Check it out at www.yda.org.

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Position: Executive Director, California Young Democrats

The California Young Democrats (CYD) is the official youth arm of the California Democratic Party, comprised of progressive people ages 14-35. The California Young Democrats are committed to creating a bloc of young voters who will elect Democrats for an entire generation. Using proven peer to Peer campaign methods, Young Democrats have made significant differences in races all over California. Young Democrats in California work everyday to promote social justice, women’s rights, peace and stability in the world, and many other progressive values.

Job Description: The California Young Democrats Executive Director reports directly to the President of the California Young Democrats. The position is based in Sacramento, CA.

The California Young Democrats Executive Director is responsible for the overall implementation of programs on behalf of the California Young Democrats. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Manage the daily operations of the California Young Democrats.
• Organize Young Democrats chapters in communities across the state and work to strengthen existing chapters.
• Work with the California Young Democrats Executive Board to develop and implement the California Young Democrats Strategic Plan, specifically planning peer-to-peer campaign activities, chapter building activities, lobbying efforts and coordinating with other progressive grassroots organizations.
• Create and fund yearly budget, ensuring that the budget is met through effective donor solicitation and marketing efforts.
• Plan and coordinate events such as Executive Committee meetings, conference calls, convention activities, regular conferences, and trainings.
• Handle all scheduling, communication and appearance requests for the California Young Democrats and the California Young Democrats President.
• Continue collaborative and cooperative relationships with the California Democratic Party, Young Democrats of America and other progressive groups to ensure high visibility and effective activism.
• Recruit and manage California Young Democrats interns.

Salary and Benefits: $33,000 to $37,000 annually, health insurance, and reimbursement for travel expenses.

To Apply: Applicants should have at least two years experience with campaigns or politically-focused non-profit organizations. Management experience and knowledge of fundraising and the budget process is preferred. The position requires regular in-state travel and access to a car. Applicants able to make a commitment through the end of the 2012 election cycle are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants should send resume, cover letter, and three references to jobs@youngdems.org by close of business on Friday, April 1, 2011.

California Young Democrats is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CYD does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability, marital status or any other protected status covered by federal, state or local law.

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The Young Democrats of America has named Christine Pelosi, a nationally recognized expert on grassroots politics and public policy, to join the leading progressive youth organization as Interim Executive Director, effective immediately.

The author of Campaign Boot Camp: Basic Training for Future Leaders, Pelosi has conducted dozens of trainings for hundreds of candidates and thousands of volunteer activists across the country. Her Boot Camp’s emphasis on message, management, money and mobilization will help YDA develop a farm team of America’s future leaders.

“YDA is thrilled to have Christine play such a major part in shaping the future of not only our organization but the entire youth political movement,” said Rod Snyder, President of YDA. “There is not a more qualified or dedicated person to serve as Interim Executive Director, and YDA is grateful for Christine’s commitment to training and mobilizing the next generation of Democratic leaders. ”

“I am excited by this opportunity to serve as Interim Executive Director of YDA,” Pelosi said. “It’s vitally important that we build our bench of progressive leaders who are the hope of our Party and the future of our country. We plan to hit the ground running with a fifty state strategy of YDA boot camps for Young Democrats to ensure they have the tools and resources necessary to make a difference in their communities.”

Pelosi will direct the organization as it searches for a permanent executive director, grows its membership, and scales up its training and campaign efforts. Prior to being named Interim Executive Director, Pelosi served on the YDA Stakeholder Board and is an elected member of the Democratic National Committee.

As an attorney, author and activist, Pelosi brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization. She is a former Executive Director of the California Democratic Party. She also chaired the California Democratic Party Platform Committee for 13 years. She has been elected four times to serve on the Democratic National Committee, where she co-founded the DNC Veterans and Military Families Council. She currently conducts leadership boot camps for candidates and nonprofits across the country and teaches the Public Service Leadership Boot Camp for the University of California, Berkeley extension in San Francisco.

An avid baseball fan, Pelosi serves on the San Francisco Giants Community Fund Board of Directors. She holds a J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University.

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From YDA President Rod Snyder:

Two weeks from today, America will make a choice. We can either return to the failed Republican policies that left us on the brink of economic collapse, or we can support Democrats who are working to take America forward.

Today YDA is launching a nationwide “pledge to vote” campaign to remind millions of young Americans to vote for Democrats on November 2.

Visit our online vote pledge form and add your name today. (http://www.yda.org/votepledge)

If you are a state or local chapter leader, you can also download and customize vote pledge cards with your own logo and website address. These cards can be used during door-to-door canvassing, high school or college campus outreach, or any place where young people spend time.

