 Frieda Menos, President |
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| Spring 2007 Edition | June 24 , 2007 | ||
| SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT
Dear [[First_Name]], |
In this issue: » President’s Corner: A message from the NYSYD President » YDA Convention » Upcoming Events » Women’s History Month Panel Discussion » Book Review » YoungDem Profile: Whitney Crispell » Featured Region: Upstate » Featured Caucus: Women's » Get Involved » Meet the Newsletter Team » Support the Young Dems |
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YDA National Convention
 Join YDA as we celebrate our 75th anniversary in Dallas, TX for our National Convention. The National Convention only comes around every two years, so don't miss out on one of the largest gatherings of Young Democrats nationwide. The Young Democrats of America National Convention, July 18-22 Dallas, TX REGISTER TODAY 2007 YDA National Convention New York State Delegate Application |
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Event Re-Cap: 2007 Women’s History Month Panel Discussion On March 28th, the New York State Young Dems celebrated Women’s History Month by holding a panel discussion entitled “Women, Politics & Opportunity: Where Are We Going?” The event took place at the United Federation of Teachers Headquarters in New York City. Among the panelists were Teri Coaxum, Deputy State Director for Senator Chuck Schumer, and Karen Persichilli Keogh, State Director for Senator Hillary Clinton. Also speaking were: Cynthia Darrison, of Darrison Barrett & Associates & former Managing Director of Spitzer2006; Gigi Georges, of Partner Glover Park Group & a National Democratic Party Consultant; and NYC Councilwoman Diana Reyna, 34th District. The women on the panel provided encouraging insights about the prospect of women becoming increasingly involved in politics. Each one spoke about her unique experiences followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask questions. The panelist' variety of perspectives ranged from campaign management to communications to serving as an elected official. Each articulated that in order for women to advance their careers as women in politics, it is important to network and build relationships, as well as work hard to demonstrate commitment and develop skills in accomplishing challenging tasks. Young Dems had a great opportunity to network with the panelists and other event attendees. Following the panel discussion, a group of Young Dems led by NYS Young Dems President Frieda Menos gathered to discuss how to revitalize the New York State Young Democrat Women's Caucus. Amy Sterner was elected as the Women's Caucus Chair, and Sadique Robinson as Co-Chair. Other members joined the Caucus Steering Committee. All the women participating have had diverse experiences and will serve the organization well in helping to increase the participation of young women in the Democratic Party. |
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| Book Review Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time By Senator Chuck Schumer Review By Matthew Corritore  Republicans have been doing their best to label Democrats as the anti-Bush party: no plan, just opposition. In his first book, New York Senator Chuck Schumer wants readers to know there’s at least one Democrat with a plan for the country. Positively American details a refreshingly clear plan Democrats should follow to continue electoral success beyond 2006. Senator Schumer has a knack for reducing complex issues into straightforward sound bites, a talent that makes him popular with the media and voters. But unlike some politicians, this ability rarely comes across as pandering; his conclusions are easy to understand and comprehensive. Policy wonks and average voters alike can appreciate the Senator’s straightforward but intelligent issue analysis. Positively American perfectly illustrates this approach. Dependence on foreign oil, the fight against terrorism, the education gap and other nuanced topics are all comprehensively addressed in a few short pages. The result is an unpretentious work that remains accessible to any reader. Positively American is divided into two parts. Part one tells how the Senator has remained in touch with middle-class constituents, from being elected one of the youngest members of the New York State Assembly to becoming Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He illustrates the average middle-class family with the fictional “Baileys,” a Long Island couple with three kids, a mortgage and impending college tuition bills. Remembering this family, and their equivalents in each part of New York State, is the Senator’s way of keeping it real and focusing on policy proposals that speak directly to middle-class concerns. New York’s senior Senator argues the Democratic Party needs to reconnect with the “Baileys” to align more voters with Democratic candidates long-term. I loved his explanation why the Democratic Party has lost touch with the middle-class in recent decades, including its failure to denounce over-the-top, radical social groups in the 1960s. Part two of the book outlines the Senator’s “50% Solution,” a broad plan that offers a number of commonsense solutions to pertinent problems facing America today. It’s impressive how disciplined he is keeping the needs of the middle-class in focus. Issues that seem to receive little attention in Washington (i.e. cancer mortality, tax evasion, children accessing Internet pornography) receive serious treatments in this book. This fact is testament to a strategy that has won Senator Schumer 14 straight elections since 1974. You need to read Positively American. It’s a quick read that presents understandable solutions to intricate problems facing the country. This is the kind of the book that reassures you everything is going to be alright, that solutions are within reach, and that the government can truly improve life for huge amounts of people. |
