Highlights from the
41st Annual of YMCA of Delaware’s
Youth in Government Model Legislative Conference
Click here to view pictures from the weekend
On Sunday, April 5th, the 41st Youth in Government Model Legislature recessed at Legislative Hall in Dover, DE. It was an incredible weekend that began with an address from Delaware’s Governor, the Honorable Jack Markell. The weekend was full of opportunities for leadership development, strengthening the resolve of the very important YMCA core values and opportunities to form memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Servant Leaders for the 2009 Model Legislature
Youth Governor, Sudi Green, Western Family YMCA exercised her position fully utilizing her Cabinet members and Press Secretary often. Governor Green’s compassionate and enthusiastic approach ensured that everyone would have a great conference not only in Legislative Hall but also during Friday night’s mixer and Saturday night’s Governor’s banquet.
Youth Governor Green worked to ensure all delegations were youth led by instituting the new leadership position of “Youth Delegation Leader” before the weekend began. Under Governor Green’s leadership, the officer’s spent Thursday evening training for the weekend at Hall House, the Governor’s guest house on the grounds of Woodburn, in Dover, DE. Officer’s included:
Youth Governor – Sudi Green, Western Family YMCA
President of the Senate – Giiehti Christina, Central Delaware YMCA
Speaker of the House – Olivia Lucas, Western Framily YMCA
Secretary of the Senate – Duncan McNeil, Western Family YMCA
Chief Clerk of the House – Allaire Stritzinger, Western Family YMCA
Awards and Recognitions
Outstanding Senator – Tim McBride, Western Family YMCA
Outstanding Representative – Wes Carr, Western Family YMCA
Character Development Award – Giiehti Christian, Central Delaware YMCA
James C. Hardcastle Servant Leadership Award – Katie Alexander, Western Family YMCA
2010 Youth Governor-elect
Youth Governor Elect, Holly Firlein, Western Family YMCA
Press Corps
This year’s YIG Observer was led by Editor-in-Chief, Marcus Smith, Bear-Glasgow YMCA with the help of two advisors and three reporters, the Press Corp published three lengthy, well written issues of the YIG Observer.
Page Corps
One 16 year old home educated youth and three students in the 8th grade spent the weekend ensuring adequate communication between the two chambers and the Governor’s office. We hope they return next year as a member of the House, as a member of the Senate or a member of the Press Corps.
Alumni Resource Staff Return
Four former Governors’ Eli Turkel (2004), Angie Tinsman (2005), Mansoor Zaman (2006) and Brian Tinsman (2007) advised the Press and Page Corps over the weekend as well as prepared a special slideshow for the Governor’s Banquet on Saturday evening.
Colleen Hogan, Alumni Advisor, returned to provide guidance to the new State Director as well as insight in many of the other areas of Youth in Government.
Governor Green took the following actions:
A total of fifty-five bills were presented during our three days at Legislative Hall. The Governor signed the following bills:
Delaware Standard Education Improvement Act
Gay Marriage Legalization Act
The Tax On Tanning Beds and Mandate for Skin Care Awareness Advertising
Foreign Language Education for Elementary Schools Act
Growing Hemp for Industrial or Commercial Use Act
Reconstruction of the Delaware Student Testing Program Act
Reproductive Health Act
Clean Welfare Act
Voting Age Reduction Act
Recycling Plastic Bottles Act
Water Conservation Act
New Component in 2009… Mock Trial
Led by three attorney coaches from the Wilmington based law firm, Richards, Layton, & Finger, seven Youth in Government delegates from the Western Family YMCA participated in the Delaware High School Mock Trial competition. The following members from the team received awards:
Matt Roarty won Best Witness and Best Attorney
Cynthia Bai won Best Attorney
Megan Rise won Best Witness
Ten Outstanding Delegates Selected to Represent Delaware at a YMCA sponsored Youth Conference on National Affairs
The penical of success for any YIG delegate is to be selected to attend the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs (CONA), held each year at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The following delegates were selected to attend this years conference starting on June 27th and lasting through July 3rd;
*Sudi Green * Giiehti Christian * Holly Firlein * Olivia Lucas * Kevin Sun * Matt Roarty * Tim McBride * Wes Carr * Matt Marshall * Cliff Hegedus *
The Backbone of the Model Legislature
The following advisors started recruiting and preparing their delegates as early as November 2008. With their help, each delegate came prepared and ready for a successful weekend. When you see these adult volunteers and Y staff, please be sure to recognize them for their dedication to making Youth in Government an overall wonderful experience for teens in Delaware:
Julie Sulzbacher…..Bear/Glasgow YMCA
David Halley…..Bear/Glasgow YMCA Staff
Kat Caudle…..Brandywine YMCA – YIG Alum
Gary Karp…..Brandywine YMCA Staff
Rufus Jordan…..Central Delaware YMCA
Toph Patterson….. Central Delaware YMCA - YIG Alum
Josh Tucker…..Central Delaware YMCA Staff
Vicquishe Elmore…..Walnut St. YMCA – YIG Alum
Leah Ferby…..Walnut St. YMCA
Rasheeda Johnson…..Walnut St. YMCA
Lillian Nichols…..Walnut St. YMCA
Linda Smith…..Walnut St. YMCA
Serena Williams…..Walnut St. YMCA
Claire Carey…..Walnut St. YMCA Staff
Robyn Gelman…..Western Family YMCA – YIG Alum
Brett Tomashek…..Western Family YMCA
Eli Turkel…..Western Family YMCA – YIG Alum |