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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, FEB. 17, 2009 – The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) today bestows the Clyde T. Ellis award on Carolyn Herr Watts, former NRECA legislative director and senior vice president of competitive strategies for the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives (NCAEC) for her dedication and service to the electric cooperative program.
The Ellis Award, which memorializes NRECA's first general manager (CEO), is conferred by the NRECA Board of Directors to honor an individual for contributions clearly above and beyond the routine call of duty in furthering the principles and progress of rural electrification and the development and utilization of national resources.
“Her heart and soul is the electric cooperative program and it shows with every action taken to ensure federal and state policy benefits cooperative members,” said Rick Thomas, CEO of NCAEC.
Watts came to NRECA from Mobil Oil in 1977 as a lobbyist and rose to become legislative director. Among her legislative accomplishments, Watts orchestrated legislative initiatives to ensure the viability of the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC). Notably, in 1987, Watts led the negotiation for legislation that allowed members of NRTC to distribute programming as part of the satellite service offered to member-consumers. DIRECTV was launched with NRTC’s support and involvement.
“Carolyn was more than a lobbyist – throughout her career with the cooperatives she was an ambassador for the cooperative program, building good will even as she fought hard for our interests,” said Jack Wolfe, President of the NRECA Board of Directors.
Watts provided leadership on a broad range of issues, including preserving and strengthening the Rural Utility Service loan program, helping cooperatives refinance high interest loans from the Federal Financing Bank and maintaining preference power.
As a lobbyist in what was then a male-dominated field, Watts was a trailblazer. She helped grow the fledgling Women in Government Relations organization, serving as president of the organization, paving the way for many other women legislative professionals – and at the same time spreading the word about cooperatives to people who would otherwise never have known about the program.
Following 16 years at NRECA, Watts left the cooperative program to work at the Department of Energy, but returned to the program in 1996. Even though she has now retired from NCAEC,, Watts continues to educate about the cooperative mission – and the cooperative difference.
“Carolyn’s boundless devotion, untiring efforts and outstanding service to electric cooperatives have benefited the cooperative utility industry and American consumers….” said Bob Phillips, President and CEO of NRTC, “the results she achieved uniquely qualify her to received the coveted Clyde T. Ellis Award."
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.
More than 9,000 representatives from cooperative electric utilities across the nation are attending the NRECA Annual Meeting, February 15-18, at the New Orleans Convention Center, during which they will set NRECA’s legislative and organizational agenda for 2009. In addition to considering and acting upon policy resolutions, delegates receive reports from NRECA officials, hear addresses by key public figures and business experts, and attend panel sessions on major issues affecting electric cooperatives and their consumer owners.
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