The Best Year Ever

We are in an historical, revolutionary, and Democratic year- 2008 is the best year to get involved with American politics.

I am so thrilled to lead such a great organization during such an important time for our country. We have been playing  an influential role in the presidential election already. The Center for Information and research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) has produced data on voter turnout in the presidential primaries and caucuses thus far. Their findings are:

Youth Turnout Rate

Iowa: 13%

New Hampshire: 43%

Michigan: 13%

Nevada: 5%

South Carolina: 19%

Florida: 13%

Alabama: 19%

Arkansas: 10%

Arizona: 7%

California: 17%

Connecticut: 12%

Georgia: 21%

Illinois: 18%

Massachusetts: 25%

Missouri: 21%

New Jersey: 18%

New York: 12%

Oklahoma: 14%

Tennessee: 15%

Utah: 15%

But better yet, their data also suggests a Democratic advantage among young voters. "The projection was determined by adding up the total number of young voters that participated in the Democratic and Republican contests respectively."

(http://www.civicyouth.org)

So what makes us so different from the past apathetic generations?

The Harvard Institute of Politics says this:

"We believe there are several drivers to this increased level of participation:

1. Post 9/11 sense that politics and voting is highly relevant and important;

2. Pressing issues facing the nation and generation (War, immigration, globalization, energy, Darfur, etc.);

3. Rise of mobilization efforts and social networking tools which have lowered the cost per vote for campaigns;

4. Campaigns have hired staff specifically geared towards courting younger voters-they have empowered young people to reach out to their peers in new and innovative ways."

(http://www.iop.harvard.edu/newsroom_release_primary_08.html)

***Winter National YDA Conference***

February 29-March 2, 2008

Disneyland

(Anaheim, California)

Don't miss out- it is not too late to register! Simply go to the yda web site (www.yda.org) and click the box that says Winter National Conference. 

Our high school caucus meeting will be that Sunday at 10 am.

Also, is you are interested in getting involved in the presidential campaign, go to our web site for a lists of contacts. The Democratic candidates our support as young voters. Join the revolution!

Democratically yours,

Alicia

New Hampshire Convention

Bill Clinton, New Hampshire state senator Maggie Hassan, Alex Goepfert of the Richardson for President Campaign, Sean Downey of the Dodd for President campaign, high school students from across the nation, friends, and future Democratic leaders of America made the 2007 YDA New Hampshire a success.

The YDA High School Caucus meeting last Sunday was the most engaging caucus meeting in recent history. Our speakers were informative and thought-provoking, and our meeting "business" was brief and efficient. 

In the future, my goal is to greatly increase the number of high school participants, so more people can take part in this unique and progressive organization. Luckily, this goal will easily be achieved: the next YDA national convention is in Disneyland!

The YDA High School Caucus will begin planning for the next convention where we hope to have the largest high school student turnout yet. And how about a disney character lunch meeting? I can't wait.

Along with planning for the convention, the caucus will be focusing on its Regional Plan. The goal of Regional Plan is to reach out to high school students on the most local level. Our regional leaders will lead and execute the plan. The 8 regional directors will organize a high school outreach plan for all of the states in their region. They will work with the YDA State Presidents' Association (SPA) in devising plans. In the end, I hope to see a dramatic increase in YDA High School Caucus chapters/clubs at high schools across the country. 

We will also be working on our Presidential Campaign Plan. This will be lead by our yet-to-be elected Director of Political Campaigns. He or she will work with the regional directors in order to get as many high school students as possible campaign experience. There has never been a more perfect time than now to work on a presidential campaign. And there has never been a stronger need for a Democratic president.

It's up to us fellow high school Dems. We've got the power and the will to lead this nation, even in our teenage years.

Let's get our Party started!

Progress

The YDA High School Caucus has been making great progress. We have updated our web site :

http://highschool.yda.org

Over the next few weeks we will be making changes to it. Erich Reimer, Director of Activities/Action and acting Director of Technology, has been working hard on the site. 

