2017 Youth Tour brochure with study guide

Information for Parents: Tallahassee Trip Information

Instructions and trip itinerary and agenda will be included with the additional information you receive after you complete your Youth Tour application and return it to WFEC. Students should wear Youth Tour shirts & jeans (shirts will be delivered to the school prior to the trip).

Students will need to bring business casual clothes for Feb. 9. We will return by 2:30 or 3:00 p.m.

Students may call when we leave Tallahassee to provide an approximate arrival time.

WFEC Chaperones

Three chaperones who are employees of WFEC will accompany your student to Tallahassee.

Candace Croft, Youth Tour Coordinator

WFEC Youth Tour Banquet

WFEC’s annual Youth Tour competition & banquet for a trip to Washington, D.C. will be on February 21, 2017 at Rivertown Community Church, 4534 Lafayette Street, Marianna, Florida 32446. Each student will have 10 minutes to answer questions posed by the judges. Each student has been given a study guide with some questions that might be asked. Students will need to be dressed in business attire and arrive 15 minutes early.

After the interviews are completed, there will be a banquet for all YT participants, their families, school administrators, guidance counselors, superintendents and WFEC board members. It will start at 6:00 p.m. Invitations will be mailed to each YT participant’s family at a later date.

Terry Mullen, Manager of Marketing & Communications One additional employee who will be determined at a later date based on the number of male & female students participating in YT.

WFEC Phone Numbers

(850) 263-3231 or (800) 342-7400

Where We Will Stay

Fairfield Inn, (850) 210-1210 2977 Apalachee Parkway, 32301 Hampton Inn, (850) 309-1300 2979 Apalachee Parkway, 32301

For Questions

Candace Croft Communications & Public Relations Coordinator Cell: (850) 326-0475 Email: ccroft@westflorida.coop Office: (850) 263-3231, ext. 1178

For additional information about the Youth Tour Program visit: www.westflorida.coop Facebook.com/wfecyouthtour www.youthtour.org

2016 WFEC Youth Tour winners: Seth Alday, Altha School and Lauren Kinman, Chipley High School pose in front of the Washington Monument in June 2016.

2017

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2016 Youth Tour Participants in Tallahassee

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Each year, WFEC, along with the Florida Electric Cooperative Association (FECA), sponsors a separate Youth Tour essay contest for the children & grandchildren WFEC of employees and trustees.

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You must be a high school junior and your parents/guardians must be members of West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC must be your electricity provider). Each high school in WFEC’s service area selects one student to represent them.

All students chosen will be required to participate in the two-day, all-expenses paid trip to Tallahassee. Failure to attend the Tallahassee trip will automatically disqualify students from competing for the trip to Washington, D.C. and the scholarship program (unless prior approval to miss the trip is received from WFEC).

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The purpose is to get you out of the classroom and familiarize you with the utility that brings electricity to your life. You’ll also get a firsthand look at the activities of our government in Tallahassee and Washington.

Because you could win a FREE trip to Washington, D.C., for one week and make lots of new friends!

Even if you’re not selected as one of the two finalists, you’ll still get that FREE two-day trip to Tallahassee with other juniors from Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson & Washington counties. You will also have the opportunity to win a $4,000 college scholarship!

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Electric cooperatives from all over the country hold competitions like this one. You’ll meet up with these students in Washington, D.C. in June, if you win. Once there, you’ll get a chance to meet & talk with congressional leaders from Florida at the U.S. Capitol, plus you’ll get to see all the sites and visit some really cool places!

Why Should I Participate?

Ma r s h

Youth Tour (YT) is an annual contest sponsored

by West Florida Electric Cooperative that gives high school juniors, like you, the opportunity to use their knowledge and wit to compete for a FREE week-long trip to Washington, D.C. Everyone who participates in WFEC’s Youth Tour program will go to Tallahassee for two days, all-expenses-paid. Not only will you possibly win a free trip to Washington, D.C., but you could also win a $4,000 scholarship to Chipola College! One scholarship will be awarded to one YT participant from each county!

