Empowered is a monthly newsletter for members of
CONNECT WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SAVE Co-op Connections app provides benefits for members and local businesses October is National Cooperative Month and Central Electric Cooperative is excited to celebrate the cooperative difference by offering its consumer-members even more savings. Co-op members can “Go Beyond the Card” to save in their communities, while on the go and online. You may remember the Touchstone Energy Co-op Connections card program from years past, now the Co-op Connections app provides the same discounts and savings but in a more user friendly smartphone app. Using your smartphone’s location, you can search for deals nearby to find discounts close to your location. In addition to local deals, you can also take advantage of deals across the country. Touchstone Energy
cooperatives serve 46 states, so there is a good chance you will find deals no matter where you travel. Need to book a hotel room or buy event tickets? The Co-op Connections app has you covered with travel discounts. See for yourself by browsing the hotel and event ticket tabs within the app. Central is looking for local businesses partners who would like to offer discounts to co-op members. For more information, e-mail editor@mycentral.coop. We would love to visit with you about how Co-op Connections can be a win-win for your business and Central members. Don’t have a smartphone? The traditional cards will be available for pickup at Aware meetings!
SETTING UP YOUR CO-OP CONNECTIONS APP Step 1 Download the app by searching for “Co-op Connections” from your smartphone’s app store.
Step 2 Create an account using the zip code for the physical address tied to your Central membership.
Step 3 Swipe through the orientation screens to become familiar with the app.
Step 4 Browse all the deals near you! Use the magnifying glass to find a specific business by name.
UPDATE FROM THE DISTRICT 2 TRUSTEE
HAPPY CO-OP MONTH
The cooperative difference – putting others first
OCTOBER 2019 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: Daniel Thrasher - Executive VP of Business Development and Communications Larry Mattox - Director of Communications Cordelle Elsener - Communications Specialist
www.MyCentral.coop facebook.com/MyCentralCoop twitter.com/MyCentralCoop instagram.com/MyCentralCoop
Contact Us: editor@MyCentral.coop 405-372-2884 | 800-375-2884 3305 S. Boomer Rd. | P.O. Box 1809 Stillwater, OK 74076 Notice: Central’s office will be closed Monday, October 14 for a Columbus Day in-service for Central employees.
Central Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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October is quite the month. It brings cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and football season is in full force. October also happens to be National Co-op Month – a month where we celebrate the cooperative business model and the thousands of cooperatives around the world. There are more than 40,000 cooperative businesses in the United States. These cooperatives, like Central, serve more than 350 million members, including you! Cooperatives represent a strong business model and greatly contribute to both the local and national economies.
men from Oklahoma and Colorado traveled to the village of Sillab in north-central Guatemala. For three weeks, they worked to set more than 60 poles and stretch six and a half miles of line. When they finished 60 homes, one elementary school and four churches had power for the first time.
Two of the last four years, Central linemen Andrew Pool and Michael Musil volunteered and were selected to participate in the project. This year, Central’s Clint Stu Preston, Robinson was selected as an District 2 Trustee alternate for the trip. That means he is in line to be on next year’s 2020 team. Their willBut what makes cooperatives differingness to participate in this project ent? Unlike many other businesses, speaks to the quality of employees we co-ops don’t answer to outside sharehave at Central. I could not be more holders. Our sole focus is meeting our proud of them. members’ needs. We are committed to our mission of “Empowering Our The Energy Trails project illustrates Members and Communities,” and selflessness. The project takes counttogether Central and our membership less hours of coordination, thousands share many of the same values. of dollars in donations, and volunteers who use their skills to be a part of One value we see demonstrated something bigger than themselves. repeatedly in cooperatives is that of The project is successful because of selflessness – the act of putting others’ the passion of Oklahoma’s electric needs in front of their own. I have the cooperatives, and it is a great demonhonor of being on a committee that’s stration of the cooperative difference. building an endowment fund for a non-profit called Oklahoma Energy If the Energy Trails project interests Trails Foundation. Since 2016, Oklayou, I encourage you to follow the homa electric cooperatives have been project on social media and consider raising money and sending linemen to making a tax deductible donation. developing countries to bring electric- You can find more information at ity to rural villages. The endowment https://www.oaec.coop/energy_trails/. fund is growing a financial base to You can contribute directly to the make it easier to fund future projects. endowment fund online at https:// donate.occf.org and designate OklaJust this past August, a twenty-man homa Energy Trails Foundation as Energy Trails team made up of lineyour chosen gift recipient.
