NATIONAL LEAGUE OF YOUNG MEN...Our Year of Protocol and Culture 2014-2015 Charlene Pitchess, Vice President Protocol/Cultural The National League of Young Men strives to teach, develop,

Lynn Cohen, President NLYM Tustin 2014-2015

It was an honor to serve the National League of Young Men Tustin chapter as president this year. I truly enjoyed working closely with the board, mothers, and young men. We built our chapter on the belief that our sons would benefit from the four pillars that NLYM was founded upon…service, leadership, culture and protocol. The added bonus for us was spending time with our sons.

I believe we have accomplished what our founding board set out to achieve. We have built strong relationships with our community and several nonprofit organizations. Our membership numbers have grown steadily over the past three years, and we have a wonderful group of mother members ready to take on responsibilities and serve in leadership roles.

Our Philanthropy Committee was dedicated in finding so many different organizations to work with. Operation Warm Wishes welcomed us with open arms and offered us many opportunities to help. But it was really them who helped us….we became part of their family. We see the extraordinary things they do and are honored to help.

The young men from each class who have served in leadership positions have exceeded all expectations. They have followed the guidelines, yet led with their own unique style. I’m impressed that they are willing to step into leadership roles and serve their class….all part of the growth experience!

The cultural outing is an opportunity for the young men to attend something they may never opt to do. I am so proud that they attended plays, musicals, and museums. And, I hope the young men realize how much the mothers enjoyed spending time with them.

Our Protocol Committee did a fabulous job of providing useful lessons. All of the mothers are proud that our sons know how to initiate a proper handshake, tie a tie, address an envelope, and observe proper dating etiquette.

This year we had four outstanding events. Our All League Meeting was run by the young men presidents, and they did a fantastic job in front of peers and parents. Our Junior Class Etiquette Dinner was beautiful, educational, and rewarding. Our year-end Compass Banquet was filled with many awards and many proud mothers. And finally, we had our very first Senior Send-Off. What a moving, emotional, fun and proud evening for the young men and their mothers and fathers. Each of these events really captured the NLYM experience.

I would like to say thank you for allowing me to serve as president this year. Thank you to the wonderful board members who spent countless hours on this and all the members who trust the process and take the journey with us. Thank you, young men, for being a part of NLYM and engaging in the experience.

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Inside this issue:

President’s Perspective 1

Philanthropy News 2

Protocol/Cultural 3

Class of 2015 GLAD News 4




Junior Etiquette Dinner 6

Class of 2015 President 7




Empowerment 9

Senior Send-Off 9

Compass Brunch 10

For more information about

the Tustin chapter of the

National League of Young

Men, please contact us at

www.nlymtustin.org and

look for us on Facebook at

www.facebook.com

Philanthropy

Bridget Belden, Vice President Philanthropy

As the VP of Philanthropy, I feel that one of the most important things I can do to promote the growth of our young men, is to inspire them to take action in their community, and then empower them to do so. By exposing them to a number of causes, and allowing them to identify those that are most important to them, they are more vested in the process and the outcome. The NLYM Tustin chapter has been very active in the community both inside and outside the organization, and the causes we’ve addressed have been varied. Through NLYM sponsored events over the past year, we’ve cleaned beaches, wetlands and parks, assisted with a run, a walk and community service events; we’ve packed meals for orphans and students in third world countries and served chili to homeless on the streets of Santa Ana – to name just a few.

We also have young men who have taken service to the next level outside of NLYM. In our short history, two members have taken the initiative to start clubs at their schools to serve the homeless and raise awareness about sexual assault. Two others have started an organization to collect sports equipment for people in need. One of our recently graduated seniors was passionate about helping the homeless as part of his NLYM experience and has identified a similar need in the local community near his university and is starting an organization to address it. While sometimes it’s easier said than done, I believe that by helping young people find a cause that they’re passionate about and empowering them to address it, we will ignite future generations of people who will take action to make the world a better place, and NLYM is the perfect place to do it.

