(See the detailed Program)

The NA-YGN communications workshop was a huge success, attracting 114 participants. While the workshop was designed to educate attendees on communications tools to take back to their companies and communities, the workshop also succeeded in bringing together a wide range of young professionals to share experiences and professional goals. Attendees came from all over the US, Japan, and Mexico to experience NA-YGN. The agenda allowed plenty of time for networking, including a networking breakfast sponsored by NEI. At the various social events, young nuclear professionals were accompanied by CEOs and industry leaders.

Industry leaders and communications experts provided valuable information to attendees that will assist them in progressing through their careers. Featured presentions included:

• "NA-YGN and the Future of the Industry," Angie Howard, NEI,
• "Communication is Key to Our Success," Maureen Brown, Nuclear Management Company,
• "Tools for Effective Communications," Beverly Silverberg, Communications, Inc.,
• "Industry Communications from a Regulatory Standpoint" (open discussion), Jeffrey Merrifield, NRC Commissioner
• "The Media and You," Steve Kerekes, NEI.

NA-YGN officers took center stage with presentations by Undine Shoop, Paul Wilson, Nicole Faulk, Sama Bilbao y León, and Rachel Keahey. Breakout sessions provided a discussion platform on how to start an NA-YGN at the corporate and community levels. Topics discussed included identifying potential members, obtaining management support (and why), planning and advertising a kickoff meeting, and how to follow up and plan activities for involvement. The goal of being good neighbors and building relationships, while identifying yourselves as pro-nuclear, can counteract the view of nuclear activists as reactionary, and fringe lobbyists. If you would like more information on how to start your own NA-YGN chapter, visit www.na-ygn.org.

As a part of the two-day workshop, attendees were offered the opportunity to participate in one of two tours. Undine Shoop led 45 attendees in a tour of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Emergency Response Center in Rockville, MD, where they heard a presentation by Rick Hasselberg, a member of the Incident Response Operations team. 26 other attendees took the opportunity to take a tour of Dominion's North Anna Power Station. Led by several young Dominion engineers, they visited the outside of Unit 1 Containment, the valve house, U1 turbine-generators and the emergency diesel generators.

The workshop provided a unique and valuable opportunity for young professionals to gain exposure to policy-makers, industry leaders, and the merits of NA-YGN, and it received high marks from all attendees.

Visit GoNuke! for more details about the Nuclear Energy Assembly.