When was YAF Founded?
September 11, 1960
What age groups does YAF serve?
YES, only if they treat everyone the same
Will you ever be alone while tabling/chalking?
Nope!
How many legs would a dog have, if we called the dog’s tail, a leg?
Four, NOT five.
This quote highlights the importance of maintaining clarity and integrity instead of submitting to arbitrary language, concepts, and definitions. Calling a tail a leg doesn't change the truth and reality of the dog's anatomy.
The New York Times referred to this as the "landmark conservative document" when it was published. This statement was a foundational document of the conservative movement in the United States.
The Sharon Statement was drafted by young conservatives at William F. Buckley's home
What are YAF National Activism Projects?
1. Freedom Week commemorates the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and Veterans Day
2. 9/11 Never Forget Project ensures the anniversary of those murdered by radical Islamists are remembered on college campuses
3. Stand with Israel: champion Israel’s cause and challenge the misleading narratives propagated by extremist supporters and misinformed “social justice” warriors.
4. Liberal March Madness: A bracket-style competition highlighting the most outrageous and extreme liberal ideas and policies.
5. Funeral for Halloween:
A satirical event highlighting the excessive political correctness and cultural appropriation associated with Halloween.
6. Pro Life Timeline:
A display showcasing the development and milestones of the pro-life movement and the importance of protecting unborn life.
7. No More Che Day:
A campaign exposing the atrocities committed by communist revolutionary Che Guevara and urging the rejection of his glorification.
8. Celebrate Ronald Reagan's Birthday:
A series of events and activities honoring the legacy and achievements of President Ronald Reagan on his birthday.
9: GPA Tax Day Video Contest:
A contest encouraging students to create videos showcasing the negative impact of high taxes on their grade point averages and future success.
*You can also create your own and it may be chosen to become a National Project!
What can you record?
Iowa is a one party consent state which means one party has the right to record a conversation without getting consent from the other.
*Classroom is off limits
Tip: Record meetings with admin, phone calls with admin or police
Recording tip: Film with your phone horizontally for better quality video
Do you sit or stand behind the table while tabling?
No because it makes you look inattentive, creates a gap between YAF and the other people, and creates a power imbalance.
Instead, stand to the side of the table to be friendly and welcoming
No, I am standing for fairness. Should a 19 year old compete against 10 year olds?
*You do not even have to be a conservative to believe this. Have clear beliefs, stand firm, and make your ideals relatable. You cannot have beliefs that have never been challenged
What company rescinded their decision of opening a manufacturing plant in the Soviet Union after being influenced by YAF protestors in the early 1970s? The protestors argued that doing so would provide economic support to a regime they perceived as hostile to American interests and values.
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.
How can the Campus Bias Tip Line help you?
Makes it easier than ever for concerned citizens to take action and make their voices heard on issues that directly impact the rising generation.
With ever-growing numbers of YAF members joining current activists in all 50 states, gone are the days when leftist educators and administrators could inflict their biased curriculum without accountability.
Once YAF receives a tip, a team of activism, communications, and legal experts work with the tipster to develop a plan of action to highlight the problem and remedy the situation.
And YAF gets results.
Whether it takes national and international media coverage of the Left’s work to corrupt the practice of education, calls for federal investigations from U.S. Senators, or pressure from members of the community, YAF has successfully leveraged its resources to secure significant reforms within America’s education system.
YAF’s Campus Bias Tip Line has quickly become a go-to source for reporters, elected officials, parents, and students who want to know what’s really going on behind the shiny veneer leftists in academia often cloak themselves in.
Should you keep a paper trail?
-take concise and accurate notes (include date, time) of what your professor says, what you hear class members and organization leaders say
-screenshot emails, texts,
-Organize and use folders so you don't lose these important things!
Who is your target audience for lectures, tables, and other initiatives?
a. belligerent leftists
b. average students
c. conservatives
one of our goals is the change the hearts and minds of people in the middle. We need to let them know why what we are talking about is important, how it effects them, why our views are best. Also, put the left on defense. It is crucial to make a good impression because this could be the average student's first and only interaction with our organization and the topics at hand.
What makes YAF unique?
We talk about ideas, lead with them. Political parties/orgs focus on brands, campaigns. We focus on beliefs.
YAF President Walker shared a story about the New Mexico Governor who being Latina always believed that being Democrat was the only option. A group of conservatives had lunch with her and her husband. They didn't promote campaigns but simply shared beliefs and when she realized that hers actually aligned with theirs, she knew she was truly a conservative.
Moderate in tone, not in action
YAF spearheaded which largest conservative gathering in history in 1962 at the Madison Square Garden in NYC?
Rally for World Liberation from Communism with over 18,500 conservatives in attendance
What is the CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP & FREE ENTERPRISE?
How can YAF help you fight back?
-participating in meetings with school representatives to resolve issues
-researching school policies and procedures so you know what your school can and cannot do
-filing open records request
-wisely choosing our battles
-threatening legal action (demand letters)
-filing a lawsuit
-seeing the fight all the way through
Are introverts able to table? What do you do if you are too afraid?
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
1. We are the front lines to defend freedom on our campuses and in our nation. We cannot let students be bombarded with only leftist messages. There is no other organization like YAF to do activism.
2. We encourage you to practice (in our meetings or at the tables) and try it more and more
Iowa YAF will give you the resources to table. No matter the topic, we will conduct in depth research to be well-versed and come up with responses to opposition. You are also more than welcome to attend conferences, read books, look at YAF's Youtube to prepare as well.
What tools can we use?
start by surveying issues dominant on campus. What is the message that the left is trying to get across? How can we cut through this noise?
Satire is under used in campus activism. Point out absurdity by being absurd.
Mock leftist ideas (Jason Mattera)
ex. Start scholarship for students on what whiteness means to you
What President shares a close relationship with YAF, and what noteworthy endeavors have they pursued together?
President Ronald Reagan
-In 1962 he joined the YAF National Advisory Board and later became Honorary National Chairman for over 40 years
-began tradition of hosting YAF's annual summer student conference (NCSC)
-Reagan Ranch (and center)
-Reagan's Boyhood Home
What is the National Journalism center?
Since 1977, the National Journalism Center has trained aspiring journalists in the values of responsible, balanced, and accurate reporting. We’re training a new generation of leaders to bring balance to the media.
-paid internships (YAF has internships too)
-on the job training
-weekly seminars
Notable Alumni:
What does YAF need from you?
-Be alert because is something seems fishy, it probably is
-believe in your rights more than you believe what an administrator tells you
-exercise sound judgement by picking your battles and being a happy warrior
-persist, display diligence and willingness to put in the work
-be patient and have faith that the law is on your side (well-established)
-do your part (you missing a deadline is not a first amendment violation)
-talk to us (Iowa YAF)- timely, clear communication allows us to help you
*have courage!!
How can you counter the left
1. Be a happy warrior. During a leftist meltdown we smile and show the love of Christ by being compassionate and not insulting them back.
2. Mindset
-have resolve. Do not be held back by fear or failure or embarrassment.
-have respect . speak to change and listen to be changed
-have resilience. ignore the hate
3. Be discerning and daring. Do not normalize the language of the left, expose them for who they are. For example, they call themselves pro choice which sounds nice but what they are doing is murdering babies. Do not wait or appeal, boldly proclaim conservative ideals
Create an activism project!
Example
How can Ketanji Brown Jackson constantly promote herself as the first black female supreme court justice if she does not know what a woman is?
How can we draw awareness to this on campus?