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| PROFILE OF A NEW YORK STATE YOUNG DEM WHITNEY CRISPELL - The Office of Erie County Legislator Maria Whyte By Matthew Corritore  In this edition of our profile series, I interviewed Buffalo native Whitney Crispell. Whitney is Chief of Staff for Erie County Legislature Majority Leader Maria Whyte, who represents the 6th District, Buffalo’s West Side, Black Rock and Riverside areas. She brings an exciting energy to her governmental work, having been first exposed to the political process as an activist in college. Unlike some in politics who cannot get enough of campaigns, turf battles and political infighting, Whitney is very issue-oriented, and sees elections merely as tools used to accomplish policy goals. Her passion for progressive causes has always guided which candidates and elected officials she supports and works with. Whitney graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 2005, with a major in English and minors in Women’s Studies and Sociology. While completing her undergraduate work, she became heavily involved in the campus women’s group and the Anti-War Coalition. One of her favorite projects was a bi-partisan voter registration campaign called “Think Globally, Vote Locally.” The drive focused primarily on registering college students from different parts of the state or country to vote in local elections around campus. The project registered 1300 students in total, 1100 of which became eligible to vote in local elections. Whitney also worked extensively with the New York Public Research Interest Research Group to keep SUNY tuition at current levels. Perhaps Whitney’s most rewarding activist experience at school was her formation of an unofficial, informal progressive student coalition called InfoSHARE, not unlike the loosely organized political groups she would later work with in Buffalo. The coalition collaborated with a variety of organizations to advance progressive causes. The group had no formal structure or officers, and Whitney more than once described the coalition’s operation as somewhat “anarchic.” These progressive students consisted of a diverse group of individuals, with, as Whitney put it, 9 or 10 opinion leaders functioning as core members. It wasn’t until her senior year that Whitney became involved in electoral politics, joining the Livingston County Democrats and volunteering on campaigns. Her activist background constantly influenced her efforts in the political world. She is passionate about the issues that matter to her, and those causes and the ability to change public policy for the better are reasons she finds politics so compelling. We all know electoral politics are sometimes more about power grabs and political infighting, and less about doing good in communities. Asked what she thinks about this political “game,” Whitney said that “yes, the elected officials I work for are Democrats, but they’re also feminists, GLBT supporters, and social and economic progressives. Being just a Democrat is not good enough for me. It may sound self-righteous, but that’s where I’m at right now.” Whitney went on to explain that each and every candidate she supports has these progressive characteristics. Her efforts each campaign season have resulted in meaningful public policy successes. Still, Whitney is sometimes “frustrated by the lack of public policy discussions that happen in the political world and/or how little people actually want to discuss issues.” Before working for Legislature Whyte, Whitney wrote an article in the Buffalo News supporting approval for over-the-counter access to emergency contraception from the FDA. “People are very afraid about talking about sex,” she commented. “The reality is that kids are going to have sex, and we have to give them needed access to condoms and contraceptives.” Since becoming Erie County Legislator Maria Whyte’s Chief of Staff, Whitney has truly enjoyed making an impact on people’s lives through government. “Erie County and Western New York are facing major challenges right now,” she said. “Combating urban sprawl has been a huge eye opener to me, and made me realize that this area doesn’t have a regional strategic plan. We have more than enough infrastructure to support ourselves, but we cannot keep consuming without thinking about our communities. People are too accustomed to just using all their resources and then moving out. We have to start reusing what we have and revitalizing existing communities.” Asked if she prefers working on the governmental or the campaign side of politics, she said, “Government is a lot better for me. I like to be involved in discussions of policy, I enjoy working directly with constituents, and the elected officials I’ve worked with have all been interested in building new, young leadership, which is very appealing.” Constituent casework is not for everyone, but Whitney realizes that the people that call the office are “coming to you because you’re their last resort. Treating them with respect is important.” Women’s issues being very important to her, I asked Whitney her thoughts on the reorganization of the NYS Young Democrats Women’s Caucus. “It’s awesome the caucus is being revived. Women have made great strides in politics lately, especially in the Erie County Legislature. 