June 2018 | Volume 80 | Issue 6
Show me the savings
Get the Co-op Connections Card or app (FREE)
Put thousands of dollars in discount savings, medical, dental and pharmacy benefits on your smart phone–and find savings everywhere in the U.S. Get local discounts for participating merchants who can participate at no cost. Although there are many health-related benefits that provide pharmacy, vision and dental discounts, the Co-op Connections Card is not insurance. Visit www.connections.coop and look for the Connections Card link.
Local merchants may call 816-628-3121 to sign up for the program.
That’s what co-ops do
Dave Deihl, General Manager
From the General Manager
The 80th annual meeting is in the books, and members re-elected three Board members for three year terms, Kendall Davis, Dennis Fulk and Theresa Wren.
Special thanks to the nominating committee for their work on behalf of the co-op.
The co-op is in the process of wrapping up distribution of $2.4 million to co-op members to those who didn’t attend the annual meeting.
The prizes have been distributed to the delight of the children. The chambers of commerce and vendors have all packed up and gone home to prepare for more summer events.
The environmental focus group gave its report, noting that members could share information and concerns via the Member Viewpoint, an online resource in the co-op web site (www.pecc.coop), that the co-op is a distribution co-op and does not produce power and works to be good stewards of the environment.
I want to personally thank the group for their time and work on behalf of the co-op.
Now it’s on to working toward meeting the strategic goals the board and staff established.
Safety
The first goal is developing a culture of safety. We’ll be talking a lot about safety this year, because it involves not only co-op employees, but also their families and in fact, all co-op families and friends. Electricity demands respect: it is a powerful ally that can be dangerous, even deadly.
The Platte-Clay safety motto is “Think Safe, Work Safe, Go Home Safe.” It’s something we all can use as we work to the ultimate goal of Zero Harm.
Community engagement – economic development
Another strategic goal is for more community engagement. Co-op employees attend various Chambers of Commerce meetings from time to time, and that will continue.
New, the co-op is rolling out a volunteer program that allows employees to participate in organizations that “support community needs and enhance the quality of life” in our local service area.
Employees may volunteer up to 16 hours of normal working hours during a calendar year as part of the program.
New this year, we’ll be rolling out Power4Progress, an economic development program that’s available to rural electric cooperatives through our power provider, Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI). Now that the Great Recession is behind us, it’s time to move forward and Platte-Clay is here to help the Northland.
Financial stability
Although all indications are that the co-op is financially strong, Ken Brown, our finance and accounting manager will be reviewing the equity management plan. In addition, Ken and I will be taking a look at our affiliated businesses, PCEC Security and Platte-Clay Fuels.
Reliability
Your co-op has a 99.9 percent reliability factor, or an average of an hour per member, but that doesn’t make any difference when the lights are out during our favorite TV show or when cooking dinner. Jared Wolters, our engineering manager, will conduct a cost-benefits analysis working with your board of directors to see what is feasible to get that reliability number inched past that 99.9 percent mark.
We’ll provide updates throughout the year as we mark important milestones.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, please let me know. Please e-mail generalmanager@pcec.coop
Members celebrate, eat, vote, take home prizes and learn at 80th annual meeting
We saw the future of the co-op, babies and electric vehicles, below at the annual meeting.
Thanks to all of the co-op members who attended the 80th annual meeting of Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative.
Members re-elected Kendall Davis, South District; Dennis Fulk, West District; and Theresa Wren, North District to three-year terms.
L-R, E. Maxine Thompson, one year of electric service; Scott Haggerty and Randall Smith, each six months of electric service.
There was something for everyone: business, electing Board members and prizes for the next generation of co-op members, below.
Hello – Use your phone for Co-op Connections savings
We’re going high tech and we’ll take local businesses with us–using the Co-op Connections Card.
It’s free for local businesses to sign up and join thousands of national chains providing benefits to co-op members. Local businesses can be included in the national database.
The Co-op Connections Card is a good way to help with a no-cost loyalty program.
And the Co-op Connections Card–or app–is free to co-op members.
