Cooperative Living September 2021 - 4

Our Communities
Vol. 75, No. 9
ISSN 1529-4579
STEVENJOHNSON
Editor
LAURA EMERY
Deputy Editor
GREGG MACDONALD
Senior Writer/Editor
JOHN GROTT
Creative Services Coordinator
AMANDA S. CUNNINGHAM
Marketing Coordinator
JIM ROBERTSON
Member Projects Specialist
TOMMY CAMPBELL
Digital Producer
NINAJACOBS
Administrative Coordinator
To change your subscription,
contact your electric cooperative.
For editorial inquiries, contact
the magazine at (804) 346-3344
or editor@co-opliving.com.
Published by the Virginia, Maryland &
Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives
RUSSELL G. BROWN
Chair
WADE C. HOUSE
Vice Chair
C. MICHAEL SANDRIDGE
Secretary/Treasurer
BRIAN S. MOSIER
President & CEO
Board of Directors: Christopher D. Bott, Belvin Williamson Jr.,
A&N; C. Michael Sandridge, Michael J. Keyser, BARC; George
N. Goin, Gary E.Wood, Central Virginia; Robert E. Arnold,
Micheal E. Malandro, Choptank; Jeannette S. Everett, Steven
A. Harmon, Community; James E. Huffman, Jeff M.Ahearn,
Craig-Botetourt; Patricia S. Dorey, Gregory Starheim, Delaware;
Fletcher B. Jones, John C. Lee Jr., Mecklenburg; Russell
G. Brown, Brad H. Hicks, Northern Neck; Wade C. House,
Stan C. Feuerberg, Northern Virginia; David T. Kindle, Brad
Coppock, Powell Valley; Herbert R. Patrick, Casey J. Logan,
Prince George; Sanford Reaves Jr., John D. Hewa, Rappahannock;
G. Todd Van Horn, Greg S. Rogers, Shenandoah Valley; Frank
W. Bacon, Jeffrey S. Edwards, Southside.
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COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 473-300)
is published 10 times a year, monthly except
for combinedJanuary/February and November/
December issues, by the VMD Association of
Electric Cooperatives. POSTMASTER, address
changes should be sent to: Cooperative Living,
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ADVERTISING published is accepted on the
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customers at the advertised price. Neither this
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Maryland, and Delaware endorse any products
or services advertised herein. If any readers
encounter noncompliance with these standards,
they are asked to inform the Association.
Youth Tour 2021
A spirited march on Williamsburg
OF THE MANY THINGS THAT THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC KNOCKED OFF THE
CALENDAR, one of the most unfortunate was the annual Electric Cooperative
Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. Every year, your electric cooperative sponsors high
school youths to join hundreds of their peers across the country for an immersive experience
in democracy, our nation's capital and all that represents.
Though COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Youth Tours, five electric
cooperatives in Virginia and Maryland conducted a safe, local, mini-tour for 10 deserving students
in late July. They met in Williamsburg, toured the historic area and discussed the cooperative
business model during the two-day tour.
To learn about the legislative process, the youths met with Virginia Dels. Jerrauld C. Jones
of Norfolk and Emily Brewer of Suffolk, and met virtually with three legislators from Maryland.
They also visited the Jamestown Settlement and the Army Transportation Museum, in addition
a stop at Busch Gardens and a cruise on the York River. " I had a great time on REC's Youth
Tour, " says Natalee Coates, a student at Madison County High School, who was sponsored
by Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. " My favorite part was speaking with Dels. Jay Jones
and Emily Brewer. They were amazing to speak with and I learned so much from them. "
In addition to Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, also represented by tour participants
were Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, Choptank Electric Cooperative, Community Electric
Cooperative and Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative. " It's not a full substitute for Youth Tour, but
we wanted to do something special for these students who were nominated by their co-ops, "
says Andrew Vehorn, who coordinates the tour for the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association
of Electric Cooperatives. " Hopefully, we'll be back to a full tour in 2022. " 
For information on Youth Tour, and to view videos and galleries, visit vmdaec.com/youth-tour.
2 | September 2021
co-opliving.com
Our Communities is a story and picture
feature that celebrates the spirit of
co-op country. Have a submission that
depicts your co-op or community?
Contact editor@co-opliving.com.

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Cooperative Living September 2021

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