The holidays are a time of year that many of us eagerly anticipate. The season is marked by special foods, seasonal decorations and lots of festivities. Oakdale Electric Cooperative’s (OEC) service area is filled with holiday lights in parks, parades, and various community holiday celebrations.
We cherish carrying on old family traditions and enjoy creating new ones. For me personally, I look forward to more time spent with family and friends. However, given the hustle and bustle of the season, the holidays can also offer an opportunity to slow down and reflect. For all of us at OEC, we are grateful for you, the members of the co-op.
You see, one of our founding principles as a co-op is “Concern for Community.” While our main focus is providing safe, reliable and affordable energy, we want to give back. We want to help our community thrive.
Reflection
In looking back at this past year, I’m grateful that we were able to make a positive impact in the community. Through programs such as Operation Round Up, where thanks to your contributions, a total of $92,675 was donated back into communities as a result of your generosity.
We were also grateful for the opportunity to partner with local schools to raise awareness on the importance of electrical safety. This year, we visited with 1,645 students from eight schools to present the electrical safety hotline demonstration. In fact, we continue to work closely with our local high schools to award college scholarships. In 2024, we awarded $21,500 to local scholars.
Electrical safety education doesn’t stop in the schools. The public and adult OEC members were reminded of important safety measures at National Night Out in Tomah and Necedah and our Member Appreciation Day in October.
There are other ways we can help the community, whether we’re providing information about community solar, electric vehicles, energy-saving incentives, or helping you find ways to save energy at home, we want you to know we’re here to help.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead to 2025, we hope you will share your opinions with us. We recognize that our members have a valuable perspective, and that’s why we continually seek your input. Whether through community events, our social media channels or the annual meeting, we want to hear from you. We are led by you – the members of the co-op – and we depend on your feedback. An online survey can be found at oakdalerec.coop/survey.
As we prepare for next year, we look forward to the opportunity to serve you and the greater community. On behalf of the Oakdale Electric Cooperative family, we hope your holidays are indeed merry and bright!