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Our Year of Protocol and Culture 2014-2015 Charlene Pitchess, Vice President Protocol/Cultural

The National League of Young Men strives to teach, develop, and reinforce the traits of a gentleman through its protocol education and cultural experiences. We believe that building confidence and developing a deeper respect for themselves and others helps build our young men into gentlemen and community leaders.

Our freshman class had a successful first year as NLYM members. Their meetings addressed protocol topics like: meeting behavior, proper handshakes, and introductions. All of our young men should be giving eye contact, addressing by name, and giving a nice firm handshake. These young men also learned about cell phone and Internet manners, grooming tips, and how to tie a tie. Hopefully they all practiced this new skill when getting dressed for the Compass Banquet.

The class of 2018 got together for their group cultural event and attended “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. Although it is difficult to get everyone together with their busy schedules, the class of 2018 had great attendance! It is always more fun to attend together.

Our sophomores made a trip to Laguna Beach in December for their cultural event. Several of the young men had the privilege of driving their mothers with their new driver’s permit to see “Striking 12” at the Laguna Playhouse. They were highly praised by other theater patrons for their excellent manners, behavior, and striking good looks.

Their protocol lessons this year included: peer relationships and what to look for in finding positive peer relationships and avoiding negative peer pressures. They also learned about creating an invitation and the proper ways to RSVP. Since finding their first job may be on the horizon, they learned ten helpful steps to help them with this process. Lastly, the young men received an introduction to dating etiquette. They learned how to communicate, prepare and groom for a date, and of course how to be a gentleman. They will be well-prepared for next year’s Junior Etiquette Dinner.

The junior class of 2016 had a busy and eventful year as well. Even with their rigorous academic and athletic schedules, they made time to get the group together and visit the Lyon Air Museum for their cultural event.

This year they learned important information on preparing for college admission interviews and had a chance to practice some sample questions with each other. They also heard some great information on interview etiquette. For instance, show up early and research the school or company. They also learned some don’ts like don’t chew gum, bring friends or yawn! In preparation for the Junior Etiquette Dinner they learned helpful information on the art of conversation which all of the young men had the chance to practice that evening. They wrapped up their year with how to write a thank you note.

The young men in the class of 2015 are founding members of the Tustin chapter and have accomplished so much in their three short years with NLYM. For their final year the protocol officer presented a follow-up lesson on dating where they revisited how to be gentlemen, a good communicator, and how to meet the parents! Since they are heading off to college, they heard some information on college etiquette and how to have positive relationships with their professors. The seniors also worked on some written correspondence such as writing a business letter and a friendly letter. Lastly, they learned about building good work relationships, why it is important to have good working relationships, and how to work on difficult relationships. Even during the stressful time of their senior year and preparing for college, these young men were able to find time for their group cultural event at the Bowers Museum. It is with great pride that I say these fine young men have represented NLYM to the highest degree, and I wish them well in their bright futures.

Next year our chapter looks forward to continuing to provide our young men with protocol education, cultural experiences, and more opportunities to develop the traits of a gentleman and community leader.


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Class of 2015 Joanne Hulme, Grade Level Advisor

I had the privilege of serving as GLAD for the class of 2015 this year. All of our seniors were founding members of the Tustin chapter which began in 2012. I truly enjoyed working with this group of young men and was so impressed with how well they worked together and how respectful they were to me and others. Each young man played a key role with NLYM over the last three years, holding several officer positions, and each will attend college next year. The senior year was enjoyable but could also be challenging at times since the young men were working hard on college applications while trying to keep up grades, participate in sport and music, and manage various NLYM activities. Since we only had ten members, each had the opportunity to be very involved.

