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Commentary Electricity: a gift for every nation T


Chris Meyers General Manager, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives


he rural electric cooperative pro- gram has proven itself valuable


for nearly eight decades. Today, we benefit from modern-day conveniences such as air conditioning, heating, running water, a myriad of kitchen gadgets


and appliances, entertainment devices, to name a few. Rural communities have fl ourished with economic opportunity, access to health care, transportation infrastructure, quality education and technological advancements. It was not al- ways like that. Eighty years ago, rural Oklahoma was in the dark. Farmers and ranchers envisioned a better quality of life. Through their hard work and co- operation, rural electric cooperatives were formed, empowering rural America. As co-op members, we now enjoy the fruits of their labor. There are others, however, who have not been as fortunate. The International Energy Agency reports 1.2 billion people—or 17 percent of the world popu- lation—live without electricity. In the spirit of


cooperation, Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives saw an opportunity to help decrease the number of families living in the dark. Through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) philanthropic arm, NRECA International, Oklahoma co-ops are partnering with Missouri’s electric cooperatives to bring electricity to two villages in northern Bolivia this August. As you are reading this edition of Oklahoma Living, 16 volunteers from Oklahoma and Missouri are arriving in the country of Bolivia where they will work to install 250 poles in an area spanning 10 miles to bring electric power to the villages of Dos de Junio and El Torito. Volunteer linemen, engineers and electricians are eager to help those families have light for the fi rst time and achieve a better quality of life. To help further this cause, the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives formed a 501(c)3, the Oklahoma Energy Trails Foundation. We encourage co-op members throughout the state to be a part of this journey by contributing a tax-deductible gift to this fund. We can’t bring electricity to all 1.2 billion people, but we can do our part in helping others to improve their lives. After all, where would we be if someone else had not invested in us?


Join the journey at: http://tinyurl.com/energytrails Electric co-ops rich in history I


Gary McCune President, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives


4


t is only appropriate that we use this issue of Oklahoma Living to celebrate the history in our state. Rural electric cooperatives are very rich in history. The Rural Elec- tric Administration (REA) was formed on May 11, 1935, by an executive or-


der by then President Franklin Roosevelt. Out of the very depths of the Depression bloomed new life for rural America.


Unlike those Americans who lived in cities, those living in rural areas did not have the access to electricity our city cousins had. Life was harder and more desolate. The economies suffered, the hardships were greater, the opportunities for bet- terment were fewer and there was a differential in the quality of life because of the lack of this luxury.


Today, electricity in our home is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Many of us have not experienced life without the power of electricity and have no desire to do so. We become impatient if there is even a very short interruption of our services. We rely on it to always be there to power our lights, provide security, entertain us with our gadgets and, particularly now to keep our air condition- ers going. A home today with electricity has greatly improved the quality of life that our fore- fathers could not possibly have imagined. As with anything we tend to take for granted, we tend to let our guard down and not recognize threats that may interrupt our way of life. Your local electric cooperative values the heritage in its history and recognizes the obligation to con- tinue the high level of service you have come to expect. Electric co-ops are cognizant of the threats that may jeopardize your services and stand ready to make sure we all continue to ben- efi t from the power of electricity.


Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Chris Meyers, General Manager Gary McCune, President


Scott Copeland, Vice-President Larry Hicks, Secretary Tim Smith, Treasurer


Staff


Sid Sperry, Director of PR & Communications sksperry@oaec.coop


Anna Politano, Editor editor@ok-living.coop


Hayley Leatherwood, Multimedia Specialist hleatherwood@ok-living.coop


Shannen McCroskey, Marketing Specialist smccroskey@ok-living.coop


Kirbi Mills, Director of Admin. Services kmills@oaec.coop


Hillary Barrow, Admin. Services Assistant hbarrow@oaec.coop


Amanda Lester, Editorial Intern intern@oaec.coop


Editorial, Advertising and General Offi ces P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154 Phone (405) 478-1455


Oklahoma Living online: www.ok-living.coop Subscriptions


$3.48 per year for rural electric cooperative members.


$7 per year for non-members. Cooperative Members: Report change of


address to your local rural electric cooperative. Non-Cooperative Members: Send address


changes to Oklahoma Living, P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309.


Oklahoma Living (ISSN 1064-8968),


USPS 407-040, is published monthly for consumer-members of Oklahoma’s rural electric cooperatives by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, 2325 E. I-44 Service Road, P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309.


Circulation this issue: 322,348


Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Association of Electric


Cooperatives is a statewide service organization for the following electric cooperatives: Alfalfa, Arkansas Valley, Caddo, Canadian Valley,


Central Rural, Choctaw, Cimarron, Cookson Hills, Cotton, East Central Oklahoma, Harmon, Indian, KAMO Power, Kay, Kiamichi, Kiwash, Lake Region, Northeast Oklahoma, Northfork,


Northwestern, Oklahoma, Ozarks, People’s, Red River Valley, Rural, Southeastern, Southwest


Rural, Tri-County, Verdigris Valley, and Western Farmers Electric Cooperative.


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