If your wallet is bulging with loyalty cards, here’s good news: get the Co-op Connections Card app and just flash your smart phone for discounts all over the U.S. for any number of products and services.
Here’s how: using your smart phone, download the app from the Google Play or Apple app stores.
Create an account and start browsing and start saving.
Plan a vacation, plan a special dinner, plan your teeth cleaning with the Co-op Connections Card.
For assistance in downloading the app, visit either co-op office between 8 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (offices close at 5) or find the nearest teenager – to see how and where this benefit works.
Hotels? No problem.
Prescriptions? No problem. Look for discounts at more than 60,000 U.S. pharmacies for prescription savings.
Glasses? No problem.
Dental services? No problem.
Hungry? Look for both national chains and local restaurants by using the app.
Home touch up? Check out the nearest Sherwin Williams paint store or area hardware stores.
Visit the Co-op Connections app to get nationwide discounts in the palm of your hand.
We’re sure you’re going to enjoy holding thousands of offers in your hand.
Oops! No smart phone? Then we’ll be glad to sign members up with the convenient card that comes in two sizes – standard credit card and key chain
Happy shopping and saving.
Don’t bug me
Consumer Reports (CR) recommends these products in order of effectiveness, to help keep mosquitos (Zika, West Nile) and ticks (Lyme disease) off. And although effective, there’s nothing better than taking all recommended prevention measures including a thorough search and trip to the doc if there’s any concern about being bitten by a tick.
- Total Home (CVS) Woodland Scent Insect Repellent, with an overall score of 95. Product contains 30% DEET, aerosol.
- Deep Woods Insect Repellent VIII Dry, score 94. Product contains 25% DEET, aerosol.
- Repel, Plant-based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent 2. Contains oil of lemon eucalyptus 30%, approximately 65% p-menthane-3,8-diol). Pump spray. Score 91.
- Ben’s 30% DEET Tick & Insect Repellant. Score 88, DEET 30%. Aerosol.
- Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent, 20% Picaridin. Score 84. Picaridin, 1-Methylpropyl-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperidine carboxylate, 20%. Pump spray.
Repel got especially high reviews because it doesn’t damage camping gear and clothing. Products with DEET, though effective, got dinged for the smell and damage to gear, especially plastics and tents.
Board Corner
Debi Koechner
Board President
I want to take this opportunity to personally thank each and every co-op member who attended the 80th annual meeting May 10. It was a great evening, a warm evening, the first hint that summer is here to stay.
We had kids outside enjoying the rides and adults inside getting information from the area chambers of commerce about things to do right in our back yard.
We also had a member service booth to answer questions about everything from demand billing to heating and cooling rebates, products and services and everything in between.
We appreciate the members who stopped by the directors’ booth. It’s always good to talk with co-op members.
We had a brisk business meeting, knowing that co-op reports are only part of the reason members come to the annual meeting.
And I want to talk to you a little about that.
Co-ops operate within seven basic principles, the Seven Cooperative Principles.
The annual meeting is all about seeing those principles in action.
- The very first principle is: Open and Voluntary Membership
- The second principle is: Democratic Member Control
- The third principle is: Members’ Economic Participation
It’s easy to see how these principles are part of Platte-Clay’s operations, especially for those who attended the annual meeting.
Members voluntarily attend the annual meeting, Platte-Clay returned $2.4 million in capital credits this year and members elected three members to the Board of Directors for three-year terms.
We’ll see the other four principles woven through activities during the year: 4) Autonomy and Independence; 5) Education, Training and Information; 6) Cooperation Among Cooperatives and 7) Concern for Community.
Co-ops are a vital part of the communities they serve. Watch for information on economic development activities during the coming year as we work to help our area grow.
Speaking for the Board, we are proud to serve you and our communities.
The Northland Connection is published monthly by Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc., 1000 W. 92 Highway, Kearney, MO 64060. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Northland Connection, PO Box 100, Kearney, MO 64060 or mail@pcec.coop.
Platte-Clay is an equal opportunity employer.