For many years, NYRA did not have an office. The organization was run almost entirely from the homes and computers of its members. This changed when The Center for Voting and Democracy provided NYRA with an office in Takoma Park, Maryland, a suburb of Washington D.C. NYRA has also begun paying its Executive Director to…
NYRA chapters continue to grow and strengthen. Most notably, NYRA-Paterson, NYRA-Orange County, and NYRA-Berkeley. The NYRA chapter in Paterson, New Jersey has shown a great deal of promise. They have been traveling throughout the city distributing information about the city’s authoritarian youth curfew. Someone donated a full sized van, and the chapter painted the NYRA…
The new NYRA board of directors held its first meeting on the evening Monday, August 29th. Eight of NYRA’s nine directors were in attendance, and the agenda was packed. The board added Scarlett Swerdlow and Kevin Keenan to the board of advisors. The board appointed members to committees and discussed the possible creation of new…
Svend La Rose has resigned as West Regional Captain to serve as NYRA’s Research and Education Director. Kelvin Oliver has subsequently resigned as South Regional Captain to fill the void in the west left by Svend La Rose. Adam King, Kelvin Oliver’s former assistant, has been promoted to Kelvin’s old position. All of these staff…
On Saturday, August 6th, NYRA members from throughout the country gathered at LaGuardia High School in New York City for NYRA’s general meeting. Held annually, NYRA’s general meetings are an opportunity for members to meet in person, hear the annual report, and hear the election results before anyone else. This year eighteen people attended the…
One of NYRA’s greatest assets is its extensive web site. NYRA recently added a new photo gallery to YouthRights.org, and a time line of important events in NYRA history to the Youth Rights Network. The gallery, set up by Jason Kende and Alex Koroknay-Palicz, is far easier to organize and update than the old one….
NYRA’s Berkeley Chapter remains an active, vital part of the organization. Most recently they have been lobbying for ACA17, a bill that will allow seventeen year olds to vote in primaries if they will be eighteen by the time of the election. The chapter has been urging local government bodies in the Bay Area to…
After NYRA member Alexis Grant appeared in USA Today to argue against raising the driving age, Alex Koroknay-Palicz was invited to appear on Fox News to discuss teen driving issues. The appearance, which was covered in last month’s issue of NYRA Freedom, was an overwhelming success by all accounts. On the heels of that appearance,…
Alex Koroknay-Palicz has been serving as NYRA’s President and Executive Director since the summer of 2000. Due to the success of NYRA’s recent fund raising contest, the board decided NYRA had enough money to pay Alex full time. Keith Mandell, the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, prepared a contract that hires Alex as an independent…
Every year NYRA members vote to elect a new board of directors. The board of directors is the highest governing body within NYRA. The board elects officers, approves budgets, and directs policy for NYRA. The candidates for the 2005-2006 NYRA board of directors are Robert Reynolds (incumbent), Keith Mandell (incumbent), Alex Koroknay-Palicz (incumbent), Scott Davidson…