Choctawha tch

What is Youth Tour?

Youth Tour Study Guide Page 3:

Walton Holmes

Youth Tour Program Overview:

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Taken from the WFEC Bylaws: The territory served or to be served by the cooperative shall be divided into nine (9) districts, and each district shall be represented by one trustee. The original nine (9) district shall be as follows: District 1 - That part of Calhoun County served by the cooperative. Trustee: Ellis Nichols District 2 - That part of Jackson County lying east of the Chipola River and between the north line of Calhoun County and the south line of Township 6 North. Trustee: Eugene Alford District 3 - That part of Jackson County lying east of Marshall Creek, north of the south line of Township 6 North. Trustee: John Patrick District 4 - That part of Jackson County lying west of Marshall Creek, west of the Chipola River, north of U.S. Hwy. 90 and east of Holmes Creek. Trustee: John Adams District 5 - That part of Jackson County south of U.S. Hwy. 90 and west of the Chipola River.

Trustee: A.C. Miles District 6 - That part of Washington County served by the cooperative. Trustee: George Clayton Owens District 7 - That part of Holmes County lying east of State Road 79 from the south boundary of Holmes County to the junction of State Road 79 and State Road 177 and that portion of Holmes County lying east of State Road 177. Trustee: Randy Bush

2016 YT participants were: (l-r) Emilee Crawford, Holmes Co. HS; Citlali Gutierrez, Blountstown HS; Lauren Kinman, Chipley HS; Hillary Oliver, Sneads HS; Kellie Coatney, Poplar Springs School; Case Birge, Graceville HS; Yakira Taylor, Malone School; Brad Vickery, Cottondale HS and Seth Alday, Altha School.

District 8 - That portion of Holmes County lying west of State Road 79, from the junction of State Road 177 and State Road 79 to the south county line of Holmes County and east of the Choctawhatchee River.

Trustee: Joe Rone District 9 - That part of Holmes County lying west of the Choctawhatchee River. Trustee: Myron Hudson

Youth Tour Study Guide Page 2: What does the acronym G&T stand for?

Generation and Transmission

How will the 2 finalists, alternate & scholarship recipients be selected?

Finalists will be chosen based on a 10-minute interview with three judges in February. When filling out the application, each student is required to turn in a brief essay about themselves to help the judges get to know them & formulate interview questions. Students will be scored using the score guide below & those with the highest accumulated scores overall and for each county will be selected as the trip & scholarship winners.

What energy sources are used to generate the elctricity your cooperative uses? Coal, natural gas, hydro, compresssed air, biomass & wind in limited amounts How did electric cooperatives get started? In rural America in the 1930s, only the most affluent farmers and ranchers or those living near towns could get electricity. Rural residents wanted the same benefits enjoyed by their city friends and neighbors. Investor-owned utilities (example: Gulf Power) would not extend power lines into the countryside because the farms were spread so far apart and they thought it would not be profitable for them.

In 1935, the federal government became involved to bring electricity to the rural areas.

On May 11, 1935, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 7037 establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA).

Groups of dedicated volunteers began going door to door to sign people up and collect a $5 membership fee. The $5 fee was a hardship for some, but they managed to find the money because they wanted electricity. WFEC’s membership fee is still $5 today.

What is RUS? The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture agency that continues the former Rural Electrification Administration’s (REA’s) mission of assisting rural utilities in providing electricity. However, the RUS’s role is broader, encompassing rural infrastructure such as water and telecommunications.

What is the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)? A service organization representing more than 1,000 rural electric systems in 47 states. NRECA is not supported by government funds nor is it an agency of the federal government.

Youth Tour Competition: How can I win?

Study, study, study! This booklet contains everything you need to know about WFEC, the history of electric cooperatives and the history of Youth Tour. It’s also a good idea to stay up-to-date on current events.

What will I need to know for my interview?

