In the limited field of the youth rights movement, the National Youth Rights Association is one of the foremost organizations. Founded amid controversy and scandal and stunted by unmotivated leadership NYRA has had its share of the difficulty most organizations encounter when starting a fresh group. Striving to avoid pitfalls that have crippled other youth rights organizations NYRA has organized itself in a professional manner, and is positioned to build further on their limited history of small-scale success. With a clear vision and philosophy NYRA stands apart from other groups and once its resources are developed to their full potential its place in history is secure. Unfortunately the National Youth Rights Association is still a young, struggling organization. Since all contemporarily powerful organizations had to start somewhere, a study of this new organization can provide insight into the origins of other interest groups in America.

The earliest origins of the National Youth Rights Association began with the rebirth of a rights oriented youth movement in America. On page 39 of the book Basic Interests, Baumgartner and Leech discuss the "fluid nature of issues", youth rights is one such issue that has waxed, waned and adapted to changing times. For decades a truly youth driven movement has been silent, the activism of the late 60's and early 70's gave way to protectionist groups once the demographics no longer favored the young due to aging Baby Boomers. The protectionist groups calling themselves Children's Rights groups proliferated in the last 20 years, but while many had good intentions they were fighting for something much removed from Youth Rights. Contrary to Baumgartner and Leech's statement that "Many interests that would not be expected to mobilize on their own-such as children, retarded people, and poor people-nonetheless have organizations that lobby on their behalf."(Baumgartner & Leech p. 75) NYRA was founded and is currently run by the very constituency it serves. Groups seeking to represent underprivileged classes of people such as children rarely listen to the true desires of that group, and are more concerned with advancing their own agendas. The term, Youth Rights, as it is used by today's movement can be defined by a June 21, 2000 resolution by the NYRA Board of Directors, "The organization deals only with civil rights -- freedom from oppression or discrimination by government, business or other powers -- rather than entitlement rights. We do not deal with issues like the quality of education or health care young people receive."(Res. 00-L) With these principles the contemporary Youth Rights Movement "first utilized the internet to help the struggle in 1991, with the creation of the Y-RIGHTS listserv mailing list." (NYRA Webpage) Out of this mailing list Matt Herman and Matt Walcoff met and decided to found an organization called Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions (AS-FAR). With the passage of a Declaration of Principles on August 31, 1996 (ASFAR FAQ) the first contemporary Youth Rights organization was formed.

While primarily an Internet based organization, AS-FAR succeeded in getting modest media coverage and attracting over 150 members to the cause in its first year. Matt Walcoff served as president until mid-1997, and at that time Canadian Josh Gilbert was elected to the position. During his administration the organization suffered from changes in the membership, taking the group away from its original intent. Since all members joined for purposive reasons and since AS-FAR (later changed to ASFAR) was ruled through frequent direct elections by the membership the organization quickly conformed to the new member's views. These new members took ASFAR away from the moderate vision it held when initially founded.

Discouraged by the current way ASFAR operated and the direction its policy was heading, ASFAR founder Matt Walcoff, President Josh Gilbert and Vice-President Avi Hein set out to reorganize ASFAR to make it more effective they first began discussing the creation of NYRA in late 1997. When asked about the impetus behind creating NYRA Josh Gilbert had this to say, "NYRA was a replacement for ASFAR. The true intention was to create a new organization without problems that plagued ASFAR. Specifically, the constant infighting, the monthly votes by membership, the lack of power for officers to carry out their duties, the extremists, etc." (Interview with Gilbert) Walcoff, Gilbert, and Hein all agreed that even the name of Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions sounded radical, and a softer name like the National Youth Rights Association would gain the group more respect by legislators and media as well as potential members. Unfortunately very vocal members of ASFAR strongly resisted any changes, and when the issues to change ASFAR into NYRA came to a vote the measures failed. (http://list.asfar.org/1998/07/) Josh Gilbert said, "There was a huge amount of tension between ASFAR and NYRA initially. In fact, Avi's involvement with NYRA basically made him the receiver of constant threats to "impeach" him, especially from Eric Anderson and Justin Mallone, the two individuals who, coincidentally, became president and vice-president respectively after Avi's resignation." (Interview with Gilbert) Accusations and criticisms were rampant on both sides and after the failure of the vote discussions centered on making NYRA an independent organization from ASFAR.

