Commitment seen in members’ generosity
Co-op members really do care about their neighbors and others in their surrounding communities. This was proven yet again, as the pennies they contribute to the co-op’s Operation Round Up program recently helped fund a new fire truck for the McClusky Rural Fire Protection District 1; camp scholarships for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; and a new gymnasium floor for the Baldwin School District, just to name a few.
Capital Electric Cooperative members Ed McCarty, Gordon Felchle, June Brown, Quirina Schmidt and Phil McKenzie met Aug. 14 to review 27 applications that were submitted for Operation Round Up grants.
This five-person board of directors meets twice a year to review grant applications and determine their worthiness. In order to serve, they must be Capital Electric members who are elected to three-year terms through the Member Advisory Committee.
Operation Round Up is a voluntary program set up for co-op consumers. Participants agree to have their monthly electric billings “rounded up” to the nearest dollar each month. Those pennies are then placed in the Capital Electric Charitable Trust to be awarded to various groups and organizations.
Almost 6,000 electric customers of Capital Electric Cooperative participate in Operation Round Up, generating close to $3,000 a month in funds for the trust. Since its inception in August 1997,more than 29 million pennies in Operation Round Up funds have been
donated to various organizations and individuals.
The purpose of the charitable trust is to donate funds to organizations or individuals in and around the Capital Electric Cooperative service area for charitable, educational or scientific purposes.
Out of the 27 applications, the charitable trust funded 13 new grants totaling $13,600. During a check presentation ceremony Aug. 24 at co-op headquarters in Bismarck, grants were handed out to the following recipients:
• Abused Adult Resource Center: To help fund its rural outreach program.
• Baldwin School District: To help pay for a new gymnasium floor.
• Bismarck Law Enforcement Chaplaincy: To help fund chaplain training.
• Bismarck Midget Football League: To help pay for equipment.
• BMAHE Science Olympiad Program: To help pay student costs.
• Burleigh County 4-H: To help pay for Achievement Day expenses.
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes: To help fund camp scholarships.
• Missouri Valley Habitat for Humanity: To help fund its latest home project.
• Haystack Butte 4-H Club: To help pay for Achievement Day expenses.
• Tracy’s Sanctuary House: To help pay operating expenses.
• McClusky Rural Fire Protection District 1: To help pay for a new fire truck.
• A family: To help cover their daughter’s medical bills.
• A family: To help restore some belongings destroyed in a home fire.
Wes Engbrecht, director of communications and public relations for the co-op, says Capital Electric encourages people in the co-op’s service area of Burleigh and Sheridan counties to submit an application to receive an Operation Round Up grant.
The next application deadline will be Feb. 1, 2008. To download an application, go to www.capitalelec.com and click on “Member Services” and then “Operation Round Up.” Or, stop by co-op headquarters at 4111 State St. N. in Bismarck or call (701) 223-1513 for more information.