News Releases

Local Students Learn Cooperative Way of Business

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2004

Contact Katie Woodall, 770/266-2572

Jacob Daniel of Watkinsville, Chris Lightfoot of Monroe, Lauren Chandler of Good Hope and Lesly Thomas of Lilburn learned the cooperative business principles through interactive team-building exercises at the 20th annual Georgia Cooperative Council Youth Leadership Conference.

MONROE, Ga. – Local high school students now have a greater understanding and appreciation for the cooperative way of business and the challenges put before elected officials.

Lauren Chandler, Jacob Daniel, Chris Lightfoot and Lesly Thomas attended the 20th annual Georgia Cooperative Council Youth Leadership Conference held July 12-14 in Covington, Ga.

Their participation in the three-day program was sponsored by Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC). Each year, Walton EMC sponsors four high school students who exhibit outstanding leadership abilities to attend the conference.

The Georgia Cooperative Council has educated hundreds of students about cooperatives, built their leadership skills and promoted teamwork through a series of exercises, training and presentations.

A highlight of this year's program included a Congressional Insight Workshop, titled "Sharpen Your Political Skills," presented by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).   The simulation is designed to educate students on the skills needed to become an effective member of Congress.

While serving their "two-year term," students juggled the many demands placed on elected officials. They were required to manage staff, respond to the media, monitor legislation and attend round-the-clock meetings with constituents, lobbyists and colleagues.

"The goal is to teach these students how to interact with their elected officials and to better understand the pressures they face," says Eric Stratton, senior advisor for grassroots advocacy at NRECA. "In doing so, we hope to train the next generation of cooperative and community leaders and grassroots activists."

In addition to the congressional insight workshop, students also attended co-op encounter sessions conducted by Council members from Georgia EMC, Gold Kist, Dairy Farmers of America, Staplcotn, Southern States and the Farm Credit Banks.

The Georgia Cooperative Council is a statewide non-profit association whose members include marketing, supply, financial, electric, telephone, cotton and service cooperatives. The organization's objective is to promote, foster and encourage all types of cooperative associations in Georgia.

Walton EMC is consumer-owned cooperative providing electricity and related services to 105,000 members in ten Northeast Georgia counties.  

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