NYRA Freedom

ISSN 1933-5229

Scott Davidson and Adam King

Volume 6, Issue 11

November 7, 2006

Contents:

Introduction
NYRA Executive Director Speaks at Conference
Super Bowl Contest
NYRA to be Featured on BBC Radio
Annual Report Available
Staff Requests
News from the Web
Conclusion

Introduction

By Scott Davidson

A few noteworthy things have happened since the last issue was sent out. NYRA’’s much delayed 05-06 annual report is now complete and available to the membership. NYRA members will soon be featured on a BBC radio program, and NYRA’’s Executive Director spoke about the drinking age at an alcohol policy conference. There is also a very important fundraiser we want to let you know about.

NYRA Executive Director Speaks at Conference

By Scott Davidson

On Oct. 16, NYRA’s Executive Director Alex Koroknay-Palicz, along with NYRA member and Afghanistan veteran Robert Bertoniere, attended the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators in New Orleans. Koroknay-Palicz spoke about the need for a lower drinking age, and his argument convinced many people. He argued that raising the drinking age has not reduced drunk driving fatalities, but has only made the situation worse. Bertoniere’’s presence underscored the hypocrisy of sending young people to war and prohibiting them from consuming alcohol. By all accounts, the event was a success, and NYRA expresses it sincere thanks to the NCSLA for hosting them.

Super Bowl Contest

By Katrina Moncure

Runs from October 24, 2006 until November 20, 2006.

You don’t have to like or pay any attention to the game to participate! All you need to do is pick an NFL team. One team. Several teams. Whatever. Donate the total amount for the team(s) you picked – more information is available at http://www.youthrights.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9052.

Just for doing that, you win a prize! Your choice of one NYRA button (any of them), a wristband, or a bumper sticker (this is still the only one I actually have, but I’ll be having some more made within the next week or so, will post when they’re available). Get a prize just for participating. Participatory prizes will be sent out after contest ends on November 20.

There’s more, of course.

If one of your picked teams gets into the Super Bowl, you win another prize. If your team gets into the Super Bowl but loses, you win… a NYRA t-shirt!!! That’s the runner up prize. I might add something onto the t-shirt later, depending on how this goes. For now, though, the t-shirt at least is guaranteed.

If your team WINS the Super Bowl, you get the grand prize!… a $50 gift card!!! For your choice of any of the following places: iTunes, Best Buy, Target, and any other place I feel like adding on here. Might add something on to this prize later as well, we’ll see, but for now the $50 gift card is guaranteed.

If more than one person picks a Super Bowl winner, they both/all each get a $50 gift card still.* I’m donating the gift card(s) myself, so that won’t actually cost NYRA anything.

So, now that you’ve read how awesome this is, I’ll bet you want to pick your team. Well, teams are priced based on current standings, as you can see on the forums.

Of course, you’ll be wanting to get your picks in soon. Some prices will go up after this Sunday! Teams that win will have $1 added to their pick fee (since as time goes by, it’ll be easier to tell who is and isn’t likely to get into the Super Bowl). Winning teams will have $1 added to their pick fee after each game throughout the contest time.

One participatory prize per person.

You may pick as many teams as you want.

There is no point in picking the same team more than once. You’ll still just get one prize if the team goes all the way.

Once you’ve decided on your team(s), send me an email (use the NYRA contact page if you don’t know my e-mail address) or IM me on AIM at SciVille telling me your team(s). I’ll let you know how much to donate for that (even though you should hopefully know that already from the list, which I’ll keep updated), and I’ll let Alex Koroknay-Palicz and Zach Hobesh know to watch for your donation. Once your donation is in, you are officially entered. You may add on more if you want later, but no refunds.

At that point, wait to receive your button, band, or sticker sometime in late November, and then wait even longer until beginning of February to find out if you win!

So donate, and possibly win an awesome gift card to a cool place. But definitely win not only the participatory button/band/sticker, but also the great joy that comes with donating to the awesomest youth rights organization in the whole wide world.

Oh, by the way, it’ll be public knowledge who picked what team. Unless anyone’s got any problem with that.

I guess that’s all there is to it. So pick a team!

* = In the VERY unlikely event that over 20 people hit the grand prize, value of grand prize may come down a bit. Probably. Again, like I said, VERY unlikely.

Donations should be made here: http://www.youthrights.org/donate.php

NYRA to be Featured on BBC Radio

By Scott Davidson

The British Broadcasting Corporation’s World Service is producing a series on growing up in different parts of the world that will air in December. When it was time to visit America, BBC stopped in Washington, D.C., and spoke at length with NYRA’’s Executive Director, Alex Koroknay-Palicz. The following afternoon, several young people associated with NYRA participated in a discussion on what it is like to be young in America. The discussion went very well, and several youth rights issues were favorably covered. NYRA President Scott Davidson was also interviewed for the project.

Annual Report Available

By Alex Koroknay-Palicz

Delayed while finishing touches were being added to the report since the Annual Meeting in San Francisco back in August, the Report is finally finished and ready for public viewing. As part of NYRA’s unique commitment to honest, transparent non-profit governance we don’t pull punches with the information we release to you, our members. With Annual Reports available stretching back to 2001, this is the most complete source of information regarding what this organization does each year.

This report includes: – A full year-end review of all NYRA activity, both our successes and failures, over the last year – An analysis of web traffic to our acclaimed website, YouthRights.org – Full year end balance sheet – News releases released through the year – Membership statistics report.

The full report can be accessed here:

http://www.youthrights.org/docs/AnnualReport2006.pdf

As always, if you support this organization and the work we do, please demonstrate your support with a tax-deductible contribution. Donations can be made here: http://www.youthrights.org/donate.php

Staff Requests

By Adam King

We still need volunteers for Central Region Captain and South Region Captain. If you are interested, contact me and fill out an application at http://www.youthrights.org/chapterformation.php.

News from the Web

Crisis in civics ed? Revival is under way
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9150

Hitler Youth H’ween Shock
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9130

School Safety Drill Upsets Some Parents
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9123

Teen Shot by Police Stun Gun Dies
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9119

Teen Brains Build Tolerance to Alcohol’s Effects
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9092

NYC Council considers banning aluminum bats
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9045

School Internet Policy Protest
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9023

NJ considers ban on metal baseball bats for players under 18
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9016

NYPD targeting Internet sales of fake driver IDs
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=9010

Bay State School Bans Tag, Other Chase Games
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8998

Calif. teen questioned for online Bush threats
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8977

Gunman in classroom? Texas students told to fight back
http://www.youthrights.org/article.php?threadid=8968

Conclusion

By Adam King

I encourage everyone to participate in NYRA’s Super Bowl Contest. As Katrina Moncure said, there is no need to like football to participate. Help support an important organization in its cause, and get a chance at winning something in return. NYRA has made an impact in many different areas in the past 8 years of its existence, and without your continual support, none of that would have been possible. Donate today! http://www.youthrights.org/donate.php