Kentucky Youth Development Foundation Inc

Purpose

The KYDF is the support mechanism for the MOWW Youth Leadership Conferences (YLC), which are included in the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) List of Approved Contests and Activities for Students. YLC classes are led by skilled by skilled instructors supervised by well-qualified team leaders and counselors. Classes are participatory. The goal is 50% of class time is dedicated to leadership, 30% of class time devoted to the US government, US history and the US Constitution, and; 20% devoted to the Free Enterprise System and the US economy. MOWW annually selects winners of the national YLC essay competition and awards cash prizes. MOWW YLCs often involve partners represented by its Resolutions of Cooperation, e.g., the National Sojourners and the Joe Foss Institute.

MOWW chapters also conduct Massing of Colors (MOC) and other programs supporting patriotic activities on the Fourth of July, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day. This includes the annual General of the Armies John J. Pershing Memorial Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Massing of Colors is a patriotic ceremony rededicating our support of the United States. These ceremonies usually involve color guard units from: Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard military units; Senior and Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) units; armed services auxiliary organizations; state militias; veteran and civic groups; police, sheriff and fire departments; and Boy and Girl Scout organizations.

 

November 11, 2015, Louisville KY. The Military Order of the World Wars in conjunction with the city of Louisville conducted the 5th annual Louisville Parade and Massing of the Colors since Mayor Greg Fischer reinstated the annual event. There were 25 percent more organizations participating in the event than last year extending the length of the parade by nearly a 1/2 hour. Major General Silverthorn once again led the Massing of the Colors at the conclusion of the parade. Marching in the parade representing the Fort Knox Chapter of the MOWW was Capt William Dibble USN Ret and BGen Estes. Capt Jeff Daus USN Ret and Capt Erick Gerdes USN Ret helped in coordinating the ceremony. In attendance and giving speeches were the Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Congressman John Yarmouth, and Governor Elect Matt Bevin. Former Miss America Heather French Henry KDVA Commissioner also spoke at the ceremony. Multiple children from the Jefferson County Public School System were bussed from various locations to attend the parade and Massing of the Colors. The weather was spectacular for the event helping for the largest turnout of the event to date. 

Massing of the Colors 2015

Leadership Conference

The Louisville Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars will host it's fall Youth Leadership Conference 3 November 2018 at the University of Louisville Building STRICKLER HALL in the Middleton Auditorium. (North end of UL Campus) from 9-11:30.. This Conference is designed for High School Students and their parents. The focus of the conference is on leadership with guest speakers having over 30 years of leadership experience in the military. This years keynote speaker is Sara Potecha, author of "West Point Woman".

West Point Woman is a leadership memoir for readers at all levels of organizational leadership, and applicable across industries, genders and professional expertise.

West Point Woman, the new book by Sara Potecha, offers up a leadership arsenal.

As an exceptional storyteller and leadership practitioner, Sara will arm you and your organization with the essential leadership skills needed to fight the “battles” of your current experience. Topics explored in the book include: