45th Youth Congress Highlights Cooperation, Leadership
More than 100 high school students participated in this year¹s Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association Youth Leadership Congress at UWRiver Falls in July. The educational program‹the 45th annual event sponsored by Wisconsin¹s electric co-ops‹once again introduced students from across the state to cooperative business basics, demonstrated the value of cooperation in everyday life, and offered sessions to help develop leadership skills. For many students, it provided a first glimpse of what college life is like.
The three-day program also focused on careers with electric cooperatives and topics such as climate change and politics.
Planning for the program is done by six members of the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association Youth Board, a group elected at the previous year¹s Youth Congress. The high school students elected at this year¹s conference include Cassandra Evansen, sponsored by Price Electric Co-op; Allison Langer, Pierce Pepin Co-op Services; Jason Hansen, Clark Electric; Lance Westberg, Pierce Pepin; Ian Begeman, Vernon Electric; and William Weiler, Price Electric. The group will be responsible for helping to plan next year¹s Youth Congress and will be invited to participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour next June.
Electric distribution cooperatives across Wisconsin sponsor students who attend the Youth Congress, paying registration fees that cover meals, housing, and program costs. High school students interested in attending next year¹s conference to be held July 15 17, 2009 should contact the member services representative at their local electric co-op.
