JJ dinner success for Iowa Rural Power
“What can Iowa Youth Tour advocates accomplish in an afternoon? A LOT!”
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Meet all three Democratic presidential candidates (Clinton, Sanders and O’Malley)
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Get a selfie with all three Democratic presidential candidates
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Get a selfie with former President Bill Clinton
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Attend a rally for Bernie Sanders
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Attend a rally for Hillary Clinton with pop star Katy Perry
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Ask Katy Perry to get married (she said “maybe”)
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Attend a rally for Martin O’Malley
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Talk to attendees about rural electric cooperatives
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Get a selfie with FDR, the father of rural electric cooperatives
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Pass out hundreds of Rural Power stickers
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Get a selfie with current U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and give him a sticker
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Listen to speeches and enjoy the spectacle of the annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Des Moines
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Engage in the social media exchange with campaigns and #IDPJJ
Nine Iowa Youth Tour advocates and their friends from across Iowa, spent the afternoon in Des Moines on October 24, to participate in the annual Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, a major event on the Iowa Caucus calendar. Youth Tour advocates wore green t-shirts and got to work spreading the word about safe, reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity to candidates, campaign staff, elected officials and democratic activists. Media reports estimate the crowd at well-over 6,000 people. It was a night of music, demonstrations, speeches and general celebration. Jordan Pope, from Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. is currently a freshman at Simpson College and very engaged in the political process. Pope said, “The spectacle that is JJ does an excellent job of encompassing all that is the Iowa Caucus and being a part of Rural Power gives you a front row seat, quite literally. People come to expect the “green shirts”, which makes your job real easy. To be able to meet with some of the biggest names in politics is incredible.” IAEC Government Relations Director, Tim Coonan, commented, “We are so lucky to have our Iowa Youth Tour advocates engaged in the presidential caucuses and the Iowa Rural Power effort. They are smart, articulate and well-versed on the issues of electric cooperatives. They are great people and it is always a pleasure to work on efforts with them.”
View photos from the event
