DATE:           20 March 2023

RE:                 Children and Youth Commission Report, March 2023

The Children and Youth Commission has the following to report as of the above date for the Detachment meeting held on 25 March 2023:

I have been attending monthly National Children and Youth Committee virtual meetings, keeping up-to-speed on events at a national level with the intention to push those national programs at the state-level. A push at the National Convention is to, at the National Children and Youth Academy, complete for the young SAL attendees the Ten Ideals Program, presenting the young members the medal at the Convention. I have also been reporting on what has been going on in NJ. These Zoom meetings are also open to any member who would like to participate.

The C and Y Commission for a second year is in its ‘Cookies For Vets’ Program, which has raised $2,200 in Girl Scout Cookies (about 440 boxes) from various donors throughout the state. Thank you to all of the county organizations and squadrons who have participated in the program by donating. These cookies will be delivered to Lyons and Orange’s VA Campuses.

1. On behalf of the Detachment and the Children and Youth Commission, I have sent thank you letters to every donor
2. We have locked in Thursday 6 April 2023 as the cookie drop-off day, delivering to Lyons at 1pm and Orange at 2:30pm. This is because the scout troop that this went through has spring break that week and is off from school, and because the VA has very limited windows to drop things off. We welcome anyone from the Detachment – and their young SAL’s, ALA Juniors, and Girl Scouts – to participate in the drop off. This was widely publicized last year, so it provides a good opportunity for exposure.
3. I attended the meetings of the two Girl Scout troops who these cookies were ordered from, to provide context for the program. At the drop off, I will be handing the participants patches for their sashes which had been ordered last year with the SAL Seal on them.

In recognition of April being National Children and Youth Month, the C and Y Commission will be distributing a letter to all DVC’s, DEC’s, county organizations, and squadrons encouraging the SAL in NJ to participate in youth programs this month. This will be available on the website as well.

Faithfully submitted “For God and Country”,

Russell “Rusty” Myers III

Children and Youth Commission Chairman 2022-23

Sons of the American Legion, Detachment of New Jersey