We had four excellent speakers at our grade level meetings which covered topics such as finances and budgeting, CPR and emergency situations, automotive care and maintenance, and topics related to law enforcement such as issues with drugs, alcohol, and driving. The young men were also very involved in philanthropy and, as a class, contributed their time to Operation Warm Wishes, which provides support for our local homeless population. Several of the young men were extremely involved with various other philanthropies as well and were recognized with prestigious NLYM awards. The class cultural outing was at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana where they viewed an exhibit with ancient Chinese artifacts: The Mystery of Sanxingdui. Other highlights of the year included the All League Meeting and Compass Banquet, for which the senior class was responsible for leading the event.

Finally, our class participated in the first Senior Send-Off for the Tustin Chapter where each was recognized for their work with NLYM. Mothers and fathers also attended this event, and the fathers gave amazing tributes to their sons. I look forward to hearing about how everyone is doing over the next several years as they finish college and move into their careers.

Class of 2016

Kim Watson and Rena Hernandez Grade Level Advisors

The young men in the class of 2016 have shown growth in maturity and responsibility over the past year. The young men participated in various philanthropy opportunities such as Operation Warm Wishes, Dino Dash, beach cleanups with Coastkeepers, and assisting with the Cystic Fibrosis Gala. The young men have also shown that they can conduct their meetings using the Robert Rules of Order (which took time getting used to!)

One of the highlights this year was the Junior Etiquette Dinner where the young men learned many things from how to pull out a chair for a young lady to setting a proper table.

Another activity that the young men enjoyed was the All League Meeting where Andy Hill was the guest speaker. Mr. Hill was a basketball player under UCLA coach John Wooden in the 1970s. He had many great stories and advice for the young men.

As the young men of 2016 head into their final year, it is hard to believe that they were the first class to join the Tustin chapter as freshmen. They will be the first class to have completed all four years in a Tustin organization that teaches leadership, charitable and community service, and protocol education. The lessons and experiences gained will be an asset throughout their lives. As the final year begins, we look forward to many more great experiences and memories together.

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Class of 2017 Maureen Schweickert and Daralyn Nagle

Grade Level Advisors

Our class of 2017 young men truly grasped the meaning of giving this year. We had a record turnout at our Fall Grade-Level Philanthropy (Dino Dash), we collected more toys than expected for the Tustin Police Department’s Santa Cop program, and we had young men from our grade level attend every philanthropy opportunity presented. It was an honor this year to work with such dedicated young men!

It has also been a pleasure to watch this group mature together these past two years. From running their meetings to drawing compliments from other theatre-goers at the Grade-Level Cultural event (Striking Twelve at The Laguna Playhouse), these young men are on their way to becoming everything that we strive for in National League of Young Men.

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Lisa Schroeder and Wendi McLain

Grade Level Advisors The class of 2018 had a very busy and memorable first year. The group of young men who make up the class are a very talented and fun group of boys. They each bring a unique perspective to the group and represent four different local high schools: Foothill High School, Beckman High School, Servite High School, and Mater Dei High School. Some of the young men are athletes and some are very academic, but they are all great contributors to the group and the National League of Young Men organization.

We spent many fun hours together this year at our grade-level meetings and learned many useful tools that will carry these boys during their freshman year and beyond including, but not limited to: useful tips to help prepare for what colleges are looking for on applications, personal grooming tips, a good, healthy, balanced diet, and even how to tie a tie. These young men giggled and bonded over these topics and ultimately learned the basic necessities to assist them as they mature during their high school years.

Along with the learning lessons, there were many philanthropic and cultural events the young men participated in together, not only serve others, but to learn to work together as a group. Some of the fun and more memorable events are the Chili Van and serving the homeless dinner, but also handing out the prepared vanity kits they assembled for those less fortunate than them. Operation Warm Wishes, a beach clean-up, and the Challenger baseball game were some of the favorite charities among many of the young men to be a part of and serve. Although the first year was a little nerve racking for many of the young men because of the “unknown” expectations, they all grew as a group and independently, and they look forward to the remainder of their high school years with NLYM.