Seth Alday (l), Altha School & Lauren Kinman (r), Chipley High School were selected as the winners of WFEC’s 2016 YT competition & traveled to Washington, D.C. where they met several elected officials, including Congresswoman Gwen Graham (center).

What is the Florida Electric Cooperative Association (FECA)? A state-wide service organization created by the Florida Electric Cooperatives to furnish services to the co-ops that could not be economically provided by each individual cooperative. They handle legislative affairs, job training and safety, insurance, credit unions, publications, and many more services to Florida cooperatives, including coordinating the Washington Youth Tour Program.

What is Touchstone Energy®? Touchstone Energy® is a nationwide partnership of cooperative energy providers. As a Touchstone Energy® cooperative, co-ops can pool their resources, offer better services and participate in nationwide commitment to be the best energy providers possible.

Touchstone Energy® partners are locally owned, locally based energy cooperatives that are more concerned with people than with profits.

What are the four core principles of the Touchstone Energy® brand? Integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.

WFEC has supplied a study guide to each school’s designated representative (in this booklet).

Judges will select two winners & one alternate for the trip to D.C. and four scholarship winners (the highest score for each county) based on the highest accumulated scores & the percentages below. Winners will be announced at WFEC’s Youth Tour Banquet on February 21, 2017.

How will I be scored?

Communication Skills: Personality: Knowledge of Subject: Poise/Appearance: Community Service:

25 25 25 15 10

points points points points points

Communication Skills/Personality: Maintain good eye contact, speak in a clear & audible voice and avoid speech interrupters such as uh, um, ah, you know, like, etc. The judges are looking for students that smile, are bright, cheerful and engaging, and are truly interested in the Youth Tour program.

Knowledge of Subject: Study this guide and other materials provided by WFEC. Poise/Appearance: Be sure to maintain good posture and don’t fidget during the interview.

Dress appropriately for the interview (something you’d wear to a job interview or church) and do not chew gum.

Community Service: Tell the judges how you contribute to your community by volunteering.

2016 Winners of the $4,000 Chipola College scholarships were: (l-r) Emilee Crawford, Holmes County; Hillary Oliver, Jackson County; Lauren Kinman, Washington County & Seth Alday, Calhoun County (not pictured). Pictured with WFEC Trustee, John Patrick.

Questions? *Please call/email if you have questions regarding your Trustee or this study guide.

Some interview questions will be taken from it, but a variety of personality & current events questions could also be asked. Judges may also ask about school, family, career plans, college, etc.

Two winners & one alternate will be selected for the D.C. trip based on the highest accumulated scores. Four scholarship winners will also be selected based on the highest accumulated scores (the highest score for each county) and announced following the interviews at the banquet. All winners will be announced at the YT Banquet following the interviews.*

Youth Tour Study Guide Page 1:

Important Dates:

What is West Florida Electric Cooperative Association, Inc.? A not-for-profit corporation that was incorporated in 1937 under the laws of Florida for the purpose of providing electric service to its members at cost.

December 16, 2016 Deadline for schools to choose a participant and have paperwork returned to WFEC.

How are trustees selected to serve on the cooperative’s board? There are nine trustees.

They are voted on and elected by the members.

Three trustees are elected each year for a threeyear term. Each trustee is from a different district to assure that every area is represented.

February 8-9, 2017 All Youth Tour participants will spend two educational & fun-filled days in Tallahassee, touring Florida’s capital city.

Who is the trustee from your district or area? *See Page 3 of this study guide to determine*

February 21, 2017

Who is the current President of the cooperative’s Board of Trustees? Myron Hudson

Participants will meet for the local WFEC Youth Tour Banquet and competition at Rivertown Community Church, 4534 Lafayette Street, Marianna, Florida 32446.

June 10-15, 2017 Two winners from the WFEC local competition will join other Youth Tour winners from across the state for a six-day tour of Washington, D.C.

