November 2008
CFL Charlie Kit Meets National Education Standards
Special Holiday Savings Coming Soon to Connections.coop
TouchstoneEnergyKids.com Offers Teacher Zone
Nov. 20 Web Event Features Energy Efficiency Tools
National Energy Managers: Rising Prices Are Spurring Action, Change
Lands' End Offers Special Savings in November
Site Selection Roundtable Identifies Industry Trends, Challenges
CFL Charlie Kit Meets National Education Standards
Classrooms in co-op communities have exciting new material to offer students this fall, thanks to their local Touchstone Energy cooperative. Co-ops across the country have placed orders for the brand's new Kids Super Energy Saver classroom kits. Teachers have enthusiastically endorsed the kit and the materials have been approved to meet National Science Education Standards.
The kits feature CFL Charlie, the brand’s energy efficiency mascot, and are designed for grades K-5. The kits educate kids about energy efficiency using posters, activity sheets, take-home checklists and more. To date, more than 3,000 kits have been ordered.
Pictured at left, students in a Kentucky classroom learn from a kit provided by Licking Valley RECC.
To place an order for kits, follow this link to fill out and submit an electronic order form, or contact Jason McGrade at 703.907.6063.
Special Holiday Savings Coming Soon to Connections.coop
In what has become a yearly tradition, Co-op Connections national discount retailers will offer special holiday promotions to cardholders. Co-ops can begin promoting these deals to members and should remind them to visit www.connections.coop to look for newly added holiday specials. A holiday-themed banner will soon be placed on all co-ops’ customized landing pages, where members can view and link to all of the limited-time offers.
Discounts and details will be rolling out in the coming weeks at connections.coop. A sample of the vendors that will offer holiday savings:
- AllAmericanDirect.com
- Barnes&Noble.com
- Cabot Co-op Cheese
- New vendor iPlayMusic.com
- ProFlowers.com
- Lobster Gram
- Everything But Water
- Omaha Steaks
- Cruises, Inc.
- Anna’s Gourmet Goodies
For more information about national discount offerings or joining the Co-op Connections member benefit program, contact Scott Bialick at 703.907.5627, or scott.bialick@nreca.coop.
TouchstoneEnergyKids.com Offers Teacher Zone
New section complements classroom kit
The Touchstone Energy Kids Zone (TouchstoneEnergyKids.com) now has a special section dedicated to teachers. The Teacher Zone helps educators as they use the Kids Super Energy Saver kit in their classrooms. Teachers can download electronic versions of the materials found in the kit, plus access detailed lesson plans that explain how to effectively guide students through the kit’s materials.
NET2009 is Jan. 20-22
Excitement is building for Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ tenth annual New and Emerging Technologies Conference January 20-22, 2009, at the Westin La Paloma, in Tucson, Ariz.
Attendees can look forward to:
- Connecting with national energy managers
- Networking with other co-op key account executives
- Hearing about the latest industry trends and technologies
- Gaining insight into big picture energy policy from industry experts
- Pre-conference Key Accounts Summit on Jan. 20, including a strategic breakout session for G&T’s.
- Free registration for co-op business customers
- ValuePack registration for co-op colleagues
- Added exposure for your co-op by signing up as a Co-op Ambassador to help welcome energy managers
Visit the NET2009 Web site for information on content, sponsorships and registration. Contact Kathryn Momot for further details at 703.907.5707 or kathryn.momot@nreca.coop.
Nov. 20 Web Event Features Energy Efficiency Tools
Touchstone Energy will host a free Web conference on Nov. 20, 2008, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. This one-hour event will feature an update on the brand’s latest energy efficiency resources, including information on:
- How to implement the new Kids Super Energy Saver program in local schools
- Ordering classroom kits, the CFL Charlie costume and brochures
- Downloading Web applications
- Utilizing online tools for business customers such as the Business Energy Advisor
Date: Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008
Time: 1 p.m. Eastern Time (12 noon Central, 11 a.m. Mountain, 10 a.m. Pacific, 9 a.m. Alaska)
Speakers: Kristine Jackson, Alan Shedd and Charlie Gloeckner, Touchstone Energy national staff
Registration: Free to Touchstone Energy co-ops and available at cooperative.com
National Energy Managers: Rising Prices Are Spurring Action, Change
While rising energy costs are putting unprecedented pressure on national co-op business customers, they are also generating unparalleled interest in short and long-term energy efficiency solutions, creating an opportunity for co-ops to help.
This was one key conclusion of the 2008 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Business Advisory Council, a group of 19 national energy managers that met in a professionally facilitated feedback session in Albuquerque, N.M., on October 8. The group included senior energy managers from such prominent companies as JCPenney, Georgia Pacific, Chevron, and Penske Truck Leasing, among others.
When asked to identify and prioritize emerging issues, the most popular answer–as rank-ordered by participants–was “new strategies to reduce energy consumption," followed by “the inclusion of energy design and cost measures into all capital projects.”
When asked what is working in their favor now, energy managers named the “level of support from our management/leadership” as a top answer along with “recognition that we have some serious problem solving to do.”
The group was not impressed with the actions of federal officials on energy policy issues. When asked to identify the biggest obstacle in the way of progress, the group cited the indecisive nature of the national energy strategy. Given their interest in public policy solutions, the group was briefed on co-ops' national “Our Energy, Our Future” campaign and encouraged to participate.
Participants broke into smaller groups to identify new strategies for reducing energy consumption, to discuss how to lead in a volatile time, and how to engage and educate their organizations on energy issues. Their specific lists of challenges and strategies will be shared with co-ops during a Touchstone Energy Web conference on December 11.
Lands' End Offers Special Savings in November
Touchstone Energy co-ops can take advantage of several limited-time promotions in the coming weeks on
Lands' End logo apparel:
- Free ground shipping on all orders until Nov. 21.
- Through Nov. 21, purchases of five or more down vests are eligible for a discounted price of $25 each, a savings of $4.50 per vest.
- From Nov. 15-Dec. 5, receive one free logo application per item--a minimum
savings of $5.36 per item.
These special offers are available in addition to the 10 percent discount available year-round to Touchstone Energy 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.
Site Selection Roundtable Identifies Industry Trends, Challenges
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives recently assembled a group of prominent site selection and economic development professionals to discuss site location trends and how co-ops can be better partners in the process. The group met with co-op officials last month in Albuquerque, N.M.
Topics addressed included business location trends and outlook, utilities’ role in site selection, customer energy needs, alternative energy and the use of electronic resources like SitesAcrossAmerica.com to screen potential sites.
A full summary of the roundtable’s findings is available at cooperative.com.
Balloon Lights up Washington
The Touchstone Energy hot-air balloon is a familiar sight at county fairs, farm shows and co-op annual meetings across the country. Last month, the balloon visited a unique location: downtown Washington, D.C.
The balloon was tethered on Pennsylvania Ave., steps from the White House, for the kick-off of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” walk to raise money for blood cancers. Pilot Cheri White and members of the Cooperative Balloon Associates, as well as Touchstone Energy national staff and their families, were on hand as thousands of participants and spectators watched the balloon inflate and glow.
"This was the first time a hot-air balloon has been allowed to tether in our nation’s capital since Sept. 11, 2001,” said White. “The space was perfect although the winds swirling off the buildings and the gusts were tough. We had a great response and a lot of interest from participants. We promoted the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives brand and supported a great cause.”
Editor, Erin Keogh
erin.keogh@nreca.coop
703.907.5572