Youth in Government Information (for November 28 meeting)

First, Model United Nations information:

• Three students have committed to attend Model UN in Mineral Well on March 1-3.  They are Blayde, Braydon, and Makenzie.
• YLA has selected China for them to write resolutions.  They will get information about writing resolutions on Wednesday.  Please support them on their efforts.  They will need to turn in their resolutions and supplements by January 4.  

We will be meeting on Wednesday, November 28, in room 201 at 7:35 am.  We will be discussing Youth in Government

• You will need to register online and provide a $75 deposit by Monday, December 3.  Mr. Zukowski needs to get registration information to YLA by Wednesday. Make sure you register as a student, and not as an advisor.  
• You can choose legislative, judicial, or media as your choices.   
• Here is the website to register.  You can pay online or pay by cash or check (payable to GHS) by December 3.  When you register, you need to tell Mr. Zukowski that you have done this.
• By late next week, you will have bill writing information for YG.  All materials and final fees are due February 6.  

For all activities, students and parents must complete a Grafton YLA agreement form which stipulates school attendance and grades as well as NO REFUNDs for any programs.  

Model UN for Grafton High School

As discussed at the November 8th meeting, here is what you are going to be asked to do:

• If you intend to go to Model United Nations, we can form groups up to four for each country.  Please tell Mr. Zukowski if you have a group of four and options of three countries your group would like to work on.
• The date is March 1-3, 2019 in Mineral Wells.  Transportation will be provided.  You need to be passing your classes and have less than 5 absences for the semester.
• There are NO REFUNDS by YLA or Grafton High School.  If you paid and cannot attend, you must make arrangements on your own with another student to attend.
• Please register on the YLA Active page by November 19.  When you do please tell Mr. Zukowski that you registered and if you made a payment online.  You can make a $75 deposit to Mr. Zukowski by November 17 (make checks payable to GHS).
• Final fees are due ($190, for a total of $265) by January 4.  Along with the fees, resolutions and supplements are due.
• If you have any questions, let Mr. Zukowski know.  

YLA Update for 8-30-18

It is wonderful to see many students, including Freshman, show up at today's meeting.  We got some good ideas for some projects this year and I hope we can get organized to pull them off.  There will be opportunities to participate in Homecoming and Halloween festivities at the school.

New Information:
After the meeting had ended today, Jacob Boyce, our district director, stopped by and gave me an information packet which included information about registering different events.  The YLA website has links to Active.com in which you will be able to register your yearly dues ($15, not the $10 I had told you before) and at this time Fall Conference fees. Click this link and choose "YLA Student Member" and complete the process Be sure to pay for student fees by the end of September so I can get a roster made.  The reason YLA is going to this format is that they get typed-written data, rather than trying to read and type in handwritten information, and they give the opportunity to pay by credit card or debit card.   You will be using the same email address to log in because your information will be saved and you won't need to enter it all again.   If you are unable to complete this process, let me know and I will assist you.  Click on the links in this paragraph to get onto the Active.com page for YLA. 

YG Update

Since we haven't had a meeting yet this year due to snow, I decided to write this to give you all an update concerning Youth in Government. 

All the resources for YG are located in the folder Mr. Zukowski shared with you.  Spend time looking at the "How to Write a Bill" document.  Each partnership will be required to write a bill to create a new West Virginia law or to amend an existing law.   The state legislature is now in session, so there are some examples of legislation currently being considered.  I also have several years of bill books from Youth in Government and you can see how bills have been written in the past.  The West Virginia Code is also a great resource for you.

I ask you to develop ideas in the next week to frame your bill.  We already have had a number of snow days and I don't want you not be finished assuming you just work on it at school.  I will be available at the school after school on most days to help you out.  Hopefully this Friday, I will send out packets of information

The final fee ($190), bills, and supporting materials (Bill Supplements) will be due February 8.  Please use the Bill Template on OneDrive.  Please copy and rename the document with your names.    Do not wait until the last week to start!!!

If you have any questions, please see me. 

Information on Youth in Government

This is for those students who have signed up for Youth in Government.  All 13 students at GHS have decided to work on legislative bills.  I would like to have everyone to work on their bills as soon as possible.  Everyone except for one participant will be working with a partner.

Thursday, February 8 is the absolute deadline to submit all documents and final payment of $190.  Remember, any fees paid are non-refundable.  If you are unable to attend, you need to find another student to take your place.

Hard-copy materials will be given to you around January 10. 

I have shared a folder on OneDrive that has documents you need to complete your bill.    You will need to choose a topic in which you are changing a current state law or amending (changing) a current state law.   Use this site to find West Virginia state laws. You will also need to conduct research to support your bill.

When you are ready to submit, you will need to load up your bill to OneDrive, print the research materials,  bill supplement, and resource credential.  You will need to find someone who is knowledgeable on the topic four your resource credential.

If you have any questions please ask me or Jay.

2017-18 Grafton YLA Officers

President - Jay Latta
Vice President - Trevor Swiger
Secretary - Fletcher Newell
Treasurer - Dominic Lough
Historian - Hannah Hoskins
Chaplain - Caroline Maier

Open House on March 17

We will be having an Open House on March 17 from 5-7 pm at Grafton High School.  I would like to have students who are participating in Youth in Government present their bills to those parents and public who attend.  I plan on giving my students some extra credit for doing this and if you don't have me in class, ask your History teacher about possible credit.

Stay warm!