September 2004
29
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
September 2004
Member Newsletter
Middle Georgia
Middle Georgia
The Official Newsletter of Middle Georgia Electric Membership Corporation
P.O. Box 190, Vienna, GA 31092
Each year, approximately 90
Georgia high school students earn the
opportunity to bring their history books
to life with an unforgettable experience.
The students are selected from
Georgia's electric cooperatives to rep-
resent our state as delegates on the
Washington Youth Tour (WYT) over the
course of a week. Two high school
teachers also join the tour, to learn first-
hand about the program.
In 1957, Sen. Lyndon Johnson initi-
ated the beginning of the WYT when
he suggested "sending youngsters to
the national capital, where they can
actually see what the flag stands for
and represents." Since 1965, an all-
expenses-paid trip to our state's and
nation's capitals gives a greater respect
of the price of freedom: Faces are con-
nected to Holocaust victims' names,
rows of white crosses at the Arlington
Cemetery stretch as far as the eye can
see, and a 19-foot-tall Abraham
Lincoln gazes into each ambitious
set of eyes.
More than 1,400 students from 43
states travel to Washington, D.C., for
the tour. Georgia's EMCs have funded
this unique experience for 39 years.
What is the Washington Youth Tour?
BY ERIN CHUPP, GEORGIA MAGAZINE EDITORIAL INTERN
Middle Georgia EMC's Washington Youth
Tour winners pose with Member Services
Supervisor Robert Herman. The Youth Tour
delegates are (left to right) Talisha Lawson,
Dooly County; Ben Selph,Wilcox County;
and Rachel Morgan, Dooly County.
`It can change your life!'
The `awesome Washington Youth Tour' kids
very school year, Georgia's electric membership corporations (EMCs)
continue a leadership tradition that takes place in area high
schools--they get the ball rolling for the Washington Youth Tour.
It costs the students nothing; the EMCs foot the bill, investing in
the future leaders of our community and state. As Julia Schuchard, a
delegate representing Walton EMC in Monroe, says, "It is not just a
week of sightseeing. It is even more than a chance to meet other stu-
dents from across the nation and shake hands with congressmen. I
gained a new sense of pride in my country and respect for those who
fight to defend the freedoms it offers." Following are insights from
other delegates ...
How it changed their
views of the world:
·
Faren Rachels (Georgia
Electric Membership Corp.--
GEMC/Washington EMC,
Sandersville): The time we got
to spend with our congressmen
is something I will always
remember. We got to ask them
questions and talk about issues
we were concerned with.
·
Erin Garner (Hart EMC,
Hartwell): We listened to bril-
liant speakers who inspired me
to make a difference, and I
found out what legislators actu-
ally do all day (and how hectic
it can be).
(Continued on page 30)
`It can change your life!'
The `awesome Washington Youth Tour' kids
E
30
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
Above: (front row) Sarah Griffin (Planters EMC, Millen), Erin
Garner (Hart EMC, Hartwell), Rachel Morgan (Middle Georgia
EMC, Vienna) and (back row) Kayla Sasser (Planters EMC, Millen),
Faren Rachels (GEMC), Emily Brantley (Washington EMC,
Sandersville) and Kristin Rivers (Jefferson Energy,Wrens) ham it
up during the Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps War
Memorial. Left: Matt Henning (Snapping Shoals EMC, Covington),
Emily Brantley, Sherry Moon (Rayle EMC,Washington), Melanie
Hollingsworth (Okefenoke REMC, Nahunta) and Allison
Durrence (Canoochee EMC, Reidsville) get ready to "perform
for their plate" on Friday night.
·
Rebecca Gaal (Sawnee EMC, Cumming):
It opened my eyes even wider to solidify my
desire to enter law and politics.
·
Matt Henning (Snapping Shoals EMC,
Covington): Once I saw those monuments, I
was not only happy to finally see them, but
I also realized how much I really love this
country.
·
Julia Schuchard: Meeting and speaking
with representatives of Congress made me
realize that the issues debated in Washington
have an impact on my life and that I can
have a voice in those issues.
