October 2008
Order CFL Charlie Classroom Kits Today
New Committee to Guide Brand’s Energy Efficiency Program
New Training Activity Hits the Mark With Co-op Employees
Co-op Connections Card Updates
Jim Van Someren Named Chair of Regional Partners
Lands’ End Offers Co-ops Free Shipping Through Oct. 24
Hot Air Balloon Visits Ohio Farm Show
Order CFL Charlie Classroom Kits Today
Send CFL Charlie into schools in your co-op’s community to help teach kids about co-ops, energy efficiency, renewable energy and electrical safety with the Kids “Super Energy Saver” classroom kit. Co-ops are invited to place orders for kits by downloading this form and submitting it to Touchstone Energy's Jason McGrade at jason.mcgrade@nreca.coop. The design files are also available for download online for those wishing to print the kits locally.
To date, co-ops have placed orders for more than 2,700 kits.
The kits are designed for grades K-5 and are packed with materials that will teach kids how to become "Super
Energy Savers" at home, such as:
- take-home checklists that walks kids and parents through their homes, identifying energy-saving practices
- Super Energy Saver certificates, signed by CFL Charlie
- activity sheets
- folders
- and CFL Charlie switch plate covers that remind kids to turn off lights.
Each kit contains 30 copies of each item, enough for one classroom, plus a teacher guide and classroom poster. The kits are designed to meet national education standards, and the teacher guide has been approved by elementary school teachers.
Other Promotional Items
Co-ops can rent or purchase life-size CFL Charlie costumes from Touchstone Energy through Ryan Schoenike (ryan.schoenike@nreca.coop).
CFL Charlie has appeared in person at the NRECA Regional Meetings this fall, helping promote the brand’s energy efficiency portfolio. See photo above.
Co-ops can also place orders through Summit Marketing for additional CFL Charlie promotional items that complement the Super Energy Saver kits. Lunch bags, tattoos, switch plate covers, pencils, t-shirts and magnets are available for purchase online.
New Committee to Guide Brand’s Energy Efficiency Program
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives has created a new committee made up of co-op brand leaders. The Residential Energy Committee will advise the board of directors on the brand’s residential energy programs. The committee will hold its inaugural meeting on October 21 and focus on improving existing programs and developing new resources.
"The creation of the Residential Energy Advisory Committee demonstrates a commitment to continue to add relevant, high-quality programs that Touchstone Energy co-ops can deliver to their members,” said Jim Bausell, COO of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. “The popularity of existing residential programs such as the CFL Charlie campaign, TouchstoneEnergySavers.com, TouchstoneEnergyKids.com, and the Touchstone Energy Home program made evident the need to bring even greater focus to this area.”
The committee members represent a mix of distribution co-ops and G&Ts, and were selected based on regional diversity and their experience in residential energy programs.
| Albert Gomez | Residential Energy Manager | Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative |
| Russ Pogue | Manager of Marketing and Member Relations | Big Rivers Electric |
| Bret Curry | Manager, Residential Energy Marketing | Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. |
| Gary Zajac | Vice President of Marketing and External Affairs | Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative |
| Mike Partin | Vice President / Marketing & Business Development | Sequachee Valley EC |
| Greg F. Hardt | Energy Services Area Team Leader | Adams Columbia Electric Cooperative |
| Claire J. Vigesaa | Vice President Development & Energy Services | Cass County Electric Cooperative Inc |
| Jim Maunder | Manager Member Services | Ravalli Electric Co-op |
| Sarah Cron | Marketing Manager | Cooperative Light & Power Association |
| Laura Matney | Residential Energy Advisor | Wabash Valley Power Association |
| Hollis (Holly) Yensel | Energy Consultant | Hoosier Energy REC |
| Jim O'Neill | General Manager of Marketing | Western Farmers Electric Co-op |
| Brian Jeremiason | Marketing Manager | Renville-Sibley Cooperative |
| Roy Honican | Residential Services Coordinator | Blue Grass Energy |
| Bryce Cramer | Member Services Manager | Egyptian Electric Co-op |
All of the brand’s advisory committees now have a rolling application process. If you are interested in serving on a committee, submit an application online. Committee positions will be filled as they become available.
New Training Activity Hits the Mark With Co-op Employees
Since its launch this summer, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ new training activity, “Looking Out for You: The Cooperative Difference Discovery Map,” has found success at co-ops. The activity, designed to boost employee engagement and brand awareness, got rave reviews from attendees at co-op locations where it was offered.
“I learned more about Touchstone Energy today than I have in the ten years since the brand’s inception,” enthused an employee of Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative (Buxton, N.C.) after taking part in the activity.
“This activity is a perfect way to bring employees and directors up to speed on how the brand is relevant to our co-ops,” said an employee of South River EMC (Dunn, N.C.).
