Co-op News
Youth Leaders Visit NRECA
Dozens of high school students from across the United States spent a week near the nation’s capital learning about the cooperative business model. The 42 delegates who now serve on NRECA’s Youth Leadership Council were in the Washington, D.C., area July 16-20, to learn more about the roles that co-ops play in their communities and the nation.
NRECA CEO Glenn English visits with members of NRECA’s Youth Leadership Council in his Arlington, Va., office. (Photo By: Derrill Holly)
Leaders of some of the nation’s most influential cooperative associations took time to speak with the students, and some used the opportunity to encourage them to commit to public service.
“Focus on your responsibilities as citizens,” NRECA CEO Glenn English told the group during an informal dialogue in his Arlington, Va., office. “This country is dependent upon a well-informed citizenry. It depends upon people being engaged in the political process.”
English was one of several executives from co-op organizations spending time with the students during the week.
Others included Chris Martin, vice president of member and industry relations at the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative; Adam D. Schwartz, vice president of public affairs and member services at the National Cooperative Business Association; and Sheldon C. Petersen, CEO of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.
“It’s important that YLC members understand what co-ops are and what we do,” said Steve Uram, an NRECA grassroots legislative affairs advisor. “What they learned this week will help them as they represent their states at co-op events over the next year.”
The students were selected from 1,554 delegates to the 2011 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, held in Washington, D.C., June 13-16. Delegates and chaperones from 42 states chose the YLC members to represent their states at NRECA meetings through next June. Members of the 2011 Youth Leadership Council will convene again this winter during NRECA’s annual meeting in San Diego, March 1-9, 2012.
“Many of the students will present the speeches they wrote and delivered during their week here at their statewide association’s and their local co-op’s annual meetings,” said Uram. “These kids go back to their schools and talk to teachers and other students. They are the best promotion we have for the youth tour program.”
Tags: Co-op News, National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, Youth Tour