Democrats in Congress are working to improve the lives of young Americans. In less than two years, they have delivered one of the largest investments in student aid, expanded health care options specifically for those under 26 years old, guaranteed equal pay for equal work for women, and ended unfair practices by credit card companies.

Once again, the future of our country rests in our hands. In 2008 young people made the difference in hundreds of closely contested races. In 2010 we will prove that we’re not going away.

Pledge to vote on November 2.

Sincerely,

Rod Snyder
President
Young Democrats of America

See the links below for my posts on vote pledges.

• Collecting Vote Pledges on the Internet
• Vote Pledges and Why They Work
• Vote Pledges are Valuable, Even in Heavily Democratic Areas
• Peer-to-Peer Organizing Guide

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Last weekend Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli sent a letter to VA public colleges and universities encouraging them to drop discrimination bans against gays and lesbians.

In the wake of Cuccinelli’s homophobic actions, Virginia students have been using Facebook to take a stand against this attempt at discrimination and the Virginia Young Democrats are mobilizing against the repeal.

Here is VAYD President Sean Holihan addressing the situation:

The Virginia Young Democrats are taking part in a Facebook Day of Action using Facebook statuses to show opposition to the discrimination repeal and encouraging members to contact Governor McDonnell about the issue.

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Young Democrats of America Vice-President Colmon Elridge of Kentucky issued the following statement regarding the actions of Senator Jim Bunning:

It is unfortunate that Senator Jim Bunning has been away from Kentucky so long that he has forgotten the values that have shaped our Commonwealth and the spirit of commitment to the common good that is present in communities from Pikeville to Paducah and everywhere in between.

Because of the actions of the Junior Senator from Kentucky, one million Americans stand to lose their unemployment insurance. One million Americans, their families, and their communities will suffer because one person has put politics above people and partisanship above compassion for his fellow man.

The people of Kentucky deserve a Senator who shares our values. “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” are more than just words on our state flag. They are a reminder that how we survive as Kentuckians – and Americans – is to offer a helping hand to those in need and to work in a spirit of good-faith to shape America into that more perfect union.

Senator Bunning’s actions prove that a strong Democratic presence is needed in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This incident stresses the importance of wining in November and returning a Kentuckian to Washington that shares our values and speaks to the common decency. Young Democrats are dedicated to shaping a Kentucky and an America that rise above these petty political maneuvers and put people first. My only wish is that, as so many Kentuckians who have served us in our nation’s capitol have done before, Senator Bunning would have retired a statesman and not a tyrant.

Colmon Elridge III
Vice-President
Young Democrats of America

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If you want to see an example of a great online video by a youth organization, look no further than the Manhattan Young Democrats year in review. The only thing I would have added is the gomyd.com url at the end of the video.

Great work.

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The Young Democrats of America (YDA), the official youth arm of the Democratic Party representing Democrats age 14-36, held its fall conference in Orlando, Florida the weekend of November 20-22. At the conference, the YDA Women’s Caucus convened to discuss business for the upcoming year.

Members voted to add a new paragraph to the by-laws to specify that voting members include women “who self identify as female regardless of the gender assigned at birth.”

Women’s Caucus Chair Elena Weiss, of Georgia, said that the language was added “to express the feelings of the membership that all women, including transgender women, should feel welcome to be a part of the mission of empowering young women in the political process.”

The Young Democrats of America will meet again in February in New Orleans for their spring conference.

About the Young Democrats of America Women’s Caucus:
The Women’s Caucus of the Young Democrats of America is a grassroots youth and young professional women’s organization that has produced many of the current leading women activists and elected officials in all levels of the Democratic Party. It is the only official Democratic group that serves young women age 14-36. For more information, please visit: http://womensyda.ning.com

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The campaign in Virginia is in its final two weeks and YDA is working hard to turn out volunteers between now and Election Day. We are organizing a special campaign invasion on the weekend of October 24 – 25 in Loudon and Prince William Counties. Our efforts will not only benefit Creigh Deeds gubernatorial bid but also John Bell for House of Delegates, a key legislative race that could help tip the balance of power in Richmond.

What’s different about this YDA campaign invasion is that we’ve scheduled some “fall fun” activities for Saturday night in Virginia and neighboring West Virginia. After canvassing and phone banking throughout the day, we will head over to a corn maze, ghost tour and bonfire to round out the night. Overnight accommodations for volunteers are available. We will resume canvassing in Virginia on Sunday.

To RSVP for this event, please visit the following link and respond to which activities during the weekend you plan to attend:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dERHeG0wQlRCdHFuak9vaERHcTBnT1E6MA

If you can’t make the trip to Virginia but would like to phone bank remotely, we are also making that option available. Please visit the RSVP link and indicate your willingness to phone bank from the comfort of your own home, and we will send you a voter contact list with instructions.

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