develoPing leaderSdemocracY in actionmichigan Youth in governmenta Branch of the State Y

For Youth DevelopmentFor Healthy LivingFor Social Responsibility

2015-2016 Program Yearmiddle School

Program in BriefThere are two ways to learn about government. The first is to readtextbooks about what others have done. The second is to take that the-oretical knowledge and apply it in an actual government setting.

The State YMCA Youth In Government program provides middle schoolstudents with a unique opportunity to become acting state legislators.These students are given the use of the actual Michigan House andSenate Chambers along with the committee rooms to debate the billsthey have researched and written.

However, not all students become part of the legislature. MYIG offerstwo additional programs of choice as well. These are the ContemporaryIssues Forum (standard debate) and the Political Compromise Program(debate and legislation combined.) Western Michigan University CooleyLaw School opens its doors and welcomes these two programs into itshalls and classrooms.

The Youth in Government program supports the YMCA's effort in pro-ducing leaders through hands-on experience and teaching the YMCA'score values of Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility. Please joinus as we build tomorrow...one young person at a time.

Each fall, local schools and YMCA's select from their members thosewho are most interested in learning leadership skills and government.Any school or YMCA can participate by contacting the YIG state office.

“I have never had any interest in government before, until now. Being able to stand up, share my

opinion and beliefs, and then being able to argue for them is something I have come to love.

Participating in Youth in Government has been a great learning experience for me.”

Emma from Quincy

educational organizationSthat SuPPort michigan Youthin government• Michigan Education Association

• Michigan Department of Education

• AFT Michigan

• Detroit Federation of Teachers

• Michigan Association of School Boards

• Michigan Association of School Administrators

• Michigan Association of School Principals

• Michigan Federation of Teachers

• Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities

• Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools

michigan Youth in governmentPromoteS the michigan SocialStudieS curriculum exPectationSStudents' engagement with government through MYIG will expose them tothe Core Democratic Values of Justice, Equality, Diversity, and Truth. Addi-tionally, they will be exposed to the Constitutional Principals of Represen-tative Government, Individual Rights, and Separation of Powers (at thestate level.)

Students' Social Studies proficiencies will improve through direct experi-ences with:

• Gathering and Understanding Information (bill writing)

• Analyzing Issues (debate within committees)

• Drawing and Justifying Conclusions (debate on the House and Senatefloor)

• Organizing and Communicating Information (lobbying their position ef-fectively)

• Learning and Considering Issues Collaboratively (forming legislative al-liances)

• Acting Ethically (respecting the opinions of others during debate)

“I learned how to speak up for myself and what is right. I discovered viewpoints that I had never seen

in myself. This has also helped me be a better thinker.”

Hanna from Mason Consolidated Middle School

WaYS to ParticiPateSENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES... research and present bills which are debated in committee and withinthe actual house and senate chambers in Lansing.

STANDARD DEBATE... research an assigned issue of state or national importance to debate while at theLansing Conference.

LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS... run for Lieutenant Governor or Speaker of the House.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS ... eligible students can become committee chairs and lead committees through billrevision and passage.

POLITICAL COMPROMISE... research an assigned issue to debate and legislate while at the Lansing Conference.

PurPoSeS and goalSA. To provide leadership training to meet the requirements of a democratic society.

B. To develop an understanding and awareness of Michigan State government and state and national is-

sues.

C. To provide opportunities for participation in legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Michigan

State government.

D. To provide opportunities to become significantly engaged in civic and social issues.

E. To provide opportunities for students to develop critical thinking skills.

F. To sponsor comprehensive high school and middle school interactive events to provide support for

local associations in developing community leadership.

G. To develop self-confidence and self-expression.

H. To invite international exchange students in Michigan schools to participate in the democratic process

at work.

Democracy and all that it represents will remain only so long as its youth are exposed to its ideals and

potentials. Those who would work to guarantee the right of every person to their voice in government are

those who will perpetuate the democratic way of life. The youth of our nation are those upon whom this

trust is placed. “DEMOCRACY MUST BE LEARNED BY EACH GENERATION”.

“When sitting in the Senate chair I felt as if I had power to vote for what I thought was right, and the

thought that my bill could actually become a law was mind-blowing.”

Zaid from Cranbrook

“These trips to MYIG have not only changed my perspective on how senators and representatives are

important to the structure of our state, but on how meeting new people can have such a positive

effect on our lives.”