Youth Tour History

The Washington Rural Electric Youth Tour is a group of nearly 1,600 high school juniors who visit Washington, D.C. every June. Once a year, WFEC selects two students as delegates for the Washington, D. C. Youth Tour program, which offers valuable opportunities for student leaders to learn more about American history, government and the role of electric cooperatives. Delegates enjoy a week-long, all-expensepaid trip to the nation’s capital.

Youth Tour was inspired by Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson during an address at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) annual meeting in Chicago in 1957. The Senator & future president declared, “If one thing goes out of this meeting, it will be sending youngsters to the nation’s Capitol where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.”

In 1958, a rural electric cooperative in Iowa sponsored the first group of 34 young people on a week-long study tour of the nation’s capitol. Later that same year, another group came to Washington from Illinois. The idea continued to grow and other states began sending bus loads of students throughout the summer. By 1959, the “Youth Tour” had grown to 130 students.

In 1964, NRECA began coordinating joint activities among the state delegations and suggested that coop representatives from each state arrange to be in Washington, D.C. during Youth Tour week. The first year of the coordinated tour included approximately 400 young people from 12 states. Word of the program has continued to spread and today, more than 1,600 students participate in Youth Tour. West Florida Electric began participating in this program in 1979 and has sent nearly 100 students on the trip.

Who is the Executive Vice President & CEO of West Florida Electric Cooperative and what are his responsibilities? Russell Dunaway. The EVP & CEO is selected by the Board of Trustees to oversee the day-to-day operations of the cooperative within the policies established by the board.

How many meters does the cooperative serve?

Approximately 28,000 How many miles of line does the cooperative have? Approximately 4,525 What counties does WFEC serve? Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson and Washington How many members per mile of line does WFEC serve? Approximately six Who owns WFEC? Its members How much is WFEC’s membership fee? $5 What is a cooperative? A business enterprise jointly owned and equally controlled by those who use it. It is a form of business more interested in service to people than making money, though it must take in money to pay its way.

What is the purpose of the co-op’s annual meeting? The annual meeting of members is required by the bylaws of the cooperative. WFEC members elect trustees to the board and amend the bylaws by mail ballot prior to the meeting, but the meeting must be held each year.

What is a distribution cooperative? An electric cooperative that purchases wholesale power and delivers it to its members. WFEC is a distribution co-op.

How is a cooperative non-profit? After all expenses are paid at the end of the year, any excess revenue (margins) is assigned on the cooperative books to members who used the service on a pro-rated basis. The co-op retains these funds, called Capital Credits, to use as operating funds. As the funds increase to the point that the co-op has more than is needed for operating funds, portions of these Capital Credits are refunded to the members on a first in-first out (FIFO) basis.

Do cooperatives pay taxes? Yes, rural electric cooperatives pay taxes on the same basis as other businesses. The only tax cooperatives do not pay is income tax. There is no profit, so there is no income tax to pay.

NRECA’s members provide electricity to approximately: 42 million people in 47 states What is PowerSouth? PowerSouth is a generation and transmission cooperative (G&T) headquartered in Andalusia, Alabama. They provide electricity to sixteen distribution cooperatives in Alabama & Northwest Florida (including WFEC), four municipalities and two industrial mills. West Florida Electric is a member-owner of PowerSouth just as those who use its services are member-owners of WFEC. What is a G&T? Generation and transmission cooperatives are power supply cooperatives owned by a group of distribution cooperatives. G&Ts generate power or purchase it from public or investor-owned utilities or both.

Youth Tour Study Guide Page 1:

Important Dates:

What is West Florida Electric Cooperative Association, Inc.? A not-for-profit corporation that was incorporated in 1937 under the laws of Florida for the purpose of providing electric service to its members at cost.

December 16, 2016 Deadline for schools to choose a participant and have paperwork returned to WFEC.

How are trustees selected to serve on the cooperative’s board? There are nine trustees.

They are voted on and elected by the members.

Three trustees are elected each year for a threeyear term. Each trustee is from a different district to assure that every area is represented.

