Meet Colonel Ray Blum
Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, Ret. (30 Yrs.); Teacher/Coach/ AD, L.A.U.S.D. (34 Yrs.) Colonel Blum has been on YLA’s Board for four years.
I was a teacher from 1968 to 2006 and in the Marine Corps from 1969 to 2000. As a Teacher I was mostly a P.E. Teacher/Coach/ Athletic Director working with High School students. In 1975 I was involved with the Devil Pups, Inc.–Youth Program for America. As a Liaison Representative (LR) I was able to send young men to the program. I was also the Commandant of Cadets in the California Cadet Corps and a member of the Marine Training Unit (MTU)–Devil Pups. It was the best of both worlds. It provided immediate improvement/development of the cadets that became Devil Pups. Through the years, I became Officer in Charge of all the LR’s (13 years); Encampment Commander (11 years); a Trustee of the organization (45 Years).
Twenty years ago I was working with the Liaison Representatives from Las Vegas /Henderson–Nancy Kearny and her assistant Marie Tomao. Nancy moved away with her husband and her two Marine sons. Marie Tomao took over the program and Blossomed. She developed/created the Youth Leadership Authority which includes the Devil Pups program and created multi-facet programs for Young Americans ages 8 to 21. I joined the YLA Board from its inception to present and will continue as well as I can serve.
Ray Blum
Meet Senator Carrie Buck
Senator Buck is an educator with a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. She has been with YLA for half a year.
My Why has always come from my God who guides me to my purpose and destiny every day. I go where He tells me and I do what He says. When the opportunity presented itself to become involved with an organization that helps guide teens into their future of service to country and others, I felt led to be in service myself and to get involved in something so positively impacting our next generation. God is good and I am so grateful for His words and for His guidance. I only hope to help others get to where He wants them to be.
Thank you,
Carrie
