A newsletter for members of Rural Electric Cooperative
October 2022
Co-op Comments REC's 83rd Annual Meeting set for Thursday and Saturday REC members are invited to the 83rd Annual Meeting. A drivethru early registration will be Thursday, September 29 from 3 to 7 p.m. and the in-person meeting will be on Saturday, October 1 starting at 8 a.m. Both the drive-thru early registration and the in-person meeting will be held at REC's Multi Purpose Center on Highway 76 North in Lindsay. During the early drive-thru registration on Thursday, members will stay in their vehicles and enter the circle driveway of the Multi Purpose Center off of Highway 76 and go through the registration line. 113300 For members attending on Saturday, please follow the signs to park and attend in-person. Each member who registers will automatically receive a one-time $25 bill credit in addition to their registration gift. Members should bring their registration card, prize drawing card and ballot with them to help with the ease in the registration process. On Saturday, members will be entertained by Crossfire beginning at 8:45 a.m. Crossfire has been playing together for over 25 years. They play a wide variety of country music and a few classic rock songs. The business meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and members will hear reports from Board President, Gary Jones, and CEO, Dusty Ricks, updating members of activities from 2021. Members driving through on Thursday can find these reports on
Map for the early registration drive-thru on Thursday, September 29, 2022.
Registration gifts for REC's 83rd Annual Meeting REC's website under the Annual Meeting tab after the in-person meeting on Saturday. REC will give out seventy-five, $75 gift certificates for electricity during the business session and three grand prize drawings of $500 gift certificates for electricity. All members registered on either Thursday or Saturday will be eligible for the seventy-five, $75 gift certificates for electricity. During the in-person meeting on Saturday, three members will win $500 gift certificate for electricity. To be eligible to win the grand prize drawings members must be present to win. Registration gifts include: an REC baseball cap, utility scissors, a magnetic clip, a nail file, LED bulbs, a calendar, 2023 Farmers’ Almanac and an ink pen. For more information about the 83rd Annual Meeting, call 405756-3104 ext. 238.
CEO’s MESSAGE
Celebrating members
Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community and sports activities in full swing. It is also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month. When I say Rural Electric celebrates Coop Month, it really means we are celebrating you. After all, our co-op would not exist without you, our members. Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the Co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles all co-ops share. Similar to how our wires run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions–because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor. REC works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local Board of Trustees who are comprised of neighbors living right here in our community. We are local and understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them. 2 Co-op Comments
We are proud to support local youth through our Energy Camp, Youth Tour, Leadership Summit and scholarship programs. With your help, we offer Operation Roundup to provide assistance to our community’s most vulnerable. The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal—mutually benefitting one another and the larger community. This is the essence of the cooperative spirit. Our employees and member-elected Board of Trustees are invested in the community in which they live and serve. Above all, as a co-op we put our members’ priorities first. As your trusted energy partner, we know saving energy and money is important to you. We want to empower you to manage energy use at home. If you haven’t already, I encourage you take a moment and download our SmartHub app. Through the app, you can conveniently monitor and manage your energy use. We are of course here to help, so give us a call if you have questions about your energy bills. REC is continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we are your local Co-op. We were built by the members we serve.
October 2022 Co-op Comments Official publication of Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. CO-OP COMMENTS is owned, controlled and directed by Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. It is printed monthly and mailed to members in Garvin, McClain, Comanche, Stephens, Grady and Carter counties in Oklahoma. Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. 13942 Highway 76 • P.O. Box 609 Lindsay, OK 73052 405-756-3104 • 800-259-3504 Outage Number: 855-399-2683 www.recok.coop
Board of Trustees Gary Jones, President, District 1 Scott Christian, Vice President, District 1 Brent Bacon, Sec./Treasurer, District 1 Larry Anderson, District 2 Johnny Harrel, District 2 Terri Hays, District 2 Charles Crawford, District 3 Mark Finch, District 3 Randy Griswold, District 3 Lisa Whitman, Attorney Management and Staff Dusty Ricks, Manager/CEO Linda Ray, CFO Kelli Lindsey, Administrative Assistant and Staff Coordinator Elaine Gilreath, Manager of Customer Service and Data Processing Jon Jones, Manager of Engineering Mitch Gilreath, Manager of Information Technology Services Megan Lawrence, Manager of Member Services and Marketing Clint Yeary, Manager of Safety and Loss Control/Facilities David Crull, System Superintendent Jason Mays, Operations Superintendent
CO-OP NEWS
Youth programs available Rural Electric Cooperative is offering youth programs to students within REC's service territory. High School juniors could win an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. or Steamboat Springs, Colorado, while eighth graders could win a trip to Canyon Camp in Hinton, Oklahoma. High school seniors could win a scholarship to help with college expenses. Representatives from REC will visit the schools to distribute information about these programs in October. Students may pick up the necessary information at their schools, from the Cooperative or may visit www.recok.coop and click on the “Programs and Services” tab, then select the program for details. Youth Power Energy Camp Youth Power Energy Camp is available for eighth graders within REC's service area. Eight students will be selected to attend a four-day camp near Hinton, Oklahoma to gain a better understanding of electric cooperatives, enhance leadership skills and meet new friends. To participate in this contest, students must be attending a school within REC’s service area and write a short essay on a topic provided by REC.
