Youth Commissioners and Advisors pictured with Matt Lauer of The Today Show The Chatham County Youth Commission began it's 12th Annual Trip on Saturday, March 7, 2009 with a 10:30 PM departure from the Savannah Civic Center.

Arriving in the Nation's Capitol early on the next morning after a Daylight Savings Time Adjustment, Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas, Alderman Van R. Johnson, II, the 40 members of the Chatham County Youth Commission and 4 delegates of the Savannah Youth Council visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the NEWSEUM, a museum dedicated to news, the National Museum of American History, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.

On Monday, March 9, 2009 the Chatham County Youth Commission were VIP attendees of the National Association of Counties Annual Legislative Conference where they met with over 2,000 County Commissioners from around the country and discussed issues such as the economy, juvenile delinquency and climate change.

The Youth Commissioners were treated to lunch as the special guest of the National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO) to launch it's HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. From there they traveled to Arlington, VA to tour the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. They discussed further continued partnership in the Coastal Empire before departing for Philadelphia, PA.

The Chatham County Youth Commission began the 3rd Day of their Annual Trip in transit from Philadelphia, PA to New York City where they visited Ground Zero and surveyed the progress of the building of the September 11th Memorial.

This visit marks the 8th consecutive year that the Chatham County Youth Commission has visited this sacred site. After visiting various New York destinations, the Youth Commission watched the Broadway production of "SHREK".

On the final day of their trip, Wednesday, March 11, 2009, the Youth Commissioners were featured on the NBC Today Show, and met host Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera, Al Roker and Ann Curry and were given a tour of the NBC Studios.

They returned to Washington, DC where they were greeted by Georgia Congressman Jack Kingston and the Junior Senator from Illinois Roland Burris.

This wonderful opportunity would not be possible without the support of the Chatham County Commission, Chatham County Manager, Russ Abolt; Chatham County Human Resources and Services Department, Coastline Travel, Savannah Communications, Kim Gusby, Lee Haywood, Everett Broady and the WSAV Coastal Sunrise Family, Karen Neubauer and Four Seasons Travel, the Principals, Administrators and Teachers of Chatham County's Public and Private High Schools and most importantly the parents of these outstanding young people.

The Chatham County Youth Commission was founded

by Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas and the Chatham County Commission in 1992 and is recognized as being the premier youth governmental leadership programs in the country.

For more information on the Chatham County Youth Commission, check out their website at www.ChathamYouth .com