During the 90-minute activity, participants are divided into groups of 4-6. Each group uses a map and three sets of cards that encourage discussion and interaction. The resources demonstrate how various Touchstone Energy resources can be tools to help employees meet members' needs and navigate through various they might encounter in their roles at the co-op. The ultimate goal of the new training activity is to highlight the role played by each employee in building the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives brand.
For information on how to facilitate the activity and request materials, co-ops should contact their Touchstone Energy regional partner or Ann Maggard, Touchstone Energy director of communications and membership, at 703.907.5986 or ann.maggard@nreca.coop.
Co-op Connections Card Updates
Momentum Continues as Co-op Numbers Grow
More and more Touchstone Energy co-ops are connecting with their members with the Co-op Connections card. 11 new co-ops recently signed on to the program, joining 177 co-ops that already offer the card. With more than 13,000 local deals and 74 national deals available to cardholders, the card gives co-ops an unprecedented opportunity to reach out to members on pocketbook issues.
New Web site Adds More Improvements
The redesigned Co-op Connections Web site is continuing to upgrade. Feedback and suggestions from co-op users have guided additional improvements since the site’s launch in August. Users can now delete offers, post larger logos with discount offerings and insert placeholders when scanning multiple pages of search data. And coming soon: more options for local branding on printouts of discount search results and expanded customization features for co-op landing pages.
AllAmericanDirect.com offers new national discount
AllAmericanDirect.com, a nationwide retailer for the DISH Network, Hughesnet Satellite Internet and Verizon Wireless, is the latest business to offer valuable savings to co-op members nationwide. Complete offer details are available at connections.coop.
Limited-time 40 percent discount at Barnes&Noble.com
Now through Nov. 11, cardholders can save 40 percent on select DVDs and CDs. This special discount is on top of the regular Co-op Connections 5 percent discount and free shipping offer. Visit the customized landing page to access this special discount.
Jim Van Someren Named Chair of Regional Partners
The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Regional Partners have elected a new chairman. Jim Van Someren,
communications manager at Tri-State G&T (Denver, Colo.), was chosen by his peers to lead the panel.
Van Someren replaces Scott Parsley, East River Electric Power Co-op (Madison, SD), who capably led the Regional Partners during his term.
Congratulations, Jim!
Lands’ End Offers Co-ops Free Shipping Through Oct. 24
Now through Oct. 24, Touchstone Energy co-ops can take advantage of free ground shipping when they place
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orders for logo merchandise. The offer includes the permanent 10 percent discount already available to co-ops.
Place orders in the online store or call 877.312.4567 to reach a Lands’ End Business Outfitters consultant dedicated to serving Touchstone Energy cooperatives. Co-ops can also add their names to a catalog mailing list. Call the number above or send an email to touchstoneenergy@landsend.com.
Hot Air Balloon Visits Ohio Farm Show
The Touchstone Energy hot-air balloon helped Ohio co-ops emphasize their connection to the brand and their commitment to community during the 46th annual Farm Science Review, held Sept. 16-18 near London, Ohio.
More than 130,000 attendees saw the balloon fly overhead as they toured the Ohio electric co-ops' new educational facility on the show grounds.
Visit cbaballoon.com for more information on the balloon.
Breaking News--Cheri White captures racing prize
Cheri White, chief pilot for the Touchstone Energy hot-air balloon and general manager of Cooperative Balloon Associates, has finished first in the 13th Annual America’s Challenge gas balloon race. Unofficial results show that White and co-pilot Mark Sullivan traveled the farthest distance of the five competitors when they landed near Iowa Falls, Iowa, 881 miles from their Albuquerque, N.M. launch site.
Follow this link for more information on the competition.
Membership Report: 673 Co-ops
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives welcomed three new co-ops in recent months.
Salmon River Electric Co-op (Challis, Idaho)
Washington RECA (Olympia, Wash.)
Blachly-Lane County Co-op Electric Association (Junction City, Ore.)
Brand membership now stands at 673 co-ops, another all-time high!
NET Conference Celebrates 10 Years
The 2009 New and Emerging Technologies Conference will mark the event’s tenth anniversary. NET2009 is set for Jan. 21-22, 2009, at the Westin La Paloma in Tucson, Ariz. The NET conference is a unique opportunity for co-ops to connect with their business customers and national energy managers during turbulent times.
Highlights for NET2009:
- Energy Managers Summit (Jan. 20)
- Key Account Executives Summit (Jan. 20)
- Unmatched networking opportunities
- Perspectives from industry leaders
- Legislative and regulatory update
- Trends in renewable energy
- Energy efficiency strategies
- Climate change and carbon implications
- Free registration for business customers
Visit the NET2009 Web site for complete details.
Energy Efficiency Web Conference Materials Available Online
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives held a Web conference Sept. 30 featuring co-ops that have found success helping members manage their energy use. More than 150 attendees logged in to hear how these best-in-class co-ops achieved energy efficiency goals and simultaneously improved member satisfaction.
Download the presentation used during the Web conference on Cooperative.com.
Editor, Erin Keogh
erin.keogh@nreca.coop
703.907.5572