A History of Looking Out for the Future of Our OTEC Communities
The Seven Cooperative Principles
Your Oregon Trail Electric
Cooperative (OTEC) oper
ates according to the same
set of core principles and
values, adopted by the International Co-operative
Alliance (ICÀ). All cooperatives can trace the roots
of these principles to the first modèrn
cooperative founded in Rochdale, England in
1844.
OTEC was formed in 1987 based on the coop
erative business model, with the foundation of
these seven cooperative principles:
1. Voluntary and Open Membership
2. Democratic Member Control
3. Members* Economic Participation
4. Autonomy and Independence
5. Education, Training and Information
6. Cooperation among Cooperatives
7. Concern for Community
Concérn for Community is the reason why
OTEC'was founded. Back in 1987, this part of
northeastern Oregon was served by a for-profit,
investor-owned utility, CP National Corporation.
This multi-state conglomerate was looking to
unload its dilapidated system and to get out of the
not-so-lucrative rural electric utility business. When
several attempted purchases failed, your friends
and neighbors came together (under the leader
ship of Dick Haynes and Peggi and Glenn Timm)
to form OTEC and operate the utility locally using
the cooperative business model as their guide. It
was their concern for our community - to bring
safe, reliable and affordable electric power to our
region - that defined our purpose.
While centering on member needs, cooperatives
work for the sustainable development of commu
nities through policies and programs accepted by
the members.
ft is in that spirit that we continue today offering
rebates to commercial businesses to change their
existing lighting to more energy efficient lighting,
$100 credits to electric bills when members install
a qualifying electric water heater, and offering a
credit on electric accounts for appliances that meet
ENERGY STAR® Compliance.
In addition to providing electric service, OTEC
strives to serve our members and the communities
that make us strong by contributing limited cash
and "work-in-kind" donations to community groups
in our service area.
Donations are provided for the purpose of public
benefit, community improvement, charitable,
scientific or educational purposes. OTEC regularly
supports civic club fundraisers, local 4-H and FFA
events, youth sports programs, community project
improvements and non-profit organizations. OTEC
also gives back to your community through
programs such as the Rural Electric Washington
D.C. Yduth Tour and the Peggi Timm Civic
Leadership Award.
In 2015, OTEC awarded twenty-eight $5,000
scholarships to deserving students throughout our
service territory. Scholarships are available for first
time college students, returning students and
those students who would like to pursue a career
in the electrical energy industry by enrolling in line
school. Scholarships
are funded through the
interest
on
the
unclaimed
capital
credits and do not
impact member’s rates.
For T
cooperatives,
these
are
easy
decisions : to make The 3rd Annual Peggi Timm Civic
because
unlike Leadership Award was presented
to DI Lyn Larsen-Hill of La Grande.
investor-owned busi- DI Lyn selected the Union County
nesses where the own Friday Backpack Program a non
501 (c)3 to receive the
ers and employees can profit
$25,000 donation, made available
be far removed from through earnings on unclaimed
the users of the service, capital credits.
in a cooperative the
owners and users are
the same people: You!
This is why we call you a member and encour
agé you to actively engage with us. The health and
long-term sustainability of our community depends
on all of us demonstrating our mutual concern for
our community.
While it has been twenty-seven years since we
began offering electricity, our concern for our
community has never wavered. We will continue
to work for the sustainable development of our
community and welcome your input as we work to
meet your needs for the next twenty-seven years
and beyond.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2015
OTEC Scholarship
Winners
Seven Cooperative Principles
VOLUNTARY ANO
,
■
OPEN MEMBERSHIP
AUTONOMY AND
INDEPENDENCE
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations opento pl!
prisons able to use their services and willing to accept
tile responsibilities of membership, without gender, social,
raclai, pobtfcal or religious rHscrhnmat'«m.
Cooperatives ile putonrsreous, sefi-heip organtations
conttoHed^ B»h memhets.ff they eater nits agreements
with other piganiiattens,. iiwSudtng gevemnwnis, oy raise
eapitHÈnoæéxteroafsmsrees, theydeasio» irr^stbat
democratic
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«
MEMBERXONTROL
^perativesta demotfMK
^V,member%b<hd'tBWraiypa<tu^tteinspU«<pjaisfes
and rwtang rfetisirn* TheviMted «JM h MMM*«»»
aatepmrte n, tira.-WsbsrsW . jo,primai virbdsÿrgtfeêÿ
»l^w-havs -wjtsJ satfeg fights lost raembsi; bn'è
’ ; e«t,«»8pef4tiims at stfferTwfeteare
.
fi
ensuie democratic control by their memirerssrid main tain
tjwli cooperative autoB&ay,
EDUCATION, TRAINING
ANO INFORMATION
■' : V
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative is dedicated to the advancement of youth in the communities we serve.
Cooperatives provide education and training fix their
members, elected representatives, managers, and
employees so that they can contribute effectively to
the development ot their cooperatives. They Inftxm the
general public, particularly young people and opinion
leaders, «bout the no tore a nd benefits of cooperation.
4
Andrew Oranen
Debbie Brown
Û
Austin Plumbtree
f
■
Terri Clark
ieraJd •Jerry" Carte
;
MEMBERS' ECONOMIC
PARTICIPATION
Memfeaspninbate equitably to, and democratlwlly
COOPERATION AMONS
COOPERATIVES
control, the capital of their cooperative. At ¡east
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and
■strengthen the cooperative movement by working together
part of that capital Is usually the common property
of the cooperative. Members usuafly receive limited
compensation, if any, oo capital subscribed as a «mdrtlOT
of membership. Members allocate ssujttoses for any or all
of the foilowing purposes: developingthe cooperative.
possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least
would be indivtslble: benefiting members in proportion
the cooperaffve; and supporting
other actMtles approved by the membership.
Adriana Stein
Michelle Birkmaier
cody üyiienœrg
Mlkayla Luttrell
p
1