Wednesday, March 1, 2006

Ketchum student to meet President Bush


By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer

Parishioners of Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church gathered last weekend to send off Amy DiFrancesco, who will deliver a report on Scouting activities to President George W. Bush next week.

Seventeen-year-old Amara (Amy) Cramer DiFrancesco of Ketchum leaves this week to meet President George W. Bush, address the Supreme Court and report to Congress. She joins seven other Scouts from around the United States to deliver the annual Boy Scouts of America's Report March 4 to 8 in Washington, D.C.

Each year, the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America selects a youth delegation to present the report to the U.S. Congress, the speaker of the House and the president. The youth delegation represents the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing and the Order of the Arrow.

DiFrancesco serves as the Boy Scout's National Venturing president, a coed youth development program for young adults. As the first National Venturing president from the Western region (states west of Kansas), she is also the youngest president and the third woman to serve in the position.

"This is truly an opportunity of a lifetime," she said. "It is an honor not only for me, but for the David Ketchum American Legion Post who charter our Venturing Crew, the Snake River Council, Riverstone Community School, and youth from the state of Idaho."

A former Community School student, DiFrancesco now attends Riverstone Community School in Boise, where she is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Program. Her family commutes from Ketchum to allow for her studies and travel schedule.

Holding a position on the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, she regularly attends meetings in Texas. She has also taught youth leadership courses to adult advisors from around the United States in Florida and New Mexico.

During her trip to Washington, D.C., DiFrancesco will highlight the Scouts' achievements over the past year.

"I would like to encourage (President Bush) to further promote volunteerism among youth. Youth participation in volunteering not only creates a better community by providing service, but increases the mentors available to the youth," she said. "Volunteering offers youth opportunities and training they would not otherwise receive, and gives them healthy and productive options for their free time."

In a future issue of the Idaho Mountain Express, DiFrancesco will speak about her experience.




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