Libertarian Youth Caucus: Difference between revisions

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|name=Libertarian Youth Caucus (LYC)|logo=lyclogo.JPG|logo-size=150px|established=2016}}
|name=Libertarian Youth Caucus (LYC)|logo=lyclogo.JPG|logo-size=150px|established=2016}}


The '''Libertarian Youth Caucus''' is a caucus of the [[Libertarian Party]] founded at the [[Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania]] State Convention in 2016 by [[Trent Somes]] and is currently chaired by Aaron Sobczak of [[Libertarian Party of Virginia|Virginia]].
The '''Libertarian Youth Caucus (LYC)''' is the only partisan Libertarian student organization in the country and acts an an unofficial youth wing of the LP. The primary purpose of the LYC is to support chapters of young Libertarians at high schools and colleges across the United States, which are organized to get their members involved in official party activism. In contrast to other youth liberty organizations like Young Americans for Liberty or Students For Liberty, the LYC is a partisan organization the supports members of the Libertarian Party instead of "liberty" Republicans or Democrats.


The Libertarian Youth Caucus is engaged in two main goals: policy promotion and chapter creation. Its central policy focuses include recruiting and utilizing Millennial and Generation Z Libertarians, advocating for youth's rights issues to be added into the Libertarian Platform, and building influential youth voting blocs in local and state party affiliates. It's second goal entails running affiliate Libertarian Youth Caucus chapters across the county on Middle School, High School, and College Campuses.
The caucus was founded at the [[Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania]] State Convention in 2016 by [[Trent Somes]] and was relaunched in 2022 by Theodore Gercken of California (the current Chair).
== Organizational Structure ==
== Organizational Structure ==
Members of the Libertarian Youth Caucus vote at each Libertarian Convention for a leadership team, including a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, two At-Large Positions, and six Regional Representatives. This leadership team makes up the Executive Board which manages the national operations of the caucus. In addition, the Executive Board can create other committees (for example, dedicated to membership, the bylaws, or communication) on which Executive Board members and State Leadership are expected to serve. Each committee elects a chair and a secretary. Committees may also create subcommittees for specific purposes. After a policy put into place by then Vice-Chair Theodore Gercken in 2021, subcommittees are the primary drivers of action on committees given their nimbleness and smaller size. Now, general committee meetings serve more as check-ins.
The LYC is governed by a National Board that engages in large scale activism, planning, and resource creation. The Board is made up of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and At-Large Members who are responsible for coordinating with affiliates. Additionally, the Board has created various committees. A description of the full structure of the LYC and members of various bodies can be found at [https://operations.lycaucus.org operations.lycaucus.org].


The role of Regional Representatives is to manage and support State Affiliates. State Affiliates act as their own organizations with a unique bylaws, Executive Board, and organizational structure. However, State Affiliates generally operate similarly to the national caucus. State Affiliates aim to create, support, and direct local chapters on Middle School, High School, and College Campuses across their state.
In addition, many states also have their own State Affiliate that guides the organization's operation in their jurisdiction. While the structure of State Affiliates are up to their members, they generally work similarly to the national organization.


Local Affiliates (affiliates of their State Affiliate) act as their own organizations with a unique bylaws, Executive Board, and organizational structure. However, Local Affiliates generally operate similarly to their State Affiliate.
Local Affiliates act as their own organizations with a unique bylaws, Executive Board, and organizational structure. However, Local Affiliates generally operate similarly to their State Affiliate.
==National Leadership==
==Relaunch==
=== Chairs ===
At the end of the summer of 2022, Theodore Gercken was elected the Chair of the LYC and took over the operations of an only partially-active caucus. So far, he has created a [https://strategicplan.lycaucus.org Strategic Plan], [https://operations.lycaucus.org Operations Manual], new [https://bylaws.lycaucus.org Bylaws], and new branding to refresh the organization. He is currently planning on relaunching the caucus, with a more official role inside the LP and a greater focus on Local Affiliates, at the end of 2022 or beginning of 2023.
*Aaron Sobzak (VA) (2018-present)
*[[J.P. Wilson]] ([[South Carolina Libertarian Party|SC]]) (2018)
*[[Trent Somes]] ([[Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania|PA]]) (2016—2018)
=== Vice-Chairs ===
*Theodore Gercken (2021-present)
*Grant Deltz (2018-2021)
*Aaron Sobzak (VA) (2018)
*Matt Geiger (MD) (2016—2018)
=== '''Secretaries''' ===
* Pietro S. Geraci (2021-present)
=== '''Treasurers''' ===
* Zach Lemaire (unknown-present)
== Local Activities ==
The Libertarian Youth Caucus exists primarily to create and support chapters located on Middle School, High School, and College campuses around the country. These chapters are directed to also work with their local and state Libertarian Parties, and in many ways, the Libertarian Youth Caucus works as a managing organization for the youth wing of the Libertarian Party, although unofficially. The Libertarian Youth Caucus seeks to involve its members deeply in making action through official Libertarian Party Organs, setting it apart from organizations such as Students for Liberty or Young Americans for Liberty.
[[Category:Libertarian Party Caucuses]]
[[Category:Libertarian Party Caucuses]]

Revision as of 18:45, 31 October 2022

Libertarian Youth Caucus (LYC)
Lyclogo.JPG
Established: 2016


The Libertarian Youth Caucus (LYC) is the only partisan Libertarian student organization in the country and acts an an unofficial youth wing of the LP. The primary purpose of the LYC is to support chapters of young Libertarians at high schools and colleges across the United States, which are organized to get their members involved in official party activism. In contrast to other youth liberty organizations like Young Americans for Liberty or Students For Liberty, the LYC is a partisan organization the supports members of the Libertarian Party instead of "liberty" Republicans or Democrats.

The caucus was founded at the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania State Convention in 2016 by Trent Somes and was relaunched in 2022 by Theodore Gercken of California (the current Chair).

Organizational Structure

The LYC is governed by a National Board that engages in large scale activism, planning, and resource creation. The Board is made up of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and At-Large Members who are responsible for coordinating with affiliates. Additionally, the Board has created various committees. A description of the full structure of the LYC and members of various bodies can be found at operations.lycaucus.org.

In addition, many states also have their own State Affiliate that guides the organization's operation in their jurisdiction. While the structure of State Affiliates are up to their members, they generally work similarly to the national organization.

Local Affiliates act as their own organizations with a unique bylaws, Executive Board, and organizational structure. However, Local Affiliates generally operate similarly to their State Affiliate.

Relaunch

At the end of the summer of 2022, Theodore Gercken was elected the Chair of the LYC and took over the operations of an only partially-active caucus. So far, he has created a Strategic Plan, Operations Manual, new Bylaws, and new branding to refresh the organization. He is currently planning on relaunching the caucus, with a more official role inside the LP and a greater focus on Local Affiliates, at the end of 2022 or beginning of 2023.