A somewhat new but now-integral part of the Linn County Democratic Party’s family is the Brookfield Young Democrats, formed and chartered by the national organization, Young Democrats of America, in the spring of 2006. The national organization’s goal is the same as our local chapter’s goal: “to mobilize young people under the age of 36 to participate in the electoral process, influence the ideals of the Democratic party, and develop the skills of the youth generation to serve as leaders at the local and national level.” Members of the Brookfield YDA have been striving towards and attaining that goal since the group’s inception.
One of the most challenging tasks has always been to get today’s youth to understand just how important getting involved in important issues is. It isn’t easy for many teenagers to comprehend the complexities of the health care debate or trillion-dollar deficits, but they are the ones who will be facing these problems in the future if they choose not to get involved today. Although Brookfield’s YDA has never had a membership of more than twenty, those who join our group are incredibly well-informed, active, and have committed so much time and effort, that they easily do the work of an organization twice its size. They can definitely say they have made a difference in Linn county. When members of our group attend party functions all over the state, they are recognized and lauded for what they have helped to accomplish in the past, as well as what they are expected to do in the future. I can think of no better motivation than the expectation of excellence.
But these students do not get involved so they can be recognized. Every year, Brookfield YDA has done a service project in the Linn County area. They don’t do these projects because it’s good press or even because it’s becoming a tradition. As a former member once expressed, “It sure feels good to do something for people who you don’t expect anything from in return.” In other words, they do service projects because it’s the right thing to do. It’s the same reason they walk in parades, travel hours and hours to hear part of a speech, participate in school functions when asked, and knock on doors to talk politics with someone who just may rudely slam the door in their face.
And recently, members of Brookfield YDA have gotten involved on committees of the Linn County Democratic Commission. And you can bet it’s not for the glory, nor is it because they have nothing better to do. They know that getting involved in causes they believe in is the right thing to do. And many of them have done so facing criticism from other students as well as adults. But criticism is as much a part of politics as it is a part of life, and Brookfield YDA members are learning those lessons well.
You can the entire column in the 03/10/10 edition of the Linn County Leader.
