Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Youth Task Force To Be Chartered

A new organization is being chartered to involve youth ages 15-17 in development activities.

The purpose of the Nevada County Youth Leadership Task Force is to learn more about the opportunities, needs and problems in the county, understand the dynamics of a community, foster volunteerism, recognize students that exemplify leadership skills and work to improve their communities.

The Arkansas Department of volunteerism certified the Economic Development Office as a community service site. This designation allows students to receive a high school credit with a minimum service requirement of 75 hours.

The student selected to serve is considered the director of the Nevada County Youth Leadership Task Force. The qualified designee maintains organizational records, minutes and files.

The founding director of the organization is Lindsay Catherine Franks. The organization will elect officers in the next school year.

Nevada County Youth Leader-ship Task Force charter members were selected by recommendations from high school counselors. The nominations were sent letters and asked to respond and take respons-ibility of the organization.

The Partnership guides the organization and lends suggestions to the group.

"This is an organization that is vital to the future of our county," Chandler Russ, executive director of The Partnership, said.

"Counties can grow in a number of ways," Russ said. "One is through migration and one is through maintaining and growing your existing population base.

"Statistics tell us that our existing population base has been shrinking for the past decade," Russ continued. "We have to educate and empower our young leaders and make them aware of opportunities that exist in and around Nevada County. We have to be committed to not losing one more generation of young people. This organization is a great starting point and can be an effective tool in our economic development tool box," Russ concluded.

"The organization is designed to be both fun and educational and I have learned plenty through my association with The Partnership," Franks said. "It is a way for us to give something back to the county in which we live, learn about oppor-tunities, businesses and industries as well as feel as a part of the overall picture."

Franks is the director of the Nevada County Youth Leadership Task Force.

"This organization reaches out to all students throughout the county," Melissa Niemeyer, a charter mem-ber and a student at Nevada High School, said. "I am looking forward to the programs, community service and educational opportunity that this organization will provide."

The selection criteria is as follows: a student must have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA; be in grades 10, 11 or 12; submit a written application; undergo an interview process conducted by previous graduates; and give two references, one from school and one from a non-family member.

The selection criteria are designed to teach students what is required when interviewing for a job in today's work environment. The group will be limited to 20 members.

Applications are available at the high school guidance counselors' office or principals' office at all three high schools in the county.