Co-op Comments
Area students gather together for REC's Youth Leadership Summit
Leadership, motivation and learning brought 12 schools from Rural Electric Cooperative’s service area together for REC’s 19th annual Youth Leadership Summit.
“REC is passionate about our youth and helping to develop their skill set,” said Megan Lawrence, Manager of Member Services and Marketing. “REC and the Board of Trustees understand the importance our youth play in our communities and fostering their leadership development will only assist them later in life.”
Rhett Laubach, owner of Your Next Speaker, in Edmond, Oklahoma spent the day working with 60 students about leadership and preparing for the future. The students interacted with each other throughout the day and gained useful tips on how they can obtain their dream job. Laubach has taught leadership skills for over 25 years to audiences across the United States, the Bahamas and Canada.
This year, students from Alex, Bray-Doyle, Dibble, Elmore City-
Pernell, Lindsay, Maysville, Ninnekah, Paoli, Pauls Valley, Purcell, Wayne and Wynnewood participated in the Youth Leadership Summit. In addition to a full day of mental, emotional, social and physical activity, REC gave five scholarships. The winners of the scholarships were selected based on their participation throughout the day, their application they submitted and recommendations from their sponsors.
REC gave five, $500 scholarships to the students in attendance. This year’s Youth Leadership Summit scholarship winners were Ryder Doty from Alex, Kaleigh Nunez from Pauls Valley, Ashlee McClung from Maysville, Gentry Drennan from Ninnekah and Ryley Nootbaar from Wynnewood.
“REC is honored to provide opportunities for our youth to expand their leadership skills," Lawrence adds. "We are thankful for schools in our service territory allowing their students to participate in this event and all of our youth programs."
Be prepared and ready for storm season
Spring is on our doorstep and like many of you, I’m looking forward to more opportunities to be outdoors and enjoy warmer weather.
Unfortunately, spring and summer can also create the perfect conditions for severe storms.
Rural Electric crews are always prepared and standing by to respond should power outages occur in our area. When severe storms cause power disruptions, our line crews take all necessary precautions before they get to work on any downed lines.
I would encourage you to also practice safety and preparedness to protect your family during storms and outages.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends the items below as a starting point for storm and disaster preparedness, but you can visit www.ready. gov for additional resources.
• Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of non-perishable food, including canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water and other essentials (i.e., diapers and toiletries).
• Confirm you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer.
• Ensure your First Aid kit is stocked
with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current.
• Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or television.
• Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location.
In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. This will help avert damage from potential power surges and will also help prevent overloading circuits during power restoration. Do leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.
If you plan to use a portable generator, make sure it is rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely. 261804
Severe storms can occasionally bring down power lines. If you see a downed line, always assume it is energized and never approach it. If flooding occurs, never walk through areas where power lines could be submerged.
Sign up for NOAA emergency alerts and warnings and follow us on Facebook for the latest power restoration updates. An outage map is available on our website at www.recok.coop. If you experience an outage, please do not report it on Facebook. Call our outage reporting number at 855-399-2683 – this is the fastest way to let us know if your power is out.
I hope we do not experience severe storms over the spring and summer months, but we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans. At REC, we recommend you make a plan today – because storm preparedness is always our best defense.
March 2025
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
Mark Finch, District 3
Randy Griswold, District 3
Sonny Harrison, 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
Eric Neill, Manager of Cyber Security and Special Projects
Megan Lawrence, Manager of Member Services and Marketing
Casey Henson, Manager of Safety and Loss Control/Facilities
David Crull, System Superintendent
Jason Mays, Operations Superintendent
Electric cooperatives bring unique value to their communities
Electric cooperatives stand out from other types of businesses because we are built and led by the communities we serve. As independent, not-for-profit electric utilities, we are owned and governed by our local members – not by outside shareholders or investors. That is a powerful differentiation.
Here are a few ways electric co-ops like REC bring unique value to the local communities they serve:
• We put people before profits. Co-ops are not-for-profit and provide at-cost electric service. Any excess revenue is returned to our consumer-members in the form of capital credits, typically as a bill credit.
• Community comes first. We live and work here too, and we care deeply about our local communities. Which is why we engage in development and revitalization projects, sponsor local students for scholarships and youth programs and give back to local organizations to help our neighbors in need.
• Affordable, reliable power is our priority. REC purchases electricity from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, our
wholesale energy partner. WFEC is a generation and transmission cooperative formed by a group of electric co-ops in our state. This cooperative business structure allows us to pool local resources and provide electricity at a lower cost than if we purchased it from outside sources.
As a new year begins, we are focused on our members’ energy needs – not only for today but for the long haul. We are advocating for smarter energy policies which prioritize reliability and affordability for all. We recognize we must be inclusive of all energy sources, which is why we work closely with WFEC to ensure use of a diverse mix of sources, including coal, natural gas, solar, wind and hydro to generate the electricity we provide to our members. REC is working to power a brighter future through innovation which will meet tomorrow’s energy needs.
Reliable, affordable electricity is more important than ever before, and our focus will continue to be the best interest of the local communities we serve. To learn more about REC, visit our website at www.recok.coop.
Classified Advertisement
AUTOMOTIVE
FOR SALE: 2015 Nissan Ultima SL, 176,000 miles, always garaged, red with charcoal interior, can send pictures, in the Wynnewood area. PH: 580-222-1399.
MISCELLANEOUS
FOR FREE: Approximately 1,000 bricks, available to anyone who would take them all. PH: 405-527-7552.
Classified Ads
are FREE to REC members to post non-commercial items. Deadline for ads is the 8th of every month. Call the Member Services Dept. at 405-756-3104 ext. 238.
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.
Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month
March is an ideal time to service your home cooling system, ensuring it runs efficiently when the heat of summer arrives. Routine maintenance, like cleaning or replacing filters, checking refrigerant levels and inspecting parts, can improve your system's energy efficiency and lower your energy bills. By addressing potential issues early, you can avoid costly emergency repairs and extend the lifespan of your unit. Scheduling service in the spring helps you beat the peak-season rush, giving you faster access to qualified technicians. A well-maintained cooling system can save energy and keep your home comfortable all summer long.
FOR FREE: Drafting tools and miscellaneous drafting supplies. PH: 405-527-7552.
REAL ESTATE
FOR SALE: 630 acres split into 3 separate tracts, 40 acres, 270 acres and 320 acres, being sold from a charitable trust, contact
lawyer Dan Barney for more information. PH: 405-238-5564.
PETS & LIVESTOCK
FOR SALE: 5 male Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppies, $600 each. PH: 405-779-1294.
Leadership Summit scholarship winners
REC's 2025 Youth Leadership Summit scholarship winners include (left to right): Gentry Drennan from Ninnekah, Kaleigh Nunez from Pauls Valley, Ryley Nootbaar from Wynnewood, Ashlee McClung from Maysville and Ryder Doty from Alex.
Local Co-op Connection Card Deals
A-U-Store It, Purcell -
$5 off first month rent
Backroads Boutique, Lindsay5% off everything excluding special order and sale items
Best Western, Chickasha15% Off Regular Room Rate
Blue Moose Portable and Septic Services, LLC, Elmore City5% 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, Lindsay10% Off $50 or More Purchase of Pictures Lindsay Tire and Lube, Lindsay$5 Off Any Full Service Oil Change M & M Furniture, Chickasha10% Off Any Purchase
Mazzio’s Italian Eatery, Purcell10% Off Purchase
Photos by Ginger, Pauls Valley1 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.