Posted on 05/17/2009 10:43:14 AM PDT by kdot
My daughter is finishing up her 9th grade school year and just got an invitation to go to the National Young Leaders State Conference, put on by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. The invitation contains lots of marketing information about the conference and the creative looks very expensive, with metallic colored seals and inserts. The conference is in Vienna VA for 4 days and costs about $1400. It names the HS teacher that nominated her for this "honor" and looks personalized.
Because of the fee, my first instinct is to dismiss this as a money making scam, with a conference designed to make it look legit. My second red flag was raised after I saw the list of "distinguished speakers". Starting with Al Gore, Janet Reno, Jesse Jackson, Eleanor Clift, Juan William, etc, I wondered it this would be a liberal love-fest.
Do any of you fellow FReepers have experience with this group? Their web-site, www.cylc.org, is full of marketing information, but I've never heard of them. Other legit opportunities I've seen have less flashy materials. I'll call the school to get more info, but do any of you know of this?
All of my friends opted not to send their kids because of the reservations they had about what they would be hearing while there.
PS—THE KIDS I KNOW WERE INVITED DURING THE CLINTOON ADMINISTRATION—I don’t know of anyone who was invited during the Bush years.
I dated a lady a few years ago whose daughter attended this same event. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina hit us while she was there, so I really can’t offer much insight into what actually transpired at the event.
I know the young lady had a great time. She came home more committed to her education than before. Hopefully, the event was not overtly political.
Looks like it might be a way to learn how to be a lobbyist.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/leadership-t.html?pagewanted=2
I think I would pass on this. If your kid wants this kind of experience, he or she can volunteer in a local congressional office, and apply for an internship once they get to university. Perhaps your state legislature offers high school internships.
A quick internet search reveals some interesting info....
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-26011.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Youth_Leadership_Council
Offhand, it looks like a moneymaking outfit...
Forgot to say: Vienna, VA is a long way from Capitol Hill.
Caveat emptor
In support of this mission, members of the U.S. Congress and over 50 embassies representing countries around the world serve on CYLC’s Honorary Board of Advisors.
CYLC is a nonpartisan, independent organization.
CYLC’s young leaders meet with high-ranking government officials, members of Congress, diplomats, media figures and more—all while partaking in a diverse curriculum and interactive signature simulations. Students gain unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, briefings and events—all of which contribute to the rarest academic experience of a lifetime.
I found this...
Congressional Youth Leadership Council - cylc.org legit?
Can’t dispute the good experiences of the participants, but the operations are not open. Did some research and found this:
1) Non-profit CYLC contracts almost everything to a for-profit company - Envision EMI.
No staff listed on website, administration costs hidden.
Why does a private company have such a major role?
2) CYLC:: Congressional Youth Leadership Council uses a virtual street address in Washington DC.
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400
The address is shared by other businesses and a virtual office company.
From the research below, I have concerns in supporting CYLC as a public good non-profit organization.
San Diego Soccer Dad
More details:
1) Non-profit CYLC contracts for almost everything to a for-profit company - Envision EMI.
A non-profit for the public good should have fairly paid staff and reasonable fees, with no
personal gain. CYLC is not open about how they operate financially.
From GuideStar nonprofit reports and Forms 990 for donors, grantmakers and businesses (a searchable library of non-profit IRS returns)
$48.1 million expenses in 2005 form 990
of which
16.1 program management fees to Envision EMI
7.7 million lodging and travel
5.3 million printing and postage
Guidestar provides open transparent viewing of how non-profits operate, since they
exist for the public good. CYLC.org website lists no staff, which is unusual.
Envision EMI (Envision EMI - Educate, Motivate, Inspire) appears privately-owned by Richard Rossi.
2) Can’t support that CYLC.org uses a virtual address in Washington DC.
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400
Google the address and other organizations also use this address such as ...
Worldwide Employee Benefits Network, 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue
Global Energy Alliance Corporation
And they reference this business:
Executive Suites and Virtual Offices in DC, VA, MD - Preferred Offices
******
And this...
Having worked for this organization, I have to chime in. CYLC is marketed as a non-profit. However, Envision EMI is a for-profit consulting company that runs CYLC and all of their conferences. In addition, Envision is headquarted in Delaware, the most business friendly state in terms of litigation. I think most of the students had a good time at the various conferences that they run, however, I don’t think it is appropriate to market this conference as a non-profit when for all practical intents and purposes, it is a for-profit.
******
And...
This has been very useful (my first post on CC). I agree with Alisdad: nothing in the materials says it’s nonprofit, but references to the CYLC Foundation (a charitable 501(c)(3)) are undoubtedly intended to create impression that entire program is non-profit. Make no mistake: profit or not, it’s big business. My 9th grader’s invited to NYLC. My plan’s to task him with researching the organization to make a judgement about whether it’s worth it (let’s see if he finds this thread), including comparing it with other options for that amount.