Lillian from Cherryland Middle School

Youth in government Board ofdirectorSRick Snyder .................................................Governor, State of Michigan

Brian Calley.............................................Lt. Governor, State of Michigan

Jim Ananich .......................................................Senate Minority Leader

Becky Best - YIG Chair .................................Citizens Insurance Company

Reginald Best .........................................................Southwest Solutions

Tim Bowlin..............................................Director, House Business Office

Brian Broderick ........................................MI Assn. of Non-Public Schools

Evelyn Calogero............................................................Attorney at Law

Mark Cook - YIG Vice Chair ...................................Blue Cross Blue Shield

Kevin Cotter .........................................................Speaker of the House

E. Thomas Fitzgerald ..........................................Judge, Court of Appeals

Mike Flanagan ..................................Superintendent of Public Instruction

Sean Gehle.........................................St John Providence Health System

Tim Greimel ........................................................House Minority Leader

Mark Guastella..........................Michigan Assn. of Retired School Personal

William Hallan...................................................Michigan Retailers Assn.

Ron Hicks...................................................................Advance America

Hoon-Yung Hopgood.........................................................State Senator

Bert Johnson...................................................................State Senator

Mike Johnston ...........................................Michigan Manufacturers Assn.

Nancy Knight...................................................Michigan Education Assn.

Rick Lantz .................................................Delta Dental Plan of Michigan

Barbara Lezotte .........................................Lezotte Miller Public Relations

Brian Love ......................................................................Students First

Peter MacGregor..............................................................State Senator

Arlan Meekhof ....................................................Senate Majority Leader

Chris Mitchell ........................................Michigan Health & Hospital Assn.

Phil Pavlov ......................................................................State Senator

Amanda Price ........................................................State Representative

Steve Japinga ..........................................Michigan State Medical Society

Sam Singh ............................................................State Representative

Peter Spadafore...................Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities

Mark Stadt.........................................................................DTE Energy

Tom Webb ..................................................MI Council for Social Studies

Cathy Wilson ...........................................................Consumer’s Energy

Kelly Wright.......................................................YIG Alumni Board Chair

Adam Zemke.........................................................State Representative

Dave Zyble ...........................................................Jackson National Life

Youth in governmentSchedule 2015SePtemBer & octoBer Local Middle Schools & YMCA’s recruit students for Youth in Government

adviSor'S training conferenceSeptember 18, 2015 - 9AM to 2 PM, The Causeway Bay Hotel, Lansing, MI

State conferenceSNovember 22-24, 2015, The Causeway Bay Hotel, Lansing, MI

ParticiPation feeS include:State Conference, hotel accomodations, transportation to the Capitol build-ing, t-shirt, banquet, dance, and conference materials

Students $190 • Advisors $210 double occupancy/ $285 single occupancy

“The bill that most interested me was about having a person’s blood type on their driver’s license,

which could lower the death rate in our state.”

Aaron from Saugatuck Middle School

mYig miSSion StatementTo provide leadership training to meet the needs of a democratic society

and to develop an understanding and awareness of Michigan State govern-

ment and national issues. To create an inclusive environment in which

students develop an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of

others. To strengthen young people and communities through emphasiz-

ing character development and the values of caring, honesty, respect and

responsibility in all that we do.

hoW You can Become a Part ofYouth in governmentEach fall, local schools and YMCA's select from their members those who

are most interested in learning leadership skills and government. Any

school or YMCA can participate by contacting the MYIG state office.

State office contactinformationFor more information contact the state office. Upon request, materials will

be sent showing how you can get your students involved in this nationally

recognized program.

mYig Program Staff:

Brent Veysey - Executive Director

Fran Bregger - Assistant Director

Gayle Brokaw - Program Director

Rob Miller - Staff, Debate/MJP Specialist

Jennifer Henry - Alumni/MJP Director

Michelle Brokaw - Staff, Grant Writer

P.O. Box 65, Quincy, MI 49082

Phone: (517) 639-4480

Fax # (517) 639-3525

E-mail: staff@myig.org

Web site: myig.org

Facebook: Michigan Youth in Government

“I have learned how to be more respectful, which wasn’t something I thought I was going to learn, and I even made

friends. I know how to debate now too. I plan on doing debate at my school.”

Zoe from Petoskey

“I never thought that I would have an experience like this. Youth in Government has given me an

opportunity that I will never forget.”

Christopher from Ypsilanti

inveStorS in the Youth of michiganWe are PleaSed to acknoWledge the folloWing SPonSorS Who generouSlY SuPPorted the 2014-2015 Program.