·
Josh Dunn (Oconee EMC, Dudley): The
tour instilled in me a great respect and pride
for our country, a better understanding of
the EMCs of Georgia and, most
important, equipped me to be
a better leader in Wilkinson
County, Georgia.
How it affected
their lives:
·
Ann O'Neal (Carroll EMC,
Carrollton): The WYT helped
me realize that I needed to get
more involved with my govern-
ment and better familiarize
myself with what is going on in
the world today.
·
Callan McDermott (GEMC/Coastal Electric,
Midway): The WYT has changed the way I look at my
future in many ways, because it has helped me realize
how much I love Georgia and that I want to live here
and start a career here. I learned many things about
myself on the Washington Youth Tour--I realized that
I could be anything I want to be when I get older.
·
Heather Nesom (Satilla REMC, Alma): It taught me
it was OK to disagree with someone and not to be
afraid to express my views.
·
Faren Rachels: I learned that I can be a leader in
ways I never thought of before. I learned I can make a
difference in my school, my community and my country.
·
Erin Garner: I left Washington inspired, in awe and
ready to change the world.
·
Bliss Kotal (Hart EMC, Hartwell): I realized how
many other students there are in the United States who
care about making a difference, who have such great
leadership skills.
A few of my favorite things ...
"I enjoyed every single event, but the Spy and Holocaust museums were
my favorites."
Ann O'Neal, Carroll EMC, Carrollton
"The cruise down the Potomac River. We had so much fun dancing and
getting to know each other and the people on the boat from other states."
Heather Nesom, Satilla REMC, Alma
"During the rally and the riverboat cruise, we all got a chance to bond
and really be proud of where we were from."
Callan McDermott, GEMC/Coastal Electric, Midway
Ann O'Neal (Carroll EMC, Carrollton) hears
from U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston as he addresses
Georgia youth at the congressional luncheon.
BYR
ON McCOMBS,
BLUE RIDGE MOUNT
AIN EMC
September 2004
31
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
A sentinel and bugler
approach the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier
in preparation for the
Georgia delegation's
wreath-laying ceremony.
Standing tall at the World War II Memorial, left to right:
Faren Rachels, Amelia Studdard (Jefferson Energy, Wrens),
Jeremy Rowland (Jefferson Energy), Erin Garner (Hart
EMC), Rachael Wood (Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Young
Harris), Kristin Rivers (Jefferson Energy) and Kyle Staton
(Blue Ridge Mountain EMC).
"You don't realize it's
educational until you
think about it when you
get home and you real-
ize, `Hey, I learned a lot
on that trip.'"
Heather Nesom,
Satilla REMC, Alma
What they will remember:
·
Rebecca Gaal: The Korean,
Vietnam and World War II memorials
brought tears to my eyes because I
never really considered the number of
lives that paid the ultimate price for
my freedoms.
·
Ann O'Neal: My most memorable
moment was watching four of our
Youth Tour representatives participate
in the "laying of the wreath" at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
·
Emily Anne Brantley (Washington EMC, Sandersville): Touring the mon-
uments (World War II, Jefferson, FDR and Washington) at sunset with friends
and admiring the beautiful structures was awesome!
·
Callan McDermott: The National Youth Day Rally, the World War II
Memorial and the riverboat cruise.
Talk about déjà vu. I arrive in
Atlanta to serve as a chaperone for
the Washington Youth Tour (WYT)
and one of the first people I meet is
Bill Verner. What makes this meet-
ing unusual is that we had both
been here exactly 20 years earlier,
myself as a wide-eyed high school
junior and Bill as my WYT chaper-
one/director.
In many ways we've changed a
lot over the last 20 years, but in
other ways we're still the same. I
would say the same thing about the
WYT. The WYT is still about recog-
nizing and building leadership
among Georgia's youth. It still
involves a highly competitive selec-
tion process that brings together
outstanding students from all over
the state. The institutions and
memorials we visited are still awe-
inspiring. I think the students will
still tell you, as I would have in
1984, that this was one
of the most memorable
trips of their young lives.
As far as the differ-
ences go, several are
notable. The current
group is twice as large.
