A secret meeting was underway on Saturday, Feb. 27 in the Jefferson Room at the Ramada Hotel in Topeka. The Jefferson Room bulged with Democrats young and old, holding their beverages and craning their necks to meet former Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

The Young Democrats Club, with about seven students representing the club, stood at the back, waiting to see Sebelius enter the room. They attended the prestigious Washington Days, where many hopeful Democrats make their mark in the world of Kansas politics.

“First I was contacted by Kyle Gardner, who is the financial director of the Kansas Democrats,” junior  Emma Posler, Young Democrats Club co-president said. “[H]e actually saw the article in the Budget and then he looked me up on Facebook.”

Tables at Washington Days were given to the Young Democrats Club from a donor, including the luncheon, passes to attend any caucus on Saturday and the dinner banquet. The club wrote thank-you notes to the donor at their meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 1.

United States Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius were keynote speakers. Sebelius has gone to the Washington Days for the past thirty years or so, she said.

“When I was a candidate running for office, it [Washington Days] was a very important place to be to line up help and support from people who are from different parts of Kansas who I didn’t get to see on a regular basis,” Sebelius said. “It also was a way to get people enthusiastic and introduce some folks to Kansans who they may not have had the chance to meet otherwise.”

The club met rising politicians, attended fancy banquets, discussed with fellow high school Democrats and learned about things that they, as young Democrats, can get involved with in state politics. They made connections with many politicians and workers as an opportunity to collaborate in the future.

Members who went were excited because after only a few months of being active again, the Young Democrats Club has had many opportunities to meet people and stay actively involved in local events and politics.

“Kathleen Sebelius waved to us in a crowd of a thousand people,” junior Noah Mercer, co-president of the Young Democrats Club said. “Specifically to us. We were called out and represented and it was awesome.”

Attending the Washington Days allows for high schoolers interested in politics to gain insight on local politicians, which can help both them and society in the future.

“I can’t think of anything more positive for the future of our country than having a lot of folks who, by the time they’re old enough to vote, already have become involved in the political process so I think it’s terrific,” Sebelius said.

The Washington Days, a yearly event, gave the Young Democrats Club a place to expand their knowledge and meet new people with the same ideals they have. After gaining members and influence in just a few months, the club learned, made connections and got advice for furthering the success of the club.

“It was a really great experience and we made some cool connections with some people that we’re excited to work with in the future,” Posler said.