On one of my recent runs, I found myself on a dirt road. As I passed poles and miles of lines, I began thinking about the cooperative and the many members whose lives are powered by those lines.
As a cooperative, we operate a little differently than other utilities. Central’s decisions are made locally, by directors who live on the same lines as you.
To Central, members are more than a customer paying their electricity bill. Yes, members pay for electricity used, but that money doesn’t line the pockets of shareholders five states away. It’s used to make improvements to our local system to strengthen service reliability. That money is reinvested into our electrical distribution system and our communities.
District Meetings, Kilowatts and Brats and Annual Meeting are all events Central hosts each year to meet with members so we can hear directly from you. Your feedback on the cooperative and our services is what we use to plan for our future. Our success lies within your participation and satisfaction, which is why we offer these opportunities to engage and listen to what you have to say.
While we won’t have any bylaws for members to vote on at this year’s annual meeting, that does not make it any less important than in years before. All of Central’s staff and board members, myself included, are eager to meet with you and hear about your cooperative experience.
At Central, members are at the heart of everything we do. While we’ve grown over the years, we’re still driven by the same guiding principles to serve our community.
We hope to see you at this year’s annual meeting at one of the four locations in Chandler, Guthrie, Perry or Stillwater on Oct. 3. This co-op was created by you and for you, the members. The power is in your hands to make your voice heard and to make a difference at your cooperative.