What is Operation Helping Others?
A number of cooperatives across the country have begun programs so members can pool
their resources to address local community needs. For over sixty years, Guernsey-Muskingum’s
mission has been to improve the quality of life of our members by providing affordable
rural electric service where there was none. Now we are trying to reach beyond that
goal and assist local communities to meet some of their critical needs. Operation
Helping Others is a voluntary program that rounds up your electric bill to the nearest
dollar and uses the change as a donation to fund this project. The small change
donated by participating members makes a big difference in our communities.
What are the funds used for:
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Volunteer fire departments and community EMT’s for purchasing necessary equipment |
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Projects such as renovating community facilities, parks, or ball fields. |
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Helping needy families who are experiencing large medical expenditures. |
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Funding school programs, such as field trips, that fall outside the scope of other
funding avenues. |
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Community safety programs, food banks, Meals on Wheels, seniors’ programs, and programs
for the disadvantaged. |
Operation Helping Others is NOT
a program to pay electric bills.
The committee appointed to administer "Operation Helping Others" funds does not
consist of Cooperative employees, Cooperative directors, or elected officials. There
are seven districts in Guernsey-Muskingum’s service area and each one is represented
on the "Operation Helping Others" Committee.
The seven-person "Operation Helping Others" committee meets quarterly to decide
which projects, programs, or needs to consider for assistance. Each
group
or
individual
applying for assistance is asked to complete a form describing their need and how
assistance would benefit their community. The committee representatives decides
which projects should be funded, according to the funds they have to award. Results
of committee activity will be published in Country Living magazine. Funding comes
from the Cooperative’s members. But, only by their choice. Again, this is a voluntary
program. And, this is how it works:
|
Sally Smith's Electric Bill |
$73.44 |
|
Sally Rounds-Up Her Bill and Pays |
$74.00 |
|
Left Over |
$0.56 |
The 56¢ is used in our communities (decided by "The Committee"). For instance, let’s
say Sally’s electric bill is $73.44. Sally’s bill would show a donation of 56¢ to
Operation Helping Others. The total bill Sally would pay is $74.00--that is, $73.44
for electricity, plus her 56¢ donation. This 56¢ is used in our local communities
as decided by the "Operation Helping Others" committee. All monies donated by the
Cooperative’s members is spent under the direction of the committee. The Cooperative
itself provides all necessary administration and accounting of funds with existing
Cooperative personnel. Therefore, every penny raised by your donations to Operation
Helping Others will go to assisting needs in the community.
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At our district meetings in the fall of 1997, 80% of the
members attending supported Operation Helping Others and said they would participate. |
Operation Helping Others:
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It is a voluntary program to help those in our area meet various needs. |
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Cooperative members who voluntarily participate will allow their electric bill to
be rounded up to the next highest dollar. |
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This "small change" will multiply into big help to those in great need. |
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Funds will be administered by a separate member-only committee (separate from the
existing Board of Directors). |
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It is NOT a
program to pay electric bills.
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