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News & Events

NYRA-VT Positions on Current Legislation

S-46, school free speech bill - upon reviewing the bill we decided to not take a position since the bill seemed to be just restating the schools current policies regarding a lack of free speech.

H-074, Ritalin bill. "NYRA-VT supports bill H-074 that would prohibit the public school practice of suspending students who refuse to take Ritalin and other psychotropic medications, and would also prohibit public school employees from recommending that students take psychotropic medications because it violates students' civil rights."

H-105, increasing the smoking age bill. "NYRA-VT opposes bill H-105 that increases the smoking age to 21 because it discriminates against adults in the state of Vermont based on their age." Passed 5-1.

H-139, lowering drinking age to 18. "Whereas, the drinking age discriminates against adults in the state of Vermont. Whereas, the current law creates attainder in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Whereas, the open and legal consumption of alcohol promotes familiarity and responsibility of such use. Resolved that NYRA-VT strongly advises the legislature to enact H-139." Click here to see a chart of Alcohol Related Deaths in Vermont.

The National Youth Rights Association (NYRA) plans to kick off its campaign to lower the drinking age in Vermont...

with a press conference on Tuesday March 29, from 3 to 4 pm in the Cedar Creek Room of the Statehouse. This event will begin a two week whirlwind public education campaign across the state. The campaign plans to visit every college campus in the state.

³Lowering the drinking age would end the shameful double standard that says at 18, one is mature and responsible enough to drive a tank through Baghdad, yet can¹t be trusted with a can of beer,² said NYRA Executive Director, Alex Koroknay-Palicz.

Research shows that raising the drinking age to 21 had no effect on drunk driving in Vermont, and may have actually led to increased alcohol use by minors with a 17% increase in drinking among 8th graders in Vermont since the age was raised. NYRA encourages a European approach to youth alcohol policy that fosters a moderate, responsible attitude toward drinking.

NYRA-Vermont President, Ken Boring said, ³I'm hoping that the campaign will motivate Vermonters who support lowering the drinking age to pick up their phones and call their state legislators about this issue. Because there's been a lot of talk about the drinking age lately, but precious little action.²

The media and the public are invited to attend the press conference where NYRA and NYRA-VT will spell out their plans for the next two weeks and beyond. They hope this campaign will be a turning point for the drinking age issue nationally, and will jumpstart a grassroots move towards a lower drinking age.

Click here to view the NYRA Campaign Schedule.

Click here to view our NYRA Campaign Photos.

Click here to send letters to Vermont media.

Click here to see a chart of Alcohol Related Deaths in Vermont.

NYRA Campaign Schedule

NYRA Campaign Photos

• Tuesday (3/29) Norwich University. 3:00-4:00: Press Conference:: Statehouse in Montpelier in the Cedar Creek Room
  
  
• Wednesday (3/30) Castleon State, St. Joseph's College, and Green Mountain College
  
  
• Thursday (3/31) Lyndon State College and Johnson State College
  
  
• Friday (4/1) UVM
  
  
• Saturday (4/2) Middlebury Model UN Montpelier - door to door in General, Housing, Military Affairs Committee Chair's district.
  
  
• Sunday (4/3) 1:00-5:00: NYRA-VT monthly meeting, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington Grassroots training workshop with Nancy Lynch
  
  
• Monday (4/4) St. Michael's College and Champlain College
  
  
• Tuesday (4/5) Alex speaks at South Burlington High School 7:00p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Debate at Statehouse
  
  
• Wednesday (4/6) 9:45 AM, Alex speaks at Burlington High School Evening: Alex speaks at Bennington College
  
  
• Thursday (4/7) UVM 7:00 PM: UVM SSDP hosting talk by Alex Living & Learning, Commons Room 302
  
  
• Friday (4/8) 6:00 p.m.: Fund raiser at the Leff residence, please contact Jay for more information.
  
  
• Saturday (4/9) 11-5:00 p.m.: Tabling on Church Street.

March Meeting Recap

Here's a brief recap of what we did at the meeting:

Approved seven new applications for membership;

Discussed chapter bylaws, elections, etc. in preparation for the April and May meetings;

Discussed fundraising ideas, such as setting up the website for online donations, joining affiliate programs through online retailers, finding corporate sponsors, etc.;

Discussed the prospect of incorporating the chapter as a non-profit organization;

Passed a resolution stating the chapter's opposition to H.180, a bill that aims to expand the state's compulsory education laws;

Discussed ways to rally support behind H.74, the bill to prohibit forced drugging of students/minors.

Posted by Anduwaithe at 04:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Recap of February Meeting

NYRA-Vermont held its monthly meeting on the 6th of February, from 1-4pm. Andrew Thomas was unanimously elected College Outreach Director, Jeremy Ryan was appointed Webmaster of vt.youthrights.org, and resolutions were passed declaring the chapter's support for H. 139 and H. 74 (the bills to lower Vermont's drinking age and prohibit forced drugging of students, respectively) and opposition to H. 105 (the bill to raise Vermont's smoking age).

Posted by Anduwaithe at 02:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 13, 2005

Age of Reason

(published 01.12.05 in Seven Days)

What's the best way to fight teen apathy and make politicians pay attention to young people's concerns? Lower Vermont's voting age from 18 to 16. That's the view of a group of youth who last weekend launched a Vermont chapter of the National Youth Right Association. NYRA-Vermont also supports changing the state's drinking age from 21 to 18.

Continue reading "Age of Reason"

Posted by Anduwaithe at 01:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 10, 2005

NYRA-Vermont Holds First Meeting

The Vermont chapter of the National Youth Rights Association held its first organizational meeting from 1-4pm on Sunday, January 9th at the Fletcher Free Library. There were eight attendees, including Ken Boring, Hardy Machia, Aaron Voldman, Kelsey Hanf, Jay Leff, Jeremy & Heavenly Ryan, and Kevin Ryan. The chapter's bylaws were adopted late in the meeting after much discussion and debate, and the chapter's officers were elected:

Ken Boring - President
Jay Leff - Vice-President
Hardy Machia - Secretary
Kevin Ryan - Treasurer
Aaron Voldman - High School Outreach Director

Posted by Anduwaithe at 06:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 08, 2005

Youth Rights Movement Organizes In Vermont

VERMONT - The National Youth Rights Association announced Saturday that it is launching a new chapter in the state of Vermont. Ken Boring, a 20-year-old resident of Duxbury, spearheaded this initiative with the assistance of former gubernatorial candidate Hardy Machia to help bring a balance of justice to the state on behalf of Vermont youth. Aaron Voldman, president of the Chittenden County-based organization Youth for Democracy, also played a key role in generating support for the chapter’s creation. Taking the lead of youth rights issues on the plate will be drinking and voting. The organization is advocating that the state lower its voting age to sixteen and its drinking age to eighteen.

Continue reading "Youth Rights Movement Organizes In Vermont"

Posted by Anduwaithe at 08:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

- Richard Farson "Birthrights"