Staci Phipps to Represent North Carolina in National Leadership Group
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
West Jefferson, North Carolina (July 22, 2004) – Staci Phipps of Creston was recently selected to represent North Carolina on the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). She is the daughter of Mark Phipps and Tammy Hartsoe.
Staci, a student at Ashe County High School, attended the YLC Conference held in July in Washington, DC. The conference agenda included speech presentations skills, grassroots advocacy and a competition for the position of NRECA’s National Youth Spokesperson in 2004-2005. Further, Staci and students from 41 other states attended a team-building workshop to help develop legislative skills by taking part in a role-playing game that simulates the first term of a member of Congress.
Staci’s electric cooperative experience began in June when she was sponsored by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation to attend the Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. along with 1,400 high school students sponsored by their local electric cooperatives. The North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives then selected Staci to serve on the YLC for North Carolina and attend the Leadership Conference at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Washington, D.C.
The conference provided a broader understanding of the electric cooperative industry and the cooperative business model. Another major objective for the student is to write and present a dynamic speech in the selection process for the National Youth Spokesperson who will address the nationwide electric co-op at the NRECA Annual Meeting in 2005.
All members of the YLC, including Staci, will participate in the NRECA Annual Meeting next year. They will provide assistance to the NRECA staff and co-op delegates at the national meeting, participate in the Parade of States at the opening General Session, and take part in a variety of educational activities that will prepare them for future endeavors in the electric co-op industry, government organizations, or community service.
NRECA is the national service organization representing the nation’s more than 900 private, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide electric service to 38 million people in 47 states.
Blue Ridge Electric is a member owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving some 67,000 consumers in Ashe, Alleghany, Watauga, Caldwell, Wilkes and Alexander counties.