First mentions of changing ASFAR into NYRA were at an online meeting December 22, 1997(http://list.asfar.org/1997/), the scandal occurred when these conversations were made public to the membership on February 17, 1998. (http://list.asfar.org/1998/07/) Reacting to perceived shortcomings in ASFAR and problems brought up by the scandal the newly independent NYRA reflected these differences. Seeking to create an organization that was moderate and realistic NYRA was formally incorporated on June 17, 1998. The expressed purpose of the organization from the Articles of Incorporation state, "The specific purposes for which this corporation is organized is to promote awareness of the legal and human rights of young people in the United States by means including but not limited to publications, reports, discussion and outreach." (AoI) While this description is very tempered from what the organization hopes one day to accomplish this route was chosen to get 501(c) 3 status, and operate as a charitable organization. NYRA's Mission statement passed by the Board of Directors on January 25, 2000 is as follows:

"The National Youth Rights Association is dedicated to defending the civil and human rights of young people in the United States. We believe certain basic rights are intrinsic parts of American citizenship and transcend age or status limits. As the world's leading democracy, the United States should not lag behind other nations in granting first-class citizenship to its young people.

"NYRA aims to achieve its goals through educating people about youth rights, working with public officials to devise fitting policy solutions to problems affecting young people and empowering young people to work on their own behalf."

The National Youth Rights Association differs from Children Rights groups by seeking only rights denied based on age, other injustices or problems affecting young people are out of the scope of NYRA. NYRA further differs from other Youth Rights organizations that share its approach to Youth Rights, in that it has opted for a scaled down practical approach. The organization realizes that even modest lowering of current age restrictions are radical enough to the general society, to advocate a complete abolishment of age restrictions, as ASFAR does would be political suicide. NYRA addresses several Youth Rights issues including age discrimination, curfews, the drinking age, driving restrictions, economic matters, entertainment, free speech, status offenses and the voting age. This list is by no means inclusive of all possible Youth Rights topics, but to adopt more only stands to alienate possible allies.

The initial Board of Directors from the incorporation of the National Youth Rights Association on June 17, 1998 included Bennett Haselton, Avi Hein, Matthew N. Herman, G. Justin Mallone, and Matthew A. Walcoff. Josh Gilbert, though involved in the organizations founding decided to serve on the Board of Advisors instead so he could focus on the creation of the Canadian Youth Rights Association (CYRA), Bennett Haselton moved on to focus on his organization Peacefire and still sits on the Board of Advisors too. The Board of Directors is the chief ruling body in the organization. Directors are elected yearly by a vote of the full membership and have the power to conduct all the business of the organization. The Board of Directors makes all official decisions and appointments. (NYRA Bylaws) Elections occur in the Fall and the results of the last two were as follows: In 1999 Avi Hein, Matt Walcoff, Matt Herman, Alex Koroknay-Palicz, Keith Mandel, and Jason Gerber were elected. In 2000 Alex Koroknay-Palicz, Adam Fletcher, Beau Daniel Sanchez, Dustin Manuel, Alex Cotoia, Joe Zefran were elected.

Each board has had its unique traits and styles of leadership. The 1999-2000 Board was very involved and insistent upon making all decisions for the organization. Little space was given the officers to work and the atmosphere was one of conflict and tension. The 2000-2001 Board was much different preferring a laid back approach. While this lack of direction from the board proved detrimental early in the year, by the summer of 2001 the space given officers to do their jobs truly blossomed and great things were accomplished.

Media exposure has been among the National Youth Rights Association's biggest accomplishments. In the spring of 2001 NYRA Communications Director and board member, Joe Zefran was featured on radio shows along the West Coast in response to the school shooting in Santee, CA. Before that a large effort by the organization involved the Lower the Vote 2000 campaign last November, where NYRA joined together with the voting rights organization Youth Speak to advocate a lowered voting age. Protests were planned in many states across the country, and the organization attracted much media attention for its efforts. Radio shows in major markets such as Washington, DC and Detroit, MI featured interviews and programs about NYRA's efforts. Dozens of newspaper articles centered on the local protests circulated around the country, from Maine to Texas to Oregon. The protests were a substantial success for the organization. Certainly the biggest media accomplishment for NYRA was NYRA President, Alex Koroknay-Palicz's appearance on CNN in July 2001. This is the first time an official from a contemporary Youth Rights organization was featured on national television. Koroknay-Palicz debated the issue of lowering the drinking age with a representative from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the debate was highly successful and led to several other opportunities and appearances for NYRA.

