Katherine Robillard of Morganza, Louisiana recently returned from Anahiem, where she served on the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) during its 66th Annual Meeting, February 22-27, 2008. 

Representing Louisiana and sponsored by the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives in Baton Rouge, Robillard joined young people from 44 other states in assiting the national trade association conduct its Annual Meeting, which drews more than 8,800 electric co-op leaders from around the country.  Robillard traveled with the co-op leaders from Louisiana including board of directors, general manager, and Pointe Coupee Electric's President Jimmy Ewing of Morgana.  Ewing is currently service as the National Rural Utiliites Cooperative Finance Corporation District 8 Board of Director (Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma).  In addition to performing specific jobs at the big event, YLC members have the opportunity to increase their knowledge about national entergy issues affecting electric cooperatives and teh consumers they serve.

Robillard worked at the NRECA Congressional Action Center, encouraging cooperative members to contact their Senators and U.S. Representatives on key co-op issues, including protecting electricity consumers.

Other typical YLC duties included providing assistance to NRECA staff, participating in educational forums and helping meeeting attendees by staffing the Information Booth.  The YLC was a central part of the opening general session ceremony, which showcased Robillard carrying her Louisiana flag to the stage during the Parade of States.  The YLC was the focus of another plenary session during which each YLC member was introduced to the assembled delegates.

Robillard said she had the experience of a lifetime while working with peers and the NRECA staff during the Annual Meeting. "I can't believe all of the people I met and all of the memories I will keep forever. I've learned so much about the electric co-op industry and how important it is to our future," she said.

The Youth Leadership Council is an extension of the Rural Electric Youth Tour, a group of nearly 1,500 high school students who are sponsored jointly by NRECA, local electric cooperatives and statewide associations in 45 states.  The Youth Tour meets in Washington, D.C., in June of each year where they visit with their state delegations in both the U.S. House and Senate, attend educational seminars and visit historical landmarks.  Each state attending The Youth Tour selects a representative for the YLC. The YLC then attends a week-long summer Leadership Conference back in Washington, D.C., where participants take courses on leadership and learn to write and deliver speeches. A national spokesperson is selected during this Leadership Conference to address both the NRECA Annual Meeting in the spring and the Youth Tour delegates the following summer in Washington, D.C.

NRECA is the national service organization representing the nation's more than 900 private consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide electric service to 40 million people in 47 states.