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NYRA Freedom
ISSN 1933-5229
Scott Davidson and Adam King
Volume 6, Issue 4
April 10, 2006
Contents:
Introduction
NYRAthon Underway, More Support Needed
NYRA Member Seeks Student Representation on School Board
Study Shows Teen Driving Relatively Safe
NYRA-OC Fights California Voting Age
NYRA-Cottage Grove
NYRA-NYC Update
NYRA Seeks Ad Revenue
Feature: Former NYRA Board Member has a Story to Tell
Staff Changes and Requests
Upcoming Events
News from the Web
Conclusion
Introduction
By Scott Davidson
A number of interesting things have happened over the past month. NYRA-OC
continues its admirable efforts to get the California Democratic Party
to take on the voting age, while NYRA's New York chapter seems ready
to take action on their own voting age campaign. Author and
sociologist, Mike Males did a wonderful study combating many of the
myths about teen driving, and with any luck NYRA will be able to get
the study some media attention. NYRA may be on the verge of finding a
steady source of income, but this remains uncertain, and donations are
not coming in at the rate they were this time last year. In North
Carolina, Adam King is leading a campaign to give students more than
just a tokenized voice in the school community.
NYRAthon Underway, More Donations Needed
By Scott Davidson
Last year's NYRAthon was an overwhelming success. Chapters and individuals
engaged in friendly competition to see who could raise the most money, which
resulted in a relatively significant influx of money. This money was what
allowed NYRA to hire its Executive Director to work full time. If NYRA is
ever to become the viable organization that we want it to be, we need enough
money for a full time staff.
Unfortunately, this year's NYRAthon has not been as successful. The contest,
which runs until June 7, will award prizes to the three individuals who
raise the most money for NYRA. There will also be a prize for the chapter
that raises the most money. The administration cannot overstate the
importance of this kind of fundraising. Even if members don't have a lot of
money, every little bit helps. With too few active members and the recent
loss of our physical office, it is especially important that we keep our
Executive Director working full time, and possibly expand our staff in the
coming years.
To make a donation, please send a check or cash to -
1703 Farragut Ave, Rockville MD, 20851.
Or donate online by going to -
http://www.youthrights.org/donate.shtml
All donations are tax deductable.
NYRA Member Seeks Student Representation on School Board
By Adam King
As reported in the last issue of the Freedom, Adam King has been actively
working to create a position on his local school board for students. King
was expecting to speak at the March board meeting, but he was informed a few
days before the meeting that it had been postponed until the meeting on
Monday, April 3, 2006.
On April 3, King spoke to the Buncombe County Board of Education during the
public comment session. The board's chair commended him for his activism and
involvement, but he thought it was an issue that would have to be decided by
the state level of government. Unfortunately, no members from the media were
present.
King contacted the North Carolina State Board of Education, and he spoke to
Betsy West, the assistant executive director for the board. She believed
that the issue is a local level decision, but she referred King to the state
board's legal advisor, Harry Wilson. Wilson confirmed that it is indeed a
decision that can be made by local boards of education in North Carolina.
King has been interviewed by the Asheville Citizen-Times about the latest
stage in his endeavor. He plans to report his new findings to the Buncombe
County Board of Education at its next meeting in May.
Study Shows Teen Driving Relatively Safe
By Scott Davidson
NYRA Advisor Dr. Mike Males, who is the author of Scapegoat Generation and
Framing Youth, has come out with a new study on teen driving. The study,
which looks at the statistics from all fatal car accidents in California
between 1995 and 2004, seems to refute several misconceptions about teen
drivers.
Most importantly, the Males study shows that poverty, not age, is the reason
that young people are involved in fatal accidents to a disproportionate
degree. Males contents that young people are three times more likely than
adults to live in poverty, and that when the poverty factor is equalized
young people aren't much more dangerous on the road than adults. Groups like
the AAA and the ageist media have been portraying young drivers as reckless,
irresponsible, and deadly. It is becoming increasingly clear that this is
not the case. As Males proves, there is a stronger relationship between
poverty and deadly accidents than age and deadly accidents.
The Males study also shows that ageist restrictions placed on young drivers
in 1999 have not been as effective as some people think. While there were
indeed fewer fatal accidents among young drivers after the restrictions went
in to place, the problem merely shifted to the next age group. There was a
corresponding increase in fatalities among slightly older drivers a couple
of years later. NYRA is grateful that Males conducted this wonderful study.
The full study can be read at
http://www.youthrights.org/docs/teendriving.pdf
NYRA-OC Fights California Voting Age
By Scott Davidson
NYRA-Orange County is engaged in a campaign to get both political parties to
support a lower voting age. They are starting with the California Democratic
Party (CDP), where they have several contacts. As of April 6, the chapter
was planning to attend the CDP's convention in Sacramento in order to make
lowering the voting age a part of the party platform. The chapter needs to
get three hundred delegate signatures for the platform amendment to be
considered, which will be rather difficult. NYRA-OC has been contacting
media and other young people to let them know about the voting age efforts.
