A Matter of Principles

You might be surprised by the number of co-ops around you. Co-ops have been formed to sell produce and electricity, offer financial and banking services, provide housing and health care, and much more.

So where did the bright idea for co-ops come from? It’s a matter of principles (seven, to be exact). The modern movement traces its roots to a store started by weavers in the town of Rochdale (pronounced Rotch-dale) in northern England in 1844. The group was guided by a set of principles drawn up by one of its members, Charles Howarth. When introduced into the U.S. by the National Grange in 1874, these “Rochdale Principles” fueled a cooperative explosion.

Although stated in many ways, the Rochdale Principles require that a cooperative must be open for anyone to join. Every member retains one voice, one vote. Electric co-ops hold member business meetings annually, allowing members to elect fellow consumers to guide the co-op and have a say in how their utility is run.

There also have to be real member benefits. For example, members of electric co-ops often get money back (called capital credits or patronage refunds) when the co-op’s in good financial shape. More than $9.5 billion has been returned to members by electric co-ops since 1988—nothing to sneeze at.

Education remains another big focus. Electric co-ops provide safety information in schools, share ideas on how to make your home more energy efficient to keep electric bills affordable, and make sure elected officials and opinion leaders know about the co-op business model. Because there is strength in numbers, co-ops tend to stick together when tackling regional and national issues.

Perhaps most important of all, co-ops are independent and community-focused, not tied to the purse strings of far-flung investors. Co-ops help drive local economic development, fund scholarships, support local charities, and work to make life better in the areas they serve—the heart of the cooperative difference.

Learn more about cooperatives and the principles that define them at www.go.coop.

 

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GA directory now in App Store

NASHVILLE –A new iPhone app released today is designed to help residents connect with members of the 107th Tennessee General Assembly. The app was developed by the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and Bass Berry & Sims PLC and contains detailed and searchable contact, staff and committee information for Tennessee representatives and senators.

“For more than 30 years, the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association has produced the most widely distributed print directory of the Tennessee General Assembly,” says TECA general manager David Callis. “Today, the same information is available in an interactive, searchable application for the iPhone.”

“This app is the first of its kind in Tennessee,” says Dick Lodge, attorney and long-time lobbyist with Bass, Berry & Sims PLC. “The app is ideal for anyone who wants to monitor the activities at the state Capitol and is designed to be the best reference possible for those who are interested in or work with Tennessee legislators.”

The Tennessee General Assembly app features:

  • a functional database of all Senate and House members
  • contact, staff and committee information
  • fast and easy search function
  • one-click call or e-mail ability

Apple iPhone users can find the $4.99 app by searching for “Tennessee General Assembly” in the App Store. A version for the iPad and Android devices will be available soon. An new app will be released with each General Assembly.

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association represents the interests of Tennessee’s 23 electric cooperatives and publishes The Tennessee Magazine, the state’s most widely circulated periodical. Visit tnelectric.org to learn more.

Bass, Berry & Sims PLC advocates on behalf of its clients’ interests in matters where government and business intersect, including lobbying Tennessee’s legislative and executive branches of government. Richard Lodge, Lee Barfield and Erica Bell Vick are registered lobbyists for the firm’s clients in the State of Tennessee. Mr. Lodge has been recognized by Business Tennessee magazine as one of the most effective, top-tier lobbyists for business interests.

[button link=”http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/107th-tennessee-general-assembly/id502888540?ls=1&mt=8″]Download the app →[/button]

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Pole attachment in commerce

Discussion in House Commerce regarding pole attachment compromise in 2009.

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Powering Progress

by David Callis, Executive Vice President and General Manager for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association

Near the end of “Saving Private Ryan,” as Tom Hanks’ character is dying, he leans forward and mutters one last command to the young private: “Earn this.” He speaks the words after most of his men have died saving the private’s life. He speaks the words to the soldier in an effort to convey the magnitude of the sacrifice made on his behalf.

Moving forward with a new team in place for 2012, “Earn this” is our internal watchword at the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association.While not as dramatic as a life-or-death struggle, the foundation on which we’re building involves a legacy that began in the 1930s.Early cooperative leaders were more than pioneers. The tactics they used were revolutionary, and the business acumen they possessed was cutting edge. Investor- owned utilities and legislators first ignored them and then tried to run them out of business. The co-op organizers took them on — and won. They were fighting for a better life for themselves, their children and their communities.

More than 70 years later, those cooperative principles and goals remain unchanged.Whether the work was done in the 1930s or the 1990s, we have a legacy of service and commitment that is to be earned — not squandered. Just like our predecessors from the ’30s, we’re committed to using nothing less than the best tools and technologies available to us today. Though the methodology is dramatically different — electronic social media has replaced the telephone party line — the basic principles of our business model remain the same.

As we move forward at TECA, we’re aware of our task, and we have our focus Squarely on you — the co-op members.In addition to publishing The Tennessee Magazine, TECA provides energy marketing assistance and a variety of education and training to today’s cooperative leaders. We also coordinate legislative efforts to protect the interests of the electric cooperative members in the state.

Those black-and-white images of the past serve as silent sentinels that repeat the charge to earn their sacrifice — a charge that we embrace with a tremendously talented group of employees with more than 160 years of varied experiences working on behalf of rural Tennessee. That background and commitment power our progress as we work for you — for the next 70 years and far beyond.

Our leadership team:

Robin Conover, vice president of communications and editor of The Tennessee Magazine; Mike Knotts, director of government relations; Todd Blocker, director of member relations; Trent Scott, communications coordinator.

Chris Kirk, Ron Bell and Susan Pilgreen round out the staff of The Tennessee Magazine. Amy Jordan, Tina Smith, Andrea Knight and Miyuki Fowler provide accounting, human resources and administrative support.

As for myself — I have more than 25 years of public power background. My decade of work as TECA director of government relations was preceded by service at Tri-County Electric in Lafayette and the Tennessee Valley Authority in Chattanooga.

For much more information on TECA and bios of the employees that work on your behalf, click here.

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