In one of the most notable inaugural speeches given, John F. Kennedy Jr. spoke his famous words, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” His inspiring words urged Americans to take actions that benefited the greater good. In essence, Kennedy was saying our country thrives when we all contribute our talents to the common good.
On a smaller scale, I think the same can be said about our co-op, specifically with regard to our board members. Lynches River Electric Cooperative’s board members are community-minded individuals with a variety of skill sets. Our board is made up of business owners, farmers, retired co-op employees, and former educators. We rely on their many talents to help us make informed decisions on long-term priorities and investments. Our directors live right here in the co-op’s service area, and we consider them the eyes and ears of the community because they provide their perspective on important community issues.
We recognize it takes many people with different skills to create a well-rounded board that can represent the full spectrum of our community folks with diverse perspectives, experience, expertise, and views. LREC board members can apply their unique talents to benefit all our friends and neighbors. But above all else, they are folks who love our community and want to see it thrive now and in the future. Serving on LREC’s board means making a difference locally.
While day-to-day decisions are made by co-op staff, major decisions are made by the board, whose mission is to look out for the vitality of the co-op and the community it serves. LREC board members typically provide input and guidance on budgets, co-op goals and direction, capital investments and upgrades in equipment and technology, and the co-op’s role and involvement in economic development.
The energy industry is undergoing a major transition with technology advancements driving change. Whenever LREC faces a big decision, our board members are helping to chart a course for our future.
While they don’t need to be experts in electricity or business to run, they do need to have a passion for the community and a willingness to actively serve and learn. Our board meets on a regular basis, and we offer specialized training opportunities to help them make informed decisions as they gain a deeper understanding of the electric utility industry, the cooperative business model, and local economic development efforts.
Ultimately, our board is the community pulse for the co-op and helps keep us on the right track. They love our community and want to help it thrive.
President & CEO