November 2023 Editorial

We're thankful for your membership

Marshal Albright, president/CEO Cass County Electric Cooperative

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

In the spirit of this quote by author William Arthur Ward, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for your membership in our electric cooperative, the leadership of our board, and the commitment of our employees to serve our members.

I generally use my editorial to provide updates on new projects and developments and report on the progress of ongoing initiatives and issues related to the energy industry. We share these updates so all our consumer members can see our priorities, progress, and challenges. However, during this season of giving thanks, I think it’s equally important to let you and other Cass County Electric Cooperative consumer members know your impact on our co-op and the greater community, likely in ways you may not even realize.

As part of the cooperative business model, one of our core principles is “Concern for Community.” While our priority is always to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy, we view our role in the community as a catalyst for growth and prosperity.

We intentionally partner with local groups such as the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce to address our workforce challenges.

We work closely with our local schools to provide safety demonstrations, award college scholarships through Dollars for Scholars, and career awareness in the energy industry. Cass County Electric also participates in an annual Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, where we take our community’s brightest young people to Washington, D.C., for a weeklong immersion to experience democracy in action. The trip is inspirational for many students, and we are both humbled and honored to be a part of this leadership development journey. Ultimately, the more extensive community benefits from these programs because of you! You empower the co-op by participating in and supporting these programs.

When you attend co-op events, please provide suggestions to our employees; you’ll help us improve operations and better serve the larger co-op membership.

Because members of our community locally govern us, we can get a first-hand perspective on community needs and priorities, enabling us to make more informed decisions on long-term investments, such as future power supply options and technology upgrades to enhance reliability.

We are thankful that our co-op board members carve out time to attend necessary training sessions, participate in planning meetings, and keep abreast of industry trends. Their investment of time results in better-informed advisors serving the co-op’s interests, providing guidance that our consumer members expect and deserve.

On a more personal note, we appreciate the countless acts of kindness our lineworkers and other employees receive when working in severe weather and dangerous conditions. Our employees are thankful for your patience and consideration when restoring power during challenging and prolonged periods.

Cass County Electric Cooperative was established 86 years ago to bring electricity to our area when no one else would. The cooperative is a reflection of our local community and its evolving needs. Let’s continue making our corner of the world a better place to live and work. We can’t do it without you, and we’re thankful for your membership.