October Managers Comments on Safet, RECare and Cooperative Month

Everyone is feeling the effects of high energy costs this year.  With the heating season approaching, more and more Iowans will be seeking assistance with energy, heating and weatherization costs. 
 
While, some federal and state dollars exist to target those in need of assistance, there are still shortfalls. The Access Energy Cooperative RECare program makes it easy to help cooperative neighbors in need this winter. If you wish to make a contribution to the Access Energy Cooperative RECare program, you can either:

Fill out and return to our office the form on page 7 in this month’s HighLine Headlines

Visit our web site at accessenergycoop.com under Your Account section, or

Give our Billing Department a call at 866-242-4232.  

Your contribution, whether it is $1 or $10 a month,when combined with those of other generous members,can go a long way in helping those who can’t afford winter’s heating bills.

SAFETY
With the harvest in full swing, I want to remind everyone to make safety their number one priority. Please look up to find the location of overhead power lines before moving equipment. This is partially true of grain elevators.  Please make sure everyone working with you is aware of the location of overhead power lines. When working around grain bins, make sure you identify the “loading side” of the bin and once again, make sure everyone working with you is aware of the “loading side” of the bin.  If in doubt about the clearance between your equipment and power lines please contact us and we will measure it for you.

COOPERATIVE MONTH
October is National Cooperative Month. It is a time when cooperatives across the nation join together to promote the benefits of cooperative membership and their contributions to their local communities. When it comes to making economic and charitable contributions to their communities, the nation’s more than 40,000 cooperative businesses take a back seat to no one. 
 
The 20-plus pages of case studies, put together by the National Co-op Month Planning Committee, show that
co-ops generate hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in income for their communities through their day-to-day activities. But that’s not all co-ops do. They also have a strong commitment to the communities in which their members live and work. Everyday, in every sector, through cash contributions and volunteerism, co-ops support local causes ranging from education to the environment. They also invest in new community businesses.  Locally, we have facilitated almost three million dollars in loans and grants that has created or retained over six hundred jobs. With Cooperatives, community is not just where we work; it’s why we work.