National Cooperative Month; RGEC's 79th Annual Meeting
It's hard to believe that it’s already October! I am looking forward to the cooler weather that autumn typically brings, though here in Co-op Country, we may not see it until sometime next month. What I really like about October is that we get to hold Rio Grande’s Annual Meeting. This year will be our 79th, and they just keep getting better each year. The annual meeting is my favorite activity because I get to tell you about the many exciting projects going on at Rio Grande. October is special for another reason, too. It’s National Cooperative Month, and that means shining a bright light on the cooperative business model and all the outstanding businesses nationwide that are effectively and efficiently operated as cooperatives. Though there are many different types of cooperatives, we all have 1 thing in common – actually, we have 7 things in common. I am referring to the 7 Cooperative Principles. As I’ve told you before, these are not just guidelines we follow once in a while. They are tenets upon which all cooperatives are founded. They are what sets cooperatives apart, and they apply to cooperatives in the US and elsewhere around the world.
There are many different types of cooperatives. They range from utility co-ops like Rio Grande to housing, food, and farmer cooperatives. In the United States, there are more than 800 electric cooperatives. There are arts & crafts cooperatives, retail cooperatives like REI, credit unions, insurance companies, and almost any other type of business you can imagine. Cooperative brands like Ocean Spray, Land O’Lakes, Blue Diamond, Sunkist, Sun-Maid, and Tillamook are household names. Though these cooperatives are all different, they all operate to provide goods or services to those who own and receive those goods or services from them. The members of these cooperatives share in the ownership, governance, and benefits of them, in the same way Rio Grande’s members own, govern, and receive benefits from it. Please take a minute to review the 7 Cooperative Principles on the next page. You’ll see why this is so important to us at Rio Grande, and why it’s also important to you, as a member-owner of the Cooperative.
I encourage you to take full advantage of your rights as a member. Along with these rights also come responsibilities. 1 of these responsibilities is participating in the director election, which runs through October 9. As we go to press with this edition, the 79th Annual Meeting is rapidly approaching. It will be held on Saturday, October 12, at 10 AM Central. Join us virtually for the meeting to learn about this business you own, and you could even win a prize.
Our vendors have been very generous again this year, and we will have over $10,000 in prizes ready to be won by lucky members who stay logged in and participate in the meeting. The registration link becomes active at 8 a.m. Central Tuesday, October 1. Make sure to have your account number handy when virtually attending the meeting, so you can chat in to claim your prize if you see your name during the prize drawings!
There will be great prizes, but the annual meeting is about so much more. It’s a chance to learn about this business you own. It’s your opportunity to learn about the Cooperative’s finances, community engagement activities, and past, current, and upcoming projects. Though you can always ask questions, the annual meeting gives you an additional opportunity. You can submit questions electronically prior to the meeting on the Empower page. I encourage you to participate in the meeting -- for more than just the prizes. We look forward to another great annual meeting, and hope you can be a part of it!