TEXAS

(806) 775-7766 | WWW.SPEC.COOP
Celebrating Co-op Independence
Message from General Manager Dale Ancell
July is the time we celebrate our nation's independence. In the midst of apple
pies and hot dogs, fireworks shows and parades, I can't help but think about
the independent streak that inspired groups of farmers around America's
countryside to band together and improve their quality of life.
Aside from President Franklin Roosevelt’s
promise of federal aid in the form
of low-interest loans and engineering
expertise, rural Americans didn’t have
much help in bringing electricity to their
homes. They pulled themselves up by
their proverbial bootstraps and did it
themselves.
This independence not only tends to
inspire cooperatives, it’s a guiding principle.
The Fourth Cooperative Principle,
“Autonomy and Independence,” means
that no matter what contracts South
Plains Electric Cooperative might enter
into, we will always remain an independent
entity.
Each year, South Plains Electric’s
annual meeting becomes an independence
celebration. You vote for candidates
on the board of directors, and we
discuss co-op business. We share a meal
and have some fun.
The Gate City and Dickens Division
meetings are coming up on July 16 and
18, respectively. The Dickens Division
members will be selecting their District
10 nominee for the board of directors.
The Coopertive's annual membership
meeting is Tuesday, September 10, at the
Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Four
directors will be up for election.
Electric cooperatives form a vast network
across the country, from coast to
coast. Co-op lines are strung in 47 states,
serving 42 million people—a different
world from 1935, when much of America
remained dark. This Fourth of July, as
we recognize the hard-fought war that
created the United States, I’ll also tip my
hat to South Plains Electric Cooperative
founders who beat incredible odds to
make life better for themselves and their
neighbors.
Operation Round Up Update On
20 for 20 Campaign
As a Touchstone Energy Cooperative,
South Plains Electric is more than
a power provider. We’re proof that when
folks unite with a single focus, we can
bring dreams to reality. We launched
our Operation Round Up 20 for 20 Campaign
in March. That’s our fundraising
campaign for Operation Round Up as
we work to increase participation by 20
percent to celebrate the program’s 20th
anniversary.
I'm happy to report we have added
624 new accounts to the program! That's
a great start toward our goal of adding
5,500 new accounts. Many of you are
using the June bill stuffer to sign up.
Operation Round Up is simple. You,
our members, make small contributions
to Operation Round Up monthly by
allowing us to round up your bill to the
nearest dollar. The extra change goes
into the Operation Round Up fund. A
member’s contribution averages only
$6 per year. But collectively, a 20 percent
increase in participation will add
$33,000 annually to the working budget.
The Operation Round Up Board
awarded another round of teacher minigrants
at their June meeting. You can
read about the many ways Operation
20 for 20
Campaign
Round Up has helped
our communities at
www.SPEC.coop. Just
click the Operation
Round Up tab at the
bottom of the page.
DIRECTOR NOMINEES
The District 10 Nominating Committee
met on May 9 in Spur and nominated
one candidate: Bob Forbis. No petition
nominations were received by the May
23 deadline.
The District 2 Nominating Committee
met on June 3 in Shallowater
and nominated one candidate: Danny
Stanton. The petition deadline was
June 17. Any petitions received will be
announced in August.
The District 1 Nominating Committee
met on June 10 in Cotton Center
and nominated one candidate: Tommy
Joines. The petition deadline was
June 24. Any petitions received will be
announced in August.
The District 8 Nominating Committee
will meet on June 13 via conference
from Lubbock. The nominations
and any petitions will be announced in
August.
People just like you serve on the
Cooperative Board of Directors. Exercise
your membership privileges by attending
your membership meeting and casting
your vote.
www.spec.coop July 2013 SOUTH PLAINS EC Texas Co-op Power 23