Exciting changes were made at the DNC Meeting in Chicago (August 2006) and we have all the scoop on:

* Changes to the Primary/Caucus Schedule
* DNC Delegate Selection
* 2008 DNC Convention Bid Cities
* DNC Youth Council
* Next DNC Meeting

*Changes to the Primary/Caucus Schedule*
The DNC voted to maintain Iowa and New Hampshire’s “First in the Nation” status as the first caucus and first primary, respectively. In order to better represent the regions of the US, the DNC voted to add Nevada and South Carolina into the primary election calendar.

Iowa will be the first caucus. The Nevada Caucus is scheduled one week after Iowa. Then it is on to the New Hampshire primary followed a week later by the South Carolina primary. Your YDA DNC representatives joined the majority of DNC delegates in voting for these changes to address regional issues and the divergent demographics throughout our country.

*DNC Delegate Selection*
In our opinion, the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee approved a “third class” of DNC delegates by inserting language into the DNC Convention Delegate Selection plans that would require non-specific and non-binding “inclusion programs” to reach out to LGBT and individuals with disabilities with regard to running for delegate.

Currently, the DNC’s Delegate Selection Plan sets goal requirements for some groups: African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans, and “encourages” state parties to comprise their delegations of LGBT, individuals with disabilities and young people.

We felt that an “inclusion program” was too generic and would not assure YDA that the state parties would select more young people for their delegations. In fact, state parties could use the “inclusion program” as a crutch to NOT include more young people in their delegations as appointed delegates.

We believe that young people should make up a significant percentage of DNC delegates because we are a significant and reliable voting bloc. To that end, we believe we will be much more successful in attaining our goal of increasing the number of young delegates by working with our state leadership and their state parties.

As we work toward this goal, if you have any suggestions, ideas or comments, please feel free to share them with us.

*2008 DNC Convention Bid Cities*
There are three cities that are bidding to host the DNC Convention in 2008. Those cities are Denver, Minneapolis and New York City. All of the cities held great receptions and presentations at the DNC meeting. A decision by Governor Dean is expected sometime in 2007.

*DNC Youth Council*
At the urging of YDA, the DNC created a Youth Coordinating Council at the DNC meeting in Arizona to ensure consistent production and flow of information pertaining to young people and to give us a firm hold at the DNC table. Ed Espinoza of California was selected by Governor Dean to serve as Chair, and Ashanti Fayshel-Gholar was selected to serve as Co-Chair. The group is currently forming bylaws and working to assert its mission of steering the DNC in the right direction around youth issues and making sure young people are represented at leadership levels in the DNC.

*Next DNC Meeting*
The next DNC Meeting is February 1-3, 2007 in Washington, D.C. At the same time YDA will hold their Founder’s Day event. Watch the website for more info soon.

Please fell free to contact us with any questions, ideas or concerns.

Your DNC Representatives,
Chris Gallaway, President (president@yda.org)
C. Giovanni Garibay, DNC Male Representative (dncman@yda.org)
Lauren B. Goode, DNC Female Representative (dncwoman@yda.org)