February 8-9, 2017 All Youth Tour participants will spend two educational & fun-filled days in Tallahassee, touring Florida’s capital city.

Who is the trustee from your district or area? *See Page 3 of this study guide to determine*

February 21, 2017

Who is the current President of the cooperative’s Board of Trustees? Myron Hudson

Participants will meet for the local WFEC Youth Tour Banquet and competition at Rivertown Community Church, 4534 Lafayette Street, Marianna, Florida 32446.

June 10-15, 2017 Two winners from the WFEC local competition will join other Youth Tour winners from across the state for a six-day tour of Washington, D.C.

Youth Tour History

The Washington Rural Electric Youth Tour is a group of nearly 1,600 high school juniors who visit Washington, D.C. every June. Once a year, WFEC selects two students as delegates for the Washington, D. C. Youth Tour program, which offers valuable opportunities for student leaders to learn more about American history, government and the role of electric cooperatives. Delegates enjoy a week-long, all-expensepaid trip to the nation’s capital.

Youth Tour was inspired by Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson during an address at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) annual meeting in Chicago in 1957. The Senator & future president declared, “If one thing goes out of this meeting, it will be sending youngsters to the nation’s Capitol where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.”

In 1958, a rural electric cooperative in Iowa sponsored the first group of 34 young people on a week-long study tour of the nation’s capitol. Later that same year, another group came to Washington from Illinois. The idea continued to grow and other states began sending bus loads of students throughout the summer. By 1959, the “Youth Tour” had grown to 130 students.

In 1964, NRECA began coordinating joint activities among the state delegations and suggested that coop representatives from each state arrange to be in Washington, D.C. during Youth Tour week. The first year of the coordinated tour included approximately 400 young people from 12 states. Word of the program has continued to spread and today, more than 1,600 students participate in Youth Tour. West Florida Electric began participating in this program in 1979 and has sent nearly 100 students on the trip.

Who is the Executive Vice President & CEO of West Florida Electric Cooperative and what are his responsibilities? Russell Dunaway. The EVP & CEO is selected by the Board of Trustees to oversee the day-to-day operations of the cooperative within the policies established by the board.

How many meters does the cooperative serve?

Approximately 28,000 How many miles of line does the cooperative have? Approximately 4,525 What counties does WFEC serve? Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson and Washington How many members per mile of line does WFEC serve? Approximately six Who owns WFEC? Its members How much is WFEC’s membership fee? $5 What is a cooperative? A business enterprise jointly owned and equally controlled by those who use it. It is a form of business more interested in service to people than making money, though it must take in money to pay its way.

What is the purpose of the co-op’s annual meeting? The annual meeting of members is required by the bylaws of the cooperative. WFEC members elect trustees to the board and amend the bylaws by mail ballot prior to the meeting, but the meeting must be held each year.

What is a distribution cooperative? An electric cooperative that purchases wholesale power and delivers it to its members. WFEC is a distribution co-op.

How is a cooperative non-profit? After all expenses are paid at the end of the year, any excess revenue (margins) is assigned on the cooperative books to members who used the service on a pro-rated basis. The co-op retains these funds, called Capital Credits, to use as operating funds. As the funds increase to the point that the co-op has more than is needed for operating funds, portions of these Capital Credits are refunded to the members on a first in-first out (FIFO) basis.

Do cooperatives pay taxes? Yes, rural electric cooperatives pay taxes on the same basis as other businesses. The only tax cooperatives do not pay is income tax. There is no profit, so there is no income tax to pay.

NRECA’s members provide electricity to approximately: 42 million people in 47 states What is PowerSouth? PowerSouth is a generation and transmission cooperative (G&T) headquartered in Andalusia, Alabama. They provide electricity to sixteen distribution cooperatives in Alabama & Northwest Florida (including WFEC), four municipalities and two industrial mills. West Florida Electric is a member-owner of PowerSouth just as those who use its services are member-owners of WFEC. What is a G&T? Generation and transmission cooperatives are power supply cooperatives owned by a group of distribution cooperatives. G&Ts generate power or purchase it from public or investor-owned utilities or both.

