“DO GOOD-ERS”

I have now been in the cooperative business for some 22 years. In all that time, I have believed in the cooperative principle of commitment to community. Every cooperative I have ever worked at has been actively involved in supporting and contributing to many projects in their communities. Over these years, I have talked to countless cooperative members who are appreciative of cooperative support and who have come to realize that belonging to a cooperative gets them more than just electricity.

Recently, I took what was probably my second complaint EVER about a community service project. A Cherryland member called me up and questioned why I would spend cooperative dollars, his dollars, on something that a bunch of “do good-ers” could have gotten done without any help from Cherryland. We went back and forth about where the money comes from and whether or not rates could have been lowered had we not spent the money. While the questions were good and the discussion professional, none of the arguments dented the resolve of the opposing view. One side committed to their individual pocket book and the other adamant about helping a wider range of members.

Every member needs to know that we do consider the financial ramifications of each donation we make. The bottom line effect on our financial statement is always part of the decision. We follow our budgets, debate the “bang for the buck” factor and scrutinize whether the money is appropriately helping enough of the membership. Many requests simply don’t make it past this review. We cover a wide area with many worthwhile causes that require us to make some tough choices at times. There is definitely not a pot of unlimited funds.

Some of the money comes directly from Cherryland’s bottom line, other funds are available through the Touchstone Energy program at Wolverine Power Cooperative, our supplier of wholesale energy, and even more comes from members who volunteer a little pocket change each month through the bill round up program. Three different pots helping the entire membership that vary in size, effect and over which we have widely different ranges of control.

I firmly believe that good corporate citizenship will attract and retain employees with similar philosophies. Here is a “short” list of just some of the groups Cherryland employees were involved in on their own time over the last 12 months: Relay for Life, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, fire departments, EMS, scouts, chamber of commerce, church volunteers, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, school booster events, highway cleanups, Ducks Unlimited, Michael’s Place, a credit union board, YMCA board, Rotary and Special Olympics. An argument could clearly be made that for every Cherryland dollar contributed, the employee group at least matches it after hours in their time and energy for all these causes thus creating additional member benefits.

One phone call certainly will not change a philosophy buoyed by many calls and letters of appreciation over the years. I can only find one flaw in the recent call and that is the use of the term “do good-er”. The way it was used could lead one to believe that a “do good-er” is a bad thing. I have attempted to make a career out of doing good, surrounding myself with doers of good and searching for the best places to do something good. I am proud to be a self-proclaimed, card carrying “do good-er”. Have you done good today?