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Empowered is a monthly newsletter for members of

ENERGY CAMP = PARENT VACATION

We want to send your eighth grader to summer camp! Parents, are you looking for ways to keep your child active this summer? Youth Power Energy Camp is the perfect way! Don’t tell your kids, but unlike traditional summer camps, Energy Camp is designed to help develop leadership skills, learn the importance of serving in their communities, develop teamwork skills and learn about one of America’s most important industries – rural electric cooperatives. Now, what to tell your kids! They will play water games, have silly contests, learn to climb a pole, ride in a bucket truck and meet about 80 of

the coolest kids their age from across Oklahoma! The camp is May 26-29 at Canyon Camp in Hinton, Oklahoma. All expenses, including transportation to and from camp, are paid by Central. To be selected for Energy Camp, students must go to school within Central’s service area. Students will submit a 250-500 word essay titled, “If you could relive a day in history, what day would it be and why?” Applications can be found at MyCentral.coop/EnergyCamp. Applications are due April 1, 2020, and winners will be notified by April 10, 2020.

Last year, campers enjoyed riding electric bicycles

2019 Youth Power Energy Camp attendees

UPDATE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP Co-op Principle Supports Free Exchange of Ideas MARCH 2020 Central Board of Trustees: Bill Davis, President (District 7) Gary McCune, Vice President (District 1) Carol Dvorak, Secretary/Treasurer (District 3) Stu Preston (District 2) Len Tontz (District 4) Mark Pittman (District 5) Raymond Nettles (District 6) Hunter Robinson - Chief Executive Officer Empowered Editors: Jillianne Tebow - Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Larry Mattox - Director of Communications Cordelle Keller - Communications Specialist

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

Central Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same set of core principles, one of which is voluntary and open membership. The principle states, “Membership in a cooperative is open to all persons who can reasonably use its services and stand willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, regardless of race, religion, gender or economic circumstances.”

a particular issue could alienate half our membership and hinder the cooperative’s ability to act in the best interest of the entire membership. Cooperatives that start down a road of intolerance can find that it leads to the downfall of the organization.

A cooperative that is dedicated to voluntary and open membership is engaged with those it serves. Central Essentially, the cooperative strives to engage with each of model is designed in a way our members. Hosting memthat the membership’s free ber meetings, being present exchange of opinions and in our communities, posting Bill Davis, ideas is supported. After to social media, and being District 7 Trustee these opinions and ideas are accessible by phone, e-mail shared, the membership can put these and in person are all ways Central ideas and opinions into action by a strives to be more engaged with our vote of the membership. This principle membership. ensures cooperatives are being democratic and recognizing the importance As we prepare for our 81st Annual of one member one vote. In a coopMeeting, I encourage you to make erative, no member’s vote has more plans to join us on Thursday, May weight than another. 21st. The Annual Meeting demonstrates the cooperative difference in To remain tolerant, cooperatives action. Look for more information in must stay neutral on all things inthe April newsletter and watch your cluding political and economic issues. mail for the official meeting notice. In today’s highly polarized political We look forward to seeing you environment, selecting a stance on there.

ROUND UP

AGRA FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT

DEVICE CHARGING TIPS

Central District 7 trustee Bill Davis (left) and Central Community Foundation board member Gretchen Harlow present a $3,600 grant to Agra firefighters Mike Callanan and Kyle Wolff (right.) The funds will help the Agra Fire Department purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus.

DISTRICT ELECTION FILING DATES

Now is your chance to experience the second cooperative principle, democratic member control, by choosing your district’s representation on the board of trustees.

Members in districts 1 and 7 will receive a postcard with additional information in the mail. To learn more about Central’s democratic process, visit MyCentral.coop/bylaws.

Members in districts 1 and 7 have the opportunity to file as a candidate for trustee. Interested candidates must file a Notice of Candidacy in person during regular business hours at Central’s office during the following filing periods: • District 1: March 27-April 1, 2020 • District 7: April 3-8, 2020

Members can find out which district they reside in by visiting MyCentral. coop/districts or by calling our office at 405-372-2884. The incumbents for districts 1 and 7, Gary McCune and Bill Davis, have expressed their intentions to run for another term.