Today, Julia Aromatorio was elected Director of the Great Lakes region. I look forward to working with her over the next two years....congrats, Julia!

The caucus' main focus right now is preparing for the Manchester Convention. The YDA National Conference is November 16-18 in Manchester, New Hampshire. The YDA High School Caucus meeting is on Sunday, October 18 at 10:15 am. Our Vice Chair of Political Affairs, Charlie Dann, has been arranging a speaker for our meeting. 

It's not too late to register for the convention. Simply go to the yda web site (www.yda.org), and click the box that says "Fall National Convention". 

Suggestion: bring a friend. This conference is going to be one of the best ever held. So share the love by bringing along some of your Democratic friends. You guys will have loads of fun, especially at the YDAHSC party.

More info on that to come!

  

Looking Forward

With the next YDA National Convention approaching, the YDAHSC Executive Board is fast at work. We have been working on several specific goals including renovating our web site, electing leaders to our vacant leadership positions, planning for the New Hampshire convention, and developing a regional plan that will allow us to reach out to high school democrats in every state. 

We have a brilliant Director of Technology, Stephen Yellin, who is helping us develop our web site. We hope to give hs dems opportunities to work on a 2008 Democratic presidential candidates campaign, find out about local Democratic activities in their area, and provide them with ideas to strengthen YDAHSC chapters. Our new Director of Action, Erich Reimer, will play an influential role in these endeavors.

Currently we have several vacant leadership positions that are vital to the caucus. These include: 1. Treasurer, 2. Director of Conferences and Conventions, 3. Director of High School Chapters, 4. Director of Campaigns, 5. South East Regional Director, 6. Midwest Regional Director, 7. Great Lakes Regional Director, and 8. South Central Regional Director. If you are interested in applying for any of these important positions please e-mail me at ACFroio@aol.com. 

November 16-18 in Manchester, New Hampshire is the official date of the next YDA National Conference. The YDAHSC will meet at this conference for business, for learning, and of course, for socializing. It is going to be one of the most exciting conferences in recent history since the spirit of the 2008 elections practically palpable. Our caucus is working on getting a speaker, and possibly organizing a training session for this event. Charlie Dann, our Vice Chair of Political Affairs is currently working hard on accomplishing this.

If you are interested in partaking in this rewarding event, sign-up today at the YDA web site: 

http://www.yda.org/events/208/ydas-fall-national-conference-in-manchester-nh

With an historical election coming up, there has never been a better time to be a young Democrat. During the weeks before the New Hampshire conference, I will be updating relevant information on this subject. I hope that you join us, so together, we can rock history.

Democratically Yours,

Alicia Froio

Chair

YDAHSC

The Young Democrats of America High School Caucus

I started out in the Young Democrats of America (YDA) back in February of 2006 at the Philadelphia National Convention. It was there that I was elected to the position of Vice Chair of Political Affairs. Working with a group of intelligent, strong-minded, and ambitious high school democrats, I saw how a bunch of teenagers interested in politics could change our country. 

This past summer in Dallas, Texas at the 2007 YDA National Convention,  I was elected the national Chair of the Young Democrats of America High School Caucus (YDAHSC). I now have the privilege of working with my fellow high school democrats across the country. We unite high school Dems through high school chapters and/or county chapters, we change our government by telling our legislators to vote for making college affordable,  and we socialize and look forward to our Democratic futures at YDA national conventions and conferences.

What an organization the YDAHSC is! I am both thrilled and honored to chair such a powerful and meaningful organization in this country. It is my goal to reach out to all of those politically curious, politically frustrated, politically motivated, and politically driven high school students interested in getting involved in the Democratic Party. With my fellow YDAHSC leaders, I know  I will achieve this. 

Thank you for visiting my blog, and I hope that you will support the YDA High School Caucus!

Democratically yours,

Alicia Froio

National Chair

YDAHSC