Owned by Our Members, Committed to Our Community
We're Celebrating October — Cooperative Month

October Message from Randall Pugh
President/CEO

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. The summer heat begins to subside, bringing cooler weather that's just right for hayrides and watching a harvest moonrise. Combine that with the start of football (my favorite team shall remain nameless), and you've got the makings of a wonderful season. October is also special for cooperatives; not just electric, but all cooperatives. October is Cooperative Month, and cooperatives across the nation celebrate or reflect on the impact cooperatives have on everyday lives.

About Cooperatives

Cooperatives are owned and controlled by the people who use them—members. With 42,000 cooperatives in the U.S. alone, cooperatives exist in every industry and geographic area. Whether you're rural, urban or suburban, chances are a cooperative can be found in your community.

The Cooperative Advantage

Being part of the community is what makes cooperatives unique. Cooperatives were formed to meet their members' needs, focusing on service rather than investment. At Jackson EMC, profits are returned to members as margin refunds—a portion of the revenues above the cost of doing business. Returning money to members in the form of margin refund checks is one of the many ways our cooperative keeps money in the community.

Like many cooperatives, Jackson EMC offers scholarships, sponsors community events and contributes to community organizations. This month, we celebrate the one year anniversary of Operation Round Up® (ORU), which funds your Foundation. Participating members have their monthly bills rounded up to the nearest dollar. Together, members have donated more than $763,000 to organizations and individuals in only a year's time. That's the cooperative spirit at work.

Types of Cooperatives

Ever wonder about the different types of cooperatives? Our representatives often speak to members who are surprised to learn that companies like REI®, Ocean Spray® and Land-O-Lakes® are cooperatives.

Consumer Cooperative — A consumer cooperative is a purchasing organization, usually retail, formed for the benefit of the consumer. Consumer cooperatives produce and distribute goods and services controlled and directed by the consumer rather than having the goal of maximizing profit. Consumer-owned cooperatives, like Jackson EMC, are common in the telecommunications and electric utilities industries.

Worker Cooperative — A worker-owned cooperative is an organization owned and operated by the workers or staff of the business. Ownership is primarily offered through employee stock ownership plans, which empowers the workers by offering them a stake in the success of the business.

Producer Cooperative — Owned and operated by producers working together or as a group, a producer cooperative is formed to offer its members expanded marketing capabilities and production efficacy. After paying for the operations expenses and expansion of reserves, the producer cooperative operates on a cost basis for the mutual benefit of its members and stockholders.

Business-Owned Cooperative — Cooperative owned by a group of businesses for their mutual benefit. These businesses form alliances to purchase goods and services at a total cost that is less than the costs that would be incurred by individual businesses acting alone. Business-owned cooperatives save through lower administrative costs and guaranteed levels of business with vendors and suppliers. Members pay set fees, participate in governing the cooperative and use its services. There is also a democratically elected Board of Directors to oversee policies and operations and hire management personnel, who in turn hire staff and implement the Board's policies.

If you're a member of a credit union, like our Associated Credit Union, you're supporting a cooperative and reaping the benefits of the cooperative way. From credit unions to farming, cooperatives exist to serve the people with quality goods and services.

Randall Pugh
President/CEO

Cooperatives are owned

• Consumers
• Producers/farmers
• Workers
• Businesses/organizations
• Municipal/government
• Other cooperatives

Questions?

Anytime you have questions, send them to P.O. Box 38, Jefferson, Ga. 30549, call 706- 367-5281 or email rpugh@jacksonemc.com