This year's tour, which takes place June 10-17, exposes students to the fast-paced world of politics, leadership and agenda-setting. The theme, "Commitment to Community," focuses on teaching student's leadership and team building skills.

Each year the Washington Youth Tour challenges teens to consider the part they play in history, government and the cooperative movement, encourages them to become involved citizens and prompts them to consider careers in public service.

The delegates will explore government on a local and national level, gathering in Atlanta before departing for Washington, D.C. In Atlanta, the group will tour the Governor's Mansion and CNN studios, meet with legislative representatives, participate in leadership activities and learn about Georgia's electric cooperative industry at the Georgia Electric Membership headquarters in Tucker.

When the group arrives in Washington, Georgia's delegation will convene with more than 1,300 youth representing cooperatives across the nation. The delegates will have the opportunity to mingle with peers from other states and exchange views concerning local and national issues.

During their stay, students will attend a Supreme Court lecture, a Georgia Congressional Delegation luncheon and a congressional session. The group will also visit many of the nation's historical monuments and museums, such as the Holocaust Museum, the Washington Monument, Arlington Cemetery and the FDR, Iowa Jima and Jefferson memorials.

Since 1965, the Washington Youth Tour has given over 1600 students in Georgia the opportunity to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Coweta-Fayette is proud to be a part of such a worthwhile program.

Coweta-Fayette EMC is a consumer-owned cooperative providing electricity and related services to 62,000 consumers in Coweta, Fayette, Heard, South Fulton, Meriwether, Clayton, Spalding and Troop counties.