The clock is ticking on the 2010 Election season and this is our opportunity to plan our strategy for the next 11 months to continue engaging young voters and exercise our generation’s power by sending Democrats back to Congress and our state, commonwealth, and territorial capitals.

Check out the 2009 Fall Conference Schedule

Take advantage of great savings with the Early Bird Registration for only $45. Prices will go up to $65 on October 15th at Midnight (Eastern) and will be good through November 18th at Midnight (Eastern). After this, you will have to register on-site in Orlando for $75.

Register for the 2009 Fall Conference today to get Early Bird Pricing!

Don’t forget to make your hotel reservations! We have a block of rooms reserved at the Orlando Doubletree Hotel for the bargain price of $89/night plus tax. You can make your reservation online with Group Code “YDA” or call 1-407-351-1000. Don’t forget to mention you are with the YDA group. The YDA room block closes October 28th at 5:00pm (Eastern).

Orlando Doubletree Hotel
5780 Major Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
1-407-351-1000

Pre Order Your Fall Conference T Shirts here!

In June 2009 we held our first Central Committee Meeting in Tampa… We set our priorities in motion and developed a plan of action!

In July 2009 we scheduled a conference call with Senator Nelson and directly spoke to him about our support for Health Care Reform and the public option!

On August 5-9, 2009 we joined Young Democrats from across America in Chicago for the YDA 2009 Convention and made a large impact in the direction Young Democrats will work towards nationally!

On August 18, 2009 we held our second Central Committee Meeting via teleconference… We reviewed the Young Democrats of America 2009 Convention in Chicago and reported on our progress and planned the next steps!

On October 11, 2009 at 1PM the FYD Central Committee will meet again to share our progress, hold elections for two vacant officer positions and discuss the upcoming YDA 2009 Fall Conference that we are hosting!!

Elections for National Committeewoman and County Chapters Chair will take place. Every chartered Young Democrat chapter can vote.

Date: Sunday, October 11, 2009

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Location: Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club

Email: president@flyoungdems.org

REGISTER NOW FOR THE YDA 2009 FALL CONFERENCE at www.YDA.org because…

On November 20-22, Young Democrats from across America will join us in Orlando, Florida for a meeting that will help support Young Democrat causes from local to national levels!

Young Democrats from all over the country will converge on Chicago for YDA’s biennial convention. The convention promises a slate of prominent national speakers, including leaders from the 111th Congress, notable activists and young people making a difference in America today.

We will also have training sessions that will help you become a more effective activist, or prepare you for a career in political campaigns and public service. There will be a hotly contested election for YDA’s national officers, which will make this a convention you won’t want to miss!

We have lived through an amazing campaign. We saw President Barack Obama, rally young people from across the United States to an overwhelming victory in November. Help to keep the excitement going by joining other young leaders from around the country as we discuss our vision for the future of this great nation.

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago at the YDA National Convention! 

Go to www.ydachicago2009.com to sign up today! 

Florida’s Young Democratic leaders are working hard to build a great future for our state! 

The new executive board of the Florida Young Democrats being sworn in during the Florida Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson weekend on Miami Beach. (May 30, 2009)

 

 

To be considered this year nominations must be received by May 15, 2009. Please email nomination to Jford@flyoungdems.org. You may submit up to 1,000 words on why you are nominating this person or chapter, and provide internet links for reference. The awards will be presented at the FYD Convention May 30, 2009.

More Information as stated in the FYD Bylaws:

a. County Chapter of the Year: to recognize a chapter that has shown either a dramatic increase in membership or whose members represent a large portion of elected or appointed city/county offices.

b. High School Chapter of the Year: to recognize a chapter that has shown either a dramatic increase in membership or whose members have assisted in public awareness campaigns.

c. FYD Event of Distinction: to recognize one or more chapters that created state-wide attention for positively promoting the Democratic ideals.

d. Jeffrey Mattison Wershow Service Award: this award was named after an Alachua County Young Democrat and Army National Guardsman who was killed in the line of duty while serving in Iraq in 2003; the award is to recognize an outstanding FYD member who serves in the armed forces, in any of the CitizenCorps programs, with their local police department, or with their local fire department.

e. Young Democrat of the Year: to recognize an outstanding Democrat not older than forty (40) years of age.

f. Democrat of the Year: to recognize an outstanding Democrat elected official who has supported the FYD and its goals.

