|
Friday's Internet Edition, August 29, 2008.
Galt City Council Youth Committee welcomes new members
Committee volunteers at Galt Festival
|
|
For almost four years, the Galt City Council Youth Committee has been offering teens a way to give back to the community and learn more about what it takes to make things happen on a citywide scale. This year’s new members include L-R (first row) Magaly Martin, Elizabeth Martin, Jessica Gonzalez, Lizette Muniz, Alyssa Sagert, Kirsten Neilsen and Crystal Rodriguez; (top row) Diego Lopez, Taylor Johnston, Guadalupe Torres, Eliseo Esparza and Claudia Ochoa.
|
By Kymm Griffin
Staff Writer
-
Just as the summer is starting to heat up, plans for this year’s Galt City Council Youth Committee are also cooking. The committee has appointed new members and will be an instrumental part of the Galt Festival.
It was straight to business at the last committee meeting. Youth were asked to sign up in two-hour shifts to help direct visitors through the Chabolla exhibit hall.
“Our big business is the Galt Festival,” opened chairperson JoAnn Forbing. Forbing is a founding member of the committee, along with Janet Munoz. Both volunteers have spent countless hours working with the youth and teaching them the character that is necessary to make things happen in town.
“I do it to help the youth get their voice out there,” said Forbing.
The three other adult members include Terry Parker-Owning, Dennis Richardson and Michelle Frye.
This year’s youth members include Magaly Martin, Elizabeth Martin, Jessica Gonzalez, Lizette Muniz, Alyssa Sagert, Kirsten Nielden, Crystal Rodriguez, Deigo Lopez, Taylor Johnston, Guadalupe Torres, Eliseo Esparza and Claudia Ochoa.
Kristen Neilsen was introduced to the group when her sister participated last year.
“She said it was really fun and a good way to meet a lot of people,” said Neilsen.
Lizette Muniz is a returning committee member. Muniz said her favorite part of last year was volunteering at Crafting with Santa.
“It was really fun. It didn’t even feel like community service; it felt like playing around,” said Muniz. “I like giving back to the community; the community gives so much to me.”
For other members, the committee offers the chance to do something new in town.
“I joined because it was something I’ve never done before,” said Taylor Johnston.
Other students joined because it sounded like something different from the usual teen involvement opportunities.
“I thought I would take a chance,” said Lupe Torres.
The group volunteers hours at the Galt Festival, which represent their largest fundraiser of the year and offers an immediate taste of what it is like to work alongside city planners and other community groups.
During the meeting, the young citizens were briefed about their roles during the festival and asked to sign up in two-hour shifts.
“It’s really about the nonprofits having the opportunity to get the word out about whom their group is,” said Forbing.
This year youth members are also being asked to represent the city of Galt at one of the booths. They will have the opportunity to sit down with assistant city manager Jason Behrman to learn about the different programs and opportunities the city provides for citizens. The city is planning a booth that will display information and coordinate with the exhibit hall theme of “USA through the Ages.”
For more information about the Galt City Council Youth Committee or hosting an exhibit during the Galt Festival, contact JoAnn Forbing at 745-9453.
|
|