United Cooperative Services January 2010 : Page 1

UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES A MONTHLY INSERT FOR MEMBERS OF UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES YOUTH TOUR CONTEST SET  Two area high school students will win trip to nation’s capital and receive an opportunity to see democracy at work. With all the distractions fac- ing the public these days, it’s easy to lose sight of important elements that have bound our nation to a common purpose—the pursuit of liberty and justice for all. The symbol of our na- tional pride resides in the American fl ag, but our democratic form of government drives the guarantee that freedom will never stand still. Continuing its longstanding commitment for providing young people in its communities an oppor- tunity to learn more about the sig- nifi cance of those ideals, United Co- operative Services will again spon- sor an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for two lucky, deserving high school students. They will join more than 100 other Texas high school stu- dents comprising the Texas delegation. Known as the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, electric co-ops have brought high school students to the nation’s capital every June since the late 1950s. The Please see YOUTH TOUR, PAGE 26 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: HANDING OUT SOME HELP United Cooperative Services unveils robust Energy Innovation program; distributes needed energy efficiency resources to members ..... PAGE 24 Happy New Year! FREE SAVINGS! UNITED CO-OP CONNEC- TIONS CARD BRINGS EXTRA VALUE TO MEMBERS, PAGE ..... 22 RATE WATCH COMPARES UNITED RATES TO OTHER PROVIDERS, PAGE ..... 27 MANAGER’S PERSPECTIVE: WHAT’S A DECADE, ANYWAY? PAGE .....28 JANUARY 2010 UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES 21 PowerTalk

Youth Tour Contest Set

Two area high school students will win trip to nation’s capital and receive an opportunity to see democracy at work

With all the distractions facing the public these days, it’s easy to lose sight of important elements that have bound our nation to a common purpose—the pursuit of liberty and justice for all. The symbol of our national pride resides in the American fl ag, but our democratic form of government drives the guarantee that freedom will never stand still.

Continuing its longstanding commitment for providing young people in its communities an opportunity to learn more about the signifi cance of those ideals, United Cooperative Services will again sponsor an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for two lucky, deserving high school students.

They will join more than 100 other Texas high school students comprising the Texas delegation.

Known as the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, electric co-ops have brought high school students to the nation’s capital every June since the late 1950s. The Opportunity was built on the belief that textbooks and lectures alone are not enough to help young people understand the democratic process and gain the skills necessary to become tomorrow’s leaders.

“Today’s teenagers also need an opportunity to experience government fi rsthand by visiting the nation’s capital and engaging in interactive workshops and discussion,” said United CEO Ray Beavers. “By educating young people and enhancing their self-worth, United hopes to promote and inspire responsible and informed participation in the democratic process, ensuring a stronger future for everyone,” he added.

The two students are selected through an essay contest. The objectives of the Youth Tour are three-fold:

• To educate youth on all aspects of rural electrifi cation in order to promote a better understanding of the value of rural electric cooperatives.

• To provide an opportunity for youth to visit monuments, government buildings and cooperative-related organizations in order to become familiar with the historical and political environment of their nation’s capital.

• To provide an opportunity for youth to meet elected offi cials in order to better understand how their federal government works.

This contest is open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors who attend a high school full-time in United’s service area. Each contestant must complete and submit an application, which can be accessed at www.united-cs.com. The applicant is not required to be a member of United Cooperative Services. Winners of any past Youth Tour are not eligible to enter and immediate family members of United employees or directors are not eligible to enter. Applications must be submitted no later than Monday, February 24, 2010.

“The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour demonstrates our commitment to helping the young people in our communities become the future leaders of our state and our country and we take great pride in playing a part of their growth,” said Beavers

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