Cooperatives nationwide celebrate National Co-op Month in October.

CHELCO is a distribution cooperative democratically controlled by its member-owners, who vote to elect the Board of Trustees.

Based on the needs of their members, cooperatives vary in size, range in industries or sectors and can take multiple forms based on who their member-owners are. However, they all share one common and very important trait: all co-ops are committed to the Seven Cooperative Principles:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

2. Democratic Member Control

3. Member Economic Participation

4. Autonomy and Independence

5. Education, Training and Information

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

7. Concern for Community

We talk about these values quite a bit, but it really hits home when you see them in action.

In late August, CHELCO closely watched Hurricane Idalia, preparing our internal hurricane response plan in case it turned our way. Fortunately for our area, the storm avoided us. Sadly, for our neighbors to the east, however, the Category 3 hurricane brought extensive damage to the Big Bend area of Florida.

After making landfall in Keaton Beach, Florida, on August 30, Idalia left hundreds of thousands without power. That morning, we sent 10 linemen and one supervisor east to assist in storm response. A prime example of Cooperation Among Cooperatives.

Our crews first assisted Tri-County Electric Cooperative, based in Madison, Florida, before moving on to assist Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative in the area of Live Oak.

For 10 consecutive days, our crews were able to help restore power to thousands of families and businesses, selflessly leaving their own families behind and assisting those they had never met before.

Later in the week, we dispatched our warehouse supervisor to assist in materials distribution at Tri-County Electric Cooperative, proving it takes all hands on deck to complete a safe and efficient restoration.

While we were sending crews this time, we’ve been on the other side of the assistance requests many times before. We send crews to cooperatives in need whenever we can spare them because we appreciate the co-ops who never hesitate to send aid when requested. This mutual aid is core to what it means.

I’m proud of each of our employees who worked to safely and efficiently restore power to our fellow cooperative members. I’m also proud of the countless other co-ops who joined the effort. It’s a great reminder of the cooperative difference.