Group IX
National Seminar
WRLP's fifth seminar was the National seminar to Washington, DC,
March 17-23, 2001, chaired by Al Anderson, Director of the Center
for Community Economic Development, University of Wisconsin-Extension,
and JoAnn Stormer, Executive Director, Wisconsin Rural Leadership
Program.
Participants learned how the federal government functions in a variety
of ways. They focused on policy making process at the federal level
and how citizen leaders and organizations can influence formulation
and implementation of policy. In addition, they also gained an appreciation
for how the executive and legislative branches are involved in shaping
policy.
As a tool to learn about the federal government, participants examined
US policies related to energy in many forms, including oil dependency,
electric deregulation and alternative fuels. In particular, they
examined US energy policy around the issues of agriculture, transportation,
foreign policy and the regulation/deregulation of electrical utilities.
Left to right: Casey Langan, Alan Crossing, Linda Murray, and
Jennifer Heaton meet with US Representative Tammy Baldwin.
Left to right: Doug Mueller, Brian Herr, and Pat Carlson converse
while waiting to meet with their US Congressman.
Brian Knudson presenting a certificate of appreciation to David
Sedney, Deputy Director of the China Desk, US State Department.
Mr. Sedney talked to the group about US foreign policy in Asia.
Earlier in the week, participants had a chance to meet with a representative
from the People's Republic of China Embassy as a forerunner for
their upcoming international seminar to China in April, 2002.
Left to right: Tom Weston, John Dreier, Casey Langan, Bill Flease,
Corey Kuchta, Lynn Thompson, and Rebecca Zahm debating many of
the energy problems presented to them during the week.
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