Author William Arthur Ward once said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
In the spirit of those wise words, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for your membership in our cooperative. Because of your connection to Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative, we’re able to make our community a better place.
I typically use this space to provide updates on new projects and developments and report on the progress of ongoing initiatives. We share these updates so that our members have a window into our priorities, progress and challenges.
However, during this season of giving thanks, I think it’s equally important to let you and other members of TVEC know the impact you have on our co-op and the greater community, likely in ways you may not even realize.
As part of the cooperative business model, one of our core principles is Concern for Community. While our priority is always to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy, we take pride in our role in the community as a catalyst for good.
We work closely with local schools to provide safety demonstrations and award college scholarships. TVEC also participates in the annual Government-in-Action Youth Tour, where we take some of our community’s brightest young people to Washington, D.C., for a weeklong immersive experience of democracy in action. The trip is inspirational for many students, and we are humbled and honored to be a part of their leadership development.
Ultimately, the larger community benefits from these programs because of you. You empower the co-op through your membership and through your participation in and support of these programs.
When you attend co-op events, alert us to problems, or provide suggestions online or to our employees, you help us improve operations and thereby better serve the membership at large.
Because we’re locally governed by members of our community, we have a firsthand perspective on community priorities, better enabling us to make more informed decisions on long-term investments, such as equipment and technology upgrades.
We’re thankful that our board members carve out time to attend important training sessions, participate in planning meetings and keep abreast of industry trends. This investment of time results in better informed advisers who serve the co-op’s interests in a way that our members expect and deserve.
On a more personal note, we appreciate the countless acts of kindness toward our lineworkers and other employees when they’re working in severe weather and dangerous conditions. Our employees are thankful for your patience and consideration when we’re trying to restore power during challenging situations.
TVEC was originally established 85 years ago to bring electricity to our area when no one else would. The co-op is a reflection of our local community and its evolving needs. Together, let’s continue making our corner of the world a better place.
We can’t do it without you, and for that we’re thankful for your membership.
