by Caroline Turcotte
Indiana’s Youth Leadership Council Delegate
(Note to readers: This is the speech Caroline Turcotte presented to electric cooperative leaders in Washington, D.C., in July, after she was selected as Indiana’s delegate to the Youth Leadership Council during last June’s Youth Tour.)
My trip to Washington D.C., is a memory that I will have forever. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association unified all the youth from around the country and brought us to the nation’s capital. We all came from different states. We had different interests, different high school experiences, but we came together through our rural electric cooperatives.
I am sure that the other YLC members would agree with me that there are advantages and disadvantages to living in a rural community.
In a rural community, it is easier to stand out. You develop accountability, leadership skills and responsibility.
One disadvantage is that everyone knows your business. My mom, however, thinks this is an advantage. Another disadvantage is that you are not exposed to much diversity.
I think this trip helps overcome the issue of diversity, because it takes you outside of your community and broadens your view of our country.
We visited many memorials and had the chance to learn about our nation’s history firsthand and in an interactive way. We met with congressmen and discussed the issues that mattered to us.
I experienced some of the history that shaped our country at Gettysburg.
We were awed by the silence and precision of the Marines at the Sunset Parade at the Iwo Jima Memorial.
We saw memorials dedicated to the great minds of Albert Einstein, FDR, Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington.
I went to the National Air and Space Museum where I read a quote that meant something to me. Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins said, “Exploration is not a choice, really; it’s an imperative.”
George Norris and President Roosevelt both had a vision that rural communities could have electric. To them, this vision was an imperative.
To stand up for your beliefs and dare to change a standard takes a leader with passion. I believe any of these youth on YLC could be that leader.
When we went to visit the White House, we saw a man who had been sitting outside the White House for 21 years. For 21 years he sat there, telling others about his stand against nuclear weapons. I thought to myself, “Wow, he is so dedicated to his cause.”
I now realize that he has passion, but he doesn’t have leadership and an organization. That’s what separates him from being a great leader. While I enjoyed listening to him and hearing about his cause, I really wouldn’t follow him anywhere.
We all have new knowledge of the “Our Energy, Our Future” campaign which helps us all think about our energy use and conservation and creates a dialogue between American consumers and our elected officials.
It encourages us to ask questions such as, “With the difficulty of balancing electricity needs and environmental goals, what will you do to keep my electric affordable?” Obviously, this is a very important question.
We learned that over the next 20 years, electric utilities must increase generating capacity by 30 percent just to keep up with projected demands. At the same time, we have pressure to reduce greenhouse emissions. Clearly, there is not an easy solution to this complex problem.
I believe that it will take leadership and the courage to explore new options. Leadership, like the leadership of Norris and FDR, and scientific intelligence like that of Einstein.
Just as Norris would not consider that rural communities should be unserved by electric, we do not believe that people should be without it today or tomorrow due to rising costs.
Exploration is not a choice. We are asking members of Congress to expand electric capacity, fully fund clean electric technologies and make sure that consumers’ bills stay affordable.
Just as Congress funds NASA, Congress could fund exploration of new technologies for electricity. To me, this an imperative, this campaign affects all of our families and will affect generations to come. This is our future.
I’d like to thank the NRECA and Indiana Statewide Association of RECs for making these trips possible. I’d also like to thank my rural electric cooperative, Harrison REMC, for sending me on my first trip to Washington. And thanks to all of the leaders and chaperones, especially Lynn Moore (coordinator of the trip for Indiana), who helped me find my courage.
Caroline Turcotte is currently a senior at Lanesville Junior-Senior High School and will be representing Indiana on the Youth Leadership Council at next month’s national electric cooperative meeting in New Orleans. Her family’s home is served electrically by Harrison REMC.
If you are currently a high school junior — or you know one — who might be interested in the 2009 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., contact your local electric cooperative for details. Application deadlines are in February.