ROUND UP
STROUD FOOD PANTRY RECEIVES OPERATION ROUND UP GRANT
events
Send your community events to editor@mycentral.coop to be included in the Empowered newsletter.
October
Western Dressage World 2- WDAA Championship at Lazy E Arena in 6 Guthrie more info at www.lazye.com Old Settlers Day, parade, food 5 Perkins vendors, in downtown Perkins, more info at perkinschamber.org
The Central Community Foundation makes grants available to individuals and organizations throughout Central’s service area from money donated by Central members who choose to round up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar with the Operation Round Up program. Gretchen Harlow, Central Community Foundation board member and Bill Davis, Central Electric Cooperative Board District 7 member, present a $3,000 grant to the Stroud Food Pantry. Visit MyCentral.coop for more information about the Operation Round Up program.
for sale
SERVICES
wanted
79 GMC 1 Ton feed truck with round bale spear, Trip hopper cube feader 1,300# $5,500 with feeder or $4,500 for truck alone without feeder, call 405-206-8951
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 (Consortium) Call 405-277-3325
Looking for copies of Perkins (OK) Journal from 20s, 30s, and 40s, call 405-743-5631
Factory made steel slide in stock rack with top for wide long bed pickup. In Stroud, make offer. Good condition, call 405-240-0361
Looking for a good home for a black longhair cat, all shots and neutered male, call 405-282-0625 Guthrie
Annual Oklahoma International 3- 23rd Bluegrass Festival, Guthrie, more info 5 at www.oibf.com Buckle Barrel Race at Lazy E 9- Pink Arena in Guthrie more info at 12 www.lazye.com Hands Community Outreach 13 Helping Fall Festival, Chandler’s Tilghman Park, info at chandlerareachamberok.com
Guthrie Shoot-out Team Roping 28- USTRC at Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, more info at Nov. 1 www.ustrc.com
SUBMIT YOUR FREE CLASSIFIED AD Submit classifieds to P.O. Box 1809, Stillwater, OK 74076. Forms may also be dropped off in person or emailed to editor@mycentral.coop. Name ___________________________ Acct. # __________________________ Address _________________________ Phone # _________________________ Ad is to read:
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
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APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR YOUTH TOUR ‘20 Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 Youth Tour contest sponsored by Central Electric Cooperative. This year’s topic is: “Briefly discuss the seven cooperative principles. Which do you think is the most important and why?” The contest is open to students within Central Electric Cooperative’s service area who are currently enrolled as a high school junior (2019-2020 school year). Students can write a 650-1,200 word essay or create a 1-3 minute video on the topic.
mailed to Central Youth Tour Contest, PO Box 1809, Stillwater OK 74076; emailed to celsener@mycentral.coop; or completed/submitted online at https://mycentral.coop/ youth-tour-application. The top six contestants will be notified by mail with an invitation to present their entry at a banquet. Presentations will be judged and two of the six finalists will be announced as winners of the all-expense-paid trip taking place June 19-25, 2020. The remaining four will receive $250 scholarships.
The completed entry form and essay/video submission is due by Friday, October 4, 2019. Entries may be
Complete rules and information can be found at https://mycentral.coop/ youth-programs.
CUT WITH CARE
Work safely with corded power tools Lawn and garden chores can be finished more quickly using electric power tools. But be sure you don’t sacrifice your safety for speed. Pay attention to potential dangers as you work. Keep electrical cords in good repair, and make sure they don’t get in the way of cutting tools that could damage the cords. And remember, electric tools and cords should never come into contact with water.
“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” – Nathaniel Branden
THERE IS STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE GUTHRIE AWARE MEETING Aware meetings are open forum meetings where we make members aware of changes impacting the industry and your cooperative, and take time to answer your questions.
OCTOBER 10 IN GUTHRIE Guthrie HS Cafeteria | 200 N. Crooks Dr. | Guthrie OK 73044 Meeting begins at 6 pm | Dinner will be served
Please RSVP online by October 3 at http://www.MyCentral.coop 4