Co-op Youth Program Delegates Give Back to Their Communities

Evelyn McCauley’s service project for the Southern Maryland Food Bank involved local high schoolers and employees at Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. Co-op employees assembled more than 300 food bags for young people experiencing food insecurity on weekends. Evelyn’s high school peers wrote nearly 500 notes of encouragement to those receiving the donations. “I love doing community service, and our original number was 300 snack bags, and we ended up doing over that,” the YLC delegate said. (NRECA photo courtesy of Evelyn McCauley)

During National Rural Electric Cooperative Association National Co-op Month in October, co-op youth leaders demonstrated the cooperative principle of commitment to community through a variety of service projects in their hometowns.

As members of the Youth Leadership Council, which consists of representatives from each of the 45 states participating in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, delegates are tasked with carrying out community service projects in partnership with their local electric cooperative, public power district, or statewide association.

Each year, the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative sponsors four local high school students to attend the NRECA Youth Tour to learn about the US government. During the tour in Washington, D.C., the students meet elected officials, visit local landmarks, learning about advocacy, and more.

“At NRECA, our youth programs are focused on preparing the next generation of cooperative leaders to make a real impact in their hometowns,” said Cale McCall, NRECA youth programs manager. “Every fall, our Youth Leadership Council delegates roll up their sleeves to give back, whether it’s running a shoe drive, helping at a co-op annual meeting or hosting a blood drive.”

This article was written by Victoria A. Rocha, a staff writer for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

SMECO – The Cooperative Difference

SMECO was incorporated in 1937 and is one of the 15 largest electric cooperatives in the United States with more than 170,000 member accounts in Charles County, St. Mary’s County, southern Prince George’s County, and most of Calvert County.

Electric cooperatives are shaped by the communities they serve, because co-ops are owned by their customers.  Co-op members elect the men and women who serve on the Board of Directors. Members share the responsibility of ownership by financing the cooperative’s operations, but they also share its rewards.

At the end of each year, SMECO’s margins (profits) are allocated to members’ capital credit accounts. SMECO uses its profits to invest in new construction, system improvements, and facility upgrades. The Board of Directors regularly evaluates the financial condition of the co-op and determines when members will receive a refund. Since 1937, SMECO has refunded more than $128 million.

As a cooperative, SMECO will always put its members first and be responsive, reliable, and resourceful — the power you can count on.

Follow SMECO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SMECO.coop and on X at www.twitter.com/somdelectric.

The SMECO 24/7 mobile app is available at www.smeco.coop/247. To learn more about SMECO, visit their Leader Member Page.