FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Generation West Virginia to convene at West Virginia Legislature Jan. 21. 2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of Generation West Virginia will take to the State Capitol Jan. 21, 2010, for a day of leadership training, legislative education and networking.
“We wanted to show the West Virginia Legislature that the state’s young talent is ready to become more knowledgeable and engaged in policymaking,” said Paul Daugherty, chairman of Generation West Virginia, a statewide consortium of locally based young talent organizations representing those age 21 to 45. “The Governor has opened the door to us so we can become more familiar with Executive Branch activities. We decided it was time to add the Legislative Branch to our repertoire as well.”
In 2008, Gov. Joe Manchin created the Governor’s Council of Young Professionals, a select group made up of representatives from each local Generation West Virginia partner. Those members have met with Manchin and his senior staff periodically to start familiarizing themselves with the dynamics of how state government operates and providing the insights and priorities of West Virginia’s young talent.
By visiting the West Virginia Legislature for a day, Generation West Virginia members will have the unique opportunity to get an up-close view on how policies are made in the Mountain State. Ryan White, chairman of the GWV subcommittee that is organizing the day, said the agenda for Jan. 21, 2010, promises to offer a thorough introduction into the legislative process for GWV members.
“We will have our members attending legislative committee meetings so they can see how bills move through the process, and then they will get a detailed explanation on how a bill becomes a law, both the basics and all the steps most people never see, including the lobbying component,” White said.
The agenda includes a seminar on how to run for office, attending floor sessions in the Senate and House of Delegates, a special luncheon for legislators in the GWV demographic plus time for representatives from each local GWV chapter to meet with their legislative delegation. Gov. Manchin and legislative leaders will be invited to meet with GWV and take part in the day’s events. More detailed information will be available soon at www.generationwestvirginia.com and www.visionshared.com.
Vision Shared Inc., a statewide community and economic development nonprofit which is a strategic partner with Generation West Virginia, is helping the group with its arrangements for the day at the Legislature.
Generation West Virginia is a statewide consortium of young talent organizations from across West Virginia. Regional groups are Generation Charleston, Generation Putnam, Generation Morgantown, OVConnect in Wheeling, Young Professionals of the Eastern Panhandle in Martinsburg and Young Emerging Leaders of the Mid-Ohio Valley in Parkersburg. Visit www.generationwestvirginia.com.
Vision Shared is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan community and economic development organization in West Virginia. Its mission is to bring social, political and economic gaps by bringing people together to confront the issues and needs facing West Virginia. Vision Shared goals are to strengthen the economy, reshape communities, promote progressive government and improve the quality of life for West Virginians. Visit www.visionshared.com.