The Youth Leadership Council (YLC) is an extension of the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, a group of more than 1,500 high school students who are sponsored jointly by NRECA, local electric cooperatives, and statewide associations in 45 states.
Every year, one Youth Tour participant is selected from each participating state to make up the YLC. NRECA coordinates a series of educational workshops for the YLC, which cover topics such as the cooperative business model, grassroots advocacy, community service, and careers in public service.
In 2011, Connor Roth of Luzerne, who represented ECI REC on the 2010 Youth Tour, was selected to serve on the YLC. Roth worked at the NRECA Congressional Action Center, encouraging cooperative members to contact their senators and representatives on key co-op issues, including protecting consumers and keeping electricity rates affordable.
“It was really cool to be part of NRECA’s Annual Meeting,” Roth said. “I learned so much about the energy industry and how public policy affects it. And I met people from all across the country. It was an amazing experience.” Prior to attending the YLC, Roth participated in a weeklong summer leadership conference in Washington, D.C., with other YLC representatives, where they took courses on leadership and delivered a speech on what inspired them during the June Youth Tour.
Listen to 2013-2014 Youth Leadership Council Representative Michael Tupper, sponsored by Butler County REC.
