A Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) is a program to teach
high school students leadership, Americanism, patriotism and the American Free
Enterprise system, and the basic fundamentals of citizenship. The program is sponsored by the Military
Order of the World Wars (MOWW), a national patriotic and veteran's
organization, chartered by the U. S. Congress.
In Texas they were five National Sojourner Chapters – Anson Jones Chapter, Brazos Valley Chapter, Fort Sam Chapter, John J. Harris Chapter and Audie Murphy Chapter –that are affiliated with the MOWW YLC Program. John J. Harris Chapter 397 is the Corpus Christi affiliated organization for the Coastal Bend Area. The Corpus Christi YLC held onboard U.S.S. Lexington Museum is sponsored by Region VIII, Military Order of the World Wars with funding by Texas Patriotic Education Foundation, Inc. and John J. Harris Chapter 397.
Region VIII of the MOWW (comprising the states of Texas and Oklahoma) meeting in November 1997, decided to create YLCs within the region and to also create a foundation to assist in the funding of the YLCs. The Texas Patriotic Education Foundation, Inc., (TX PEF, Inc.) was established on 18 November 1997 and the region held the first YLC in June 1998 at Fort Hood, Texas.
Since then 80 additional YLCs have been held for a total of 81 at ten additional venues: Fort Hood, Killeen, TX (5 additional YLCs for a total of 6), established 1998; USS Lexington Museum, Corpus Christi, TX (20 YLCs) established 1999; Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City, OK (14 YLCs) reestablished in 2000; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (12 YLCs) established 2002; Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, TX (9 YLCs) established 2005; Central Texas College, Killeen, TX (7 YLCs) established 2007; Texas Military Institute, San Antonio, TX (6 YLCs) established 2002; University of Texas at San Antonio, TX (4 YLCs) established 2007; Camp Carter, Fort Worth, TX (1 YLC) held in 2004; Trinity University, San Antonio, TX (1 YLC) held in 2011; St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX (1 YLC) established 2013.
John J. Harris Chapter 397 has selected and is sponsoring 12 students from area high schools who will attend one of two sections. Six students will attend Section One, June 7-11, 2015, and six students will attend Section Two, June 14-18, 2015. The conference begins on Sunday and ends on Thursday; student will live onboard the U.S.S. Lexington throughout the conference period.
Students, their family and guest were hosted at a banquet held at Al Amin Shrine Center on April 30, 2015. The program included three guest speakers: Dr. Elizabeth Seanz, Superintendent West Oso ISD; Jim Kaelin, Sheriff Nueces County; and Ilan Emanuel, Rabbi Congregation Beth Israel. Certificates of Achievement were award to each student, and a great meal was had by all prepared by Wolfgang Bushgang, Jack’s Dinner Bell Catering. CAPT Merlen F. Howe, National President of the National Sojourners participated in the awards ceremony and gave closing remarks. The emcee for the night was Brother Mike King, District Instructor, District 37A of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas.
In Texas they were five National Sojourner Chapters – Anson Jones Chapter, Brazos Valley Chapter, Fort Sam Chapter, John J. Harris Chapter and Audie Murphy Chapter –that are affiliated with the MOWW YLC Program. John J. Harris Chapter 397 is the Corpus Christi affiliated organization for the Coastal Bend Area. The Corpus Christi YLC held onboard U.S.S. Lexington Museum is sponsored by Region VIII, Military Order of the World Wars with funding by Texas Patriotic Education Foundation, Inc. and John J. Harris Chapter 397.
Region VIII of the MOWW (comprising the states of Texas and Oklahoma) meeting in November 1997, decided to create YLCs within the region and to also create a foundation to assist in the funding of the YLCs. The Texas Patriotic Education Foundation, Inc., (TX PEF, Inc.) was established on 18 November 1997 and the region held the first YLC in June 1998 at Fort Hood, Texas.
Since then 80 additional YLCs have been held for a total of 81 at ten additional venues: Fort Hood, Killeen, TX (5 additional YLCs for a total of 6), established 1998; USS Lexington Museum, Corpus Christi, TX (20 YLCs) established 1999; Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City, OK (14 YLCs) reestablished in 2000; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (12 YLCs) established 2002; Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, TX (9 YLCs) established 2005; Central Texas College, Killeen, TX (7 YLCs) established 2007; Texas Military Institute, San Antonio, TX (6 YLCs) established 2002; University of Texas at San Antonio, TX (4 YLCs) established 2007; Camp Carter, Fort Worth, TX (1 YLC) held in 2004; Trinity University, San Antonio, TX (1 YLC) held in 2011; St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX (1 YLC) established 2013.
John J. Harris Chapter 397 has selected and is sponsoring 12 students from area high schools who will attend one of two sections. Six students will attend Section One, June 7-11, 2015, and six students will attend Section Two, June 14-18, 2015. The conference begins on Sunday and ends on Thursday; student will live onboard the U.S.S. Lexington throughout the conference period.
Students, their family and guest were hosted at a banquet held at Al Amin Shrine Center on April 30, 2015. The program included three guest speakers: Dr. Elizabeth Seanz, Superintendent West Oso ISD; Jim Kaelin, Sheriff Nueces County; and Ilan Emanuel, Rabbi Congregation Beth Israel. Certificates of Achievement were award to each student, and a great meal was had by all prepared by Wolfgang Bushgang, Jack’s Dinner Bell Catering. CAPT Merlen F. Howe, National President of the National Sojourners participated in the awards ceremony and gave closing remarks. The emcee for the night was Brother Mike King, District Instructor, District 37A of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas.