Trip of a lifetime!
Imagine stepping into the hallways of history, walking where great leaders have walked, and visualizing your future unfold in powerful ways. This is exactly what the Washington Youth Tour offers youth from across Georgia.
Each year, two high school students from the Central Georgia EMC (CGEMC) service area get the chance to embark on an unforgettable journey to the nation’s capital. These students join other students from across the state on a trip that broadens their horizons and ignites a spark of civic engagement and personal growth.
One of the most profound aspects of the Washington Youth Tour is its focus on leadership development. Participants are immersed in activities designed to inspire and enhance their leadership skills.
We had the opportunity to catch up with Isaac Sanders, one of the 2024 Washington Youth Tour delegates from CGEMC’s territory, to ask him about his experience in Washington, D.C.
Q: Which activity would you say had the most impact on you as an individual?
Isaac: The most impactful activity was certainly touring the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. It was my second visit, but the experience was no less significant. I saw firsthand the importance of strong leaders and the consequences when they fail to stand up. Experiencing this with my peers reinforced that I can—and must—make a difference in the world. Someone will step up to lead. It might as well be me.
Students visit iconic sites like the Lincoln Memorial and U.S. Capitol, which serve as educational and emotional experiences. These visits offer a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made for the freedoms they enjoy today.
Q: Is there a landmark you visited that made you think or feel in different ways?
Isaac: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial made me feel something I hadn't felt in a long time. It was Father’s Day the weekend we toured the memorial, and its face was covered with notes and flowers honoring the fathers who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. Reading many of these notes nearly brought me to tears. I saw just how personal and terrible war is. It doesn’t just impact the borders of nations but the hearts of people—not just in an abstract sense. I could read the names engraved on the wall and feel the personal impact and legacy each person left behind.
The Washington Youth Tour is undoubtedly the trip of a lifetime. It’s an opportunity for personal and communal growth, fostering lasting friendships and igniting leadership skills.
Q: If you could, would you do it again?
Isaac: I would give so much to return and do the Washington Youth Tour again. This trip taught me a lot about my nation and myself. I learned valuable lessons that have helped me greatly in my first semester of college. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to learn about the country, while also making amazing friendships. I still keep in touch with many of the people I met on the trip. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and for all the blessings that have come from it.
Don’t miss your chance to take the trip of a lifetime!
Washington Youth Tour: The Details
- Open to high school students who will be at least 16 years old by June 1, 2025.
- Students who live and attend school in one of our 14 counties do not need to reside in a home that receives electrical service from CGEMC.
- Application deadline: January 24, 2025
- Selected candidates will be invited to interview on February 13, 2025.
- Trip dates: June 13-20, 2025.
Please apply at www.cgemc.com/washington-youth-tour for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Fewer leaves = more sun!
Capture your share of the sun this winter with our Cooperative Solar program!
Did you hear the great news? We've expanded our Cooperative Solar program to include solar fields across the state. This growth comes with increased capacity, enhanced performance reliability, and no waiting list!
Commit to a smaller carbon footprint without installing or maintaining any equipment. Call 770-775-7857 to learn more about adding solar energy to your monthly energy mix.
Considering Rooftop Solar?
As your trusted energy advisor, Central Georgia EMC can help you make smart energy investments, including right-sizing a rooftop solar installation to best meet your needs, goals, and financial objectives. We can help you understand your current electricity use, the many important factors to consider with a rooftop solar installation, and what you can expect to gain from your investment. Click the link below to take our Rooftop Solar Assessment, or call 770-775-7857 to speak with one of our experienced energy advisors.
2024 Residential Rebates
Rebate Deadline : December 20, 2024
Nearly half of energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. Upgrading an outdated or aging system can save you money. If your unit is more than 10 years old and needs frequent repairs, it may be time to replace it.
Water heaters use more energy than your refrigerator, clothes washer, dishwasher, and dryer combined. Upgrading your water heater can save you hundreds of dollars yearly on energy costs. Visit www.cgemc.com for details.
*A load management switch must be installed on qualifying equipment by a Central Georgia EMC employee before the rebate can be processed. The load management switch must remain on equipment and in operating status as long as Central Georgia EMC has a load management program. Limit one (1) qualifying heat pump and/or one (1) qualifying water heater rebate per member/household. Heat pump and/or water heater must have been installed on or after January 1, 2024.
Community Enrichment, the Co-op Way!
