Join FYD for a Reception Honoring Young Elected Officials and Candidates

Administrator — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:57:07 +0000

Please join the Florida Young Democrats for a Reception Honoring Young Elected Officials and Candidates and Celebrating the Present and Future of the Democratic Party.

WHEN: Friday, July 13th from 7:00pm-9:00pm
(the weekend of the Florida Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner)

WHERE: Westin Diplomat Resort
3555 S. Ocean Drive
Hollywood, FL 33019

CONTRIBUTION: $20/person; $10/student (with current student ID)

For more information or to find out about sponsorship opportunities, please contact President Justin Spiller at president@flyoungdems.org or 904-254-3989, or contact Alexander Lewy at 305-213-7587.

FYD in PHL

Administrator — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:53:13 +0000

This past weekend, FYD members and leadership attended the YDA Summer Conference in Philadelphia, PA. It was a great weekend full of informative trainings and meetings, as well as the election of the Young Democrats of America’s representatives to the Democratic National Committee. FYD was proud to support and congratulates these two new officers, Matt …

YDA Statement on the Supreme Court’s Ruling on the Affordable Care Act

Administrator — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:03:11 +0000

Statement from YDA President Rod Snyder:

“The Young Democrats of America (YDA) praises the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, ensuring that tens of millions of Americans have access to basic health care. From this day forward, health care in the United States will be a right for all Americans, not a privilege for those who can afford it.

“While the political implications of today’s decision will be widely debated, it’s important to remember what this was really about. No one should die because they can’t afford health care. No one should go broke because they get sick.

“Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, 3.1 million young Americans have health insurance through their parents’ plans, children can no longer be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and you can no longer be penalized for simply being a woman.

“For many young people, today is a reminder of why we are involved in the political process. Elections have consequences. We elected a president in 2008 who was committed to addressing a broken health care system in the U.S. We fought alongside a Democratic Congress to pass a law in 2010 that extended coverage to tens of millions of Americans who were previously uninsured. And today we celebrate that the progress has been preserved by the Supreme Court.

“Republicans are vowing to repeal the Affordable Care Act if they control Congress and the White House next year. Now more than ever, YDA is committed to electing Democrats who will make certain that we never roll back the clock to a time when basic health care was a question of economic status. We will fight to ensure that our children grow up in a nation with a moral imperative to care for the sick. This is a fundamental value of our generation, and it is what’s at stake in this November’s election.”

Happy Pride from the YDA LGBTQ Caucus

Administrator — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 02:36:46 +0000

The month of June is significant for many reasons, but to the LGBTQ Community it reminds us of the battles we’ve won and allows us to celebrate them. President Bill Clinton began in 2000 by declaring the month of June as Pride Month. This helps to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969.

Although Pride month has been celebrated many years prior to President Clinton’s declaration, it was just another forward step in our battle for Equality. President Obama has declared June as “Pride Month” every year of his time in Washington. In 2011, he called on us to “…to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists.”

We’ve made great strides in equality since 1969 but still have a bit to go. Please make sure to visit our article on the President’s progress to Equality. It is located at our website: http://www.ydalgbtq.org or by click on Obama’s Progress since being elected.

The YDA LGBTQ Caucus is determined to eradicating prejudices and discrimination at all levels. We understand that it begins with our young americans and are committed to ensuring the betterment of our lives and those that come after us.

On behalf of the caucus, Happy Pride!

Sincerely,

Kristian Cosme
Chair
YDA LGBTQ Caucus

On Memorial Day…

Administrator — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:51:33 +0000

Today, the United States celebrates Memorial Day, one day reserved each year to honor our nation’s veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. Every Memorial Day, I think about the history of this observance and the organization that started this tradition.

The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization for Union veterans of the Civil War. In May 1868, the GAR issued General Order No. 11, designating May 30th of each year as Decoration Day. Members of the GAR were ordered to visit the graves of their fallen comrades and decorate them with “the choicest flowers of spring-time” and “the dear old flag they saved.”

It wasn’t until after World War II that Decoration Day became known more commonly as Memorial Day. And it wasn’t until Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968 that the observance of Memorial Day was moved from May 30th to the last Monday in May as it is now. In fact, there is a movement underway by veterans’ groups to return Memorial Day to its traditional May 30th observance. That link will take you to an online petition calling for passage of a bill restoring Memorial Day to May 30th, which if you click it you’ll see lots of signatures from today. Proving, I guess, that politics never takes a rest.

