For some people, politics is a touchy subject. For CoServ Electric, it’s the reason we exist. If it wasn’t for our government charter in 1937, you would be receiving service from an investor-owned, for-profit utility (and, as crazy as it sounds, a few of you might not even have electricity yet).
CoServ participates in our government through Rural Friends/ACRE, a non-partisan political action committee that lobbies our stance on current issues. Each year, we also award two students an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to watch our government in action.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association coordinates this trip, and more than 1,500 teens attend every summer. Any high school junior or senior who lives in our service area is eligible.
The lucky students will experience:
- A visit to their congressional representative’s office on Capitol Hill
- Discussions with legislators about current events
- Tours of:
- The Smithsonian Institution
- Washington National Cathedral
- Mount Vernon, home of George Washington
- Arlington National Cemetery
- A wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns
- And much more …
They will also learn:
- What makes cooperatives unique
- How cooperatives from all industries impact our daily lives
- A greater understanding of what America stands for
We begin accepting applications in early winter, so check this page later for details. You may also get further information at the official Youth Tour Web site or by watching a video of last year's Youth Tour highlights.
In addition to the D.C trip, CoServ Electric also grants scholarships to graduating seniors in our service area.