National Youth Rights Campaign
Kkennieth Heard
From:
nyra @ youthrights.org Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject:
[NYRA] "NYRA Freedom" Vol 7, Issue 3
-----NYRA Freedom-----
ISSN 1933-5229
Volume 7, Issue 3
-----Contents-----
Introduction
NYRAthon Underway
Membership Levels
DC Club Ban
DC Curfew
Annual Meeting and Election
News from the Web
Conclusion
-----Introduction-----
The past month has been an interesting one for NYRA,
and it looks like
a lot of great things will happen in March. NYRA's
annual fundraiser
has begun, and we have high hopes that the NYRA
membership will
contribute as generously as it has in the past. NYRA
is staunchly
opposed to and actively fighting DC's curfew, and a
proposal that will
essentially ban all people under the age of eighteen
from DC
nightclubs. NYRA has scheduled its annual meeting, an
important event
where youth rights activists get to meet face to face
and review
NYRA's progress over the past year.
-----NYRAthon Underway-----
The third annual NYRAthon began on March 2nd, and will
continue
through the second of June. NYRAthon consists of two
contests. The
first is a contest between individuals, with prizes
awarded to the
three who raise the most money. The second is between
the various
NYRA chapters, with $100 in NYRA merchandise awarded
to the one that
raises the most money. Fundraising is what allows
NYRA to lease an
office, hire staff, and ultimately what allows NYRA to
function as an
organization that fights for youth rights. It is
imperative that
everyone who can participate in the NYRAthon.
The NYRA chapter that raises the most money will
receive $100 in NYRA
merchandise (T shirts, buttons, etc.) In the
individual contest,
prizes of $100, $50, and $25 will be awarded to the
people who raise
the most money.
All money should be sent to NYRA headquarters at:
NYRA
1133 19th St., NW
9th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Or donate online:
http://www.youthrights.org/donate.php
-----Membership Levels-----
In the past, NYRA has only had one level of
membership. Member dues
were $10, and had to be renewed every year regardless
of how much
money someone had initially donated. Now NYRA members
have the option
of buying memberships for one year, two years, three
years, four
years, five years, or life. A one year membership
costs $10, two
years costs $20, and so on. A lifetime membership
costs $150. If
you're not yet a member and would like to become
one, check out
http://www.youthrights.org/membership.php.
-----DC Club Ban-----
Washington Councilmember Jim Graham has introduced
legislation that
will essentially ban young people from DC nightclubs.
While NYRA has
heard that Councilmember Graham may be pursuing a far
more palatable
version of the bill, as it stands now the legislation
will "prevent
the entrance of persons under the age of 21 into
alcoholic beverage
control licensed nightclubs, or into licensed
establishments with
entertainment endorsements after 11:00 p.m."
Councilmember Graham's legislation was drafted in
response to the
death of a 17 year old woman at a nightclub in DC, and
NYRA is sure
that he has nothing but good intentions. We do,
however, take issue
with the fact that this bill will limit the civil
rights of young
people. In addition to NYRA, several nightclub owners
and community
organizations are opposed to the bill as it currently
stands. NYRA's
Executive Director has attended meetings with
Councilmember Graham,
and we hope that some reasonable compromise can be
reached.
-----DC Curfew-----
For the past several years, DC has had a youth curfew.
Young people
in the District of Columbia can be arrested simply for
leaving their
homes. NYRA was recently contacted by Najmah Rashad,
who runs Go-Go
club events for young people in DC. She serves no
alcohol at the
events, and has never had any serious problems, yet
the police will
wait outside and arrest young people for curfew
violations. She was
so upset that she organized a media event in which
NYRA participated.
The media event was a success, and NYRA hopes to work
toward building
a coalition of civil rights groups and community
leaders to fight the
DC curfew.
-----Annual Meeting and Election-----
Every summer NYRA elects a new board of directors, and
holds an annual
meeting. NYRA's last annual meeting in San
Francisco brought together
NYRA members from throughout the country. They heard
from some
excellent speakers, heard NYRA's Executive Director
read the annual
report, and had a good time. This year the annual
meeting will be
held on July 28th in Washington DC. The board
election will begin on
June 28th. Anyone interested in attending the meeting
should send an
email to ny...@youthrights.org. Some housing will be
available. If
you would like to vote in the board of directors
election, or run for
the board of directors, but you are not currently a
member, please
visit http://www.youthrights.org/membership.php.
----News from the Web----
Teens tell about on-the-job dangers
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10305
Study: Violent videogames don't make killers
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10296
'That's so gay' prompts student lawsuit
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10264
Gen Y's ego trip takes a nasty turn
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10263
High school students bored, risk dropping out: survey
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10262
Aunt's Whipping of Boy in Class Investigated
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10254
Gen Y turning into Gen Ego
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10253
Students forced to clean school with toothbrush
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10251
Assembly Gives 14-Year-Olds A Say on Key Medical Care
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10233
U.S. Schools Weigh Extending Their Hours
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10227
Are you deaf? Can't you hear that ringtone?
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10220
Fox to air "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" game
show
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=10213
-----Conclusion-----
It seems that ageism is particularly rampant in the
District of
Columbia. NYRA hopes to allay some of that ageism,
through fighting
the curfew and any attempt to ban young people from
night clubs. NYRA
is also in the midst of its annual fundraiser, which
is essential to
its financial well being. All members are encouraged
to participate.
NYRA has also scheduled its annual meeting, a great
chance to see what
NYRA has been working on and meet other youth rights
activists.