YMCA » CONA

The Sound Of Silence

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:20:29 +0000

The silence was deafening as delegates of the 2009 Conference on National Affairs flooded out of Heaton Hall after Wednesday night’s solemn devotional. Members of the Virginia delegation prepared a presentation that focused on the core value of responsibility. The devotional was a multimedia display that contained a splash of theatrics.

Members Brooklyn Hildebrandt and Kate Breimann delivered moving speeches that encouraged fellow delegates to be involved and not to sit idly. The 10 minute presentation included a video clip of a CBS new report in which Iranian protestors were treated in a violent manner for expressing their opinions. Immediately following this, the entire Virginia delegation stood united on the stage wearing green headbands to symbolically represent the abused protestors now living in Iran.

When asked about his thoughts on the devotion, Virginia delegate Sanjay Kishore stated, “We tried to take a different approach on responsibility because it’s something that Youth & Government programs across the nation seem to emphasize.” As the youth of CONA left the assembly, they were given their own piece of ribbon to serve as a constant reminder. Not a soul was talking as the delegates exited devotion, proving that silence truly is golden.

Mix Master Max

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:19:19 +0000

The spoken word and the art of rhyme have always been crucial tools in communicating and reaching generations. William Shakespeare used these resources to speak to people in the 16th century. The Beatles incorporated song to reach the youth of the 60’s. And modern artists, such as Kanye West, are using their love for technology and their urge to speak their thoughts in order to become the voice of a generation. Now it is Max Shafer-Landau’s turn.

Max is a delegate from Wisconsin who spoke in rhyme during the early committees. He made the decision to craft his opening remarks speech into a creative, catchy spoken rap. This unique course of action was chosen in an attempt to stand out from the crowd and be different. According to Shafer-Landau, after hearing countless proposals with redundant introductions, “you’re going to want some change.” When asked if he feels if his method was effective, he claimed that his decision may possibly have been too effective. After committee adjourned for the evening, Max came to the conclusion that his fellow delegates may have paid more attention to his rap than his actual proposal.

The committee members who actually listened to the lyrics of his rhythmic ballad came to realize how truly innovative and unique Max’s proposal was. The main idea of his proposal was to split the United States of America into two separate sovereign entities. This proposal appears to seem outrageous and quite ridiculous to a vast majority of delegates at CONA; however, it is an extremely original and debatable notion. When questioned on his proposal topic, Max explained that he wanted to shock his fellow delegates during his time at the Conference on National Affairs.

At the 2009 Wisconsin Youth in Government function, the bills were simple and all revolved around the same central topics. Therefore, Max desired to create a radical proposal that no one else would think of. Shafer-Landau’s quest to find originality has caused him to become the topic of discussion among many delegations. This instant fame has caused a multitude of delegates to request follow up rap performances at later committees. Regardless of how well-liked his introduction speech may have been, Max’s college advisor recommended that he should retire from rhyming and stick to traditional speaking. This recommendation was made to help Shafer-Landau’s proposal to be taken seriously in later committees.

If you were not fortunate enough to witness the rapping delegate, there were multiple teens that caught the footage on camera. It is only a matter of time before Max Shafer-Landau transitions from CONA legend to YouTube celebrity.

Mascot Madness By: Sara

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:38:27 +0000

It is a well known fact that Texas has the Dallas Cowboys, Illinois has the Chicago Bulls, and Georgia has the Atlanta Braves. Here at CONA, there are numerous states that have their own mascots. States look up to their mascots and take extreme pride in them. Texas has their flag, and delegates from other states have been stealing the flag for years. It is fitting that since Wisconsin is the “Dairy State”, their mascot is a cow. Last year, delegates from Pennsylvania stole the cow, tied it to a pole, and decided to “roast” it.
Florida’s mascot is a tradition that goes back farther than any current delegate can remember. Their mascot is a stuffed aardvark that is dressed in cowboy attire. Florida developed the idea for the aardvark from a song called “Aardvarks Are My Friends”, which is sung to the tune of “Yankee Doodle”. The aardvark has already been stolen, with different pieces of clothing being left behind in various places. If you happen to see the aardvark, please contact a Florida delegate as they are in great distress.

CONA’s Own Cheerleaders By: Tyler

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:22:24 +0000

If you listen closely during these hot summer days you can hear the sounds of state pride echo through the valleys of Black Mountain. During the week stay at the Conference On National Affairs, delegates enjoy creating chants and cheers to pass the time and display their spirit. A large number of states represented at the conference have crafted enthusiastic cheers that they project at loud volumes in the BRC dining room during the three main meals of the day. Each and every delegation has a unique personality that they add to their cheer. For instance, the state of Texas sings songs that include their state name within the lyrics. Other states, such as Pennsylvania, prefer very simple and easy cheers that incorporate pop culture and memories from different delegates’ high schools. Michael Walker and Carl Feldman, two delegates from the state of Pennsylvania, state that they draw their inspiration and include phrases from singers such as Rihanna, movies like “Remember the Titans,” and a popular television program known as “Rob & Big.” On the other hand, the state of Kentucky has a much different approach. They are known to start dance parties in almost every place they travel, creating fantastic social opportunities for the numerous teenagers attending CONA. Kentucky delegate Rex Martinez boasts of his state’s ability to create entertainment by stating, “We have a stereo, we don’t need a cheer.” Another state that is well known for producing entertainment with their cheers is the sunny state of California. Some states focus on icebreakers and games to help pass the time and assist delegates in becoming acquainted. However, California has cheers. Their spirit chants are usually very clever, witty, and funny. It has been said that “if a California cheer were a person, that person would be sexy.” Some of their cheers are parodies of well-liked songs on the radio, while others are simple call and responses. The majority of California’s cheers represent loyalty and tradition and have been used in previous years. According to Quemars “Q” Ahmed, “[California] cheers come from a much simpler time. A time before Google, a time before Facebook, a time before war, a time with no bailouts, a time way before Jon and Kate Plus Eight.” Quotes like these are prime examples of the light-heartedness of the California delegation. This delegation claims that “once you know a California cheer, you are a Californian.” During the heat infested days at the Blue Ridge Assembly, there are a number of heated debates and controversial proposals; but it is always nice to know that delegates can always take a minute to stop and yell at the top of their lungs in the name of state pride.