Graham County Electric Cooperative Shows Commitment to Community
Co-Op Supports Scholarships for Local Students Through Salsafest’s Chihuahua Races Sponsorship
Story and photo by Geoff Oldfather
For Graham County Electric Cooperative (GCEC) and its employees, the cooperative principles aren’t just words, they’re words to live by.
It’s why the not-for-profit, member-owned distribution cooperative’s employees offer their personal time to support community events, such as the annual Salsafest and Chihuahua Races on September 23 at Firemen’s Park in Safford.
Jason Carter, the GCEC meter reader, was front and center at the Chihuahua Races, handing out information about the co-op’s Smart Meter program, SmartHub information center for members, and other material.
“I think it’s important for someone to be there to talk to the members, to show our support,” Jason says. “Since they do so many great things for us, it’s important for us to be there for them. It’s also important for there to be a face to the co-op, to let the members get to know who we are and what we do.”
Not only do employees take the time to support community events in person, the cooperative is also a sponsor, donating money to help cover the cost of the event. In turn, money raised from events can be used for community programs, such as scholarships.
“Their support is very important,” says Kathy Grimes, organizer of the Chihuahua Races and other Salsafest events. “It’s a Lion’s Club event, and through Salsafest, they raise funds to provide scholarships for students who attend Eastern Arizona College. They’re a nonprofit and without the sponsorships, we probably couldn’t do it.”
“We really appreciate Graham County Electric Cooperative stepping forward with their sponsorship and helping support not only the event, but the scholarships we provide with the money we raise, because some individuals we help wouldn’t be able to attend college without them,” Kathy says.
The cooperative is making an effort to reach younger people “who need to know the co-op model, how it’s not-for-profit and member-owned,” Jason says.
“Some of the younger generations of people who are coming up and starting to pay their bills, I feel like it’s a good thing for them to know that they can actually govern a lot of what happens in the co-op, that it’s what the members do,” Jason says.
GCEC General Manager Phil Cook says it’s all about the 7 Cooperative Principles, 1 of which calls for Commitment to the Community.
“To us, those aren’t just words,” he says. “We are a part of the community—our employees live here, our board members are elected by the people we serve—and it’s important for us to be at these events so people can meet our employees and see first-hand our commitment to not only providing power but making our communities better places to live.”
There’s another reason to attend these events. “It’s just really fun,” Jason says.
