YDA Mid-Atlantic Report

I’d like to take this opportunity as Pennsylvania’s only elected officer of YDA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Caucus to update you on what was accomplished at our last national meeting in Dallas, Texas. Our convention in Dallas was replete with inexorable enthusiasm. It was a wonderful experience to get the chance to talk with so many YDs from across the country about all the exciting things going on in their home states; however, nowhere was there more happening than in our own Mid-Atlantic Region. All six of our member states and the District of Columbia had something exciting to report about during our time together in the lone star state.

West Virginia recapped on our last regional meeting which they hosted in Sheppardtown. Congratulations also go out to the new Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Rod Snyder. Rod, a former American Idol contestant, was recently elected President of the West Virginia Young Democrats.

Young Democrats have been on the move in Delaware for some time, but as a state Delaware had not previously been officially chartered with YDA. Delaware changed that recently and has now become a member state of YDA. Present to report at our meeting was the new President of the Delaware YDs, and we look forward to working with him and the chapter he represents.

Our friends in Washington D.C. spoke on the importance of the House Bill giving permanent representation to the District of Columbia. They also successfully lobbied their position in the YDA Platform Committee, The Minority Caucus, and the LGBT Caucus.

Maryland was proud to report on the diversity and overall number of delegates that they were able to bring to the convention; the second largest and most diverse in our region behind Pennsylvania. Maryland also announced their intentions to seek the right to host YDA’s spring 2008 convention. They have proposed either Baltimore or Annapolis. Also noteworthy was the election of Maryland’s own Brown-Sugar Stallings as an officer of the Minority Caucus. She will serve a two year term as the caucus’ new Parliamentarian.

New Jersey was able to boast a delegation of nineteen; the largest in their state’s history. New Jersey was also proud to have their own Marshall Spevak elected Vice Chair of the College Caucus.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has much to be proud of with the election of Virginia Young Democrat Amy Lewis as the new YDA Treasurer. Amy was previously the Deputy Director of the Mid-Atlantic Region where many of us came to know her for her hard work and dedication. Virginia also boasts the election of Ben Spangenberg as the new Chair of the Disabilities Caucus and the re-election of Atima Omara-Alwala as the Chair of the Women’s Caucus. Atima also currently serves as the Secretary of the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Last, but certainly not least, our very own Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enjoyed the distinction of being the second largest delegation in attendance behind California. Our delegation also enjoyed one of the largest pick-ups in caucus elections and committee appointments: Alicia Froio was elected Chair of the High School Caucus, Stephanie Strazisar was elected Treasurer of the Labor Caucus, and I was elected Parliamentarian of the Labor Caucus. In addition Abe Haupt, President of Montgomery YDs, has been appointed the Mid-Atlantic Coordinator for the Jewish Caucus and Dan Tyman, former President of Chester YDs, has been appointed the Mid-Atlantic Coordinator for the Labor Caucus.

Before we adjourned our meeting we addressed Resolutions proposed by some of our members. Resolutions were adopted honoring Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson, Gov. Ann Richards, the victims of the recent Virginia Tech massacre, and the Amateur Radio Operators. We will convene again at the YDA Fall convention in New Hampshire, and if you’re able to come, we’d love to see you there.

Democratically Yours,

Rocco Giammaria

President, Beaver County YD