Please address questions to Jford@flyoungdems.org

Celebrating Our 75th Anniversary

Honoring Miami-Dade’s Young Elected Leaders

The Honorable Oscar Braynon II ~ The Honorable Ronald Brisé
The Honorable Dwight Bullard ~ The Honorable Richard Steinberg

Friday, May 29, 2009 ~ 7:00p.m.

La Côte at the Fontainebleau
4441 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33140

ADMISSION:
YOUNG DEMOCRATS -$10
YOUNG AT HEART DEMOCRATS -$20

Invited Guests Include:
*Former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek
CFO Alex Sink
Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-17)
* State Senator Dan Gelber (D-35)
*North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns

For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact:

Cedric McMinn at (786) 281-4233 or

cmcminn@becker-poliakoff.com

Space is Limited. RSVP Deadline: May 15, 2009

* Confirmed to attend.

Where: Paradigm Lounge
115 W. College Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32301

When: Tuesday, March 31
7-10PM

Suggested Contributions: Young Democrats $25
Young at Heart $75

RSVP: Lori Poole, FYD Executive Director
(850) 212-0401
lpoole@flyoungdems.org

For more information, please click here.

Unfortunately, as of late, almost every news source is covering the latest points in the Rihanna, Chris Brown love tryst that recently lead to a violent fight and subsequent reconciliation. Each news outlet is putting their own opinion about how or why the young girl went back to the boyfriend that beat her. There are a few problems with this. Why are our news outlets that are supposed to be filled with credible worldly stories being bombarded with celebrity fodder? We do have military operations that could be covered, but no, let’s go back to Rihanna. Second, is this story any of our business? Privacy is something that is escaping our society, and even more for the celebrities who use the media to facilitate their career, and then scorn it once the public’s gaze becomes too intrusive. Personally I find it comical when the young and famous plea for privacy when they have also used the paparazzi to gain press. You can’t ask to be seen for notoriety and then bite the hand that literally feeds you. This is not to say that these people do not deserve a life outside the public eye, but rather, that the use and misuse of the media has brought about consequences that clearly they are not capable of handling.

Back to the issue at hand, domestic violence. For me the issue is cut and dry, hitting a woman is absolutely unacceptable. Since you have heard everyone’s opinion on the latest gossip, here is mine. I am more than anything disappointed that two people who are role models for so many young people would allow these events to transpire. Mr. Brown for ever thinking it was OK to hit a woman and Rihanna for sending the message to young girls that it is OK to be hit. Nope, not OK, most definitely not OK. I worry what younger children will think. Their idols act in such a way that permits abuse and the acceptance of it. Is this what we want our sons and daughters to think? To hit a woman is weak and childish. To use brute strength to argue any point is pathetic. Men that hit women fall into a league of foolish boys, ignorant pigs, and self-righteous jerks. (Believe me, those are not the real words I want to write about them, but we have to keep it clean). IT IS NOT OK. It is such a simplistic notion, but role models are preaching the wrong message through their actions.

Recently I have overheard friends discussing this issue and I am quite honestly surprised by their responses. Some people actually defend a man’s right to hit a woman. WHAT? Possibly the most disturbing point that I have heard is friends in jest stating, “I’m going to go Chris Brown on you…” Are we already joking about this? Wow, that was a quick transition from devastation to comedy. Granted, the statement is funny. But once the humor is gone, it does seem sick to joke about, right?

