On March 20, Carroll White REMC celebrated a huge Operation Round Up milestone, reaching the $1 million mark! Operation Round Up is a voluntary, member-giving program that shows the true spirit of the 7th cooperative principle: concern for the community. Members round up their monthly bills to the nearest dollar which is put in a trust fund. Quarterly, Round Up trustees and CW REMC provide grants to non-profits in the service territory.
“It is difficult to put into words what giving back $1 million means,” said Casey Crabb, CW Communications and Public Relations Manager. “To give back/grant that much money means a lot of local community not-for-profits, schools, teachers, municipalities, and organizations were able to complete projects because of the generosity of our REMC members.”
“In the early 2000s, REMCs from across the country were trying to find more ways to engage their members,” observed Crabb. “At that time, there was talk of deregulating the electric industry, and we were all looking for ways to connect more closely with our members through programs and services in addition to providing electric service.”
“Many cooperatives around the country started hearing of the success story of Palmetto Electric Cooperative in South Carolina with this new program they trademarked in 1989, called Operation Round Up,” said Crabb. “The program’s principle was that members who voluntarily participate have their electric bills rounded up to the next nearest dollar, and that difference goes into a community trust fund.”
“That trust fund is overseen by a board of trustees appointed by the REMC’s board of directors,” said Crabb. “The hallmark thing about Operation Round Up…100 percent of the grant money stays local and is used within our communities.”
“Carroll and White County REMCs, along with several others around Indiana, launched this program at roughly the same time,” said Crabb. “Both cooperatives had great participation and some wonderful boards of trustees to work to oversee the program. They helped us get off on the right foot as we moved forward.”
“While I was the administrator of White County REMC’s Operation Round Up program, Peg Minnicus was Carroll County REMC’s administrator,” said Crabb. “Peg did an excellent job and deserves a lot of credit for her hard work and dedication to this charitable program.”
Before the consolidation at the end of 2011, Carroll County and White County REMCs had granted back just over $475,000. Since the consolidation in January 2012, Carroll White REMC has proudly awarded 468 grants within our service territory totaling $525,000. The only real restriction of the program is that the funds cannot be used for political contributions or to pay a utility bill.
“Thanks and acknowledgment go out to former CW REMC employees Shirley Gallinger and Pat Curts, along with current employee Danielle Nomina, for their efforts working with this program,” said Crabb. “We must also thank our CEO, Cathy Raderstorf, for her encouragement and support of Operation Round Up. For many years, Cathy took care of the financials for this program. She has always been a huge supporter of the process.”
“This program is only successful because of our member-owners of Carroll White REMC,” said Crabb. “We thank them for their monthly donations on their electric bills, which is an average donation of $6 per year. A little change does indeed go a long way! Our board of trustees, since the consolidation, has done a great job. The current board consists of Kristen Miller, chair; Brent Gady, vice-chair; Kathy Zink, secretary; Paula Westfall, treasurer; Kenneth Robertson, Candy Byers, and Jeff Lowry.”
