Commentary Statewide Association Achieves Milestone L


Chris Meyers General Manager, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives


ast month, the Oklahoma Asso- ciation of Elec- tric Cooperatives


(OAEC), held its annual meeting at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Norman, Oklahoma.


It was only fitting that the business meeting be


held in Norman, because nearly 75 years ago our original Articles of Incorporation were drafted— also in a hotel room in Norman— and later fi led with the Secretary of State on September 29, 1942. The original name of our non-profi t asso- ciation was the “Oklahoma Statewide Electric Cooperative, Inc.” Those articles of incorporation were signed by 21 visionary pioneers of the electric cooperative program, which began six years previous with the formation of Oklahoma’s fi rst electric coopera- tive, Cimarron Electric, Kingfi sher, in 1936. The purpose of Oklahoma Statewide Electric


Cooperative was “to encourage the education of the general public in the uses and benefi ts of elec- trical energy, to advance the development of an ample supply of power to rural electric


cooperatives, communities and other public groups, thus furthering the general welfare of the people by providing dependable and unrestricted electric service at the lowest cost consistent with a sound economy and good management.” After 75 years—and one name change—that pur- pose is still being met.


Prior to the statewide electric association being formed in 1942, a total of 19 distribution electric cooperatives had been incorporated in Oklahoma, following passage of the federal Rural Electrification Act on May 20, 1936. Today, OAEC has a total of 30 members—27 distribution systems and three generation-transmission sys- tems. Two of our member-systems are headquar- tered in Arkansas but have signifi cant numbers of members residing in Oklahoma. OAEC continues to provide a host of vital


services to its members, such as safety and loss control programs, legislative research, data track- ing, publication of Oklahoma Living magazine, mutual aid disaster planning and coordination, and delivery of many professional development programs for directors and employees. While now celebrating 75 years of service, we look forward to “Powering the Needs of New Generations” for years to come.


Carrying on a Legacy of Service I


Scott Copeland President, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives


t is an honor for me to serve as this year’s board president for the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC). I began my jour- ney in the electric coopera- tive industry in 1988 when I was hired as staff assistant at Northfork Electric Co- operative based in Sayre,


Oklahoma. Following four years there, I was asked to serve as the Interim General Manager, and shortly after—in August of 1992—I accepted the position of General Manager for Northfork Electric. My ties to electric cooperatives, however, go


back through a generational line. My great-grand- father, J. E. Wilson, was one of the pioneers who helped establish Northfork Electric in 1939. He went door-to-door selling memberships to the co-op that would bring electric service for the first time to farms and ranches in western Oklahoma. My great-grandfather continued his involvement and leadership by serving as a board member for Northfork Electric Cooperative from 1943 to 1971.


4 WWW.OKL.COOP As I approach nearly 30 years in the industry,


I feel privileged to follow in his footsteps. The cooperative business model is special; it is a mod- el grounded on seven cooperative principles that are member-driven. Co-ops believe in neighbors helping neighbors. This is exemplifi ed in our statewide association, OAEC, which unites all electric cooperatives in the state of Oklahoma, allowing them to accomplish much more togeth- er than they would individually. OAEC is celebrating 75 years of service to


Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives. This valuable organization assists cooperatives with representa- tion on the federal and state levels, helping co- ops to keep an eye on regulations that could potentially impact our ability to deliver safe, af- fordable and reliable electricity. Other programs such as safety trainings for line personnel and educational events for co-op directors and co-op employees are coordinated through OAEC. The printing of your statewide publication, Oklahoma Living, is also a service provided by your state- wide association. In the next year, I look forward to working with cooperative leaders from around the state to ensure electric co-ops continue the legacy of powering the needs of new generations.


Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Chris Meyers, General Manager Scott Copeland, President Larry Hicks, Vice-President Tim Smith, Secretary Brent Bacon, Treasurer


Staff


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


Anna Politano, Editor editor@okl.coop


Hayley Leatherwood, Multimedia Specialist hleatherwood@okl.coop


Shannen McCroskey, Marketing Specialist smccroskey@okl.coop


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


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


Miguel Rios, Editorial Intern intern@okl.coop


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


Oklahoma Living online: www.okl.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: 324,455


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, Canadian Valley, Central,


Choctaw, Cimarron, CKenergy, Cookson Hills, Cotton, East Central Oklahoma, Harmon, Indian, KAMO Power, Kay, Kiamichi, 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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