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Empowered is a monthly newsletter for members of

WIN A WEEK-LONG TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C. Application Deadline: FEbruary 11, 2022

YOUTH TOUR 2022

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YOUTH TOUR APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Youth Tour contest sponsored by Central Rural Electric Cooperative. Youth Tour is a two-part competition open to high school juniors living and attending school in Central’s service area. Students participate by writing an essay, developing a résumé and submitting an application on Central’s website. A group of judges will review the entries and select five students to

interview. The top two winners will win a one-week, all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. with other Youth Tour winners from electric cooperatives across the nation. Winners will meet members of congress, visit monuments, historic sights and Smithsonian museums. Three runner-up applicants will receive $1,000 scholarships. Rules and guidelines are available at MyCentral.coop/youth-programs. The deadline for entry is 5 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022.

Essay Topic: How can social media help an electric cooperative interact with its members and better understand their needs and concerns?

CENTRAL WINS STATEWIDE AWARDS Central received recognition from “The OKLU Awards,” the annual member relations, marketing and communications contest sponsored by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives and Oklahoma Living magazine in November. DECEMBER 2021 Central Board of Trustees: Carol Dvorak, President (District 3) James Wells, Vice President (District 6) Gary McCune, Secretary/Treasurer (District 1) Greg Tytenicz (District 2) Sid Sperry (District 4) Mark Pittman (District 5) Bill Davis (District 7) Hunter Robinson - Chief Executive Officer Empowered Editors: Jillianne Tebow - Vice President of Business Development and Marketing Larry Mattox - Director of Communications Kory Frazier - Marketing and Communications Specialist Ivy Hill - Marketing and Communications Specialist

www.MyCentral.coop facebook.com/MyCentralCoop twitter.com/MyCentralCoop instagram.com/MyCentralCoop

Notice: Central’s office will be closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 27 for Christmas, and Jan. 3 for New Years Day. Central Rural Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Central received the Top Communicator Award for outstanding communications in 2020. The co-op also received an Award of Excellence for its 2020 Annual Report, in the Layout and Design category for its newsletter, and for best use of social media. The co-op received the award of merit for best overall content in its newsletter, and honorable mentions for its Kilowatts and Brats event and for best article in its newsletter, Empowered.

Central’s marketing team accepted OKLU Awards in November.

The annual OKLU Awards program recognizes the best communication and marketing efforts by Oklahoma’s rural electric cooperatives. Noted professionals in the fields of marketing, design, communication and photography judged the event, which uses a detailed scoring system to determine the winners.

CAPITAL CREDIT FAQS What are capital credits?

Capital credits are the retained margins left over at the end of the year at a not-for-profit electric cooperative. This year Central will be retiring $1.8 million in capital credits to members who received service in the years 1993, 1994 and 2019.

Why do members receive capital credits?

Capital credits represent the most significant source of equity for Central. Since members are also the people the co-op serves, capital credits reflect each member’s ownership in, and contribution of capital to, the cooperative. This differs from dividends investor-owned utilities pay shareholders, who may or may not be customers of the utility.

Central tracks how much electricity you use and pay for throughout the year

At the end of the year, Central allocates excess revenues as capital credits based on electricity usage.

MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE a NOTIFICATION ABOUT CAPITAL CREDIT RETIREMENTS, AND IF IN GOOD STANDING MAY RECEIVE A CAPITAL CREDIT CHECK

DECEMBER HAPPENINGS

Holiday events to enjoy in Central’s service area Christmas Parade of Lights 8th Ave & Main St • Stillwater Dec. 2 • 7 p.m. See a parade of the lights, enjoy food trucks and participate in the fun on Block 34. Chandler Christmas Festival Lincoln County Courthouse Lawn Dec. 3 • 6-8 p.m. Participate in the Christmas tree lighting, parade, visit with vendors and much more. Luther Pecan Festival Couch Pecan Orchard 19505 Luther Road • Luther Dec. 3 • 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 4 • 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Shop for pecans, art and gifts, and enjoy live music and food. Stroud Annual Christmas Parade Main Street • Stroud Dec. 4 • 5:30 p.m. Enjoy this holiday-themed parade along Route 66 with free entertainment and refreshments. Christmas in the Alpaca Barn Land Run Alpaca Ranch 780596 S Hwy 18 • Agra Dec. 4-5 • 1-6 p.m. Feed Santa’s little “dears,” take a sleigh-hay ride, selfies with alpacas and participate in holiday decorating activities. All donations benefit the Agra 4-H program.

Ole Country Christmas Bearded Doe & Company 8400 S. Coyle Rd • Coyle Dec. 4-5 • 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Take photos with Santa and meet the yule goat while enjoying hot chocolate, cider and sweet treats by the campfire. Merry Main Street Block 34 • Stillwater Dec. 4-5, Dec. 11-12, Dec. 18-19 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Shop in geodesic dome-style tents, purchase an evergreen tree, listen to live music and enjoy delicious food. Perry Christmas Parade Main Street • Perry Dec. 9 • 6 p.m. Observe this family-fun parade with a mixture of floats, bands, horses and bicycles! Old Fashioned Country Christmas Territorial Plaza Park • Perkins Dec. 9 • 5-8 p.m. Watch this family-fun light display along with other holiday activities. The Dunkin Theatre Christmas Spectacular Centennial Park • Cushing Dec. 11 • 7:30 p.m. Tree lighting in Centennial Park, Christmas Parade, Imaginaries concert at the Dunkin Theatre.

Going? Tag @MyCentralCOOP on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

DECORATE SAFELY No one plans to fall off their roof while hanging lights, or decides to start a fire because they forgot to water their tree. Holiday accidents burn brightest from late November to January. There are an average of 200 decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, according to CPSC.gov. Below are a few tips from the National Safety Council to keep you out of the emergency room and safe with your family this holiday season. 1. Keep potentially poisonous plants such as mistletoe, holly berries and amaryllis away from children and pets. 2. Place your tree at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. 3. Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors, and choose the correct ladder when hanging lights. 4. Replace light sets that have broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. 5. Never nail, tack or stress wiring when hanging lights and keep plugs off the ground and away from puddles and snow. 6. Follow the package directions on the number of light sets that can be plugged into one socket. 7. Turn off all lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE MONTH for sale Great Plains no-till drill, 30 ft. Cat Challenger Ag 65C track tractor. Call 405-714-34422.

Central employees participated in Co-op Fun Fridays during October to raise awareness of cooperatives.

Nonprofit Postings Alzheimer’s Association No one should face Alzheimer’s or other dementia alone. Get the support and information you need without leaving home. We are available around the clock, 365 days a year via our free, 24/7 Helpline. Call us today at 800-272-3900 and visit alz.org.

Neon Day

Community Day

Central Community Foundation grant applications are due on January 15, to be reviewed at the February foundation meeting. Learn more and submit your application at MyCentral.Foundation. Hat Day

SUBMIT YOUR AD Submit your ad by email to editor@mycentral. coop by the 5th of each month! Ads will be edited and run as space allows.

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