The youth of the Diocese of Northwest Texas travel to Amarillo for their own diocesan convention each year. For some, this is a trip of more than 300 miles. Northwest Texas is one of a very few dioceses which organizes a convention specifically for its youth.

The convention is held during a retreat weekend known as Mid'Winter. This year Northwest Texas youth gathered at the Bishop Quarterman Conference Center Jan. 15-17 to make decisions for the next year. Events began on Friday, with games, introductions and ice breakers.

The real business began on Saturday. When the participants of Mid'Winter returned to the room called Upper Ware, it had been transformed. What had, on Friday night, been a large open space for games was now two neat rows of tables. This change fit the entire weekend. Mid'Winter is always full of transformations.

The most important business of Mid'Winter is electing new members of the executive committee. It often serves as the voice of the youth in the diocese. It is for this election that Upper Ware has been transformed.

Hours before the room was prepared, nominations were held. Each member of the outgoing executive committee described his or her position and its requirements.

The nominations began. "I nominate Kate Wiseheart for president," a voice called. "I second," several other voices chimed in. Silence. Nominations were closed - so the nominations went. An air of proper business order reigned in a room full of high school students. Only president went uncontested, which was a relief to all.

The executive committee consists of five elected offices: president, vice president, secretary, parliamentarian and treasurer; four deanery representatives and two Nor'Western editors, who write the diocesan youth column.

After nominations, there was a break for lunch and games, and then the youth had filed into the transformed Upper Ware.

After a second reading of the executive committee member's job descriptions, youth considered changes to their constitution and considered the addition of a historian to the committee. The historian motion caused much discussion: How should this person be chosen? What are the duties? Will there be a historian in 1999 or not until 2000? Is this constitutional? As the discussion continued, many members blew bubbles from bottles they had received earlier in the convention.

The youth convention decided that a historian will be part of the 1999 executive committee.

Next on the agenda came speeches by nominees for the five elected positions. The candidates were nervous as they spoke to a crowd of nearly 50 youth and adult sponsors. They were trying hard to sell themselves. Most of the nominees have known those voting for years, so the speeches were aimed at reminding others of the speaker's unusual traits.

"I really think we can get some awesome things done with this executive committee coming through," said Jeff Young from Abilene, a treasurer candidate.

"I'm not really afraid to voice my opinion," said Claire Whiteside of Lubbock, a candidate for secretary. "I am trained as a peer mediator."

"I have a lot of ideas brewing in my head," said Matt Chausant, from Midland, a would-be vice president who had already served a partial term as parliamentarian. "I am a mover and a shaker."

"I've been thinking about running for an office since this time last year," said Craig Bush, also of Midland, another candidate for secretary. "I've watched this executive committee and I think it's something I'd be really proud to be a part of."

At the election, five students from each parish in the diocese actually voted. The outgoing president votes only as a tie-breaker. The general election completed, the youth broke up into deaneries to elect deanery representatives.

The newly elected officers of the executive committee and deanery representatives went off together to choose the Nor'Western editors and the historian. Finally, after a long day of business, the new executive committee was completed and the incoming president closed the session with a prayer. The transformation was complete.

By Hope Tinsley Hope Tinsley is a senior at Central High School in San Angelo, Texas, where she co-edits her school newspaper.

The youth of the Diocese of Northwest Texas travel to Amarillo for their own diocesan convention each year. For some, this is a trip of more than 300 miles. Northwest Texas is one of a very few dioceses which organizes a convention specifically for its youth.

The convention is held during a retreat weekend known as Mid'Winter. This year Northwest Texas youth gathered at the Bishop Quarterman Conference Center Jan. 15-17 to make decisions for the next year. Events began on Friday, with games, introductions and ice breakers.

The real business began on Saturday. When the participants of Mid'Winter returned to the room called Upper Ware, it had been transformed. What had, on Friday night, been a large open space for games was now two neat rows of tables. This change fit the entire weekend. Mid'Winter is always full of transformations.

The most important business of Mid'Winter is electing new members of the executive committee. It often serves as the voice of the youth in the diocese. It is for this election that Upper Ware has been transformed.

Hours before the room was prepared, nominations were held. Each member of the outgoing executive committee described his or her position and its requirements.

The nominations began. "I nominate Kate Wiseheart for president," a voice called. "I second," several other voices chimed in. Silence. Nominations were closed - so the nominations went. An air of proper business order reigned in a room full of high school students. Only president went uncontested, which was a relief to all.

The executive committee consists of five elected offices: president, vice president, secretary, parliamentarian and treasurer; four deanery representatives and two Nor'Western editors, who write the diocesan youth column.

After nominations, there was a break for lunch and games, and then the youth had filed into the transformed Upper Ware.

After a second reading of the executive committee member's job descriptions, youth considered changes to their constitution and considered the addition of a historian to the committee. The historian motion caused much discussion: How should this person be chosen? What are the duties? Will there be a historian in 1999 or not until 2000? Is this constitutional? As the discussion continued, many members blew bubbles from bottles they had received earlier in the convention.

The youth convention decided that a historian will be part of the 1999 executive committee.

Next on the agenda came speeches by nominees for the five elected positions. The candidates were nervous as they spoke to a crowd of nearly 50 youth and adult sponsors. They were trying hard to sell themselves. Most of the nominees have known those voting for years, so the speeches were aimed at reminding others of the speaker's unusual traits.

"I really think we can get some awesome things done with this executive committee coming through," said Jeff Young from Abilene, a treasurer candidate.

"I'm not really afraid to voice my opinion," said Claire Whiteside of Lubbock, a candidate for secretary. "I am trained as a peer mediator."

"I have a lot of ideas brewing in my head," said Matt Chausant, from Midland, a would-be vice president who had already served a partial term as parliamentarian. "I am a mover and a shaker."

"I've been thinking about running for an office since this time last year," said Craig Bush, also of Midland, another candidate for secretary. "I've watched this executive committee and I think it's something I'd be really proud to be a part of."

At the election, five students from each parish in the diocese actually voted. The outgoing president votes only as a tie-breaker. The general election completed, the youth broke up into deaneries to elect deanery representatives.

The newly elected officers of the executive committee and deanery representatives went off together to choose the Nor'Western editors and the historian. Finally, after a long day of business, the new executive committee was completed and the incoming president closed the session with a prayer. The transformation was complete.

Hope Tinsley is a senior at Central High School in San Angelo, Texas, where she co-edits her school newspaper.