3 rom the top MAX A. MEEK, CEO AND GENERAL MANAGER
Why We Celebrate YOU in October It is that time of
National Cooperative Month is a time to celebrate YOU, our members— the real POWER in the communities we serve.
year again when we celebrate cooperative business. Every October, cooperatives are recognized for the qualities that make the business model unique: local democratic control, commitment to supporting the communities they serve and improving quality of life, special and the return of margins back to members in the form of capital credits. This year's
celebration is made even larger with the United Nations-sanctioned International Year of Cooperatives. We've written about it here in the OEC News all year, but what are we really celebrating? What makes Oklahoma Electric Cooperative different, and why should that matter to you?
Cooperatives are special. We have an obligation
to provide reliable, affordable, and safe electricity, but we take that a step further. We also have a responsibility to support our members, enrich schools, and enhance our communities. Our economy still has critical hurdles to
overcome, so you may not feel like celebrating at all. But when our faith in big institutions has been shaken, it’s the perfect time to remember what we’ve already accomplished locally—all with a little cooperation.
We’ve faced tough times before; 75 years ago
our area didn’t have electricity. Rural communities were struggling for lack of investment. Young folks urban areas, and rural America was left in the dark. problem, neighbors turned to each other. They built their own utility, and powered the future for us all. That's what we celebrate each October.
member-owned and -governed cooperatives like OEC empower members to improve their lives. And while bringing electricity to rural Oklahoma was a Almost since our beginning OEC has sponsored
youth programs like FFA, 4-H, Youth Tour, and other youth leadership opportunities. The Operation Round Up program, a co-op initiative, is active in hundreds of co-ops nation-wide. We sponsor community building organizations like the United Way, American Red Cross, March of Dimes, and Race for the Cure, as well as Chambers of Commerce throughout our service territory and encourage our employees to do the same. The cooperative business model is a handy
tool that lets us improve our quality of life. OEC is proud to be part of America’s cooperative network, which employs more than 850,000 people. Across the nation, 29,000 co-ops and credit unions generate $74 billion in annual wages and nearly $500 billion in revenue. As we celebrate National Cooperative Month,
we thank you for your efforts to strengthen our community. We want you to continue to stay involved as we build a better future together. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay informed about all the activities and programs we offer and sponsor in our service territory. Find out more about your cooperative at
www.okcoop.org.
OEC News Magazine | October 2012
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