Tuesday, May 24, 2016

What Is an Electric Cooperative?

Electric cooperatives are private, not-for-profit businesses governed by their consumers (known in Iowa as member-consumers). Two federal requirements for all co-ops, including electric co-ops, are democratic governance and operation at cost. Specifically, every member-consumer can vote to choose local boards that oversee the co-op, and the co-op must, with few exceptions, return to consumer-members revenue above what is needed for operation. Under this structure, electric co-ops provide economic benefits to their local communities rather than distant stockholders.

The majority of co-ops distribute electricity to consumers through low-voltage residential lines that cover more than 75 percent of the nation’s land mass. Many of these distribution co-ops, as they’re called, have joined to create co-ops that provide them with generation and transmission services. Distribution co-ops also buy power from investor-owned utilities, public power systems, federal hydropower power marketing administrations and the Tennessee Valley Authority..

The Cooperative Principles

Cooperatives around the world operate according to a core set of principles. These principles, along with the cooperative purpose of improving quality of life for their members, make electric cooperatives different from other electric utilities. Youth Tour holds a unique niche by fulfilling both the principles of Concern for Community and Education, Training and Information.

One of my favorite things we do during Youth Tour is we spend some time in an interactive, high-energy session learning about some of the different cooperative and how today’s youth can be part of the cooperative movement. If you know someone going on Youth Tour this year, ask them what they learned during this session! They'll have a lot to share!!


Tuesday, May 17, 2016

The greatest Youth Tour minds with the best advice!

So, you are going on Youth Tour? Here are just a few very practical tips from those that have gone before you. Take heed!

Water, water and more water!! 

  • Keep hydrated! We will have water available. We keep a couple coolers on the bus full of cold water, and will be pushing you to drink water all day, every day. You will also have a refillable water bottle provided to you so you can fill up on the run.
  • Arrive well rested and be prepared to WALK! The average day goes from about 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Yes, this is a long day, and you will be on the go a lot, however, no one ever wishes they had slept more during Youth Tour.
  • If you don’t feel well, tell a chaperone. There are two nurses on call 24-hours a day during Youth Tour.
  • Wear comfortable shoes – we cannot say this enough!
  • Examples of shoes NOT to bring on Youth Tour!
  • Know your number!! All students will get assigned a number. All you have to do is remember your number (it is listed in our schedule booklet). Each time we leave someplace we count off.  Never left anyone behind … don’t plan to this year either!


Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Why I so love Youth Tour and the cooperative business model!

Embracing the cooperative principles of concern for community and the responsibility to educate and inform, the Iowa Youth Tour program seeks to create advocates for the cooperative business model while also giving deserving students an up-close look at U.S. government and American history.

The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperative’s organizes and manages Iowa’s involvement in National Rural Electric Cooperative's annual Youth Tour every June. Participating co-ops select and sponsor high school students with a passion for leadership and government who represent their co-op during the week-long trip to Washington, D.C. On the tour, students learn about electric cooperatives, American history and U.S. government and walk away with a greater understanding of their role as an American citizen. They participate in Youth Day, visit with their representatives and senators, and explore the sights around the nation’s capital. In Iowa, students apply for slots from their local electric cooperative. Each year, approximately 35 students from Iowa join with 1,700 students from the nation for Youth Tour. Students are selected based on their local cooperative’s criteria.

Unique to Iowa Youth Tour students and alumni often engage in the political process through Iowa Rural Power's advocacy effort (http://www.iaruralpower.org/). On the 2015-2016 presidential campaign trail, many former Youth Tour students wore their green Rural Power t-shirts at campaign events, asking candidates about their plans to ensure affordable, reliable electricity in the years ahead.

Many Youth Tour students come back from Youth Tour energized about public service and government. Several of these students serve as pages and clerks in the Iowa legislature, while others go on to become politically involved on their college campuses. We take pride knowing that we’re educating a new generation about the benefits and advantages of the cooperative business model, no matter where their professional careers take them.

One month from today we will be wheels up for Youth Tour 2016! Check this blog to keep up on everything going on with Iowa Youth Tour.

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