Y.E.S. 2018 Boasts Some Distinctions
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n the spirit of working to preserve our Second Amendment right and other uniquely American freedoms for future generations, the NRA has long recognized the importance of introducing teens to the values we hold dear. One of the more visible ways that the Association has done that is through its Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) program, a summer outreach effort for high school students. As the NRA prepares for the 22nd summer of the program, it’s worth noting that this year will include a couple of firsts. One is that the program finally has a Rhode Islander as a participant. The more noticeable is that it has been expanded to two one-week sessions, so 93 students—almost twice as many as in past years—can be served. “This program has always been a
home run for the NRA, as we introduce some of the finest young adults across the country to some of the principles we fight for,” said Joseph P. DeBergalis Jr., deputy executive director of the NRA’s General Operations Division and a vocal advocate of expanding the program. “It’s such an invigorating experience when you see these young adults—the future leaders in our country—come together to experience so many of the things that make America great.” The week includes field trips to the Marine Corps Base at Quantico and Washington, D.C., where they get to witness the foundations of the republic in action, whether by visiting the halls of Congress, by learning the story behind the Constitution and Bill of Rights, or by taking in the monuments, museums and war memorials.
And, of course, they will get to spend time on the range and getting information so they can gain a better understanding of why we place so high an importance on our right to keep and bear arms. The goal is to groom them to be solid NRA ambassadors, DeBergalis said, with the key point being that we need future generations of Americans who will be able to conduct educated, responsible debates about such topics as preserving our freedom. This year’s participants boast an average GPA of 3.7, with most of them taking advanced or college-level courses, and many excel in their communities as well as the classroom. The teens will visit the D.C. area in July, and soon thereafter, applications will be open for next year’s class. For more information, visit yes.nra.org.
NRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joe M. Allbaugh, Oklahoma; William H. Allen, Tennessee; Thomas P. Arvas, New Mexico; Scott L. Bach, New Jersey; William A. Bachenberg, Pennsylvania; Bob Barr, Georgia; Ronnie G. Barrett, Tennessee; Clel Baudler, Iowa; J. Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio; Matt Blunt, Virginia; Dan Boren, Oklahoma; Robert K. Brown, Colorado; Pete R. Brownell, Iowa; Dave Butz, Illinois; Ted W. Carter, Florida; Richard R. Childress, North Carolina; Patricia A. Clark, Connecticut; Allan D. Cors, Florida; Charles L. Cotton, Texas; David G. Coy, Michigan; Larry E. Craig, Idaho; John L. Cushman, New York; Edie P. Fleeman, North Carolina; M. Carol (Bambery) Frampton, South Carolina; Joel Friedman, Nevada; Sandra S. Froman, Arizona; James S. Gilmore III, Virginia; Marion P. Hammer, Florida; Maria Heil, Pennsylvania; Graham Hill, Virginia; Susan Howard, Texas; Curtis S. Jenkins, Georgia; David A. Keene, Maryland; Tom King, New York; Timothy Knight, Tennessee; Herbert A. Lanford Jr., South Carolina; Willes K. Lee, Hawaii; Karl A. Malone, Louisiana; Sean Maloney, Ohio; Robert E. Mansell, Arizona; Carolyn D. Meadows, Georgia; Bill Miller, West Virginia; Owen Buz Mills, Arizona; Craig Morgan, Tennessee; Grover G. Norquist, Washington, D.C.; Oliver L. North, Virginia; Robert Nosler, Oregon; Johnny Nugent, Indiana; Ted Nugent, Texas; Lance Olson, Iowa; Melanie Pepper, Texas; James W. Porter II, Alabama; Peter J. Printz, Montana; Todd J. Rathner, Arizona; Kim Rhode, California; Wayne Anthony Ross, Alaska; Carl T. Rowan Jr., Washington, D.C.; Don Saba, Arizona; William H. Satterfield, Alabama; Ronald L. Schmeits, New Mexico; Esther Q. Schneider, Texas; Steven C. Schreiner, Colorado; Tom Selleck, California; John C. Sigler, Delaware; Leroy Sisco, Texas; Bart Skelton, New Mexico; Dwight D. Van Horn, Idaho; Blaine Wade, Tennessee; Linda L. Walker, Ohio; Howard J. Walter, North Carolina; Heidi E. Washington, Michigan; Allen B. West, Texas; Robert J. Wos, Florida; Donald E. Young, Alaska. Communications intended for any member of the NRA Board of Directors should be addressed to: (Name of Board member), NRA Office of the Secretary, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030; or nrabod@nrahq.org; or (703) 267-1021. Please include your name, contact information and NRA membership I.D. number, as only communications from NRA members will be forwarded.
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JUNE 2018
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
Photo by NRA Staff
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