All of my friends opted not to send their kids because of the reservations they had about what they would be hearing while there.
I dated a lady a few years ago whose daughter attended this same event. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina hit us while she was there, so I really can’t offer much insight into what actually transpired at the event.
I know the young lady had a great time. She came home more committed to her education than before. Hopefully, the event was not overtly political.
Looks like it might be a way to learn how to be a lobbyist.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/leadership-t.html?pagewanted=2
I think I would pass on this. If your kid wants this kind of experience, he or she can volunteer in a local congressional office, and apply for an internship once they get to university. Perhaps your state legislature offers high school internships.
A quick internet search reveals some interesting info....
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-26011.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Youth_Leadership_Council
Offhand, it looks like a moneymaking outfit...
Forgot to say: Vienna, VA is a long way from Capitol Hill.
Caveat emptor
In support of this mission, members of the U.S. Congress and over 50 embassies representing countries around the world serve on CYLC’s Honorary Board of Advisors.
CYLC is a nonpartisan, independent organization.
CYLC’s young leaders meet with high-ranking government officials, members of Congress, diplomats, media figures and more—all while partaking in a diverse curriculum and interactive signature simulations. Students gain unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, briefings and events—all of which contribute to the rarest academic experience of a lifetime.
I found this...
Congressional Youth Leadership Council - cylc.org legit?
Can’t dispute the good experiences of the participants, but the operations are not open. Did some research and found this:
1) Non-profit CYLC contracts almost everything to a for-profit company - Envision EMI.
No staff listed on website, administration costs hidden.
Why does a private company have such a major role?
2) CYLC:: Congressional Youth Leadership Council uses a virtual street address in Washington DC.
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400
The address is shared by other businesses and a virtual office company.
From the research below, I have concerns in supporting CYLC as a public good non-profit organization.
San Diego Soccer Dad
More details:
1) Non-profit CYLC contracts for almost everything to a for-profit company - Envision EMI.
A non-profit for the public good should have fairly paid staff and reasonable fees, with no
personal gain. CYLC is not open about how they operate financially.
From GuideStar nonprofit reports and Forms 990 for donors, grantmakers and businesses (a searchable library of non-profit IRS returns)
$48.1 million expenses in 2005 form 990
of which
16.1 program management fees to Envision EMI
7.7 million lodging and travel
5.3 million printing and postage
Guidestar provides open transparent viewing of how non-profits operate, since they
exist for the public good. CYLC.org website lists no staff, which is unusual.
Envision EMI (Envision EMI - Educate, Motivate, Inspire) appears privately-owned by Richard Rossi.
2) Can’t support that CYLC.org uses a virtual address in Washington DC.
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400
Google the address and other organizations also use this address such as ...
Worldwide Employee Benefits Network, 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue
Global Energy Alliance Corporation
And they reference this business:
Executive Suites and Virtual Offices in DC, VA, MD - Preferred Offices
******
And this...
Having worked for this organization, I have to chime in. CYLC is marketed as a non-profit. However, Envision EMI is a for-profit consulting company that runs CYLC and all of their conferences. In addition, Envision is headquarted in Delaware, the most business friendly state in terms of litigation. I think most of the students had a good time at the various conferences that they run, however, I don’t think it is appropriate to market this conference as a non-profit when for all practical intents and purposes, it is a for-profit.
******
And...
This has been very useful (my first post on CC). I agree with Alisdad: nothing in the materials says it’s nonprofit, but references to the CYLC Foundation (a charitable 501(c)(3)) are undoubtedly intended to create impression that entire program is non-profit. Make no mistake: profit or not, it’s big business. My 9th grader’s invited to NYLC. My plan’s to task him with researching the organization to make a judgement about whether it’s worth it (let’s see if he finds this thread), including comparing it with other options for that amount.
Well, it is obviously left-wing. So I don’t know what would be the point of it.
There are conservative alternatives. I don’t know them all and you should ASK at each of the following contacts for anything they know of.
But try contacting Young Americans for Freedom, National Journalism Center, the Leadership Institute (they run short courses of 1-2 days but they can probably tell you about Summer long activities by others), Claire Booth Luce Institute.
Names of members of the United States Congress appear on an 'honorary board of advisors' ( however the organization is not government run) and foreign embassies, although such endorsements were previously called into question 15 years ago.
The tuition cost to students participating in the programs varies depending on the program experience. The Congressional Youth Leadership Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, provides need-based scholarships to high-achieving students who have qualified for attendance. Currently, its parent oganization Envision EMI (which is a for-profit) has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau
2009 Inaugural Conference, almost 16,000 delegates were permitted to attend the event, a stark contrast from the mere 1,000 who were allowed to attend in 2005 for the second Inauguration of former President George Bush. Amongst the complaints by delegates include bogus tickets, lack of transportation, lack of beds, working hot water, and sufficient food provided by individual hotels, including the Omni Shoreham and Marriott Windham, an unofficial in-house inaugural ball, overpriced events, and misinformation and misrepresentation by the UPIC and CYLC.
Other shortcomings of the UPIC include the Inauguration Ceremony itself. The tickets for the event were bogus
While the UPIC granted the opportunity to hear keynote speakers such as former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Vice President Al Gore, some delegates have speculated that the CYLC deliberately overcharged them to make a profit. Considering that 15,300 delegates attended the conference for an average of $3,000 each, the CYLC then made a profit of almost $47,000,000 on this conference alone. Legal action has been threatened against the UPIC and CYLC, parents and delegates are demanding refunds and answers from the company, and delegates have gone as far as to sign petitions, contact local and national media stations, and even write letters to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden
Senator Lautenberg asked his name to be removed from membership of the advisory board was well, with Lautenberg’s spokesman commenting that “The group at some point converted itself to a for-profit organization, and the senator is seriously concerned about complaints from New Jersey families regarding this group’s inauguration program.”
Thanks again, my FReeper FRiends.
I’m not sure if this is the same group, but my granddaughter was chosen a few years ago and went. It was a good experience for her. I doubt my son would let her go if it was a liberal group sponsoring it.