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NEWS RELEASE

Consumers Energy
2908 S. Center St.
Marshalltown, IA 50158
800-696-6552

Release Date: Immediate

Contact: Deb Borton @ 641-752-1593
Ann M. Foster @ 515-727-8945

Co-op Youth Tour Focuses On Commitment To Community

Marshalltown, IA — Karley Stineman of Laurel joined more than 1,300 youths from around the country to participate in the Rural Electric Youth Tour, June 14-19, in Washington, D.C. Consumers Energy of Marshalltown sponsored Stineman. Karley was selected as the 2003 Youth Tour Winner based on a written essay and leadership positions held in school, social, civic and other organizations. All applicants must be a high school sophomore or junior whose parents or guardians are members of the Cooperative.

“Youth are the future. Impacting the lives of young people is extremely important to cooperatives and the communities they serve,” says Ann Foster, director of communications and Youth Tour director for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Cooperatives support this program because they realize that beyond textbooks and lectures, today's teenagers also need an opportunity to experience government first-hand.”

While in Washington, the Iowa Youth Tour delegation, made up of 38 students, met with congressional leaders, visited historic sites, explored the Smithsonian museums and took a cruise down the Potomac River. The theme of the 2003 Youth Tour was “Commitment to Community.” Highlights included meeting with their elected representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Harkin and Grassley to discuss the process of government and issues of the day – including the national energy bill, and to help increase their knowledge of cooperative electric utilities and American history.

In addition to taking in the sights and sounds of the nation’s capital, all the state groups convened for Rural Electric Youth Day to learn from public figures and other inspirational speakers. This year’s Youth Day agenda included a survivor of the September 11 attack on the Pentagon, Lieutenant Colonel Brian Birdwell, who described his harrowing experience and miraculous survival. Birdwell touched on the importance of selfless service and accepting life’s responsibilities. “Graduation is symbolic of promotion to the greater responsibility as an adult and as a full citizen,” he said.

Therese Lyons, director of public liaison for the President’s USA Freedom Corps, delivered the White House’s call for increased volunteerism. “Service is the debt of gratitude we owe for the freedoms we have in this country,” she said.

Since 1964, the nation’s cooperative electric utilities have sponsored approximately 40,000 high school juniors and seniors for visits to their U.S. congressional delegations, energy and grassroots government education sessions, and sightseeing in Washington. The Rural Electric Youth Tour is a joint effort of local coops, such as Consumers Energy, statewide co-op associations, including the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Arlington, VA.

Consumers Energy is a local, member-owned energy delivery and energy management cooperative that serves over 4900 members located in Marshalltown, Iowa with an outpost in Nevada, Iowa. The cooperative provides electricity, natural gas, and energy solutions to members and customers in five counties in Central Iowa – Marshall, Tama, Story, Jasper, and Polk.