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2015 Junior Etiquette Dinner Rena Hernandez and Kendy Bjorndahl

In keeping with tradition, the junior class attended the annual Junior Etiquette Dinner on March 15, 2015, at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club. All twenty-one members of the class of 2016, dressed in suits and ties, attended the late afternoon event and were ready to serve as hosts to the young ladies who are members of the North Tustin chapter of National Charity League. The Etiquette Dinner is a wonderful opportunity for the young men and young ladies to be reminded of the importance of proper social and professional etiquette. Good manners can mean the difference between success and failure in many aspects of life. Knowing how to behave out in public or in someone’s home, prevents us from being embarrassed by behavior that was possibly unbecoming or offensive. Proper behavior can also help one get hired and promoted. Many important aspects of proper etiquette were taught at the dinner by Ms. Kathleen Cover, professional etiquette consultant.

Before the young ladies’ arrival, Ms. Cover spent time with the young men reviewing and teaching them skills that they would use that evening and in the future. Time was spent reviewing proper introductions and handshakes, as well as how to offer and serve a guest a beverage and how to help a lady out of and into her car. After the young ladies arrived, the group spent time getting to know each other and practicing important social skills. Ms. Cover then gathered the group together for a Power Point presentation that covered many aspects of proper etiquette such as the different utensils used in a formal place setting, the reason for an escort card and a place card, and the two different styles of dining- American Style and Continental Style.

After the etiquette lessons, the group was treated to a delicious dinner of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus, bread, soup, and salad. The Caesar salad was served buffet style so that everyone could practice serving themselves in a buffet line.

Throughout the meal, Ms. Cover taught various dining skills such as moving your soup spoon away from you while eating soup and the difference between the American Style of dining (switching your fork to the other hand after cutting your meat) and the Continental Style (no switching your fork back and forth and eating with your knife in your hand). Everyone was asked to eat their entrée using the dining style that they don’t usually use, which was very challenging! For dessert everyone enjoyed a brownie topped with vanilla ice cream, eaten with the proper dessert utensils, of course.

At the end of the evening, the young men thanked the young ladies for coming to the dinner and escorted them to their cars. The second Tustin chapter Etiquette Dinner was a very enjoyable evening. Everyone who attended learned new skills and made a few new friends…all while enjoying a great meal.


Michael Hulme, President Class of 2015

As President of the senior class this year, I had the opportunity to continue to develop leadership skills and work with a terrific group of fellow young men, each being a founding member of the Tustin chapter. Since we had a relatively small class, we each had the chance to hold officer positions every year and worked well together to accomplish a lot. In addition to our cultural and protocol activities, we also supported various philanthropies throughout our time in NLYM. Our collective favorite was Operation Warm Wishes which provides support for our local homeless population. We have filled bags with food, clothes, and toiletries and collected socks for distribution, washed clothes at a local laundromat, and assisted at a book drive. This year, we also coordinated an opportunity for our chapter to volunteer to serve Thanksgiving meals to the homeless at Peppertree Park in Tustin. This experience really made us appreciate what we have and realize how important it is to help others in need. We had approximately 30 young men from NLYM volunteer on Thanksgiving Day. We have donated extra money from our class funds to this worthy cause. Overall, our class had well over 2,000 service hours over our three years in NLYM! While we have all been involved with various philanthropies, we have a few superstars who have gone above and beyond in their charity work. Top performers were Wesley Greene, Richard Belardi, and Zachary Meneses. Each earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and Zachary – with over 400 service hours – earned the Anchor Award and Senior Service Award because he had the most hours every year as well as serving a minimum of 100 hours each of the three years he was a member of NLYM. Amazing work!

Another highlight for me this year was the Compass Brunch where each of the seniors gave a short speech including a bio, highlights of their time with NLYM, and plans for the future. Some speeches were more serious while others funny, but overall it was exciting to remember all the experiences that we shared as a group during our time with NLYM. Finally, the Senior Send-Off was the perfect way to “graduate” from NLYM as all of our dads read their speeches reflecting on the men we have grown up to become. The Senior Send-Off was the last time our class would be united as one before we begin our journey towards adulthood, and we all wished each other the best of luck. I know that NLYM has taught me valuable lessons in leadership and working together with others to achieve goals, and I have been so lucky to have been a part of such a terrific group of guys and moms.

