2016 Youth Conference Info *UPDATED 10/5*

We’re changing things up a little bit for Youth Conference this year. The obvious change is that we normally have it during the summer months. With a special Girls Camp, the Aaronic Priesthood Encampment, EFY and family vacations this summer, the decision was made to have our conference a little later in the year. We are also having a one-day event this time. We live in the South and the youth of our stake are active in Football, Marching Band & Cheerleading so we didn’t want to conflict with those Friday night events. All that being said we have an outstanding day of service, fun, food, amazing guest speakers and yes, dancing!

Youth and Ward Chaperones, please register by visiting the event page. The register button is at the bottom.

Please check this page often for the latest information – we’ll be updating it with more specific details as we have them available.

The Cliff’s Notes (full details below)

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WHEN: October 8, 2016 – 7:15am – 9:45pm
WHERE: Kennesaw/Acworth
WHO: All Youth 14 & up (and youth who turn 14 by Oct. 31) and their friends
CHAPERONES: At Least 1 Bishopric, 1 YW & 1 YM Leader from each ward plus enough additional Chaperones to provide adequate transportation and supervision for your youth.
WHAT TO WEAR: As always, your clothing should be in line with For the Strength of Youth standards. We will be doing service and having both indoor and outdoor activities where being able to get up and down and move around easily will be important. Dress comfortably for the activities and for the weather. It is supposed to be warm. Jeans and shorts are okay (watch the length please) as well as t-shirts. We will have something terribly unflattering to wear for anyone who misses the mark with their own clothing choices. 🙂
WHAT TO BRING: Feel free to bring any personal items you may need throughout the day. You will only have a short period of time to freshen up and change if you need/want to so please prepare accordingly. A hairbrush and deodorant would probably be a good idea.
Times to Remember:
7:15am – Drop off in the turn around on the south side of the Acworth building for check-in
7:30am – YM/YW Pres. have your drivers at the Acworth building by this time
7:45am (ish) – Travel to SUMC – DO NOT PARK AT FIRST WATCH  – Officer Allred will be there to help provide safe crossing of Cherokee Street
10:30am (ish) – We will return to the Acworth Building for the remainder of the days activities (see below)
9:45pm – Parents should pick up their Youth at the Acworth Building

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CHECK-IN & SERVICE PROJECT

7:15am – Acworth Building – 5055 Holt Road NW, Acworth, GA 30101

Arrival and Registration – Youth and Chaperones should arrive at the Acworth building to check-in and receive their conference items. Parents should drop off in the turn around on the south side of the building. Please eat breakfast prior to your arrival. Rooms will be provided (locked and supervised) where you will be able to leave bags with your extra items. We will depart from the Acworth building at approximately 7:45 and travel to Shiloh UMC. YM/YW Pres., please make sure your drivers are at the building by 7:30am as we will be providing instructions for the service project prior to leaving. Officer Allred will be providing traffic control to help ensure that we are able to cross Cherokee Street safely.

*** YM/YW Pres., please ensure that you have enough rides for your Youth both to and from the service activity.

*** DO NOT PARK AT FIRST WATCH. They are open on Saturday’s and are extremely busy. They have specifically asked that we do not use their lot for parking.

8:00am – Shiloh United Methodist Church – 3860 Cherokee St NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144

Shiloh United Methodist Church in Kennesaw sponsors a pumpkin patch each year prior to Halloween. The pumpkin patch is their biggest fundraiser for their monthly food pantry which helps feed 150-200 families in our community. In the past, many members of our Stake have participated in helping unload the tractor trailer full of pumpkins. This year our Youth will take charge of this great service opportunity. You will have the opportunity to clean up and change clothes as needed when we return to the Acworth Building.

Young Men and Young Women Presidency & Bishopric Members are asked to remain at SUMC with your youth. With over 120 youth participating we should not need adults to assist directly. We do need you there to car pool, observe, minister, fellowship etc. Should we need help to complete the project then naturally we will have you assist however we don’t anticipate that.

