Annual Meeting Luncheon Draws Record Crowd
(International Foundation, March, 2010)

The NRECA International Luncheon at this year's Annual Meeting in Atlanta drew a record crowd of more than 800 attendees. The audience included representatives from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Philippines, Southern Sudan and Tanzania. There were also international diplomatic officials in attendance, including Reda Mansour, ambassador to the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, Manuel Dobles Mora, Costa Rica's consul general in Atlanta, and Beatriz Illescas, Guatemala's consul general in Atlanta.

The program, hosted by International Programs Senior Vice President Vivek Talvadkar, included a video about how, over the course of one year, a Foundation electrification project transformed two villages in Ixcan, Guatemala.(See the video.) The video was followed by a presentation by Chad Cochran and Ronnie Cooley, linemen from Singing River Electric Cooperative

Participants also heard an up-to-the-minute briefing on Foundation efforts in Haiti from NRECA International Senior Representative Jim Walsh. In his remarks, Walsh recognized members of Haiti's government-owned utility, Electricite d'Haiti, who traveled to Atlanta for the meeting soon after the earthquake.

"The Annual Meeting International Luncheon was a really remarkable event, not just because of the excellent attendance, but because there was a real sense of positive energy in the room," said Talvadkar. "I think our members have a lot of concern for the people of Haiti. And that is fueling a real groundswell of interest in what NRECA International is doing to help not only there but around the world as well."

Annual Meeting General Session attendees also heard a stirring update on Haiti from NRECA International's Haiti Relief Project manager Myk Manon. You can watch a video of his remarks on the International Foundation's Web site.