PROPOSAL

To: The National Town Meeting Youth Roundtable Planning Committee
Re: Youth Delegate Activities

EcoSage Corporation proposes that the delegates to the National Town Meeting (NTM) Youth Roundtable officially serve as SolarQuest I-NewNews Team news correspondents with two primary roles:

1. To voice the concerns of American youth by participating in a series of youth informational meetings or “briefings” where NTM attendees from local area schools will have the opportunity to meet and exchange information with the youth delegates; the delegates present issues identified at these briefings to the discussion at the Youth Roundtable; and

2. To serve develop and publish news stories on the SolarQuest web site to inform American students on issues concerning sustainable development presented at the NTM, including such issues as may be presented in NTM programs, exhibits, and activities.

To support the above roles of the youth delegates to the NTM, EcoSage Corporation proposes the following support services in collaboration with GETF and the National 4-H Council:

A. Informational Meeting Support:

1. A briefing room where youth delegates can meet with NTM youth attendees from local area schools. Youth delegates will staff the briefing room on a rotational basis, providing NTM youth attendees with the opportunity to have their concerns represented at the NTM Youth Roundtable. (Pending EcoSage Corporation’s proposed NTM sponsorship, the briefing room may be web-cast to school across America.)

2. A news release to schools across America to solicit student participation in the NTM by submitting issues, concerns, suggestions, and/or “vision statements” to the youth delegates. Regular briefings on issues, concerns, suggestions, and/or “vision statements” published on the SolarQuest schoolhouse.

3. Outreach to Detroit area schools to send a delegation to the NTM to meet with youth delegates.

4. Access to Internet services in order to create a collaborative work environment to facilitate communication between youth delegates and NTM participants in the SolarQuest Virtual Schoolhouse, addressing NTM Goals, Themes, and Strategies for a Sustainable America.

B. News Service Support:

1. An I-NetNews Team news service School in the SolarQuest Virtual Schoolhouse to publish news stories developed by the youth delegates. EcoSage Corporation will provide on-site technical support to the youth delegates.

2. An I-NetNews Team orientation meeting for youth delegates on the day prior to the beginning of the NTM. The orientation meeting will provide instruction on the use of the SolarQuest Virtual Schoolhouse and basic journalism skills.

3. A dedicated Internet communications area or “pressroom” for the I-NetNews Team at the NTM exhibit hall. The pressroom will provide editorial staff to assist youth delegates as required, including editorial services.

EcoSage Corporation, in addition to the above services, will provide the supervision of youth delegates at the NTM exhibit hall and related events to facilitate the above. The time management of youth delegates will allow for an equal distribution of responsibilities as both youth delegates and I-NetNews Team correspondents, with ample “free-time” to explore the NTM programs, activities and to network with NTM attendees.

Submitted March 8, 1999
Allan E. Baer
President
EcoSage Corporation