New memorials have also
been built since 1984. I
enjoyed the World War II, Korean
and Roosevelt memorials. I was
especially moved by the Holocaust
Memorial Museum, which opened
in 1993. It is hard to find the words
to adequately describe the feelings
that this visit invoked. I will never
forget it.
As an EMC member and cus-
tomer, this is a program in which
I can take great pride. I am thankful
for having been selected, in 1984
and 2004, to attend the tour. Our
guides and coordinators were
experienced and knowledgeable.
I enjoyed the week that I spent with
the students and the other chaper-
ones. Here's the deal--I'll do this
again in 2024, but only if Bill agrees
to go too.
A chaperone for this year's WYT,
Andrea Williams teaches science at
Bleckley County High School in
Cochran. Originally from Eastman,
she holds a doctorate in educational
administration from Georgia South-
ern University. She would love to hear
from any of the 1984 Youth Tour
participants; e-mail her at
awaw@direcway.com.
Youth Tour, then and now
BY ANDREA WILLIAMS
A 1984 Youth Tour delegate, Andrea Williams (left,
center), a Cochran resident and teacher, revisits the
Washington Youth Tour as a chaperone this year. At
right, she poses with Sen. Zell Miller.
32
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
Through their eyes
BY THATCHER YOUNG
"I now have 87 people through-
out the state I can always call
upon whenever I need anything."
Callan McDermott,
GEMC/Coastal Electric, Midway
Daily we hear stories of our
troubled teenagers, as if they are a
lost generation. We have allowed a
few bad apples to spoil the barrel,
completely ignoring the many teens
who are true leaders in their
schools and communities.
This summer, I joined 88
Georgia high school students for the
Washington Youth Tour. It was a joy
to share the shrines of liberty and
democracy that crown our state and
nation's capitals. To witness the stu-
dents' awe as they stood in front of
the symbols of unity and sacrifice
that created this greatest of nations
inspired awe in me.
On a sunset tour of the newly
dedicated World War II Memorial,
we listened to veterans recall their
experiences in battle in Europe and
on the Pacific. Their stories of
courage and sacrifice brought
home to these students that--at
their very same age--these young
men and women had answered
the cries of freedom and liberty,
and put their lives on the line in
sacrifice for so many.
Students and chaperones were
reminded that our country is today
answering the call to do battle
against enemies of liberty. It was
encouraging to see these students
recognize that sacrifice and, for
me, it was an amazing opportunity
to glimpse the future of our state,
nation and world through the
eyes of future leaders. These
teenagers are the future, and that
future is bright.
Thatcher Young is staff assistant
for Government Relations
at GEMC.
Rachel Morgan (Middle Georgia EMC), Bliss Kotal (Hart EMC), Erin Garner
(Hart EMC), Sarah Griffin (Planters EMC), Kayla Sasser (Planters EMC) and
Kiah Busch (Amicalola EMC, Jasper) enjoy dinner at the Hard Rock Café.
Why take the tour?
·
Emily Anne Brantley: The Washington Youth Tour
would not have been the same if I did not get to meet
all of the other delegates, chaperones and coordinators
from Georgia. I got to make many friendships I will
cherish forever.
·
Rebecca Gaal: You're surrounded by rich history,
frozen moments in time, spectacular architectural sights
and tributes to those who made freedom possible.
[Also] consider the nights out spent danc-
ing, eating and making enough friends to
last a lifetime!
·
Ann O'Neal: You can meet many dif-
ferent people and form with those people
bonds you will keep forever.
·
Julia Schuchard: Tour-goers will form
friendships with other amazing students
who are sure to become leaders.
·
Faren Rachels: Don't let this opportu-
nity slip by. Amazing people have made
this wonderful trip possible and it is truly
the experience of a lifetime.
GEORGIA Magazine would like to thank
Gale Cutler, a Washington Youth Tour director
for Georgia, for her help in producing this
story--and for her guidance on the tour!
Rachael Wood (Blue Ridge
Mountain EMC), Josh Dunn
(Oconee EMC, Dudley) and Emily
Thomas (Little Ocmulgee EMC,
Alamo) pose in front of the
Supreme Court building.
Chris Reid (Flint Energies,
Reynolds) meets his congressman,
Rep. Jim Marshall, at Georgia's
congressional luncheon.