Other accomplishments of the young organization include the establishment of 3 local chapters, one of which was responsible for the organizing of the DC Curfew Protests, which attracted local and international media attention. NYRA President Avi Hein and Director Alex Koroknay-Palicz spoke at the second DC Curfew protest in October 1999. Another speaking engagement by the organization includes a speech by Alex Koroknay-Palicz to 500 high school students at a model congress in Long Island, NY. He was keynote speaker to the politically motivated and involved crowd. NYRA representatives have been invited into DC schools to speak with classrooms about Youth Rights and the organization on several occasions. More recently in the Fall of 2001 NYRA officials have been asked to speak or present at many promenint local and national conferences. NYRA's efforts to present the ideology of Youth Rights to a wider audience have been unparalleled.

Efforts to influence public policy have been limited though fairly successful. Early in life of the National Youth Rights Association founder Matt Walcoff appeared before the Maryland legislature to testify against bills proposed that introduced further limitations on driving privileges to young people. Two driving bills in the Maryland Senate on March 11, 1998 and on in the house on March 3. Several newspapers approached Walcoff for interviews following his testimony. More recently NYRA's chapter in Ottawa County, Michigan was involved in an effort to fight the youth curfew in Hudsonville, MI. A petition was circulated around the small town to get the issue put on the ballot. The wording was incorrect on the initiative, and it was not allowed to count to be on the ballot, but the signatures were instead used in a presentation before the city council. In a Hudsonville City Council meeting in fall of 2000 NYRA's arguments were listened to and then many exemptions and safeguards were added to the law in response to our complaints.

Another prized accomplishment is gathering together an esteemed Board of Advisors to gain prestige and guidance from. The assemblage of this luminary group was the result of much of the organization's early efforts. Today it includes ACLU President Nadine Strossen; president and a founder of the American Council on Science, Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H; author and homeschooling advocate Grace Llewellyn; Peacefire founder Bennett Haselton; author Mike A. Males; drinking age reform advocate Dr. Roderic B. Park, Ph.D.; drinking age reform advocate Dr. David J. Hanson, Ph.D.; and CYRA President Josh Gilbert. This collection of established minds lends credibility and respect to the actions of the organization. (http://www.youthrights.org/boa.html)

Unfortunately a hostile political environment and a lack of competent, driven leadership have held NYRA's efforts back. Literature on interest groups mentions the impact of issue salience and popularity on the success and influence of a group. Currently the issue of Youth Rights lacks both salience and popularity. Though being able to adjust both is within the control of the organization with a determined effort behind it. Since the issue of Youth Rights hasn't been considered in almost 30 years, long before NYRA's main constituency was born, most people haven't even considered the possibility that young people deserve civil rights and they are worth fighting for. Persuasive and far reaching education of young people across the country is needed to resurrect the non-issue of Youth Rights and bring back the national spot light to the needs and demands of the young. Salience is hurt by the inexperience, domination and busy schedules of the young. Those who care about the issues don't know how to do anything about it, and those who do often are lured into other fields where they can expect a paycheck or social advancement.

Works Cited

• Gilbert, Josh. Personal ICQ interview. 25 March 2001.
  
• NYRA Resolution 00-L. Written by Matt Walcoff. Passed 21 June 2000.
  
• NYRA Mission Statement. Written by Matt Walcoff. Passed January 25, 2000
  
• Baumgartner, Frank R., and Leech, Beth L. Basic Interests. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1998
  
• NYRA Document. NYRA Webpage. http://www.youthrights.org/boa.php
  
• Discussion list archives. ASFAR Webpage. http://list.asfar.org/1998/07/
  
• Discussion list archives. ASFAR Webpage. http://list.asfar.org/1997