WECA Youth Leadership Congress
Billy Marshall, Dana Peterson and Jacob Joseph Attend 2011 Youth Leadership Congress
Marshall and Joseph Elected to Youth Board
Richland Electric Cooperative (REC) sponsored three area high school students, Billy Marshall, Dana Peterson and Jacob Joseph to attend the 2011 Youth Leadership Congress (YLC). The event is held annually at the UW-River Falls campus and the students were chaperoned by REC Member Service Representative Jeff Joseph.
Dana is the daughter of REC members Dane & Traci Peterson and attends Richland Center High School. Billy is the son of REC members Paul & Gail Marshall and attends Kickapoo High School. Jacob is the son of REC members Jeff & Gloria Joseph and also attends Kickapoo High School.
Understanding the cooperative difference and identifying traits of leaders were just two of the topics highlighted at the 48th edition of YLC. Through a mix of workshop sessions, hands-on activities, and team-building experiences, over 130 students sponsored by electric cooperatives throughout the State of Wisconsin were exposed to a variety of real-life issues and were given the opportunity to identify and explore their leadership potential.
That potential was realized when Marshall and Joseph each ran for a position on the YLC Youth Board and both were selected from their peers to represent them in the coming year. As board members, they will help plan and conduct next year's meeting and are eligible to attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. in June of 2012.
In addition to the hands-on workshops, top-notch professional speakers, teen peers, and exceptional cooperative employees provided participants with information and tools to deal with the weighty issues high school students face every day. Dr. David Trechter, UW-River Falls opened the conference with an interactive session on "The Cooperative Difference." Also featured at this year's YLC was nationally acclaimed speaker Craig Hillier. As a part of his dynamic presentation, Hillier enlightened students about being leaders, stretching their creativity and discovering the value of cooperation.
Other sessions focused on how and why co-ops operate and the benefits they provide members. Sessions on alternative energy, careers in electric cooperatives, talking with your legislator, and credit unions were also held.
Billy Marshall, Dana Peterson and Jacob Joseph