2006
MYAC - STATE OF THE YOUTH ADDRESS

One morning a mother was trying to wake her son. “Wake up now! It’s time to go to school.” “I don’t want to go to school”, the son replied. The mother said, “Give me two reasons why you don’t want to go.” “Okay, One, all the children hate me and, Two, all the teachers hate me.” “Not good enough!”, the mother said. “Fine”, said the son. “Then give me two good reasons why I should go.” “One, you’re 50 years old and, Two, you’re the Principal of the school.”

Good evening! Mr. Mayor - members of City Council - distinguished guests and fellow citizens of New Haven! My name is Michelle Trzynka and it’s my pleasure to come before you tonight to deliver the Third Annual State of the Youth Address. Over the course of 3 years, teen members of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council have been able to build a very successful organization and provide youth voice in New Haven.

For those of you who don’t know, the State of Indiana is quite unique. South Bend is located in the northern region. While North Vernon is in the southern region. There are 52 cities and towns that have “NEW” in their name. There are 26 cities and towns that are named “MOUNT” something. And there are 26 members of that make up the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. According to Matt Greller, Executive Director of IACT, we just learned that the New Haven Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council is now the largest and most active in the State of Indiana. *

This organization represents 10 different schools throughout Allen County. MYAC is growing and expanding from our very own boundaries. In February, Mr. Greller spoke about our group at a mayors’ meeting. Because of his comments, Mayors from Goshen, Elkhart and Angola are now interested in starting a Mayor’s Youth Council and are seeking our input. We are currently working with the City of Kendallville and have been sought after by Bloomington and Richmond. We are proud to represent the Mayor’s Office and are honored that other cities throughout the State are seeking our guidance.

Thank you to both Mayor McDonald and Deb-Anne Smith for giving MYAC that opportunity to have a voice and represent our peers in this community by allowing us to get involved in our local government. We are grateful to both of you for investing your time and support of this organization through youth-adult partnerships. Ladies and gentlemen, these partnerships allow us to work together to meet the developmental needs of our community’s young people. These opportunities also allow us to share resources and make decisions.

Youth development connects young people to services and opportunities which enable us to network with other communities and meet with elected officials from all over. Leadership roles - life skills - philanthropy - and community service - are some of the components necessary for a Mayor’s Youth Council to succeed. One of the most important ingredients in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.

Adults frequently underestimate the knowledge and creativity of young people and may be accustomed to making decisions without input from youth, even when young people are directly affected by those decisions. Bridging the gap between youth and adults requires a mutually respectful relationship that recognizes the strengths that each has to offer. Adults who see youth as partners believe that genuine participation by young people enriches adults - just as adult participation impacts the lives of the younger generation in their community.

Direct youth involvement offers positive benefits to young people as well as to the adults who invest back to the youth in their community. Because of these partnerships, teens are able to gain experience and the necessary leadership skills - while adults gain a fresh perspective on youth culture which allows adults to develop a better outreach. It is hard work to bridge the gap and achieve youth-adult partnerships - however, it can be done. The benefits are tremendous for youth - adults - and other elected officials who work with us because - - effective partnerships result in solving community problems together!!

Unfortunately, many adults still believe that the opinions of young people really don’t matter - that youth are not capable of contributing in a valuable way, or that adults have nothing to learn from its youth. However, Mayor Michael Sessions is the exception to that statement, for he is living proof that it is possible for young people to step up to the plate, run for office - and win! Mayor Sessions stunned his local community and gained national attention by running for mayor at the age of 18.

In the beginning, no one took him seriously - until he won! Thank you for being with us tonight to share your new political journey with all of us and to show that young people really can make a difference!
The mission of the New Haven Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council is to provide ongoing and direct youth input on government policies and practices that affect all of us in New Haven. Currently, two MYAC members serve on the Acquatic Advisory Committee, while two other members serve on the City Council as youth members.

