Youth Bureau seeking students
County agency needs youths from local high schoolsBy MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-Herald
JOHNSTOWN - The Fulton County Youth Bureau is in dire need of high school students as youth members, especially ninth- and 10th-graders.
Youth Bureau Director Charis M. Gray relayed that message to her advisory board last week. The agency - a component of county government that answers to the state Office of Children & Family Services on funding issues - supplies state aid to local youth agencies. The bureau is made up of both adult and youth members and provides local programs and services to the county's youth.
"Our youth membership is down again," Gray said.
The agency currently has only one youth member, a student from Johnstown High School, although it normally has several youth members.
She said the youth bureau needs to recruit some fresh high school students as volunteer members, preferably freshmen or sophomores so they can participate for three or four years.
"It does look really good on their college application," Gray said.
Gray said youth members are particularly needed from Gloversville High school, as well as Mayfield, Broadalbin-Perth, Oppenheim-Ephratah and Northville central schools. Though the board already has a member from JHS, she said, the board would accept another youth member from that school.
Bureau secretary Teresa Perry said today the agency board can by law have a maximum of 28 members. She said the agency wants to have one teen from each of the county's six high schools on the board. The board needs a minimum of two youth members. Other members of the board are classified as residents of the cities or towns, general members, and designates from the Board of Supervisors.
Gray said simply leaving informational materials at the guidance offices of the six high schools hasn't been successful.
She said the main responsibilities are to attend monthly meetings, and in some cases, committee meetings. The bureau has 10 monthly meetings per year. Youth members have also been used to help with other events such as Victim Impact Panels and as speakers at youth dinners.
Students interested in serving on the Youth Bureau may call Perry at the agency office at 736-5505 or attend an upcoming board meeting. The next meeting will be at 4 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Supervisors' Chambers at the County Office Building.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.
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Discobulous
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09-28-09 2:10 PM
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Youth Bureau is looking for more youths, Senior Centers are looking for more seniors, the Gov. is looking for more money, the Pres. wants everybody insured, etc. Guess everybody wants somethin' from soneone else. So? If the Youth Bureau just hangs on a few years, all the babys being pushed around in carriages in downtown Gloversville will be old enough to fill the room.
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