Giving Thanks in November
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, it presents us with an opportunity to reflect on life’s blessings as individuals and as a cooperative community. In this time of reflection, I must thank, recognize and celebrate the individuals who contributed to another successful year at Missoula Electric Cooperative.
Let me first begin with an enthusiastic thank you to our members. Cooperative members have donated $131,045 to MEC’s Operation Round Up® (ORU) program in less than three years. This was achieved by members who elected to round up their monthly power bill to the nearest dollar. Every penny collected was pooled to help local organizations and communities address unmet needs. Your generosity accounts for life-saving rescue missions, end-of-life hospice care, before and after-school programs, the restoration of historical museums, accessibility to the arts and more! ORU highlights the Cooperative’s commitment to the communities where we live, work and serve, and is just one of many reasons why MEC adopted the program in 2021.
Thank you to those who took time out of their busy schedules to join MEC and Energy Partners at the 2023 Fall Festival. I find it incredibly fulfilling to connect face-to-face with our members. The ability to shake hands, discuss projects, issues and/or concerns, deliver updates and share a laugh is not lost on me. Although many memories were made this year, these six evenings are among my favorites. An additional thank you is owed to our event caterer, Leigh Ann Valiton. Leigh Ann owns Stray Bullet in Ovando and never misses the mark when feeding a crowd.
I am honored to lead a team of skilled, dedicated, collaborative individuals. Their commitment to serving our members, often behind the scenes, and upholding our mission is commendable. An example of two such employees is Journeyman Lineman Maxwell Bean and our Manager of Communications and PR Kelsey Lodge. Maxwell was recently recognized with the Power-On award at the Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association (MECA) Operations Conference. This esteemed award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty in their operations role. Kelsey received two Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) Excellence in Communications awards, which “recognizes the top communications efforts made by NWPPA member utilities and associations.”
Additionally, the Co-op’s Safety Committee, led by Safety Manager Sean Eskridge, was asked to present at the MECA statewide Operations Conference, a significant nod to our team’s dedication to safety. I am continually inspired by our teams’ efforts. Please join me in thanking the exceptional individuals who power our Cooperative.
And finally, let us pause and reflect on the things we often take for granted. As your Cooperative leader, I am thankful for a dedicated team, loyal members, and the ability to deliver safe, affordable and reliable energy to local homes and businesses. On behalf of the Cooperative, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and express our deepest gratitude for your trust and support.
