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Local Students Tour Washington, D.C.
Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative sponsored three young people at
the 2009 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour held June 12-18 in
Washington, D.C. Graham Bryant, Tara Tackett, and Taylor Clark
were among over 1,500 high school students from across the
country who learned first-hand what it is like to be involved in
politics, community service, and today’s pressing issues.
Bryant is the son of Paula and Don Bryant of South Boston,
Tackett is the daughter of Vickie and Mitchell Tackett of South
Hill, and Clark is the daughter of Deborah and Tony Clark of
Chase City.
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The theme this
year was “Our Energy, Our Future,” and participants learned
that what makes electric cooperatives different from other
utilities is that “giving something back to the community”
is part of their business plan. A highlight of the trip
was meeting with elected representatives in the U.S. House
of Representatives and Senate to discuss the process of
government and issues of the day. As part of the group of 41
students from Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, Mecklenburg
Electric Cooperative participants toured the Capitol, the
Kennedy Center, Arlington National Cemetery, and Mount
Vernon.
For over 40
years the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has been a joint
effort of local electric co-ops, such as Mecklenburg
Electric Cooperative, their statewide co-op associations,
and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
in Arlington, Virginia.
NRECA is the
national service organization representing the nation’s more
than 900 private, not-for-profit consumer-owned electric
cooperatives, which provide electric service to 42 million
people in 47 states. The annual meeting of NRECA will be
held in New Orleans, Louisiana, this year; and each state
delegation at the Youth Tour chose one person to represent
them and serve on the Youth Leadership Council at that
meeting. MEC participant Graham Bryant was chosen to
represent the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware group. He
says, “I have always wanted to be a Virginia State Senator,
and the Youth Tour has taught me that the important thing is
to be a leader that puts others first. I want to thank
Mecklenburg Electric for giving me this opportunity of a
lifetime!” |
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Since 1964,
the nation’s electric cooperatives have sponsored more than
40,000 high school juniors and seniors for visits to their
U.S. congressional delegations, energy and grassroots
government educational sessions, and sightseeing in
Washington.
“Mecklenburg
Electric Cooperative is pleased to provide educational
opportunities for our young people,”
says MEC employee Brian Morris who served as chaperone for
this year’s trip. “I believe the Youth Tour
is an experience that will greatly impact the future of
Graham, Tara, and Taylor and all the young people
who participated.” |
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YOUTH TOUR
2009 |
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Photo Gallery |
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Touring the U. S.
Capitol |
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The Virginia group gathered
for a photo session. |
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Students were
able to enjoy some leisure activities on the Rural Electric
Youth Tour. |
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