Young Advocates Host Informational Luncheon for Legislators and Community Leaders

Members of Youth With Vision (YWV) hosted a luncheon Oct. 28 for legislators and community leaders. The informational meeting provided an opportunity for YWV members to present data on issues they have deemed priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Supported by Tri-County, YWV is a student led organization made up of high school leaders from the Clay, Platte and Ray counties committed to fighting the devastating effects of alcohol and other drug abuse in their schools and communities,

The luncheon was held in the community room of Zona Rosa and entitled, “Show Me Prevention,” conveying the need for preventative efforts to be community-led and statewide.

The meeting opened with an interactive quiz between the young people and attendees regarding the legislative issues YWV has set as their priorities for the year. A question and answer period then preceded the luncheon.

The Youth With Vision 2012 legislative priorities include prohibiting passage of medicinal marijuana legislation in the state of Missouri, prohibiting the addition of stimulants to alcoholic beverages such as energy drinks containing alcohol, restricting alcohol in the Capitol building during office hours, mandating pseudoephedrine be available only by prescription, and the passage of a statewide clean air law.

Those attending the event included: Rep. T.J. Berry, Mo. House Dist. 35, Rep. Ronald Schieber, Mo. House Dist. 32, and Rep. Bob Nance, Mo. House Dist. 36. Steve Hemphill from Senator Luann Ridgeway’s office attended to represent her. Ridgeway is from Mo. State Senate, Dist. 17.

Rep. Berry is working closely with YWV to encourage the passage of legislation that would restrict adding stimulants such as caffeine to packaged alcoholic beverages. Berry agreed to sponsor the bill and pre-filed it in Dec. 2010 for consideration in the 2012 legislative session. At the luncheon he indicated he would be calling on YWV members to testify before the House on the issue.

In addition to the legislators, several community leaders from the education, business, legal and law enforcement fields attended the luncheon.

The YWV members who hosted the event are students at Liberty, Kearney, Staley, Oak Park, North Platte, Excelsior Springs, North Kansas City and Winnetonka high schools.

For more information about Youth With Vision visit their website at www.YouthWithVisionKC.org or call Elise Bennett Youth Prevention Specialist for Tri County Mental Health Services (816) 877-0496.

Rep. Ronald Schieber, Dist. 032, (center) joined the Executive Committee members of Youth With Vision for a photo before meeting with them. The YWV members from left to right are Isaac Hamilton (co-chair,) Liberty High School, Brittany Mitchell (Historian,) Excelsior Springs H.S., Michelle Anderson (Secretary,) Winnetonka H.S., Megan Jeffries (Chair of Special Events and PR,) Oak Park H.S., Samantha Linard (Co-Chair,) Staley H.S.; and Abbey McKern (Chair of Advocacy,) North Platte.

Rep. T.J. Berry, Mo. House Dist. 35 (center,) joined the Executive Committee members of Youth With Vision for a photo before meeting with them. The YWV members from left to right are Isaac Hamilton (co-chair,) Liberty High School, Samantha Linard (Co-Chair,) Staley H.S.; Abbey McKern (Chair of Advocacy,) North Platte.Brittany Mitchell (Historian,) Excelsior Springs H.S., Michelle Anderson (Secretary,) Winnetonka H.S., and Megan Jeffries (Chair of Special Events and PR,) Oak Park H.S.

Rep. Bob Nance, Mo. House Dist. 36. (center,) joined the Executive Committee members of Youth With Vision for a photo before meeting with them. The YWV members from left to right are Abbey McKern (Chair of Advocacy,) North Platte High School, Samantha Linard (Co-Chair,) Staley H.S., Megan Jeffries (Chair of Special Events and PR,) Oak Park H.S., Brittany Mitchell (Historian,) Excelsior Springs H.S., Michelle Anderson (Secretary,) Winnetonka H.S., and Isaac Hamilton (co-chair,) Liberty High School.

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