To celebrate National Cooperative Month, Roanoke Electric Cooperative plans to host The Co-op Connections Business Expo, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at its Aulander headquarters.
Member-owners are encouraged to attend this free event, which will offer a variety of food trucks and showcase local vendors participating in the Co-op Connections program.
The program benefits both member-owners and participating businesses. It offers member-owners who sign up access to special discounts on everything from hotel stays to prescription drugs, as well as a “cash back” inventive for online shopping. Participating businesses, both locally and nationally, can boost brand awareness and customer loyalty.
“The expo is a great way for member-owners and local businesses to connect,” said Patrice Jordan, coordinator of community relations and engagement. “We are happy to help our member-owners save money while supporting the local economy.”
The Cooperative Month celebration continues every Friday in October when the co-op will roll out the welcome mat for member-owners with refreshments, raffle drawings and more at its headquarters.
Nationwide, co-ops celebrate throughout this month, in recognition of the many ways co-ops support their members and communities. This annual event offers the nation’s more than 30,000 cooperatives, including credit unions, housing, food, health, agricultural co-ops, the opportunity to inform others about the cooperative business model and what makes it unique.
Fundamental to all co-ops are the seven cooperative principles:
- Voluntary and open membership
- Democratic member control
- Member-owners’ economic participation
- Education, training and information
- Autonomy and independence
- Cooperation among cooperatives
- Concern for community
At Roanoke Electric, that “concern for community” is woven deeply into programs like Operation RoundUp, Bright Ideas Education Grants, Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships, as well as its various economic development efforts.
“Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated,” said Marshall Cherry, the co-op’s chief operating officer. “Revenue generated by Roanoke goes back to Main Street, not Wall Street.”