CEO’s Message – September 2018

Hearing voices

CEO Michael S. McWaters
Michael S. McWaters
Executive V.P./CEO

Sometimes it seems like the issues dominating the national news are disconnected from the things we’re concerned about in our hometown.

While there are certainly policies discussed in Washington that affect everyone, the challenges we face day to day usually have more to do with ensuring we have reliable access to essentials like work, good roads and, yes, even electricity.

Here at Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, we work hard to manage our system and make sure our neighbors’ needs are met. But sometimes there are issues, such as national energy policy, that are too big for us to tackle on our own.

That’s where the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association comes in. They help SVEC work with other cooperatives to bridge the gap between small-town America and our nation’s capital.

In our September newsletter, you can learn more about our partnership with the NRECA and how they give us a voice in Washington. You can also read about two of our local students who visited the Capitol as part of the Youth Tour.

The tour gave these young people the chance to see firsthand how lawmakers fight for the issues that are important to their communities at the highest levels of our government. We’re proud to be able to give students those opportunities so they can prepare to, one day, be leaders themselves.

The connections between our small towns and our national lawmakers have never been more important. When we keep those lines of communication open, we can work together to make sure all of our voices are heard.