October is National Co-op Month, and Valley Rural Electric Cooperative is joining cooperatives across the U.S.A. to celebrate. Co-ops come in all shapes and sizes, but they each have a common goal: to provide goods or services for the members of the co-op.
Electric co-ops, including Valley, exist to serve their members. Our priority is to provide affordable, reliable energy to our local communities. Because we are led by you, the members we serve, we can evolve to meet your needs. When the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath caused us to hold our annual meeting as a drive-through event, we noticed attendance doubled compared to our in-person meetings. A follow-up survey revealed that the vast majority of attendees who responded preferred the drive-through format, so we decided to continue with it for annual meetings going forward.
This October, as we celebrate Co-op Month, we're focusing on the ways "Co-ops Grow" for their members.
Co-ops Grow Communities
Co-ops help communities grow by promoting economic empowerment, fostering community engagement and supporting the unique needs of co-op members. "Concern for Community" is one of our core principles, and being community-focused is essential to everything we do.
Co-ops Grow Together
Co-ops are all about cooperation, not competition. That's why electric co-ops work together to share lessons learned, successful strategies, and better ways to serve our members. We're better when we grow together!
Co-ops Grow Tomorrow's Leaders
Electric co-ops serve as fertile ground for growing tomorrow's leaders through a variety of youth engagement programs. Whether through school demonstrations, community events, or the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour program, we're committed to providing opportunities for local youth to learn and thrive in our community and beyond.
Co-ops Grow for You
At Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, your satisfaction is our number one goal. It's why we were formed many years ago to fulfill a uniquely local purpose. We've come a long way since then, and your needs continue to evolve. That's why we'll never stop growing for you!
The friends-and-families-watching-TV photo by Scott Van Osdol and this article are courtesy of NRECA's Straight Talk, with modifications by Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, and are used with permission.