Our seven guiding principles serve as the touchstone for electric cooperatives around the world. Later in this issue, we’re featuring the principle of cooperation among cooperatives. Another cooperative principle that bears repeated emphasis is that of member education, training, and information.
We pay considerable attention to our role of helping to keep you informed; after all, Country Living is one of our primary means of communicating with the co-op community. It enables Ohio’s 25-member cooperative network to relay industry news, views, and updates, while showcasing the many virtues and attributes of the Buckeye State, including the talents and lifestyles of our extensive member base. The publication has served us well since its inception in the 1950s. Now, with your help, it’s time to freshen up Country Living.
Your cooperative has evolved substantially since the FDR administration, when we “electrified the countryside.” We’ve changed the way in which we generate and deliver power to homes and businesses. Technology and innovation have allowed us to provide service more efficiently and effectively. In that spirit, we’re listening to member feedback in a series of Country Living reader focus groups across the state. While the periodical will continue to provide the features and information that have become its hallmark, we’re honing Country Living’s direction to align with member recommendations. In essence, readers are telling what to keep, what to improve, and even how Country Living should look. In fact, there have even been new names suggested for the magazine.
We’re taking it all in, and looking forward to unveiling our new look (and name?) with the January 2017 issue. We’re evolving, and our magazine should, too. In the meantime, we invite you to keep reading, keep contributing, and, most important, keep the conversation going.