7 of the 15 legislators are now women. It’s a lie, however, to think the boy’s club doesn’t exist anymore in political circles. That’s something all women in government and politics need to overcome.” She went on to explain that women can be successful in the political world by following their passion for the issues, instead of just engaging in turf battles and playing the game so to speak. Whitney is committed to staying in Buffalo long-term and plans to continue supporting progressive elected officials and candidates. “I definitely want to go back to school down the road, but I don’t have any anxiety about what’s next. I just bought a house and simply doing my thing here is working for me.” What excites her most about working in politics? “I cherish the friendships I’ve made. I consider the people I’ve worked with my extended family. It’s also exciting to work for people I really respect, and they’ve given me the opportunity to do things that make me proud.” *** Whitney Crispell is currently looking for interns to work for Erie County Legislator Maria Whyte. Interns are needed in Legislator Whyte’s Governmental Office, and will have the opportunity to help develop public policy and address constituent concerns. One intern is also needed to work exclusively on Maria’s reelection campaign. Email Whitney at whitneyarlene@gmail.com for more information or to apply. |
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| FEATURED REGION - Upstate Jonathan Cardinal, President of the St. Lawrence County Young Democrats, is determined to expand the membership and effectiveness of his local Young Dem chapter. But he has also set his sights on making the Young Dems a powerful force in all of Upstate. Jon is working hard to sustain the County’s chapters at SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Cortland and Clarkson University. A strategy he’s sharing with those organizations is building active membership through issue-oriented campaigns. Climate change initiatives are very popular at St. Lawrence University, and the Young Dems there have recruited plenty of members at environmental awareness days and campus organization fairs. Such events are great ways of bringing activists and policy wonks into organizations most tightly associated with campaigns and elections. Jon’s membership is made up of mostly St. Lawrence University students, so his current focus is keeping those members engaged with the organization during the summer months and beyond their college years. Since last election season, the St. Lawrence Young Democrats have been fixated on an ambitious goal: registering every student to vote on the St. Lawrence University campus. Currently, the group has come halfway towards its objective. 1,000 students, half of the student body, are now registered. 400 of those new voters were registered this school year. The registration drive is well worth the effort. Many of these new voters have a new awareness of the Young Democrats; some have and will undoubtedly become members. The St. Lawrence, SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Cortland Young Democrats have all weathered the political off-season between campaign seasons well. Aiding their efforts is the building excitement for the 2008 Presidential election, and the unprecedented early primary season that dominates media coverage. Other political organizations such as Students for Obama have ramped up campus interest in politics and increased enthusiasm for the Young Dems. A recent talk by 2004 and 2006 Congressional candidate Robert Johnson (D) has kept students engaged at St. Lawrence University. Last election season’s successful canvassing efforts on behalf of various local candidates has also fostered club growth. The St. Lawrence County Legislature’s 6 member Republican majority became a 6 member Democratic majority following the 2006 election, showing Young Dems all their hard work in the field really paid off. Viggo Mortensen, actor and St. Lawrence University alumnus, campaigned with Robert Johnson and championed his health care policy proposals, helping to mobilize Young Dem participation in the campaign. All in all, the Upstate region is really coming into its own, and has made great strides in recruitment and voter registration. |
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FEATURED CAUCUS: Women’s Caucus
The New York State Young Democrat’s Women’s Caucus has been reorganized and revived. At this year’s Women’s History Month panel discussion on March 28th, NYS Young Dem President Frieda Menos gathered with a group of Young Dems interested in again making the Women’s Caucus an active body. After the discussion, the Women’s Caucus had elected a talented new Chair and Co-Chair and a devoted 6-member steering committee. Amy Sterner was elected Chair of the Caucus, with Sadique Robinson elected as Co-Chair. Amy has been active in the Manhattan Young Democrats for several years, and is thrilled to be given the opportunity to lead the Caucus. The group’s Steering Committee is composed of women from a variety of backgrounds, some currently working political jobs and some in the public or private sectors, but all enthusiastic about connecting more women to politics. The Caucus will work to engage and empower women to participate in the democratic process. To that end, the group plans to focus on registering women voters, building leadership skills among its ever expanding membership, and providing an effective forum for networking. Amy hopes to work with other organizations, such as the National Organization of Women, to provide greater opportunities for Caucus members. She is excited by the prospect of working with these organizations, especially with the hopes of giving interested women effective fundraising skills. The Women’s Caucus held its official Launch Event on Wednesday, May 23rd in Midtown Manhattan. Marcia Pappas, President of National Organization of Women-NYS, the largest women’s political action organization in New York State, was the featured speaker. The Caucus is also planning an upcoming Wine Tasting Networking event. Chair Amy Sterner hopes to hold an event every month, alternating between a volunteer opportunity and a networking engagement, complete with a guest speaker and/or informative panel discussion. This leadership is committed to listening to Caucus members, and planning events they are truly interested in attending. Over the next year, the Women’s Caucus hopes to expand its membership and continue to engage young, motivated women with an interest in politics, giving them ever more volunteer opportunities and networking events. To get involved with the Women's Caucus, contact Amy Sterner at women@youngdemsny.org. |
