
NYRA-NYC Calls for Donations
NYRA-NYC is seeking three hundred dollars in donations to begin a large scale
recruiting drive. Once NYRA-NYC has more members, they will be better equipped
to lobby for Councilwoman Brewer’s voting age bill. If you have some money you
are willing to donate, please go here:
http://www.youthrights.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5055
News From the Web
Strict NC Curfew Survives Vote
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=5174
MADD enters 25th year with change on its mind
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=5174
Differing Views: Should the Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered?
http://www.freelancenews.com/lifestyles/contentview.asp?c=168203&siteID=33
Judge: School Pledge Is Unconstitutional
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=4959
Eleven Children Found Caged in Ohio Home
http://forums.youthrights.org/showthread.php?t=4942
Conclusion
These past weeks have been ones of subtle success. NYRA is continuing to expand
and gather its resources. Now when we fight age based oppression, we will be
that much stronger. But we are not there yet, not by anyone’s reckoning. We
must continue to grow– to seek funding and members- to carry our message to the
silent masses. Everyone needs to do their part to ensure the rights of young
people in this country. If you can, give your time or your money. It is
desperately needed.
-Scott Davidson
------NYRA------
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