Well, it is obviously left-wing. So I don’t know what would be the point of it.
There are conservative alternatives. I don’t know them all and you should ASK at each of the following contacts for anything they know of.
But try contacting Young Americans for Freedom, National Journalism Center, the Leadership Institute (they run short courses of 1-2 days but they can probably tell you about Summer long activities by others), Claire Booth Luce Institute.
Names of members of the United States Congress appear on an 'honorary board of advisors' ( however the organization is not government run) and foreign embassies, although such endorsements were previously called into question 15 years ago.
The tuition cost to students participating in the programs varies depending on the program experience. The Congressional Youth Leadership Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, provides need-based scholarships to high-achieving students who have qualified for attendance. Currently, its parent oganization Envision EMI (which is a for-profit) has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau
ping
2009 Inaugural Conference, almost 16,000 delegates were permitted to attend the event, a stark contrast from the mere 1,000 who were allowed to attend in 2005 for the second Inauguration of former President George Bush. Amongst the complaints by delegates include bogus tickets, lack of transportation, lack of beds, working hot water, and sufficient food provided by individual hotels, including the Omni Shoreham and Marriott Windham, an unofficial in-house inaugural ball, overpriced events, and misinformation and misrepresentation by the UPIC and CYLC.
Other shortcomings of the UPIC include the Inauguration Ceremony itself. The tickets for the event were bogus
While the UPIC granted the opportunity to hear keynote speakers such as former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Vice President Al Gore, some delegates have speculated that the CYLC deliberately overcharged them to make a profit. Considering that 15,300 delegates attended the conference for an average of $3,000 each, the CYLC then made a profit of almost $47,000,000 on this conference alone. Legal action has been threatened against the UPIC and CYLC, parents and delegates are demanding refunds and answers from the company, and delegates have gone as far as to sign petitions, contact local and national media stations, and even write letters to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden
Senator Lautenberg asked his name to be removed from membership of the advisory board was well, with Lautenberg’s spokesman commenting that “The group at some point converted itself to a for-profit organization, and the senator is seriously concerned about complaints from New Jersey families regarding this group’s inauguration program.”
Thanks again, my FReeper FRiends.
I’m not sure if this is the same group, but my granddaughter was chosen a few years ago and went. It was a good experience for her. I doubt my son would let her go if it was a liberal group sponsoring it.
My granddaughter went to a conference like this during the Bush years. She was only about 12 at the time.
My son was just “selected” for his “academic achievements” and received the letter of 12/8/2009. It’s easy for a person with a scholar to believe this as the materials echo all the things they believe to be true - their son/daughter is an outstanding person with high academic achievement. I’m puzzled by my son receiving this because no one knows what kind of student he is except those reviewing his report card and test scores and that’s a small group.
1. His school has not shared any of his academic achievements with anyone.
2. His PSAT (soph year) and first ACT taken a few months ago wouldn’t categorize him as a “national scholar”...my hunch is whatever list is shared by the ACT and PSAT that begins generating the college recruitment letters is probably tied in to this. Simply that he TOOK these tests early may trigger something. His actual scores did not trigger his selection unless the test company published test scores to marketing companies which I don’t think they do.
3. He was not nominated by a teacher as nothing in the letter says he was.
If this were a legit honor, I have no problem with the company behind it running at a profit. Some are obsessed with that but I am not.
My concern is that it is not a legit honor - college admissions office might chuckle at it.
I am suspicious that this is an elaborate, highly sophisticated marketing campaign selling a field trip.
My background is in marketing and I’m highly sensitive to marketing strategy and analyze beyond the fluff. The materials are expensive and second to none including oversized, beautiful invitation with the foil seal that when opened presents a highly personalized, database driven nomination that showcases your name at the top of the card-stock diploma and on the diploma lists the distinguished alumni from your high school by name from other classes who were also “honored” (aka. responded to the offer).
It’s impressive in its presentation and I’ve surely seen worse. If the materials weren’t so incredible, it’d be nothing more than a “You’ve been selected for inclusion in the International Who’s Who because of your achievements.”
Additionally, the credibility of the program is established through expert testimonial. The speakers list which includes an impressive list of politicans - both parties - of high titles. Republicans include Asa Hutchinson, Newt Gingrich but the laundry list of liberals is far greater...and their credibilty is further anchored through the board of advisors. It would be simple to get leaders on the list if you were working for the marketing company - just show the list of all the other leaders who are in and say its for select national student scholars. Many politicians wouldn’t hesitate to go along without digging further. I’m going to write my representative (R) who is on the list!
Sure the attendees of the field trip may be great kids from all over the country and the field trip is educational and provides return from your investment of $1400 - low budget field trip or not. They organize a massive trip to D.C. and require a dress code.
I think it’s a brilliant marketing program that hosts a low-budget field trip that the kids will love. Take it for what it’s worth, but use caution before adding it as a resume builder on the college application. Call the admissions offices first and ask if they consider it an honor worth mentioning.
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