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| Get Involved This area of the newsletter will provide ideas about how to get more involved with the NYSYD. Look here for open positions in NYSYD on the Executive Board, committees, caucuses, and other internal leadership roles. OPEN POSITION: Upstate Vice President The Upstate VP is responsible for chapter development, membership recruitment, organization of political activities, and coordination of GOTV efforts throughout the Upstate region, which includes Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Warren counties. The Upstate VP must live in one of the aforementioned counties. To apply for the position, submit your resume and a 100-word statement including all pertinent organizing experience to info@youngdemsny.org with "Upstate VP" in subject line. OPEN POSITION: Labor Caucus Chair The Labor Caucus Chair is responsible for managing the NYS Young Democrats Labor Caucus, working closely with the local New York labor unions, organizing political activities, and the coordination of campaign efforts with the labor community. To apply for the position, submit your resume and a 100-word statement including all pertinent organizing experience to info@youngdemsny.org with "Labor Caucus" in subject line. OPEN POSITION: GLBT Caucus Chair The Chair is responsible for managing the NYS Young Democrats GLBT Caucus, working closely with the local New York GLBT groups, organizing political activities, and the coordination of campaign efforts with the GLBT community. To apply for the position, submit your resume and a 100-word statement including all pertinent organizing experience to info@youngdemsny.org "GLBT Caucus" in subject line. OPEN POSITION: Webmaster The Webmaster is responsible for managing the NYS Young Democrats website, working closely to help chapters establish websites, and assisting in the coordination of campaign efforts. To apply for the position, submit your resume and a 100-word statement including all pertinent organizing experience to info@youngdemsny.org "Webmaster" in subject line. BE AN INTERN The quickest way into a paid position in politics is to intern in a political office. Be aggressive - choose an elected official you would like to work for and call the office with your resume ready. Below are some of the latest job/internship opportunities: 1. REGIONAL COORDINATOR (Paid Position) Summary:Candidate will be responsible for providing support to members of a Democratic conference in New York State, working with community groups and issue organizations to promote the conference agenda and legislation and representing the conference at field meetings and events. Job Responsibilities (include but are not limited to): Gather and compile demographic information in various regions; Conduct issue research and track special interest campaigns; Analyze various legislative proposals and how they affect various communities; Spearhead outreach to and serve as liaison to advocacy groups and community organizations; Develop and implement issue campaigns in support of Democratic conference agenda; Assist in development and execution of communications plan;Represent Democratic conference at various field meetings and events. Job Requirements/Qualifications: Strong oral and written communications skills; Strong interpersonal skills; Ability to drive and willingness to travel in New York State; Political, labor, community and/or issue organizing experience preferred; Women, people of color and LGBT candidates are strongly encouraged to apply; Salary commensurate with experience, full medical and dental. Please send resume and cover letter to: NYSDemJobs@gmail.com. 2. NYS DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE INTERNSHIPS The New York State Democratic Committee is looking for top notch, extremely motivated students enrolled in or recently graduated from high school or college for intense political internships. We require a minimum of 5 hours of work per week, Monday through Friday and a commitment to a pre-set schedule but we are totally flexible and can work around any class schedule. We will work with high schools and colleges to give students credits whenever possible. Applicants should email their resume and 3 references to mariep@nysdems.org. They should also indicate to which department they would like to apply: Press, Technology, Finance and Political. If you have any questions, please contact Edna Ishayik at 212-725-8825 or via e-mail at ednai@nysdems.org WANT TO POST A JOBS/INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITEIES IN OUR WEEKLY E-NOTICES SEND NOTICES TO INFO@YOUNGDEMSNY.ORG WITH "OPPORTUNITY" IN SUBJECT LINE. |
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| MEET THE NEWSLETTER TEAM Matthew S. Corritore, Depew, 21, Editor: Matt works as the Community Awareness Specialist for AIDS Community Services of Western New York. Udai Tambar, Queens, Queens, 31, NYSYD Communications Director: Udai works for New York City government. |
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We need your support in 2007. For additional details, email Finance Director Chelsea Lyn Rudder at finance@youngdemsny.org. |
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Have a suggestion for improving the newsletter? Got a great idea for an event or a story? Our electronic door is always open. Send your feedback to the newsletter editors: newsletter@youngdemsny.org. |
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