Youth Tour Study Guide Page 2: What does the acronym G&T stand for?

Generation and Transmission

How will the 2 finalists, alternate & scholarship recipients be selected?

Finalists will be chosen based on a 10-minute interview with three judges in February. When filling out the application, each student is required to turn in a brief essay about themselves to help the judges get to know them & formulate interview questions. Students will be scored using the score guide below & those with the highest accumulated scores overall and for each county will be selected as the trip & scholarship winners.

What energy sources are used to generate the elctricity your cooperative uses? Coal, natural gas, hydro, compresssed air, biomass & wind in limited amounts How did electric cooperatives get started? In rural America in the 1930s, only the most affluent farmers and ranchers or those living near towns could get electricity. Rural residents wanted the same benefits enjoyed by their city friends and neighbors. Investor-owned utilities (example: Gulf Power) would not extend power lines into the countryside because the farms were spread so far apart and they thought it would not be profitable for them.

In 1935, the federal government became involved to bring electricity to the rural areas.

On May 11, 1935, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 7037 establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA).

Groups of dedicated volunteers began going door to door to sign people up and collect a $5 membership fee. The $5 fee was a hardship for some, but they managed to find the money because they wanted electricity. WFEC’s membership fee is still $5 today.

What is RUS? The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture agency that continues the former Rural Electrification Administration’s (REA’s) mission of assisting rural utilities in providing electricity. However, the RUS’s role is broader, encompassing rural infrastructure such as water and telecommunications.

What is the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)? A service organization representing more than 1,000 rural electric systems in 47 states. NRECA is not supported by government funds nor is it an agency of the federal government.

Youth Tour Competition: How can I win?

Study, study, study! This booklet contains everything you need to know about WFEC, the history of electric cooperatives and the history of Youth Tour. It’s also a good idea to stay up-to-date on current events.

What will I need to know for my interview?

Seth Alday (l), Altha School & Lauren Kinman (r), Chipley High School were selected as the winners of WFEC’s 2016 YT competition & traveled to Washington, D.C. where they met several elected officials, including Congresswoman Gwen Graham (center).

What is the Florida Electric Cooperative Association (FECA)? A state-wide service organization created by the Florida Electric Cooperatives to furnish services to the co-ops that could not be economically provided by each individual cooperative. They handle legislative affairs, job training and safety, insurance, credit unions, publications, and many more services to Florida cooperatives, including coordinating the Washington Youth Tour Program.

What is Touchstone Energy®? Touchstone Energy® is a nationwide partnership of cooperative energy providers. As a Touchstone Energy® cooperative, co-ops can pool their resources, offer better services and participate in nationwide commitment to be the best energy providers possible.

Touchstone Energy® partners are locally owned, locally based energy cooperatives that are more concerned with people than with profits.

What are the four core principles of the Touchstone Energy® brand? Integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.

WFEC has supplied a study guide to each school’s designated representative (in this booklet).

Judges will select two winners & one alternate for the trip to D.C. and four scholarship winners (the highest score for each county) based on the highest accumulated scores & the percentages below. Winners will be announced at WFEC’s Youth Tour Banquet on February 21, 2017.

How will I be scored?

Communication Skills: Personality: Knowledge of Subject: Poise/Appearance: Community Service:

25 25 25 15 10

points points points points points

Communication Skills/Personality: Maintain good eye contact, speak in a clear & audible voice and avoid speech interrupters such as uh, um, ah, you know, like, etc. The judges are looking for students that smile, are bright, cheerful and engaging, and are truly interested in the Youth Tour program.

Knowledge of Subject: Study this guide and other materials provided by WFEC. Poise/Appearance: Be sure to maintain good posture and don’t fidget during the interview.