Young Democrats and indeed Americans of all political stripe will I hope reflect on the history of this holiday, a holiday that started as a day for decorating the graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War, to help us all remember that today is not about cookouts or hanging out at the beach or even just a holiday to mark the beginning of summer. It is a holiday that has a very noble purpose: remembering those servicemembers who gave their lives so we could enjoy all of those other things, every day of the year. On behalf of Young Democrats everywhere, thank you to all veterans for your service to our country.

Nick DeCenzo
Communications Director
Young Democrats of America

Broward County Awards Brunch Wrap Up

Administrator — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:14:17 +0000

The Broward Young Democrats held their annual Awards Brunch this past Sunday at the Hagen Park Community Center in Wilton Manors. This year’s honorees were:
“Bob Gross Young Democrat of the Year” – Robin Bartleman, School Board of Broward County, At-Large
President’s Award – Mike Moskowitz, State Committeeman, Florida Democratic Party
Lifetime Young Democrat – Stacy Ritter, Broward County Commission, District 3
Trailblazer of the Year – Mayor Mike Ryan, City of Sunrise
Union of the Year – Unite Here
Humanitarian Organization of the Year – Planned Parenthood
Environmentalist of the Year – Mayor Roy Gold, City of Coral Springs

The Broward County Young Democrats were also proud to present FYD President Justin Spiller with a check to support FYD’s GOTV efforts in 2012! Congratulations to all the award winners, and to the Broward Young Democrats for putting on such a successful event.

YDA Announces Summer Conference in Philadelphia

Administrator — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:10:26 +0000

YDA is excited to announce that Philadelphia will host our Summer National Meeting on June 29 – July 1. The conference will begin around lunchtime on Friday and run through noon on Sunday. The program will include a number of guest speakers, political trainings, business meetings and a special new member orientation. A more detailed schedule will be released in the coming weeks.

The Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel Philadelphia (220 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103) is the host venue for this meeting. YDA has secured a group rate of $137/night plus tax. To reserve a room, please contact the hotel directly at (215) 735-6000 and mention you are with Young Democrats of America to ensure you are given the proper group rate.

Registration is now open:

- Super Early Bird registration ($25) will be open until 5 PM EST Friday, May 11th

- Early Bird registration ($45) will be open until 5 PM EST Friday, May 18th

- Regular registration ($55) will then be in available until 5 PM EST Friday, June 15th

- After 5 PM EST on Friday, June 15th, only On-Site Registration ($75) will be accepted.

If you have any questions, please contact YDA Meetings Director Kelly Drake (meetings@yda.org) with any questions. We look forward to seeing you in Philadelphia this summer!

Award Nominations Are Now Open

Administrator — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:43:11 +0000

As a part of the Annual Convention we will be hosting an awards breakfast designed to honor some of the best programs, up and coming Young Democrats and chapters from across the state. Check out the Awards Committee page to learn more about the awards and for information on how to nominate your chapters and …

Festival for Florida’s Future

Administrator — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:40:49 +0000

From “Festival for Florida’s Future”:
“The Festival to Fight for Florida is not a rally, but a day-long celebration of what it means to be an average Floridian. This day of activism, education and music will serve as a kick-off for a larger, sustained campaign to organize people from all backgrounds and walks of life to take action in meaningful, effective ways that make a difference in the lives of all Floridians.

At the festival, attendees will learn about how they can Fight for Florida by participating in letter writing campaigns, recording video messages, registering to vote and attending a series of teach-ins. With a carnival atmosphere serving as a backdrop, workers and their families will get the tools they need to build activist networks in their neighborhoods throughout the summer and leading into regional activities in the fall. These activities will support a statewide effort to recruit and train workers and retirees to run for elected office. After all, average Floridians know what it is like to Fight for Florida!”

Come out to Orlando’s Central Florida Fairgrounds between 10AM and 6PM tomorrow, Saturday June 4th, and connect with some of your fellow Florida Young Democrats and a great variety of Florida’s elected officials, educators, laborers, citizen activists and artists.

DNC Chair: Ryan’s Plan unfair to youths

Administrator — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:43:04 +0000