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SERVICES

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SERVICES

Dr. Myers Chiropractic – Luther Real “Hands-on” physical adjustment $35 total office visit. Truck Driver DOT health card $75. Truck Driver DOT drug test $45. Truck Driver DOT alcohol test $45. Truck Owner FMCSA (DOT) Compliant. Randomized Drug Testing Program. Call 405-277-3325

Alterations by Jody. Experienced alterations and mending. No job too small. Quick turnaround. Call 405-743-9654

Experienced Fitness Teacher Guthrie. Old & Young Welcome. Yoga, Pilates, Healthful Healing, $50 per hour. Call 405-282-0625

Operation Catnip Stillwater holds 7 free spay/neuter/vaccination clinics each school year for feral/free roaming/barn cats. Clinics are at the OSU Vet School. Humane traps and instructions provided. Registration required operationcatnip.okstate.edu. Call 405-466-5810 or e-mail operationcatnipstillwater@gmail.com Classifieds are due the 10th of each month. E-mail your ad to editor@mycentral.coop

People are always losing their phone chargers. As a solution, many people reach for the lowcost, generic plug-in USB chargers and charging cables found in the sea of impulse items that flank check-out lines. Knockoffs can be great, but not when replacing your original phone charger. Here are some tips for staying safe while charging: Z Do not leave items that are charging unattended. Z Always keep charging items away from flammable objects, especially bedding, and do not take them to bed with you. Tell kids and teens to NEVER place any charging device under their pillow. The heat generated gets trapped, which could cause the pillow or bed to catch fire. Z Do not touch charging electronic devices with wet hands or while standing in water. Z Make sure charging components are certified by a reputable thirdparty testing laboratory. Z Only buy product-approved chargers and cables (those made or certified by the manufacturer). Using cheaper devices can cause damage to the USB charge chip, which can have a lasting impact on how quickly and effectively your device charges in the future. Z Be on the lookout for fakes or impostors claiming to be brand approved. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

events

Send your community events to editor@mycentral.coop to be included in the Empowered newsletter.

March Savings begins! Remember to 8 Daylight spring forward 1 hour. of Stillwater, Payne County Expo 10 Taste Center. StillwaterChamber.org

Mid South (formerly Land Run 12- The 100) bicycle and ultramarathon race, 15 Stillwater. MidSouthGravel.com Timed Event Championship at 13- Cinch Lazy E Arena in Guthrie. LazyE.com 15 Central Oklahoma Home and 21- North Garden Show, Payne County Expo 22 Center. Stop by the Central booth! NCOHBA.com

YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE U.S. CENSUS IS NEEDED Did you know the third U.S. President, Thomas Jefferson, directed the nation’s first census in 1790? Today, the U.S. Constitution requires that everyone in the country be counted every 10 years. The census is admin-

What is the census?

How do I complete the census?

The 2020 census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. However, the census is much more than a head count. It provides a picture of the nation that helps determine where to build new schools, hospitals and businesses; how federal funding is distributed; and how congressional seats are apportioned. It also helps to evaluate how communities have changed over time. An accurate count is vital.

For the first time, the census will be accessible online and available in English, as well as 12 additional languages. Invitations to respond to the census will begin in mid-March. The online questionnaire will follow the latest web accessibility guidelines and a video in American Sign Language will be available. The census can also be completed by phone.

Why is the census important? Agriculture Banquet at Payne 31 2020 County Expo. StillwaterChamber.org

istered by the U.S. Census Bureau, a non-partisan government agency. Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives understand the importance of the U.S. census and encourage every co-op member to participate.

Participating in the census is a civic duty. It’s a way to contribute to the democracy and say, “I count.” Every 10 years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the U.S. House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets. It’s also a way to determine how federal funds and grants are dispersed to support states, counties and communities which benefit schools, hospitals, roads and public works. Local governments use the census data for public safety and emergency preparedness plans, and businesses consult the data to decide where to build factories, offices and stores, which creates jobs and fosters economic development.

When does the census begin? The official census day is April 1, 2020. By then, every household should receive an invitation. By mid-April, a paper questionnaire will be APRIL mailed to every household that has not yet responded online or by phone. If necessary, participants can also respond in person beginning in mid-May. Census takers will visit all households that have not yet responded. Strict federal law protects census responses. It is against the law for any Census Bureau employee to disclose or publish any census information that identifies an individual or business. The Census Bureau will never ask for your Social Security number, bank or credit card account numbers, money or donations, or anything on behalf of a political party.

Visit Census.gov for more information and to view a sample questionnaire.