Three Area Youth Visit Nation’s Capital; See Government in Action

Joshua Anderson of West Burlington, Jacob Moore of Bonaparte, and Julie Rich of Wayland were among the more than 1,400 high school students from across the country who participated in the Rural Electric Youth Tour held June 17-24, 2005, in Washington, D.C.  Selected on the basis of academics, leadership and community involvement, Joshua and Jacob were sponsored by Access Energy Cooperative. Julie was selected to participate as the winner of a statewide drawing for children of employees.

 

Each year in June, an activity-filled week affords these high school youths opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, community development and today’s social issues.

“Cooperatives support the Youth Tour because they realize that beyond textbooks and lectures; today's teenagers also need an opportunity to experience government first-hand,” says Ann Foster, director of communications and Youth Tour director for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Youth are our future. Educational opportunities such as the Youth Tour, are extremely important to cooperatives and the communities we serve.”

While in Washington, the Iowa Youth Tour delegation, made up of 44 students, met with congressional leaders, visited historic sites, explored the Smithsonian museums and took a cruise on the Potomac River. The theme of the 2005 Youth Tour was “Commitment to Community.” Highlights included meeting with their elected representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Harkin and Grassley to discuss the process of government and issues of the day – including the national energy bill, and to help increase their knowledge of cooperative electric utilities and American history.

The students have the experience of a lifetime working with peers from other states and the NRECA staff during the Washington stay. While in Washington, D.C., they meet people from all corners of the country and visit historical monuments, museums and Capitol Hill. And they learn about the role of electric cooperatives in the energy industry

In addition to taking in the sights and sounds of the nation’s capital, all the state groups convened for Rural Electric Youth Day on June 20 to learn from public figures and other inspirational speakers.  This year’s Youth Day agenda included Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic Medalist and two-time world Champion Wheelchair Basketball champion.  Mike Schlappi has an inspiring message for every American, young or old: “Just because you can’t stand up, doesn’t mean you can’t stand out.”  As president of Mike Schlappi Communications and confined to a wheelchair, he is spreading that word to audiences ranging from students to chief executive officers, from rookies to Olympic champions, and from small gatherings to major conventions.  The students were also treated to an amazing portrayal of a very influential United States Senator who authored the laws creating the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Rural Electrification Act (REA) in the early 1930s. Nebraska State Senator, David M. Landis told the story of U.S. Senator George W. Norris (R-NE), in character

Since 1964, the nation’s cooperative electric utilities have sponsored approximately 42,000 high school juniors and seniors for visits to their U.S. congressional delegations, energy and grassroots government education sessions, and sightseeing in Washington, D.C.  The Rural Electric Youth Tour is a joint effort of local electric co-ops, such as Access Energy Cooperative, statewide co-op associations, including the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Arlington, Va.