Electric Co-op Today

A South Carolina electric cooperative is out to make healthy living a family affair by promoting exercise, active recreation and nutritious eating for staffers and their families.

Aiken Electric employees Phyllis (left) and Frankie Baughman work and play together at the co-op’s headquarters. (Photo By: Muriel Carter/Aiken EC)

Aiken Electric Cooperative kicked off its 2012 Wellness Program by encouraging those who have not participated in the past to join in the fun.

“We will kick off the ‘Couch to 5k’ program, effective immediately,” said Robyn McCay, vice president of human resources at the Aiken-based co-op.

A challenge was issued in Watts on Line, the co-op’s staff newsletter, urging widespread participation in the first annual Co-op 5k, scheduled for March 24.

The human resources staff is coordinating activities and planning events for the co-op’s seventh annual fitness incentive program.

Besides opening up the fitness center in the co-op’s headquarters to family members, the co-op offers incentives, called “fitness bucks,” redeemable for merchandise like gift certificates and movie tickets.

Participants log their fitness activities and keep track of specific measurable goals, said Muriel Carter, Aiken EC’s marketing and communications specialist. They can also earn incentives for preventive health screenings and various classes.

“They bring instructors in twice a week to teach Zumba and aerobics,” Carter said. The cardiovascular training is just one of the popular activities keeping members of the Aiken EC co-op family moving.

This year, the co-op has set aside several large raised beds behind its headquarters for a community garden for employees and their families.

The co-op is providing seeds and seedlings for planting, with some guidance from the experienced gardeners on the staff, Carter said.

“Those who share in the creation, maintenance and upkeep of the garden will share in the bounty and receive the veggies for free,” Carter said. “That’s great for families that don’t have the space to have a garden, and the kids get to learn about food.”

The co-op’s sustained commitment to wellness programs and fitness recently earned Aiken Electric a Gold Fit-Friendly Company award from the American Heart Association.

Aiken EC officials see their wellness program as a great way to improve staff morale and encourage family time, said Gary Stooksbury, the co-op’s CEO. “We see overall fitness as a tremendous benefit for the individual, and in turn, [it] allows the cooperative to be of better service to its members.”

To sign up for the latest Co-op Newsmakers news alerts, click here.

Tags: Co-op News, Local Initiatives