The theme of SEIEC's 2006 SEIEC Annual Members' Meeting is entitled "The People Behind The Promise" and you may be wondering what the promise is and who are the people behind that promise.  In this month's column, please allow me to explain the promise and then focus on the people behind the promise.

First of all, please allow me to explain that the promise we are talking about is our promise that we will do our very best to provide you, our Cooperative Member and Owner with the highest level of reliable electric service at rates which are fair and equitable to all Members.  This is the promise of your Cooperative.

The second part of this year's theme is the people behind the promise.  These people behind the promise encompasses everyone involved in your Cooperative,  including your Board of Trustees who are responsible for governing your Cooperative, the management/employees who are responsible for operating your Cooperative on a daily basis, and most importantly you, our Cooperative Member/Owner.

Your Cooperative is governed by local elected officials who serve collectively as your Board of Trustees.  This is a very important and distinctive difference between your Cooperative and other investor-owned utilities.  Your Cooperative is governed by Cooperative members, just like you, who live and work in your communities, and pay the same rates as you.  This means that people within your very own communities are making the decisions that govern your electric Cooperative.  I have worked with the current Board of Trustees for almost seven years and I can assure you they take their responsibility very seriously and work diligently to review all information available before making decisions which affect your Cooperative.

Your Cooperative is operated on a daily basis by a group of 80 management/employees who also reside and work in your communities.  Not only is this group of people responsible for providing the service that you experience daily, but they are also the people responsible for building lines, trimming trees, installing meters, providing the billing services, answering your questions and restoring your outages on a 24/7 basis.  The management/employee group is a very integral part of your Cooperative because without them, we could not provide the level of service that you experience today.  I am very proud to be a part of this group of dedicated, hardworking people who are committed to providing you with reliable electric service.  As your new manager, I can assure you we will do our very best to operate your Cooperative with your best interests in mind.

The final group of people I would like to include in this year's theme is you, our Cooperative Members and Owners.  Cooperatives were established and continue to exist today to serve its Members.  You, as members and owners of the Cooperative are the reason your Cooperative exists today and without you, none of this would be possible. 

Hope to see you at this year's 68th Annual Meeting, and as always, "We'll keep the lights on for you."