Member Engagement // September 2024 CEO Column
As a member-owned cooperative, Lake Region is committed to supporting the communities we serve. We strive to go above and beyond what is expected and work to improve the quality of life for our members. We are motivated by people and their needs, not just the bottom line.
In fact, ‘Concern for Community’ is one of the seven cooperative principles our business is structured around. Prioritizing our community is reflected in the way we sponsor events and activities in our region and encourage our employees to participate as well. By creating opportunities to engage with our membership, we are able to develop the personal connections we value with our members.
We recently held three events that showcase this commitment to community.
Baseball Clinic in Breckenridge
The first was a Minnesota Twins Youth Baseball Clinic at Jefferson Park in Breckenridge. We had an excellent turnout, with over 120 kids attending the free event on August 2nd. Area kids learned the fundamentals of the game, and everyone involved had a great time!
We were able to provide this opportunity for area kids thanks to the help we received from Breckenridge Public Schools and support from Great River Energy, our wholesale energy provider. Thank you to everyone who came out for this incredible event.
Maplewood State Park Member Event
As a way of saying ‘thank you’ to our members for their support, we hosted a special membership appreciation event at Maplewood State Park on August 8th. Over 500 people showed up to celebrate with us, enjoying free park admittance, dinner, a live band, and more.
Thank you to everyone who braved the cooler weather and enjoyed the evening with us. I want to extend a special thank you to our employees who worked so hard to make this event a success, along with the Friends of Maplewood State Park for partnering with us and planning such fun activities. We are also thankful for RESCO for grilling at the event.
Blood Drive
In response to the urgent need to boost the available blood supply, Lake Region recently hosted a blood drive at our headquarters building. Our employees and community members stepped up to donate and offer the gift of life to others. This was just one more avenue for us to show our support for the community and the people who live here.
Lake Region’s commitment to our community doesn’t end at providing our members with safe, reliable, and affordable power. By investing into the communities we serve, and encouraging our employees to do the same, we improve the quality of life for everyone in our service territory.
Maintaining a thriving community is a team effort. Your attendance and appreciation of these activities means a lot to us — all the planning and hosting of these member appreciation events is for you, our members. Know that we will continue working to serve you.
