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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2012)
in other words october9 2012 WOEC Current 7 News and Notes From the Co-op: Celebrate Cooperative Month With Us By Sarah Rossi Every October since 1930, not- for-profit cooperatives of all kinds have celebrated Cooperative Month. During this time, it makes sense to highlight the qualities that make electric cooperatives different from other types of utilities and businesses. Cooperatives through- out North America will celebrate their successes and heritage with common themes throughout October. The celebra- tion lasted even longer this year, because the United Nations sanctioned 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives. One of the biggest differences is that electric co-ops are owned by those they serve. That’s why those who re- ceive electric service from us are called members, not customers. The need for access to electrical service in rural areas is what created West Oregon Electric Cooperative. Members maintain democratic control of our co-op, which means they elect fellow members to represent them on the board of directors. Every August the annual meeting mailing is sent out to members with the ballot to vote for the directors that have been nominated for the District seats that are up that year, and the official results are announced at our annual meeting. Another difference is that our co-op members receive spe- cial benefits through programs like our WOEC Co-op Connections Card and our energy assistance program “Care to Share”. One principle that sets us apart from other businesses is our concern for community. As a cooperative, we have a special responsibility to support the ar- eas in which our members live and work. We sponsor local school activities, pro- vide scholarships, and sponsor the Co- lumbia County Rider Columbia County Fair Senior Day trip. Our economy still has critical hurdles to overcome, so you may not feel like celebrating Co-op month at all. But when our faith in big institutions has been shaken, it’s the perfect time to remember what we’ve already accom- plished locally, all with a little coopera- tion. We’ve faced tough times be- fore; 75 years ago our area didn’t have electricity. Young folks were leaving en- masse to find a brighter future in urban areas, and rural America was left in the dark. But instead of waiting for some- one else to fix our problem, we turned to each other. We built our own utility, and we powered our future. By our very nature, not-for-prof- it, local, member-owned and governed cooperatives like West Oregon Electric empower members to improve their lives. And while bringing electricity to rural Oregon was a big first step, you, as our members, certainly didn’t stop there. Overall, co-ops are more acces- sible than other types of businesses. We still answer the phone personally, have time to meet with our members, and gen- uinely care about our members. We give our members a voice, and we are local, living and working alongside those we serve. As we celebrate National Coop- erative Month, we would like to invite you to join us on Wednesday, October 31st for candy and fun at our WOEC office. We want you to continue to stay involved as we build a better future to- gether. Thank you for being a WOEC member! Whooping Cough Vaccine Available in Columbia County To help with the rising numbers of whooping cough cases this year, Public Health has received a vac- cine targeted at adults with no medical insurance be- tween the ages of 19 and 64. “This is a one-time adult booster,” said Mary Altenhein, immunization coordinator for the Pub- lic Health Foundation of Columbia County. She said adults who expect to have close contact with a baby younger than a year should be immunized to protect the child. Pertussis is more severe in children than adults. By protecting themselves, older children, par- ents and grandparents can form a “cocoon of protec- tion” around the babies in their lives that may be too young to be fully protected by vaccine. The Public Health Foundation offers immu- nizations on a sliding fee scale. Call 503-397-4651 ext 2023 to make an appointment. Hours are 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday. Nine cases of whooping cough have been re- ported in Columbia County this year. Oregon has 679 cases, over twice as many as reported last year. Wash- ington State has 4,007 cases, nearly 10 times the num- ber reported this time last year. “Prevention is the best defense against this dis- ease,” said Karen Ladd, Columbia County Pub- lic Health Administra- tor. “Not being current on vaccinations clearly puts people at risk of contracting pertussis.” “Children TOO BUSY? 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