Central Georgia EMC (CGEMC) presented 24 checks in October totaling $335,600 to area chambers of commerce, industrial development authorities, and school boards throughout the service territory. These funds come from capital credits that remain unclaimed after five years.
Capital credits are margins over and above the cost of providing service for CGEMC customer-owners for a specific year after financial obligations have been met. Unclaimed capital credits that remain after five years stay in the communities served by CGEMC for the sole purposes of funding education, economic development, and 501(c)(3) charitable organizations in the EMC service area.
Scholarships available!
Application Deadline: January 24, 2025
We are now accepting applications for the statewide $1,000 Walter Harrison Scholarship. The Harrison Trust will award seventeen $1,000 scholarships in Georgia in 2025. Additionally, three semifinalists from CGEMC will receive a $500 Central Georgia EMC Powering the Future Scholarship. That's two scholarship opportunities with just one application!
Applications are open now. For the full qualifications and to download applications, visit www.cgemc.com/scholarships. Submit your completed application by January 24, 2025. Don’t miss out!
Fast. Reliable. High-Speed Internet. That’s the Conexon Connect guarantee.
Up your game this football season and sign up for seamless streaming and crazy-fast speeds through Connect, powered by Central Georgia EMC!
Plus, we offer three different speed tiers to best fit your needs:
- Ultimate 2 Gig** Speed for $99.95/month
- Premium 1 Gig Speed for $79.95/month
- Basic 100 Mbps Speed for $49.95/month
**Connect Ultimate offers download speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second; upload speeds are typically between 1 and 2 gigabits per second. 2 gigabit speeds can be obtained by directly connecting via ethernet cable to the ONT. The device conducting the speed test must be capable of sending and receiving data at a minimum of 2 gigabits of throughput.
What are you waiting for? Sign up now online at www.ConexonConnect.com or call 844-542-6663 to speak to our Customer Care Team.
In November, the CGEMC Foundation Board granted $20,545 to charitable organizations in our territory. The funds will support programs and initiatives in the communities CGEMC serves.
- Community Bible Fellowship Church: $5,000
- Crosswalk Ministries USA: $2,500
- Monroe County Historical Society: $5,000
- Steffen Thomas Museum & Archives, Inc.: $2,045
- United in Faith Christian Ministries: $3,500
- Working Dogs for Vets: $2,500
Qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations in our service territory are invited to submit an application to the Central Georgia EMC Foundation.
Through Operation Round Up, our members support local organizations with a mission to make our communities even better places to live, work, and dream big. By simply rounding up your monthly electric bill to the next dollar, you can join in! Our pennies add up to make BIG CHANGE!
Capital Credits Checks Are On The Way!
The Central Georgia EMC Board of Directors announced a capital credits refund to electric consumers who received service during the year 2004. The refund checks will be mailed to customer-owners December 6, 2024.
The total amount of this refund was $1,500,188, which represents a portion of the margins for the year 2004. The margins are used as capital until they can be returned through a general refund without impairing the cooperative’s financial condition.
Capital credits are a benefit of your membership. Thank you for your patronage.
Holiday Closings and System Maintenance
Central Georgia EMC will be performing year-end computer maintenance beginning at 5 PM on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. The customer information and payment system will not be available until Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
Central Georgia EMC's office will be closed on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, for New Year's Day and on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. However, our remote self-service account options and the on-site payment kiosk will be available.
Postal Delays
Due to issues beyond our control, we have not consistently received mail from the US Postal Service in recent months.
We offer a variety of convenient ways to pay to avoid postal delays and late fees. Visit our website at www.cgemc.com to learn more.
Crews Working 24/7
We want to inform you that CGEMC crews and/or contractors of CGEMC will be working around-the-clock in the upcoming weeks. Please do not be alarmed if you see activity outside of regular hours. This is part of our efforts to improve our services and facilities for your convenience.
If you have questions or concerns, Customer Service Representatives are available during business hours, and System Operators are available after hours at 770-775-7857. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
System Inspections
CGEMC has contracted with Cappstone Energy Group LLC to perform system inspections in Butts County. Cappstone Energy Group LLC technicians will have signs on their vehicles (pickup trucks and UTVs) identifying them as CGEMC contractors. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact CGEMC at 770-775-7857.
Georgia Magazine
Enjoy the latest digital edition of Georgia Magazine using the link below.
Recipe of the Month
Submit your original recipes to marketing@cgemc.com. Published recipes receive a $20 bill credit!
Whether you like new modern recipes or fun vintage ones, we have it all! Follow us on Pinterest for your favorite Co-op recipes!
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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