Dress appropriately for the interview (something you’d wear to a job interview or church) and do not chew gum.

Community Service: Tell the judges how you contribute to your community by volunteering.

2016 Winners of the $4,000 Chipola College scholarships were: (l-r) Emilee Crawford, Holmes County; Hillary Oliver, Jackson County; Lauren Kinman, Washington County & Seth Alday, Calhoun County (not pictured). Pictured with WFEC Trustee, John Patrick.

Questions? *Please call/email if you have questions regarding your Trustee or this study guide.

Some interview questions will be taken from it, but a variety of personality & current events questions could also be asked. Judges may also ask about school, family, career plans, college, etc.

Two winners & one alternate will be selected for the D.C. trip based on the highest accumulated scores. Four scholarship winners will also be selected based on the highest accumulated scores (the highest score for each county) and announced following the interviews at the banquet. All winners will be announced at the YT Banquet following the interviews.*

Board of Trustees - District Map Study Guide ESTO

e Riv er

GRACEVILLE

ek

re sC me

£ ¤ 90

COTTONDALE

Rive

CHIPLEY

r

MARIANNA

10

T S 90

§ ¦ ¨

2

PONCE DE LEON ALFORD

6

79

WAUSAU - 4 8 5 3 C 7

- 4 8 5 3 C 7

Washington Jackson

T S VERNON

Township 6 North

ola

2016 Youth Tour Participants in Tallahassee

Jackson Washington

§ ¦ ¨

90

10

BASCOM

GREENWOOD

BONIFAY

10

T S

3

JACOB

C h ip

Each year, WFEC, along with the Florida Electric Cooperative Association (FECA), sponsors a separate Youth Tour essay contest for the children & grandchildren WFEC of employees and trustees.

90

§ ¦ ¨

CARYVILLE

4

H ol

T S 177

£ ¤

MALONE

l

ek

You must be a high school junior and your parents/guardians must be members of West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC must be your electricity provider). Each high school in WFEC’s service area selects one student to represent them.

All students chosen will be required to participate in the two-day, all-expenses paid trip to Tallahassee. Failure to attend the Tallahassee trip will automatically disqualify students from competing for the trip to Washington, D.C. and the scholarship program (unless prior approval to miss the trip is received from WFEC).

7

8

WESTVILLE

Am I eligible to compete?

CAMPBELLTON

re

9

e

:

NOMA

lC

The purpose is to get you out of the classroom and familiarize you with the utility that brings electricity to your life. You’ll also get a firsthand look at the activities of our government in Tallahassee and Washington.

Because you could win a FREE trip to Washington, D.C., for one week and make lots of new friends!

Even if you’re not selected as one of the two finalists, you’ll still get that FREE two-day trip to Tallahassee with other juniors from Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson & Washington counties. You will also have the opportunity to win a $4,000 college scholarship!

a

Electric cooperatives from all over the country hold competitions like this one. You’ll meet up with these students in Washington, D.C. in June, if you win. Once there, you’ll get a chance to meet & talk with congressional leaders from Florida at the U.S. Capitol, plus you’ll get to see all the sites and visit some really cool places!

Why Should I Participate?

Ma r s h

Youth Tour (YT) is an annual contest sponsored

by West Florida Electric Cooperative that gives high school juniors, like you, the opportunity to use their knowledge and wit to compete for a FREE week-long trip to Washington, D.C. Everyone who participates in WFEC’s Youth Tour program will go to Tallahassee for two days, all-expenses-paid. Not only will you possibly win a free trip to Washington, D.C., but you could also win a $4,000 scholarship to Chipola College! One scholarship will be awarded to one YT participant from each county!

Choctawha tch

What is Youth Tour?