During our most recent leadership conference in Indianapolis back in January, Lt. Governor Becky Skillman told us that giving your time and energy is the true form of success. We believe the same holds true for our local elected officials. We are asking that our own City Council get more involved and invest back into the youth of our community. Any elected official should be delighted to share their leadership contributions to its young people with the hopes that our generation will want to stay and serve in this community in order to keep New Haven thriving. Good government is about serving the public and making the right decisions for your community. But it’s also about building better relationships with the young people right here in New Haven. Our State elected officials have shown that they can remove themselves in the middle of a House or Senate session and meet with us on issues for at least 5 minutes. The Secretary of State took 20 minutes out of his busy schedule and met with us in his office at the State House. Tonight, we would like to encourage our City Councilmen to work with us even more.

With continuous leadership training through seminars, conferences and meetings, MYAC has fostered many relationships throughout the State of Indiana and across the region. These opportunities have heightened our leadership skills and provided many opportunities along the way. Just last month, Matt Greller traveled up from Indianapolis to meet with our organization. When Mr. Greller mentioned that our MYAC group was the largest and most active in the State, we were surprised. When he asked us to plan and run “Youth Day” in Indianapolis later this year, we were excited, because we’re ready. (The annual IACT conference is a statewide event that benefits all municipalities.) When Mr. Greller asked our organization to work with IACT officials and work with their lobbyists at the State House next year during the long session of the General Assembly, we were speechless. This organization will proudly represent New Haven as we work with IACT officials. Thank you Mr. Greller!
This organization is not new to the legislative process. Last December, MYAC assisted Councilman Harold West with House Bill 1207 and gathered signatures for a petition to the 2006 General Assembly for an amendment to the home improvement fraud law. Under the current law, unless the amount taken is over $10,000, and victims are over the age of 60, the act is only a misdemeanor. In order to better protect senior citizens, the proposed amendment would make these fraudulent acts a felony. We are now pleased to report that House Bill 1207 passed the House with a vote of 97-0. It then passed the Senate with a vote of 50-0. Councilman West just reported that this Bill is on it’s way to the Governor for his signature. This has also caught the attention of the Attorney General who plans to address this next year and take it even further. Thank you Harold for asking us to work on this.

In January, MYAC attended the Legislative Youth Day down in Indianapolis and discussed actual issues that were in front of the General Assembly for consideration. We then went over to the State House and met with several State officials and asked for their input on issues such as; toll road leasing, all day kindergarten, and harsher punishments for adults who provide alcohol to minors.

Just last month, we attended a press conference with Congressman Mark Souder when the announcement was made that the consolidation of mercury was headed for Nevada rather than New Haven. As you know, MYAC gathered the majority of the signatures on petitions that were turned in to the Federal Government.

As you can see, we deal with real issues and also work with our government officials as we try to preserve and make this a better community for our generation. Abraham Lincoln said, “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” We are taking a proactive approach in our government and a leading role in this process - for we are the State’s NEXT chapter of Legislation.

As we all grow, our world continues to move forward with progress. We have become so advanced in our technology today that we can now file our tax returns with a computer program and receive a refund in a short amount of time. But with regard to some of our State services in Indiana, it is evident that there is much work to be done.

Due to recent branch closings across the State of Indiana, we are now experiencing more chaos and longer waits at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

According to an article in the Journal Gazette, not only are Hoosiers required by law to have the proper paperwork to operate a motor vehicle, but voters are now required by law to have photo I.D. obtained only through the BMV. Hoosiers are expected to comply with all State requirements while they travel to a branch that hasn’t been closed. The branches that did survive have become so overcrowded that this has caused a considerable backlog. Currently, there are only 3 license branches in all of Allen County. Pine Valley, South Gate and New Haven. With a population in Allen County just over 300,000, it is clear that these services need serious improvements!

Residents are now faced with longer waits, however, there are no public restrooms in a state facility to accommodate anyone. Why? Whether you are a senior citizen or small child who is forced to wait for an extended period of time, it can be concluded that nature will eventually take its course. However, with no public restroom facilities, patrons are now forced to leave the building, and risk losing their place in an already long line. A brand new facility was recently constructed in Columbia City, also without any public restrooms. Again, we ask why? Any driver, young or old, is required to stand in line to obtain a driver’s license, take a test, or plate a vehicle. Ladies and gentlemen, I think we can all agree that we deserve a more efficient system and that changes need to be made - but good, positive changes!

