Co-op News, Directors Conference
A Time to Re-engage Co-op Members
ORLANDO, Fla.—Gridlock and partisan rancor are the order of the day in Washington, but that doesn’t mean electric cooperatives can afford to divorce themselves from political activity, NRECA CEO Glenn English said.
NRECA CEO Glenn English says he wants directors to invigorate their co-ops and strengthen their grassroots activism. (Photo By: Steven Johnson)
In fact, English told a national conference of co-op directors that they must renew their commitment to grassroots political action if they are to help keep electric bills affordable and deal with other legislative challenges.
“I hope that we will use 2012 as a year in which we rededicated, rejuvenated and re-engaged our membership in this process to prepare for the next 75 years,” he said.
Speaking at the 2012 NRECA Directors Conference, English said electric cooperatives should bring an unmatched passion to the political process by drawing on examples set by leaders in the early days of rural electrification.
“We cannot do this by money. We cannot do this because we’re the biggest. We’re not. But we can reclaim the passion and the sense of purpose that drove this program.”
The Feb. 13-14 conference attracted about 1,000 participants to the Loews Royal Pacific Resort under the theme “Tough. Smart. Prepared.” A series of high-profile speakers and breakout sessions provided directors with the knowledge and skills they need to enhance their effectiveness at their cooperatives.
English said those skills must include political mobilization, which should extend beyond directors, managers and a few key staffers at co-ops.
“We’ve come to define grassroots as consisting of managers and directors. When this program was founded, the grassroots was the membership of each and every distribution cooperative
in this country,” he said.
A newly revised and more democratic resolutions process will help to strengthen the connection between co-ops and their members, he said. And a special committee is studying the role of co-ops in the 21st century by tackling questions of what makes them valuable and how they improve the lives of their members.
Additionally, the Grassroots Summit in May will present a much-needed opportunity for directors and managers to learn new ways to encourage grassroots participation.
English urged every distribution co-op to send a manager and director to the summit. It will replace the Legislative Conference this year, since Congress is out of session at that time.
“It’s not just whether your congressman or your senators votes with electric cooperatives. It’s important for that congressman or senator to go to the leadership of this country and say, ‘You’ve got to pay attention to the electric cooperatives on this issue,’ ” he said. “That must be our objective.”
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Tags: 112th Congress, Co-op News, Directors Conference, Glenn English, Grassroots, Legislative Conference