The latest AYLI chapters, activities, and events


Youth Entry - “The Meaning of Y.A.S.A.”

The Meaning of Y.A.S.A.

Y stands for young, when we are full of cheer.
A stands for American, stars and stripes, red and white.
S stands for stateswomen, prepared to show the world.
A stands for association, united one and all.

by B.J., Riverton Y.A.S.A.

Youth Entry - “What I Learned as a Y.A.S.A. President”

What I Learned as a Y.A.S.A. President

By V.J., Riverton Y.A.S.A.
When elections for the new semester came around, I had high hopes. I hoped I would be appointed to a post on the executive committee. As to which, I had no reference. To my surprise and delight, I was made the next president of our Y.A.S.A. group! “This is going to be a snap!” I thought. I had no idea how wrong I was. C.C., my predecessor, made it look
easy.

My first challenge was meeting with the Hospitality Committee (at the time, only two girls) to decide on how to divide up the work. I tried to sound confident and decisive, to show I was in charge, someone the girls could look up to. I just ended up stuttering and feeling I was making a fool of myself.

And then I had to lead the meetings! Usually I do fine in front of crowds (if you can call eleven girls and their mothers a crowd), but I stiffened up, my mind went blank and I had keep glancing back at Mrs. Roberts (our kind and patient Advisor), wondering what to do next.

And then, of course, there is the stressful and time-consuming chore known as “calling the girls”. Nobody home, answering machines, and wrong numbers. Also the occasional typo on the roll so that you don’t have even a clue how to tell them it’s their turn to bring refreshments.

Regardless, favor has been on my side, and has mercifully given me two able and willing councillors: H.R., our Vice-President, and M.S. the Secretary. These two girls are so helpful and supportive it really takes a weight off my shoulders. I think their jobs may in fact exist for that sole purpose.

So, it turned out a little unexpectedly, but I believe this has been a great and important experience for me. I gained a better appreciation for my parents and leaders, and learned about being in charge.

For all you future presidents out there, I hope you’re a little better prepared than I was. Listen to what the girls want and need, and listen to your parents when they tell you to “make that phone-call already!”. And don’t be afraid. Sure, it’s a lot of work, but it’s also a whole lot of fun!

Knighting Ceremony

Hello, This is the Stansbury Park Knights of Freedom group. We just had a great time with a Knighting Feast and Knighting.  Since we are a new group all of our boys needed to be knighted. So we decided to do something like the old days would do.  The leaders were all in costume and we invited the whole family to come to a feast to see thier boys knighted.  First we went over how colors and shields with decorations came about in the Holy Crusade (so that they parents would understand abit about what we are doing), and why we chose our colors and design on our tabards and flag. Then we had each boy tell us what they did to earn thier knighthood (what virtues they worked on).  And why they chose the virtue they did to be knighted.  After that we went trough what it means to be a knight. And then had each boy take the oath to be a knight. After they were knighted and gone though the boys and swords, they each got to slay a demond of vice.  When we were finished we then invited all to join us in a feast.
Every one really loved it and said that they were glad that thier boys could be apart of the KOF.

Welcome!

Welcome to the American Youth Leadership Institute Blog!  We at AYLI are excited about this new endeavor and we hope that this blog will become a great resource for chapters of AYLI now and in the future.  If you are an Officer, Advisor, or Co-Advisor for AYLI we invite you to please REGISTER and become one of our blog contributors.  We welcome articles of all kinds having to do with AYLI chapters, activities and events.  Please remember that all articles and comments will be montitored by the Webmistress.  Only articles pertaining to AYLI chapters, activities and events will be permitted.

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