Youth Tour Study Guide Page 3:

Walton Holmes

Youth Tour Program Overview:

Bay

5

§ ¦ ¨

CYPRESS

GRAND RIDGE

SNEADS

10

Jackson Calhoun

Calhoun

ALTHA

1 EBRO

BLOUNTSTOWN

Taken from the WFEC Bylaws: The territory served or to be served by the cooperative shall be divided into nine (9) districts, and each district shall be represented by one trustee. The original nine (9) district shall be as follows: District 1 - That part of Calhoun County served by the cooperative. Trustee: Ellis Nichols District 2 - That part of Jackson County lying east of the Chipola River and between the north line of Calhoun County and the south line of Township 6 North. Trustee: Eugene Alford District 3 - That part of Jackson County lying east of Marshall Creek, north of the south line of Township 6 North. Trustee: John Patrick District 4 - That part of Jackson County lying west of Marshall Creek, west of the Chipola River, north of U.S. Hwy. 90 and east of Holmes Creek. Trustee: John Adams District 5 - That part of Jackson County south of U.S. Hwy. 90 and west of the Chipola River.

Trustee: A.C. Miles District 6 - That part of Washington County served by the cooperative. Trustee: George Clayton Owens District 7 - That part of Holmes County lying east of State Road 79 from the south boundary of Holmes County to the junction of State Road 79 and State Road 177 and that portion of Holmes County lying east of State Road 177. Trustee: Randy Bush

2016 YT participants were: (l-r) Emilee Crawford, Holmes Co. HS; Citlali Gutierrez, Blountstown HS; Lauren Kinman, Chipley HS; Hillary Oliver, Sneads HS; Kellie Coatney, Poplar Springs School; Case Birge, Graceville HS; Yakira Taylor, Malone School; Brad Vickery, Cottondale HS and Seth Alday, Altha School.

District 8 - That portion of Holmes County lying west of State Road 79, from the junction of State Road 177 and State Road 79 to the south county line of Holmes County and east of the Choctawhatchee River.

Trustee: Joe Rone District 9 - That part of Holmes County lying west of the Choctawhatchee River. Trustee: Myron Hudson

Information for Parents: Tallahassee Trip Information

Instructions and trip itinerary and agenda will be included with the additional information you receive after you complete your Youth Tour application and return it to WFEC. Students should wear Youth Tour shirts & jeans (shirts will be delivered to the school prior to the trip).

Students will need to bring business casual clothes for Feb. 9. We will return by 2:30 or 3:00 p.m.

Students may call when we leave Tallahassee to provide an approximate arrival time.

WFEC Chaperones

Three chaperones who are employees of WFEC will accompany your student to Tallahassee.

Candace Croft, Youth Tour Coordinator

WFEC Youth Tour Banquet

WFEC’s annual Youth Tour competition & banquet for a trip to Washington, D.C. will be on February 21, 2017 at Rivertown Community Church, 4534 Lafayette Street, Marianna, Florida 32446. Each student will have 10 minutes to answer questions posed by the judges. Each student has been given a study guide with some questions that might be asked. Students will need to be dressed in business attire and arrive 15 minutes early.

After the interviews are completed, there will be a banquet for all YT participants, their families, school administrators, guidance counselors, superintendents and WFEC board members. It will start at 6:00 p.m. Invitations will be mailed to each YT participant’s family at a later date.

Terry Mullen, Manager of Marketing & Communications One additional employee who will be determined at a later date based on the number of male & female students participating in YT.

WFEC Phone Numbers

(850) 263-3231 or (800) 342-7400

Where We Will Stay

Fairfield Inn, (850) 210-1210 2977 Apalachee Parkway, 32301 Hampton Inn, (850) 309-1300 2979 Apalachee Parkway, 32301

For Questions

Candace Croft Communications & Public Relations Coordinator Cell: (850) 326-0475 Email: ccroft@westflorida.coop Office: (850) 263-3231, ext. 1178

For additional information about the Youth Tour Program visit: www.westflorida.coop Facebook.com/wfecyouthtour www.youthtour.org

2016 WFEC Youth Tour winners: Seth Alday, Altha School and Lauren Kinman, Chipley High School pose in front of the Washington Monument in June 2016.

2017