December Destruction
Weather impacts us all. And this past December was no exception, bringing severe weather to our region. The losses were devastating. My heart goes out to everyone who was affected […]
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Entries by David Callis
Driving Change
In the 30 years that I’ve worked in the electric utility industry, I’ve seen a lot of changes — advancements in technologies, breakthroughs in science and trends that drive our […]
Concern for Community
As we venture carefully into 2021, we’re hoping to turn the corner and have a smoother, safer and more satisfying year. So far, we haven’t exactly made that turn, but […]
Heroes among us
Many years ago, the band Alabama had a big hit called “Angels Among Us,” a song about those around us who stand out by doing good deeds. The inference is […]
The Power to be Resilient
It seems that we have veered from one calamity to the next this year; tornadoes to a derecho, topped off with a pandemic. Still to come: murder hornets and a […]
The Power to Be
You don’t have to look far to find news stories that speak to the decline of rural America: aging population, unemployment, opioids. It can be a depressing outlook. We see […]
A Kinder, Gentler 2019
Last month, our nation did what we’ve only done a handful of times — said a final goodbye to a president. In ceremonies public and private, coupled with a national […]
October is Co-op Month
Cooperatives are, by any measure, a big deal in our state. From the Mississippi River to the Great Smoky Mountains, cooperatives improve the well-being of rural residents and communities across […]
Members are in control
In early April, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation held its annual members meeting. The cooperative’s board and management submitted an annual report to the members. Bylaw and policy changes were proposed, […]
Unified
The theme for Tennessee’s electric cooperatives in 2017 is “Unified.” We’ve just completed one of the most contentious elections in our nation’s history, and this country is as divided politically […]
Nine Hundred Words
The Washington Youth Tour essay contest rules are specific. Rule number 3 states: The short story should be no more than 900 words in length (including articles of speech); 800 […]
The cooperative difference
I don’t think we realize how much we benefit from the internet and the communications services it provides. Not that many years ago, companies debated whether they should invest in […]
Become a Co-op Voter
If you are a co-op director, every few years you ask people to vote for you. Here is a question for you – when was the last time you voted […]
Dealing with polarization
We are several primaries into a presidential election year, and even the most experienced political observer seems astounded by the level of polarization that exists in our country. The right […]
Supreme Court short-circuits Clean Power Plan
Last December, I let you know that America’s electric cooperatives were filing suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asking a federal court to prevent a rule called the Clean […]
Cyber Security
Question: What do you do for a living? Answer: I can tell you, but I’d have to kill you. We’re not secret agents, but we do have more knowledge than […]
Small Towns, Big Ideas
Small towns, big ideas – that’s our theme for the coming year. But more than just a theme, it is an appropriate phrase to describe the character of the small […]
Singleness of Purpose
What is the single purpose we have in running an electric cooperative? Serving our members by keeping the lights on and the rates low. You’ve heard – or said – […]
Safe, reliable, affordable
Last September, Tennessee’s electric cooperatives were privileged to participate in the opening ceremony of the Tennessee State Fair in Nashville. And during the fair, we provided Tennessee residents the opportunity […]
Staying Power
Another successful Washington Your Tour is the in books. All told, that makes 50 times that Tennessee has made this annual investment in our rural youth. Past alumni include military […]
