Rural Missouri - May 2024 - 5

Missouri
RURAL
Volume 77 | MAY 2024 | Number 5
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Sara Schafer, editor
sschafer@ruralmissouri.coop
Jim McCarty, editor emeritus
jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop
Paul Newton, managing editor
pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop
Megan Backes, creative director
mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop
Angie Jones-Wheeler, associate editor
ajones@ruralmissouri.coop
Mike Sutherland, VP communications
msutherland@amec.coop
ADVERTISING:
Mary Davis, production manager
mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop
CONTACT:
Rural Missouri
2722 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-659-3423 info@ruralmissouri.coop
Postmasters: Send address changes to Rural
Missouri, 2722 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City,
MO 65101. Subscribers: Report change of address
to your local cooperative. Do not send
change of address to Rural Missouri.
Advertising standards: Advertising published
in Rural Missouri is accepted on the premise
that the merchandise and services offered are
accurately described and sold to customers at
the advertised price. Rural Missouri and Missouri's
electric cooperatives do not endorse
any products or services advertised herein.
Advertising that does not conform to these
standards or that is deceptive or misleading is
never knowingly accepted by this publication.
The acceptance of all advertising shall be in
the sole discretion of the editor.
Rural Missouri (ISSN 0164-8578) (USPS
473-000) is published monthly by the
Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives,
2722 E. McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO
65101, Caleb Jones,
CEO/executive
vice
president. Individual subscription rate: $12
per year or $25 for three years, taxes and
postage included. Group rate for members
of participating RECs $0.96, plus taxes and
postage, paid from equity accruing to the
member. Delivery as specified by subscriber.
If not specified, delivery will be by periodical
class mail at subscriber's expense. Periodical
Class postage paid at Jefferson City, MO, and
additional mailing offices. Copyright 2024,
Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
Call for reprint rights.
Circulation of this issue: 586,647
RM | PERSPECTIVES
Chasing a winner
photo courtesy Bob McCosh
My friend Bob McCosh screams down the dragstrip at more than 200 mph in this funny car.
He says dedication, a great team and a reliable car are the keys to racing success.
by Caleb Jones | cjones@amec.coop
good buddy of mine, Bob
McCosh, spends his weekends
screaming down a
dragstrip going 200 mph.
I asked him once what it takes to
compete. He said dedication, a great
team and a reliable car. If any of
these are missing you won't be taking
home that checkered flag.
When Bob started racing with his
dad 50 years ago, he knew racing
was in his blood. He didn't know
chasing this dream would mean
hundreds of nights working on his
engine, traveling thousands of miles
and spending countless dollars to
keep his car on the track. Twice
during his racing career, he had to
step away because of rising costs.
He never stopped believing and has
earned many trophies.
A
While you won't see your local
electric cooperative on the racetrack
during the weekend, they have the
same dedication to keeping your
lights on as my friend does with
racing. It takes a lot of similar strategies
to keep the power flowing.
The dedication of electric cooperatives
started more than 80 years
ago when our friends in the city
were enjoying electrification - but
we in rural areas were literally left
in the dark. While many called it
an unachievable task, those farmers
knew there was a way. House
to house, local farmers knocked on
every door collecting $5 knowing
there was hope for the future. It
worked and the lights came on.
But that was just the first step.
The next challenge was keeping
the lights on. Co-ops were formed,
and teams of linemen were hired to
ensure when storms hit, transformers
broke or an electric line shorted
out, someone could fix the problem.
The last challenge for electric
cooperatives is the hardest. While
my friend Bob had no choice but to
step away from racing due to costs,
electric cooperative leaders know
they don't have that option for their
member-owners. Electricity is the
lifeblood of rural America. Your electric
co-op must provide electricity as
affordably and reliably as possible.
Today, electric cooperatives do
everything to keep your rates low
but sometimes the cost of that reliable
electricity goes up. The great
thing about being a member-owner
of an electric co-op is knowing every
cent you pay is going to keep your
lights on. In fact, if any money is
left at the end of the year, it is given
back to you as a capital credit.
Just like Bob is doing everything
to win a racing championship, your
electric co-op is achieving the same
level of success by providing you
with reliable, affordable electricity.
Caleb Jones is the executive vice
president and CEO of the Association
of Missouri Electric Cooperatives in
Jefferson City. He is a member of
Boone Electric Cooperative.
MAY 2024 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 5
https://www.facebook.com/RuralMissouri http://www.instagram.com/RuralMissouri http://www.pinterest.com/ruralmissouri https://www.youtube.com/RuralMOMag http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP
Rural Missouri - May 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - May 2024
