In the bag

Magazine covers

You may have noticed a subtle difference in the presentation of this month’s issue of Ohio Cooperative Living

For the first time in the publication’s history, it’s being delivered inside a plastic bag — which has nothing to do with the pandemic, by the way. Rather, the packaging includes offers from a sampling of the companies and organizations that advertise in the pages of the magazine. Advertising helps defray the cost to print Ohio Cooperative Living — helping to keep us one of the more economically sound and cost-effective publications in the electric cooperative industry. 

Ohio’s 24-member electric cooperative network goes to great measures to ensure that Ohio Cooperative Living offers value to its members — stories about rural, urban, and suburban life; features on the co-ops themselves and the people they serve; articles about recreational, artistic, and seasonal activities across the state; our ever-popular recipe series; “Woods, Waters, and Wildlife,” which grows in popularity monthly; our extensive and widely consulted calendar of events; and the “Member Interactive” section, which lets us feature co-op family fun. We believe that Ohio Cooperative Living celebrates the best of our readership by highlighting the unity and strength of co-op membership.

We strive to attract a mix of advertisers, both perennial and new, that add to the harmony and vigor of our magazine. Ohio Cooperative Living is a viable method for our advertisers to reach their customer base, but more importantly, those advertisers often are already ingrained in the fabric of co-op communities. In many cases, they’re your neighbors and colleagues. The support of our advertisers allows us to produce a relevant and cost-effective magazine; in turn, your patronage of our sponsors helps to support co-op communities throughout the Buckeye State. It’s another thread in the fabric of our community.

So, as you flip through the pages of Ohio Cooperative Living each month, be sure to take note of the advertisements. Some may resonate with you, some may not. In either case, thank you for your support, your input, and, of course, your cooperative spirit.

Stay safe.

Pat O'Loughlin is president and CEO of Ohio's Electric Cooperatives.