However, this issue also carries more problems. I am exhausted of seeing socialites receive lesser penalties for their crimes simply because of who they are. What again does this teach our youth? What does this say of consequences? How many times does Lindsey Lohan need to be pulled over on drug and alcohol charges for her to actually pay her debt to society? If and when Chris Brown receives a lighter sentence for beating his girlfriend, what message does that relay to society? Buy your way out of your problems. Become rich and famous, you won’t have responsibilities. Celebrities are better people then us lowly common folk. PATHETIC! In my own humble opinion, if anything, these celebrities should be held to a higher standard. They have the money to higher a chauffeur, no need to drive drunk, they have plenty of people telling them what to do and say, no excuse for ignorance, and contrary to popular belief, some of them are fairly well educated. And yet day after day we watch a Kardashian, a Hilton, or a Brown walk away from court with a slap on the hand.

It all comes down to this, how is the media affecting our judgments? Have the definitions of right and wrong changed in our minds since celeb-reality has come into existence? How will this affect the future of our society? And in closing, never ever slap, hit, or in any way, shape, or form, abuse a female, ever. IT IS NOT OK. - Hillary Bates

There is an old proverb that states “Love is blind, friendship closes its eyes,”could it be more perfectly phrased? I don’t love these women because or in spite of the fact of their orientation.  I love them because they are great women. I have never looked at Sarah or any of these other strong women as “gay” or labeled them by their sexual orientation. In fact, their sexual orientation usually slips my mind. I see them a people, I do not, nor will I ever label them as anything more or less then that.   I guess I just wish there were more people that would look at the gay community with the same type of respect.

It upsets me to no end to hear of the problems these women face when simply trying to live their life in a normal way. I have been out with them; I’ve seen the looks they get, as well as the ones I get by association. These are the same looks that we choose to ignore because there is no arguing with blatant ignorance when it comes to sexual orientation. Bring it on. Glare, and judge, I really don’t care.

The incident that I am mainly addressing (and there have been numerous examples), are the events that took place at a night club in Tallahassee. While there are differing opinions on what actually look place that night, all can agree that there were over 15 women turned away from the club. The words “No D*** Allowed” were written in the bathroom, bystanders overheard bouncers loudly spewing hate propaganda, and these women, because their sexual orientation, were ostracized from a public venue. What? Really, we live in times where this level of stupidity is not only allowed but enforced? I am ashamed. I challenge any one of you to meet these women and not see the strength, intelligence, and power they command.

To see them in the nights that followed this altercation with this club and their employee’s, was both disheartening and inspiring. I could see the rage and confusion that mixed as they dealt with the issues connected with simply being themselves. They are good people, why does it matter? What did they do wrong? How do they deserve this? It doesn’t, nothing, and they don’t. I am proud to say that instead of simply allowing this bigotry and unbridled hate to wash over them, these women came together and held peaceful rally spreading information about what had happened at the bar. The first amendment at its finest.

To the men and women that came together that night, gay, straight, transgendered, bisexual, or any other combination, you truly did a great thing. While it might not seem like much, standing up for something you believe in is never something to scoff at. As my Aunt would say, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” I can proudly say I have never entered the bar that this took place at, and I will continue to buy my overpriced, watered down drinks at some other establishment that doesn’t discriminate my friends. -Hillary Bates

Double your Effectiveness! Make a contribution of $5, $10, $25, or more to FYD today and your contribution will be matched!

Your contribution today, no matter how large or how small, can make a crucial difference in our ability to get the job done.  Thanks to our partnership with the Young Democrats of America, any contribution you make between now and March 31 will be matched, helping to ensure that FYD has the infrastructure we need keep Florida’s young voters engaged, informed and involved in Florida politics.

Click here to take advantage of this great opportunity to have your contribution doubled.

In 2008, millions of young people in Florida and across the nation stood up to bring change to our country. Your contribution to FYD today can help us make sure that change comes to Florida too.

Help us keep the revolution going – visit www.flyoungdems.org/donate and have your contribution matched today!