Speaking with one voice
Executive V.P./CEO
There are few things in life more frustrating than not being heard. Maybe you’re a parent who doesn’t feel like your kids listen to you. Maybe it’s that friend who asks for your advice but never takes it. As Americans, we are raised to believe that a government should listen to its people, and when it doesn’t, we speak with our votes.
One of the best parts of being a member of a cooperative is that you don’t have to wonder if we’re listening. Democratic control is built right into the cooperative model. In fact, it’s one of our seven governing principles. Once a year, we even hold an annual meeting where members are encouraged to talk to their cooperative leaders about how the system is run.
But how does a cooperative make sure its voice is heard when it comes to the issues changing the electric industry? Even with so many members, SVEC is just one utility among many in Florida, not to mention across the nation.
The answer is that, just like our members worked together to bring electricity to a place investor-owned utilities wouldn’t, cooperatives can pull together to make sure their voices are heard. We do that with the help of groups like the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, which represents the common needs of cooperatives across the country.
Earlier this year, I traveled to Washington, D.C., with a group of other SVEC employees to take part in NRECA’s Legislative Conference. Events like this provide us the opportunity to discuss common goals and concerns with our fellow cooperative leaders, as well as to speak with lawmakers about policy.
On the state level, the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association gives a focused voice to the many electric cooperatives throughout our state. They also make sure lawmakers understand what sets cooperatives apart from other utilities.
You can learn more about the issues cooperatives are fighting for on both the state and national levels in this newsletter. I hope you will take a moment to read about just a few of them that could have major implications for cooperatives in Florida and beyond.
Speaking of traveling to our nation’s capital, it is again time for our high school juniors to apply for the Youth Tour of Tallahassee. The tour is a wonderful opportunity for young people to learn about how the cooperative model works and to get an up-close look at how our state government operates. Additionally, two of the students who go on the tour will also be selected to represent SVEC in Washington, D.C. for the National Rural Electric Youth Tour.
In this issue, you can also get to know our District 9 trustee, Bill Hart, a little better, see photos from last month’s Touch-a-Truck event and much more.
At SVEC, we never take for granted that we are owned by our consumer-members and would not exist without you. That’s why our members will always have a voice with their cooperative, and it’s just another reason we are proud to serve you