Celebrating the cooperative difference

As we prepare to observe National Cooperative Month, I’m reminded of a phrase I’m sure plenty of us heard growing up. There’s no “I” in team.

Whether it was on the ball field or the basketball court, I remember being told that numerous times. And believe me, I’ve repeated it plenty over the years. Whether you were on the receiving end of it, or you were the parent or coach dishing it out, you know that when a group of people combine their abilities and work towards a common, shared goal, it’s hard to keep them down.

If you stop and think about it, that’s the whole idea behind cooperatives. In a world where individualism often takes center stage, this month serves as a reminder of the power in collaboration and shared ownership that’s found in cooperatives, something you and I have right here in Salt River Electric.

When Salt River was formed way back in 1937, our founders banded together around the shared idea of bringing power to our rural area. Kentucky’s urban centers had already been electrified for decades, with our rural communities being neglected by the for-profit utility industry. Those early founders and members took matters into their own hands. Using low-cost federal loans, Salt River set poles, strung lines and brought power to our consumer-members. We were a new kind of utility company: not-for-profit, member-owned and democratically controlled. It was a big undertaking, building an electric cooperative from the ground up. But because of the common ground between them and their shared goal, our founders and early members were able to overcome the obstacles and create a member-driven utility that is still thriving today.

As we celebrate National Cooperative Month this October, remember: being part of a cooperative is about working together towards a common goal, and bettering the members and communities we serve. And that is bigger than you or “I.”