When there is change, it is the ethical duty of every leader to make good and responsible changes that affect our lives. Theodore Roosevelt couldn’t have expressed it any better when he said, “The government is US; WE are the government- you and I. *
The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council allows us to provide our youth voice and share our concerns on government issues. Positive youth development consists of so many elements in order for these programs to succeed. The most essential element is strong, positive leadership from our adult mentors. The Mayor’s Youth Council has been afforded those leadership skills through the hard work of our mentors; and leadership is not limited to government alone. President Eisenhower said, “The supreme quality for leadership is integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter if it’s on a football field, in an army or in an office.”

Leadership isn’t something that comes automatically; and not many people are born with that ability. But fortunately, leadership skills can be learned.

President Eisenhower used to demonstrate the art of leadership with a simple piece of string. He would put it on a table and say, “Pull it, and it will follow anywhere you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all.” Our Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council continues to pull those strings to improve our leadership skills while preparing for our own futures.  

MYAC has also been very fortunate to receive the support from various businesses in New Haven. We would like to take this time and recognize our current corporate sponsors who believe in this organization through their support. If you are here with us tonight, we ask that you please stand after everyone has been mentioned:

Auto Bumper Exchange
B.F. Goodrich
Comcast Cable
Crumback-Symons Chevrolet
DeKalb Financial Credit Union
Do It Best Corp.
Don R. Fruchie, Inc.
Ellerding Motor Sports
First Source Bank
Fritcha’s Construction
Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning
Home Lumber
Martin Riley Architects
Murphy Insurance
National Serv-All
New Haven Pet Hospital
Nipsco
Parker Hannifin
Pizza Hut
And, Trinity Home Center

Please stand at this time. With your generosity and continued support, we remain in a position to do more things that will benefit New Haven. Thank you.

We would like to take this time and thank Mayor McDonald for allowing this program to exist in New Haven. Back in July, the Mayor received an award from the Indiana Workforce Investment Board for implementing the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Program. Only 10 awards are given throughout the entire State and New Haven was fortunate enough to be a recipient last year.

MYAC also has a Program Director that really challenges our group.
Deb-Anne Smith has emphasized that one factor in being an effective leader is problem solving. Deb-Anne has told us that every time someone has a concern or complaint, they must also bring a positive solution to the table. Thank you for the diverse opportunities you continue to offer this organization.

Because of Mayor McDonald and Deb-Anne Smith, this youth council continues to gain the respect from leaders throughout this region. We’d like to recognize our program leaders at this time:

Mayor McDonald
Youth Program Director Deb-Anne Smith
And, Program Assistant Caitlin McDonald

Thank you for making this program happen and having the realistic vision for the next generation. We thank you for your positive leadership and wisdom.

We would also like to take a moment and thank those other elected officials who have invested their time toward MYAC:

New Haven Councilman Harold West
New Haven City Court Judge Geoff Robison
Allen Superior Court Judge Charles Pratt
Representative Win Moses
Representative Randy Borror
Senator Dennis Kruse
Senator Tom Wyss
Secretary of State Todd Rokita
Lt. Governor Becky Skillman
and - Congressman Mark Souder

We would like to extend a special thank you to County Councilman Mike Cunegin for working with us and assisting with an educational opportunity down at the State House. Mike told us that, “It’s very important for young people to get involved at a young age because after all - we are the future of Allen County.” Thank you Mr. Cunegin.

Finally, I would like to recognize the rest of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council members. Please stand! *
The New Haven Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council will continue to work hard to learn - educate - and gain positive values, so that we can give back to this community and help make New Haven a better place for another generation.

I’m sure there are many of you who can relate to the principal who didn’t want to go to school and face the challenges from his peers or young people. That’s why it is so important to keep working hard to bridge the gap between youth and adults. Adults have so many positive things to share with young people - and one of them is good values. Martin Luther King, Jr. was absolutely right when he said, we must go back and rediscover those precious values. . . ” Because, ladies and gentlemen, without good values, our standards, and what we attempt to achieve, is compromised. However, adults sharing good values with the next generation? Priceless!

Thank you.