Trevor Sprosty, President Class of 2016

NLYM. The National League of Young Men. This year, our junior class has figuratively removed the Y. We have become men. Our growth from the beginning of the year to now has been immeasureable. Our meetings have increased in efficiency throughout the year as we have become more attentive and fixated on the task at hand. We have continued to help the community thrive through Operation Warm Wishes, the Orange County Rescue Mission, beach cleanups, and many more actvities. My favorite events consisted of hosting monthly birthday parties for the residents of the Orange County Rescue Mission, serving chili to the homeless in Santa Ana with the Chili Van, and working with Tyrone and Operation Warm Wishes through events like the Chili Cook-Off. Also, we have been inspired by the many speakers who were gracious enough to enlighten us on a variety of life lessons. One of my favorite speakers, was Mr. Andy Hill. Mr. Hill’s illustration of UCLA basketball coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success inspired me to adopt the guidelines and incorporate them in order to have a successful life. Our Junior Etiquette Dinner was a highlight teaching us proper manners, table setting, and the art of conversation. This year with NLYM was amazing, and I look forward to next year.


R.J. Finley, President Class of 2017

The class of 2017 worked enthusiastically attending numerous philanthropic events around our community and donated to many organizations to help those in need. In November 2014, the sophomores worked the water station at the Dino Dash run for the Tustin Public Schools Foundation. No one passed our station without getting some much-needed hydration. At the November meeting we collected 34 toys for the Santa Cop program, which was sponsored by the Tustin Police Department. On behalf of the chapter, Tyler Schweickert and I delivered our class donations to the police department where we learned how these donations provide families in need with Christmas gifts for their children. The class of 2017 also participated in the All League sock drive for Operation Warm Wishes to help benefit the homeless community in Tustin.

For our cultural event, the sophomores traveled in December to the Laguna Playhouse to enjoy the performance of “Striking 12” – a play about the true meaning of the new year. Our curriculum this year consisted of drug and alcohol awareness, dressing for success, hygiene, automobile mechanics and safety, and finally being successful in job interviews. Our visit to Nordstrom in Main Place Mall was a highlight of our year as we learned about dressing for success. Our class was given a lesson on the different attire appropriate for certain situations such as interviews, date night, or family dinners, and we all learned how to tie a tie! Our last major event this year was on March 15, when the sophomore class helped clean and restore the Peters Canyon trails. Overall the year was very successful and everyone worked hard to make a difference in our community, make new friends, and have fun!

Justin Cheng, President Class of 2018

As the president of the class of 2018, I would like to share with you a recap of our first year. Coming into this organization I didn’t know what to expect. I knew that I was joining an organization built around philanthropy, and I thought that I would probably be attending a few cultural events and take some etiquette classes. What I didn’t know is that this year would be so much more. Throughout this year I learned that leadership is not a title, it is an action. I’ve bonded with my classmates through philanthropy and cultural events. I have discovered how rewarding it is to give back to the community and to help people in need. My classmates and I have learned many helpful grooming tips such as trimming nose hairs can go a long way with the ladies and that two swipes of deodorant is more than enough.

The freshman class was involved in many philanthropies this year, but one in particular, Kick to Give, stands out in my mind. The philanthropy event with Kick to Give consisted of a kickball game, giving clothes to those in need, and feeding those in need as well. During the event we grilled 100 hot dogs. We had a great time grilling the endless hot dogs and transferring them to a very flimsy tray, trying to prevent them from all falling to the ground! After we left the park, we felt such a sense of accomplishment because we made a difference in the community. This past year has been a memorable one. We’ve made new friends, learned new lessons (some expected and unexpected), and learned that helping others is more rewarding than helping ourselves. We’re all looking forward to next year and the experiences it will bring.