2022 Youth Tour winners.
2022 Energy Camp winners. Youth Tour Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. is a week-long, all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. for three students to attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour. These three students will join approximately 70 other Oklahoma high school juniors this summer. To participate, students must be classified as a high school junior and are required to write a speech on a topic provided by the Cooperative. Six finalists will be chosen to present their speeches to determine the winners. The top three scores will win the Washington, D.C. trip, while the three runners-up will earn a week-long, all-expense paid trip to the Cooperative Leadership Conference near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Scholarships In addition to trips, REC offers ten scholarships to area high school seniors. Seniors whose parents are members of REC are eligible to apply for the scholarships. Scholarships will be applied to the
students’ freshman year of college starting in the fall semester of 2023. REC will award two $1,500 scholarships and eight $1,000 scholarships. All materials for any of these programs will be available at area schools and on REC’s website, www.recok.coop. Students may also contact REC’s Member Services Department with additional questions at 405-756-3104, Extension 238.
2022 CYLC winners. Co-op Comments 3
Classified Advertisement REAL ESTATE FOR LEASE: 120 acres on the Washita River, 7 miles east of Lindsay off Highway 19. PH: 832-498-9620.
FOR SALE: Craftsman 2250 psi pressure washer, $150. PH: 405-351-0878.
FOR SALE: Extra nice wheelchair $280. PH: 405-351-0878.
Bikes given away at REC's annual meeting
MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE: Singer Futura XL420 computer embroidery machine with several attachments, only used twice to practice, disk and manual included, located in the Bray area, $250. PH:580-467-1343.
Account number worth $10 bill credit Locate your account number in an article of this issue; it will be good for a $10 credit on your electric bill. To claim the prize, you must locate the account number - if the number is yours, contact REC by the 10th of the month and we will credit your account. Only the member assigned that number is eligible for the prize. If you don’t know your account number, it can be located on your electric bill.
Co-op Connections Use your Co-op Connections Card to save you money on lodging, photographs, oil changes and other items. You can also save on prescriptions, dental, vision, hearing, lab work and imaging and chiropractor services at participating locations. Your card is a discount card. If you have misplaced your card, contact REC for a replacement card and use it to save yourself some money.
Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month With winter weather on the way, now is the time to seal drafty windows. If you can see daylight around a window frame or if you can rattle a window (movement means possible leaks), the window likely needs to be sealed. Most window leaks can be sealed with caulk or weatherstripping, which come in a variety of compounds and materials. Learn more at www.energy.gov.
Local Co-op Connection Card Deals A-U-Store It, Purcell $5 off first month rent Backroads Boutique, Lindsay 5% off everything excluding special order and sale items Best Western, Chickasha 15% Off Regular Room Rate Blue Moose Outdoor Portable Rentals, Elmore City 5% Off Septic Tank Pumping, Tent Rental and Special Event Toilet Rentals
Chickasha Diesel Services, Chickasha $50 off any big diesel oil change Edwards Canvas, Pauls Valley - 5% Off Jenny’s Pics Photography, Lindsay 10% Off $50 or More Purchase of Pictures Lindsay Tire and Lube, Lindsay $5 Off Any Full Service Oil Change M & M Furniture, Chickasha 10% Off Any Purchase Mazzio’s Italian Eatery, Purcell 10% Off Purchase Photos by Ginger, Pauls Valley 1 Free 8x10 Print With First Order of $25 Pharmacy Discounts Check out the discounts available using your Co-op Connections Card at participating pharmacies throughout our area. For a complete list of pharmacies, visit REC’s website to see if your pharmacy is offering discounts to Co-op Connections Card holders.
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