Caring for Our Community // CEO Column December 2021

Daniel Carlisle // President/CEO & General Counsel

As the year comes to a close and the holiday season is here, Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative (TWEC) wants to take this opportunity to let you, our members, know how much we appreciate you. All of the TWEC employees and Board of Directors wish you and your family warm wishes this holiday season and a happy and prosperous new year!

Here at Todd-Wadena, caring for our membership and community is a year-round commitment. At the center of the way we operate are seven cooperative principles. These were developed in the 1840s by the Rochdale Society and are still used by cooperatives today. Concern for Community, one of the principles, comes with the belief that a business is only as strong as the community it serves. We take this principle very seriously – focusing on our members’ needs and working for the sustainable development of our communities. When our local communities thrive, we all thrive.

Throughout the year, TWEC encourages member participation in Operation Round Up, a program that has given thousands of dollars to non-profits and organizations in our region. We also have a community ambassador program where our employees are encouraged to volunteer for an organization they are passionate about in our community. We assist many of our local town summer celebrations with donations and in-kind services. We also support a variety of youth programs in the area, making sure our youth have access to great education and extracurricular activities.

Just in the last month, TWEC was able to help the City of Wadena hang the Christmas lights at Burlington Northern Park. Our linemen assisted the Wadena County Dairy Association with putting up a new sign just east of Wadena, using our equipment to dig the poles in. We also worked with Barn Quilts of Central Minnesota to hang a new barn quilt for the trail and are appreciative that TWEC will soon have its own barn quilt. We worked with the organization to mock up a design with our logo and will proudly showcase it at our headquarters building.

This holiday season and throughout the year, TWEC is dedicated to being more than just a power supplier in rural Minnesota. We are here to serve you and support the communities we live in.

Daniel Carlisle
President/CEO & General Counsel