Inaugural Issue
ISSN 1933-5229
Volume 1, Issue 1
July 24, 2001
Contents:
Introduction
Title Search
Blimpies Victory
Michigan Trouble
Recruiting Efforts
Webpage Update
In the Future
Introduction
Introducing the first issue of the NYRA newsletter, hitting your e-mail boxes the 24th of each month! We’ve got a long road ahead of us, so let’s get started on the right foot. My name is Ryan Bolz, and I’ll be guiding you through the rest of this month’s news.
Title Search
It is great that NYRA has a newsletter now, but what better way to be heard than with a catchy title? I’ll be taking comments and suggestions for the remainder of this month on what our newsletter should be called. Feel free to email me at snap6320@….
Blimpies Victory
NYRA won the battle against a Blimpies subshop in Holland, MI! The local store attempted to ban minors from entering past 7 PM unless supervised by an adult. Local members and NYRA’s lawyer, Kary Love, were ready to take the Blimpies subshop to court until the store voluntarily removed all signs advertising the policy in response to NYRA’s complaints. Our victory was not only proven in the removal of the age discriminating policy, but in the awareness NYRA gained as newspaper reporters rushed to include our story in one of their next articles.
Michigan Trouble
NYRA is participating in one of its largest struggles yet as we fight to counteract the Hotel Youth Discrimination Bill in Michigan, and we need your help! On June 7, the Michigan House of Representatives held a vote totaling 95-7 in favor of rewriting the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act, allowing Michigan hotels to legally deny service to people under 18. Elliot-Larsen’s anti-age discrimination protections were created to protect youth from such violations of their civil rights. Now, these laws are in jeopardy and age discrimination could be officially legalized! The bill is currently in the hands of 5 people on the Senate Transportation and Tourism Committee. Now is the best time to charge and take action to support our fellow youth! Visit www.youthrights.org and click on Current Projects to see what you can do to help!
Recruiting Efforts
NYRA has appointed Christopher Coes to head up the Chapter Formation and Recruiting Committee, along with 7 other members each representing their own regions. Chapter Formation and Recruitment has been a major thrust lately, so if anyone is interested in creating a local chapter in your area, please contact Christopher Coes at metagen912@… and he will put you in contact with your appropriate region representative.
Also, local members in the Washington, DC area supported NYRA at a Green Day concert on the American University campus, June 24. A total of 125 new members were recruited. Another recruiting effort was attempted at a Baltimore Staind concert, but was unfortunately discontinued by police. Local officers claimed NYRA members were soliciting on campus when in fact members were partaking in political speech, one of the most protected classes of free speech! Another thirty to forty members were recruited from the Staind concert and various other local events. Welcome aboard to all that joined!
Webpage Update
If you haven’t already noticed, NYRA’s webpage has gotten some new looks! NYRA has acquired a new domain name, www.youthrights.org ! Also, the Chapter page has undergone a major revamp. Still in the process of being completed, we should see most links working and active shortly. A new research page has also been introduced to the site, which includes various reports and essays on topics that are affecting youth around America today! The current projects page also holds an extensive amount of information on fighting HB 4627, the bill that has the potential to legalize age discrimination in Michigan.
In the Future
This has been the first issue of NYRA’s newsletter, but with lots more work and hopefully more great news, we will have a newsletter the 24th of every month here after. Also, we plan to have a print copy eventually! Only time can tell! If you have any comments, suggestions, questions, or anything else, please feel free to contact me at snap6320@…! I would be happy to hear from you all!
Best of wishes,
Ryan Bolz
Recruitment Committee, Southern Region
NYRA Newsletter Editor