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Empowerment

Linda Lajoie, Vice President Youth Coordinator

How do you get young people to do things for themselves? Many of us ask this question all the time. The one answer that keeps coming to mind is that we need to provide young people with responsibilities that empower them to become independent. The National League of Young Men (NLYM) offers great examples of empowering young men to develop independence through leadership, service, cultural experience, and protocol awareness. Throughout the year, our young men officers have the responsibility of communicating with their class, presenting in front of others, working with mothers in the organizations and attending all their meetings. By the end of the year, each officer has learned how to contribute to their class and organization through leadership skills they are developing.

Empowerment is also learned through our philanthropy service which is a driving force with NLYM. Our young men serve philanthropies, which also provide greater awareness and skill development. When our young men help others, they learn of the basic needs that many people have, and this awareness is of great value to our young men.

NLYM is an organization that provides great awareness and opportunity for our young men at an important time in their overall development during the teenage years. As youth coordinator this past year, I was able to witness this development and empowerment as our young men attained greater independence, respect for others, and overall caring for people in our community. I feel the answer to the question….how do you get young people to do things for themselves? …. is to join an organization like NLYM where members learn the great value, skills, and understanding of empowerment.

Senior Send-Off Sue Garland, Senior Send-Off

Representative

On May 31, the class of 2015 attended our chapter’s very first senior tribute dinner and celebration, also known as the Senior Send-Off. All members of the class were able to attend and were joined by their parents at the Tustin Ranch Golf Course. How quickly the time has passed since each of these young men were founding members just three short years ago.

The evening started off with a beverage reception on the patio with lots of individual and group pictures. This was followed by dinner, a slideshow, and tributes by the dads to their sons. It was a very emotional evening! It was enjoyable listening to all the boys’ accomplishments over the years and their extensive involvement in the community. It was very impressive to hear that these young men served over 900 hours this year with only ten members! These young men learned skills that will prove valuable in life such as proper etiquette, planning events, booking speakers, running meetings, electing officers, and interpreting bylaws.

The young men have formed such great friendships over the past three years, and they truly were sad to see their good friends leave at the end of the evening. I know that they will keep in touch in the future. Congratulations to all of our graduating seniors. Thank you for everything you’ve done for the community and the Tustin chapter of NLYM. You’ve made us proud, and we wish you the best in everything.


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Compass Brunch Gail Taleisnik, Compass Banquet Chairman

At the end of every year we have a celebration called the Compass Banquet. This year a brunch was held at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club. The banquet was extra special this year because for the first time our chapter had its first graduating class of seniors. After everyone enjoyed a delicious brunch, each senior young man said a few things about how the National League of Young Men has helped him to mature and grow, and how he has benefited from his years as a member. It was wonderful to hear what the young men had to say about their NLYM experience as well as their future plans.

This event also recognizes each individual in 9th - 12th grade for his volunteer hours. As a chapter, the young men volunteered a total of 2,854 hours in the community. Individual awards were handed out, and everyone was anxious to find out who would receive the Anchor Award and the

Senior Service Award, which was Zachary Meneses. On top of earning chapter awards, Alexander Greene, Brandon Martinez, Richard Belardi, and Michael Cazarez earned the Presidential Volunteer Service Award which included a letter from President Obama.

Each mother was photographed with her son and received a beautiful photo of the two of them. It was a special day to celebrate the young men and all of their accomplishments, wish the seniors congratulations and good luck, and to thank everyone for all of their hard work and for being a part of this wonderful NLYM chapter. The banquet was a wonderful way to close the 2014-2015 NLYM year.

NLYM – Tustin Chapter Young Men 2014-2015 All National League of Young Men newsletter articles and photographs are the property of the Tustin chapter of National League of Young Men and are for the use of members only. The use of any of this information by any other individuals or organizations, without the express written consent of National League of Young Men, is strictly prohibited.


Documents

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF YOUNG MEN...Our Year of Protocol and Culture 2014-2015 Charlene Pitchess, Vice President Protocol/Cultural The National League of Young Men strives to teach, develop,