The chapter plans to march to the capitol after the convention. If you live
in the Orange County area and you would like to become involved with
NYRA-OC, please visit http://www.orangecounty.youthrights.org/
NYRA-Cottage Grove
By Adam King
The newest chapter of the National Youth Rights Association is the chapter
in Cottage Grove, Oregon. The chapter filed its application earlier this
year, but due to a problem the president was having with Paypal, the $30
application fee was delayed. In March 2006, Adam King agreed to sponsor this
fee for the chapter.
Currently, the chapter is working on many projects, and it has been received
very well at its school. The president of Cottage Grove is Jessica Campbell,
and the vice president is Aaron Opela. There are about eight active members
who attend regularly.
Although Campbell and Opela are both seniors, Campbell believes that the
chapter will remain in good hands.
For more information, visit the chapter's website at
http://www.cottagegrove.youthrights.org/
NYRA-NYC Update
By Scott Davidson
NYRA-NYC recently met to discuss the voting age campaign. The meeting was
very productive. A number of ideas were brought up, including the
possibility of a forum on the voting age featuring youth rights activists
and elected officials who support efforts to lower the voting age. Those
present also agreed that the chapter needs to work on flyer content and
recruiting. Some area members have also been in touch with members of the
state legislature, discussing ways that the state law might be amended to
make it easier for municipalities to lower their voting ages.
NYRA Seeks Ad Revenue
By Scott Davidson
In addition to writing grant applications and soliciting donations from
supporters, NYRA seeks funding from advertising on our website. A number of
months ago, NYRA introduced advertisements on its widely used web forums.
While some people were initially skeptical of the idea, it quickly became
clear that the ads were not intrusive and that NYRA could block any ads that
it felt contradicted its principles.
The money from the ads has been a significant help, and NYRA thinks there is
a chance that it may see even more money from these ads in the future.
Feature: Former NYRA Board Member has a Story to Tell
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dustin Manuel, one of NYRA's
former board directors from the 2000-2001 term.
Manuel recently had a story he written many years ago about youth rights
published in a collection of stories he wrote. Manuel wrote the story during
the fall of his junior year in 2001 while he was in theatre class. His story
is now featured among his other stories in a book called "Musings." His book
is on sale at http://www.lulu.com/content/98543 for only $10. Manuel told me
he has only sold 15 copies, and he only receives $4 for each sale. I have
read the story, and I encourage everyone to buy a copy.
Manuel who is a junior in college in San Francisco, Cali. wants to
eventually be a film or broadway composer. His hobbies include writing,
photography, politics, and astronomy.
Before a month ago, Manuel had not been involved with NYRA for a few years,
and when he noticed the changes in the organization, his response was, "NYRA
was small... it's amazing how fast it's grown in the past few years."
Staff Changes and Requests
By Adam King
Chris Batchelor was promoted to moderator on the NYRA forums, but there are
no other staff changes to report.
NYRA is seeking to hire regional captains for chapter formation in the
midwest and central regions. If you are interested, fill out an application
here: http://www.youthrightsorg/chapterformation.php or contact Adam King.
Upcoming Events
April 18, 2006, 8:00 p.m. EST - Youth Rights Chat in NYRA Chatroom at
www.youthrights.org/forums/chat/
April 23, 2006, 7:30 p.m. EST - Board Meeting in NYRA Chatroom.
April 28-30, 2006, California Democratic Party Convention
May 1, 2006, 8:00 p.m. EST - Youth Rights Chat in NYRA Chatroom at
www.youthrights.org/forums/chat/
TBA - Online Chapter Informational Update Meeting
News From the Web
Sleep Deprivation, oh boy!
http://www.youthrights.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7181
Abortion Initiative on Alerting Parents Moves Forward
http://www.youthrights.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7180
Black-Oriented TV Claimed to Cause Obesity in Black Children
http://www.youthrights.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7246
Schools Must Inform Students of NCLB Rights
http://www.youthrights.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7278
French Students Protest Ageist Working Laws
http://www.youthrights.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7051
5-year-old Calls 911 and Operator Thinks it is a Prank Call,Mother Dies
http://www.youthrights.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7293
Boy Turns in Knife, May Be Expelled
http://www.youthrights.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7283
Conclusion
By Adam King
As NYRA's annual fundraiser is just getting started, it is important for
everyone to do his or her part in helping the organization and the larger
cause - youth rights. Proceeds have not been impressive, and I challenge
everyone who hasn't made a donation yet to do so today. Instead of buying a
soda or a candy bar for a week, use that money instead to donate to NYRA. If
you cannot possibly donate money, there are other options such as
volunteering in chapter formation, running a local chapter, or many other
things. Giving up one drink a day for a week is much more preferable than
not donating anything at all to NYRA. Think of all that could be
accomplished if all 6,275 supporters of NYRA gave up a drink for one week
and donated that money to NYRA. That would be well over $40,000.
------NYRA------
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