 

ACTIVITIES, LUNCH & SPECIAL GUEST YAHOSH BONNER

11:00am (approx.) – Acworth Building – 5055 Holt Road NW, Acworth, GA 30101

Following our service project we will load up and head back to the Acworth Building for lunch (Pizza), activities, music and the first of two very special guests, Bro. Yahosh Bonner. Yahosh Bonner was born the fifth of eight children in Las Vegas, NV. He served as a full time missionary for two years in the Tampa, FL mission. Brother Bonner is a high level athlete, playing in Division I, and graduating with a full ride basketball scholarship from the University of Northern Colorado. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Sky Conference. Also, Yahosh was honored to be named a Mid major Defensive All-American, as defense is where he excelled on the court. Following graduating from Northern Colorado, Yahosh acquired his masters degree at the Southern Utah University in Professional Communication. Using that degree, he teaches at the charter school American Leadership Academy in Spanish Fork Utah, and is the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach there.

Bro. Bonner also comes from an accomplished musical heritage. He currently is an active member of the Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir and performs with them many times as a soloist. Yahosh has recorded and or performed with Alex Boye’, James Curran aka JamesTheMormon, and Madilyn Paige. Yahosh’s love of music is rooted in his love for Jesus Christ. He looks forward to sharing the gift of music that God has given “to bring the spirit into every performance.” Yahosh currently runs his own YouTube channel and encourages all hip hop, R&B, and gospel lovers to subscribe.

 

 

DINNER & FIRESIDE WITH SPECIAL GUEST AMBER ROMNEY HANSEN, TESTIMONY MEETING

4:30pm (approx.) – Acworth Building – 5055 Holt Road NW, Acworth, GA 30101

At the conclusion of our afternoon activities the youth will prepare for dinner and the evening program. Dinner will be catered and we promise, no barbecue, no burgers, no hot dogs and no Italian. After dinner we will have the pleasure of hearing from our second very special guest Sis. Amber Romney Hansen. Amber was born & raised in Mesa, Arizona by Bill & Stephanie Romney. She is the oldest of four children. When she was 15 months old she contracted a serious illness that took her hearing. Amber’s positive attitude and desire to succeed have helped her to accomplish many things since. She was a Cheerleader and Swimmer for 4 years in High School. When she was 16 she won third place in a national writing contest sponsored by Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. where deaf students from around the country were asked to write about their biggest challenge. She also participated in National Honor Society, Mayor’s Youth Committee, Spirit Club, and Junior Optimist Club.

Amber is currently a happy wife raising four kids in Gilbert, Arizona. She is a high school teacher’s aide in the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing classroom. She is also a Family Mentor and works with families with Deaf babies and toddlers. She enjoys exercising (especially running) and has competed in 5 marathons. She has been both a first and third place female finisher and has qualified for the Boston Marathon. Her other hobbies include cooking, writing, Mexican food with Diet Coke and going on dates with her husband every weekend.

In November of 1999, The New Era featured an article about Amber titled “Good Cheer”. Read it here…
https://www.lds.org/new-era/1999/11/good-cheer?lang=eng

After Sis. Hansen’s remarks we will have a short testimony meeting. Youth are encouraged to share their brief, Christ-centered testimonies with one another.

DANCE

7:15pm (approx.) – Acworth Building – 5055 Holt Road NW, Acworth, GA 30101

Following the Fireside & Testimony Meeting we will finish things off with a dance! Bro. Pereira will be your DJ Du Jour. Refreshments will be provided.

CONCLUSION

9:30 – 10:00pm – Acworth Building – 5055 Holt Road NW, Acworth, GA 30101

Parents/Drivers, we will finish up Youth Conference between 9:30 and 9:45 with the singing of “The EFY Medley” as it is known. This is a tradition that we started this year and if you haven’t been present for it you may want to take the opportunity to arrive a few minutes early and come inside. It will warm your heart and has been known to draw a tear here and there. Feel free to sing along. Without a doubt we will all be exhausted at the end of a long day so we’d appreciate any help we can get cleaning up if you’re able to stick around.