Young Democrats Movement
'''The Young Democrats Movement''' is a private organization devoted to the advancement of progressive Democratic ideals through education and activism among adolescents. The group is currently centered in Wilmington, DE, with membership throughout Northern Delaware and extending as far as Pennsylvania. While the group is not officially part of the Democratic Party, it has gained recognition from such figures as [[Democratic Leadership Council]] Chair [[Harold Ford]] and Delaware Democratic Party Chairman John Daniello.
== History ==
===December 2006 - May 2007: Creation===
The group was founded in December of 2006 by Tim McBride, Helen Boyer and Read T. Scott after the three realized the need for a non-defunct high school-centered political organization. In January of the next year, an impromptu meeting was held at a local [[Panera Bread]], an executive committee and a basic group platform was established. The first few months of the group's existence were mostly developmental with an initial estimated membership of roughly 50 people, most of whom were already ACTIVE in local and/or national politics. A website for the group ([http://www.ydmovement.org]) was created, and executive committee member Mat Marshall created a political [[blog]], The Soapbox, which had a brief professional relationship with the group. Both of these websites served as catalysts for the group's growth by gaining recognition from local politicos.
===May 2007 - September 2007: Taking Off===
After 4 months spent getting the group's name out to associates of the group's officers (most notably Delaware State Treasurer [[Jack Markell]] and Insurance Commissioner [[Matt Denn]]), the group launched a kick-off party at the home of Vice President Read Scott's on May 19, 2007, featuring Markell and Denn as central speakers. With upwards of 100 visually enthused attendees, the party was a success. It received local media coverage from several bloggers and WDEL host Al Mascetti, further cementing the group's legitimacy as an organization. Shortly after the party, membership saw a sharp increase. While evidence is sparse, it is GeneRally accepted that the group saw AbOUT a 300% increase in membership by the end of June. Because of this increase in membership, the executive committee grew and drafted a charter that July.
At the same time, the group officers spent most of their time working with local campaigns. This created some controversy; the group was supposed to be supportive of the party at large, but there was a clear preference shown in the campaigns that group members volunteered for. To counterbalance this issue, the group worked to throw a second house party, this time at the home of Ranking Member Mat Marshall, at which candidates with little or no face time with the group would be given an opportunity to speak. Due to scheduling troubles with Lt. Governor [[John C. Carney]], the date for the party remained largely tentative and promotion was not as strong as it had been for the May 19th party. As a result, attendance was lower. However, the group had solidified its legitimacy among party factions.
===September 2007 - Present: Referendum Reform and Beyond===
YDM is now collaborating with elected officials such as Jack Markell and Chris Coons to reform the referendum system of school financing in The State of Delaware.
==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Position
! Time in Office
|-
| Tim McBride
| Co-President
| December 2006 -
|-
| Helen Boyer
| Co-President
| December 2006 -
|-
| Read T. Scott
| Vice President
| December 2006 -
|-
| Mat Marshall
| Ranking Member
| January 2007 -
|-
| Chaz Hoard
| Secretary
| January 2007 -
|-
| Elisa Gill
| Executive Committee
| January 2007 -
|-
| Felicia Puff
| Executive Committee
| January 2007 -
|-
| Chaz Hoard
| Executive Committee
| January 2007 -
|-
| Frank Schadt
| Executive Committee
| January 2007 -
|-
| Harrence Eagleton Berger
| Intern
| December 2006 - February 2007
|-
| Dawn Payne
| Executive Committee
| July 2007 -
|-
| Anna Galati
| Executive Committee
| July 2007 - September 2007 (resigned due to conflict with academic activities)
|-
| Liz Richards
| Executive Committee
| July 2007 -
[[Category: Political organizations]]