1. Cass County Youth Commission update

21 April 2014 Dear Cass County Commissioners, After another successful year, the Cass County Youth Commission continues to provide students with the opportunity to view the most essential form of government up close. The program strives to help each individual develop critical leadership skills and meet its mission of empowering youth with the qualities necessary to take an active role in the community. Each meeting gives students the chance to connect with students from across the county, learn about county operations, and to truly grow. None of this would be possible without your continued support. The Youth Commission meets every month in locations that vary from the Courthouse to the Highway Department to the Jail. Each meeting has a standard structure: two presentations by County departments in the morning, followed by lunch, a leadership development seminar, and the student-led meeting in the afternoon. County officials directly engage students with information regarding their positions within Cass County, and this type of interaction is only possible with the generosity of the County Commission. Students learn to recognize their strengths and weaknesses regarding their leadership skills and work to develop them every month. But the Youth Commission isn't just another classroom of teenage students. We've developed more than just skills; we've developed relationships with other students whom we wouldn't normally meet. Each of the members of the Youth Commission comes from diverse communities, joins together as a small community, and goes out into the community to make a difference for the community. The program brings together the next generation of leaders with current ones to facilitate communication and lay the foundation for strong leadership for Cass County in the future. Members of Cass County Youth Commission get to hear from officials within Cass County, and that learning transcends the boundaries of the county. Last week we traveled to Bismarck to tour the State Capitol and meet with other leaders in the state. We heard from representatives of county interests at the North Dakota Association of Counties, the North Dakota Supreme Court, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, and Governor Jack Dalrymple, who all encouraged us to cultivate our talents and give back to the state that has given us so much. The trip to Bismarck gave us great insight to the operations of government, and was a wonderful opportunity to connect with other leaders. Like every year, the focus of the Cass County Youth Commission is to give back to and support the community. We selected the Make-A-Wish Foundation as our charity of choice and are actively fundraising for the cause. We held a Snowball Dance in February, are selling raffle tickets, soliciting donations, and are holding a Rodeo Dance this weekend to raise enough money in the hopes of sponsoring a full wish for a North Dakota resident.