Signature oPPortunitieSCitizens Insurance Company .......27

diamond levelAdvance America.........................6

Amway Inc. ..............................17

Dean Trailways of Michigan .........10

DTE Energy Foundation ..............24

Jackson National Life Insurance ...21

Lezotte Miller Public Relations........7

Michigan Health and

Hospital Assn. ......................19

Michigan Manufacturers

Association ..........................30

Rollin Gerstacker Foundation .......18

WMU Cooley Law School .............18

Platinum levelBlue Cross Blue Shield

of Michigan ..........................34

Causeway Bay Hotel, Lansing ......13

Central Michigan University...........2

Consumer’s Energy Co................26

Consumers’ Energy Foundation......1

Delta Dental Plan of Michigan ......31

Herbert & Elsa Ponting

Foundation...........................20

Michigan Department of

Education ............................31

Michigan Education Association....29

Michigan House of

Representatives ....................33

Michigan Municipal League

Foundation ............................9

Michigan Retailers Foundation......32

Michigan Senate ........................33

Michigan State Medical Society ....27

The Fetzer Institute....................18

gold levelAscension Health System............10

Becky Best .................................4

Capital Region Community

Foundation ............................1

Detroit Federation of Teachers .....18

Edward & Debra Blews .................9

Hall, Render, Killian, Heath &

Lyman...................................4

Hanover Insurance Group

Foundation..1

Health Alliance Plan .....................9

Haworth, Inc. ............................21

gold levelKaroub Associates .......................5

Lansing Convention Bureau...........2

Meijer ........................................1

Michigan Assn. of Non-Public

Schools .................................7

Michigan Independent Colleges

and Universities ...................18

Public Affairs Associates LCC .........2

Public Sector Consultants............13

RWCAdvocacy .............................1

Sean Gehle.................................5

Southwest Michigan First ..............1

Symmetry Medical .......................2

St. John Providence Health

System................................11

Tim Bowlin, House Business

Office ..................................12

Silver levelFT Michigan ..............................29

Barb Lezotte ...............................3

Bruce Caswell .............................7

Capitol Services Inc ...................12

Chad Noble.................................3

Catherine Wilson .........................3

Chuck Hadden.............................5

Cliffs Natural Resources ..............21

College For Creative Studies........18

Commissioner Martha Scott.........10

Dykema Gossett PLCC..................2

Fletch’s Inc. ................................8

Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith ........2

Governmental Consultant

Services, Inc..........................5

Hospital Council of East Cent. MI ...7

House Minority Leader Tim

Greimel .................................3

Infinisource ................................8

Jase Bolger.................................3

James & Carol Goetz ..................12

John Bippus ................................3

Johnson & Johnson ......................4

Kellogg Community College.........15

Lawrence Tech University..............2

Lt. Governor Brian Calley..............3

Mary Foster ................................2

MI Assn. of School

Administrators......................29

MI Education Special Services

Assn. ....................................8

Silver levelMichigan Assn. of Intermediate

Administrators........................3

Michigan Assn. of School Boards ..26

Michigan Dental Association ..........7

Michigan Electric Cooperative Assn.7

Michigan State University .............7

Michigan Townships Assn. .............9

Mid Michigan Community

College................................14

MSU College of Law .....................4

Muchmore, Harrington, Smalley &

Associates, Inc. ....................25

Nell Kuhnmuench ........................3

Oakland University.....................17

Paul Tarr & Associates ..................4

Representative

Marcia HoveyWright ................1

Representative Amanda Price ........1

Representative Sam Singh ............3

Semco Energy ...........................13

Senate Majority Leader

Arlan Meekhof ........................1

Senate Minority

Leader Jim Ananich......................1

Senator Bert Johnson...................3

Senator Bob Genetski ..................3

Senator Hoon Yung Hopgood .......12

Senator Phil Pavlov ......................3

Sharon Schappacher ....................3

St. Clair County Community

College................................14

State Alliance of Michigan YMCAs...2

State Bar of Michigan Appellate

Practice Section......................6

Steven & Joan McLain ..................2

StudentsFirst Michigan .................1

Superintendent of Public

Instruction Michael Flanagan ....1

The Frederick Group ...................1

The University of Michigan ..........18

The University of Michigan, Flint ....9

T-Shirt Alley..............................11

Two Men & a Truck

International Inc...................17

Wendy’s .....................................1

Xerox Corporation........................4

*Numbers indicate number of years

of sponsorship.

“I was able to come out of this experience a confident speaker. Thank you so much.”

Eliza from Ann Arbor