The Idaho Young Democrats held a caucus meeting Thursday June 12, 2008 at the Idaho Democratic Convention in Boise, Id. Our fellow kossack, rattapallax, organized the caucus in just a few weeks. Honestly, when we came up with this idea, I was scared. I’ve been to state-wide young dems meetings before where 10 people showed up and that is when I bring 7 of them. I was worried that it would be the same ol’ group of young farts networking amongst ourselves, again. Just like in 2005, just like in 2006. But, boy, did I underestimate the power of youth this year and I am proud to admit it.
Fourtyseven...OMG 47! young democrats (people under 36) from Idaho, attended the caucus meeting. This wasn’t all the young dems, many of them were in platform committee and in the advanced votebuilder meetings going on at the same time. The most heartening is that these were active, energized, and educated young people. I just want to impress upon you how cool these young people are, but calling out a few.
One person I was personally very impressed with is Dashiell Paulson, the new secretary of the caucus. He may just be 19, but the Bonner County Democrats chairwoman speaks very highly of him for his work organizing the Bonner County Caucus. She told me that as soon he became secretary, he started learning how to take minutes. This was 4 hours after the election. I love motivated people like this. He is also a precinct committeeman for his county and he was elected to be an Obama Delegate to the state convention. He comes from the town where the Republican State Convention was held this year. I can see this young man becoming the governor if Idaho in 20 years.
Another new dem worth mentioning is Jessica Taylor. Sometimes you meet someone with so much charisma, you can't help but be impressed. Jessica is one such woman. She is the mother of a cute baby boy, but being a mother didn't stop her from being involved in the Mamas for Obama group in Boise, ID. She was running as a national delegate, but she traded up for a sure thing when she took the position of Idaho delegate page for the National Convention. You will be lucky to meet her in Denver, she's got the right stuff.
There are facebook groups going up for young dems all over the Gem State. And their numbers increase every day. It feels good to be part of a movement. A couple of the people there are also regular kossacks too. Yep, 18 and 19-yr-old kossacks in Idaho.
At our meeting, we elected officers. Here are the results:
Christoper Cooke, Pocatello, Caucus Chair
Steven Mercado, Twin Falls, Vice Chair
Dashiell (Dash) Paulson, Sandpoint, Secreatry
Brian Reczek, Boise, Treasurer
Jessica Taylor, Boise, Sargent-at-Arms
Paulette Jordan, National Committee Woman
Ryan Robinson, National Committee Man
And check out the Young Democrats representing Idaho at the Democratic National Convention.
Kassie Cerami, Boise, Obama for America, Native American/White
Steven Mercado, Twin Falls, student, multi-racial
Ryan Robinson, Coeur d'Alene, Student, LGBT
Matt Kopydowski ,Pocatello, youth
Paulette Jordon, youth, Native American
Richard Hill II, Moscow, graduate student of neuroscience, African-American
The Idaho Young Democrats (IdYD) is not new. There has been a Young Democrats Caucus for years, but the group has been inactive for the past 2 years. With this meeting and the adoption of a constitution we now have voting privileges on the state committee and can do business.
I think the best part of this caucus is that we are the leaders of tomorrow, and from what I saw, I am impressed! I saw young people learning the skills of being party leaders and using the technology to identify and turn out voters. Many of these youth are new to the party.
Austin, a 17-yr-old Obama delegate from Bonneville County is very excited to start a high school chapter of the Idaho Young Democrats in Idaho Falls High School. At least three other young democrats I met are now going to set up Young Dem chapters in their high schools.
And these young people are tech-savvy more then any other group of democrats. Most of our caucus communication will be done online. We have a blog. Interested parties find out what we are doing on The Idaho Young Dems Facebook Group and at our Myspace Group.
Cheers to the Idaho Young Democrats! Cheers to the future of the Democratic Party in Idaho.
P.S. and OT...there were fewer smokers at the Dem convention then past years. I don't know if this is good or bad, but I miss the networking with the other social outcasts.