2019-20 El Dorado Youth and Government Delegation Bulletin #18

"I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.' We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it.”

– R.I.P. Kobe Bryant

Hello El Dorado, thank each and every one of you for having a great T&E 2 conference! I was very impressed with your actions, choices, and participation! We have great momentum going into Sac, let's not slow down now! Keep the great energy going. 

Also, your advisors were deeply saddened to hear of the loss of an Oak Ridge student to suicide last week. We know well the impact this loss can have on a community. If you need support, please reach out to your family, friends, or to us. No one has to bear a loss alone. Each of you is essential to us and to our Eldo family. If you ever find yourself doubting that for so much as a moment, we're happy to remind you. Your advisors love you.

1.) Delegation Officer Elections - Deadline Extended to 1/28 at 3pm: A number of delegates reached out about filing to run for an officer position this week. Given that we did not have a meeting this week, we are extending the deadline to apply from the 23rd to Tuesday, Jan 28th at 3pm. No late applications will be accepted after that.

All delegates planning to return for next year's program are eligible to run for an officer position. Returning Freshman delegates are encouraged to run for Forum Liaison. All delegates should carefully review the leadership expectations and officer duty statements. Delegates self-nominate for the position in which they are interested by completing this candidate form. All candidates must complete the form by January 28 at 3pm.  Candidates will have 2 min to deliver their candidate speech at our January 30 meeting. Delegates may ask candidates questions. All candidates MUST be dressed in Sac Attire for the primary elections. 

Elections will be held the Monday morning of the Sacramento Conference and officers-elect will be sworn-in at our Celebration Banquet on February 23 (after Sac Conference).

2.) Mandatory Pre-Sac Conference Meeting (2/6): Y'all know the drill. Our mandatory pre-sac conference meeting for delegates and parents will be on final (sad) regular meeting of the year on Thursday, Feb 6th. DO NOT MISS IT! If you cannot attend this meeting, please let us know ASAP so we can make sure you get all of the information. A couple of things to note for Sac Con:

• Captiol Policy Acknowledgment Form: Each delegate is REQUIRED to sign, and have a parent sign, this "Policy for Captiol Use" acknowledgement form. This is MANDATORY for all delegates to print out, sign, and return hardcopy to this week's meeting. CalY is requiring ALL delegates to have this form in order to attend Sacramento Conference.
• No Partial Attendance: All delegates who want to attend the Sac Conference MUST be there for its entirety. There are no "in and out" privileges, as tempting as it is with us being so close. 
• Can't Attend Sac? Let us Know NOW: If you are not planning on attending the final conference of the year, you need to let us know NOW. Please send me an email so we can alert the proper CalY staff and make the proper accommodations. 

3.) Sacramento Central YMCA Annual Support Campaign. Each year, the Sacramento Central YMCA provides over $100,000 in financial support to guarantee that our programs, focusing on healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility, are available to everyone in our community. At the YMCA we believe that opportunity should be a right, not a privilege. It doesn't matter where you come from or what your means are, everyone has the right to live a healthy life to their fullest potential. 

Each year, our YMCA's Annual Support Campaign raises the money we need to keep our promise. Over $12,000 in aid supports our Capitol Coalition Delegates - representing 20-30% of our enrolled delegates each year. If we were to lose even one delegate to financial concerns, our family would be incomplete and we would have failed in our mission.

I invite each family to participate in the Annual Support Campaign by making a gift that is meaningful to you. No amount is too small (or too great!) and 100% every, single dollar goes back into our community - directly supporting equal opportunities. 

Our goal each year is simple: 100% participation by each of our Capitol Coalition Families. Participation starts at just $1. Here are 4 ways to participate:

1. Visit bit.ly/capcocampaign
2. Text SACRAMENTO1 to 71777
3. Return our 2020 Pledge Form with a cash or check donation.
4. Set up your own Fundraising page with our CapCo Team and ask others to support Y&G! 

On behalf of Sacramento Families who benefit from your generous support - Thank You! You are making a difference in the lives of many. 

4.) Final Meeting Schedule:  Below is a list of the remaining meetings for the year. Mark your calendars!:

• Jan 30 - El Dorado Delegation Officer Primary
• Feb 6 - MANDATORY Sacramento Pre-Conference Meeting
• Feb 13-17 - Sacramento Model Legislature and Court Conference
• Feb 23 - End of the Year Celebration Banquet

5.) Additional Y&G Applied Programs and Opportunities: All apps are available in your Reggo account. Please contact me if you have additional questions about any of these opportunities.

• Conference on National Affairs (CONA): CONA is a ten-day national Y&G program that brings together delegations from all over the US for an NIC-style debate program. Twenty-five delegates from California are selected for this prestigious program. More information can be found here. Financial aid is available through CalYMCA if you are selected. Apply in Reggo. They are looking for more NorCal applicants this year, APPLY! Due: February 1. NOTE: A lead advisor recommendation is required and must be requested no later than February 1. 
• CalYMCA Governing Board, Youth Member: Applications are now open for youth member spots on the CalYMCA Governing Board. In this role you represent your fellow delegates with a vote on the Board of Directors that makes important policy decisions about our programs. This is a very important position with a lot of responsibility and the power to have a lasting impact on Y&G. Requires quarterly meeting attendance. Travel provided by CalYMCA. Apply in Reggo. Due: February 1

You must notify me if you apply for any of these programs so that I can approve your application. Failure to let me know means your application won't be considered by CalYMCA. 

Parent Corner:

• Final payments for the year were due by December 13. If you have any question about the remaining balance due, please contact Christiana or Dylan. 

• Conference Attendance: We have one remaining conference this year. Please review our conference attendance policy:
• For Sac Conference, (Feb 13-17): Partial attendance is not permitted. Though we happen to be the home team, pretend the conference is located in SoCal, Texas, or the dark side of the moon. No ins-and-outs. Regular season sports, other local extracurriculars, exams, etc, are not valid reasons to miss conference. 
• A reminder about delegate access: We have several ticketed and cash-related events coming up including the CapCo Banquet in February. Cost should never prohibit a delegate from signing up for an event, etc. If you have financial concerns that may impede your attendance at anything, talk to me ASAP. I mean it. 

As always, thank you for reading and I will see you on Thursday!

Derek Dolfie

Lead Advisor/Delegation Dad

El Dorado Delegation

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Mark your calendars for these key events!

February 6 - Mandatory Sacramento Pre-Conference Meeting

February 13-17 -72nd Model Legislature & Court (Sacramento)

February 23 - Celebration Banquet (Sacramento Central YMCA)