It may seem like smartphones have always been a big part of our lives, but they’ve actually only been around for about 10 years. Technology is changing faster than ever, and it’s playing a bigger role in our lives.

That’s one of the reasons the REMC’s staff and directors stop and do some serious thinking every year. Nobody is sure what changes tomorrow will bring. As your cooperative, we want to be certain that we’re doing everything we can to continue to meet your needs.

Earlier this year, we spent two days discussing goals and objectives for the next few years. Developing a strategic plan is important to for-profit corporations, but we think it’s even more important for a member-focused non-profit cooperative like yours. After all, we exist solely to meet the needs of members like you and the communities we serve. Creating a strategic plan helps us focus on what we’re doing well, where we can improve, and what new needs we can address.

We brought in professional facilitators from Indiana Electric Cooperatives, our statewide organization. They guided us through the process and made sure everyone stayed on task. We developed a variety of goals, including exceeding the expectations of our members and finding innovative ways to share valuable information with you. Going forward, we will also explore opportunities to provide access to advanced broadband through fiber optics and support our communities’ economic development efforts. This plan will guide our board and staff as we make decisions in the months and years to come.

Does strategic planning create real results? Absolutely! The last time, we developed a strategic plan, it included many recommendations that have become part of the way we serve you — like starting a community solar energy program, holding local membership meetings to give you more chances to share your thoughts, using computers to connect our office with our service trucks, and doing a better job of keeping you informed through social media.