KVREMC employees, from left, Line Foreman Darrin Keehn, Apprentice Lineman Chris Frank and Line Superintendent Jeff Newburn, partially hidden, set poles at Drazer Park in Kouts.
Kankakee Valley REMC is part of a large group of cooperatives across the globe that adheres to the same Seven Cooperative Principles that guide all of our decisions, from how we run the cooperative to how we engage with our local communities. One principle that we talk about often is our concern for the community.
Concern for the community is the reason why Kankakee Valley REMC was founded. Safe, reliable and affordable electricity defines our purpose. We continue today to have a proud history of giving back through community service initiatives.
There are a number of ways that a company can show concern for the community. One way that your cooperative is engaged is through programs and services that promote electrical safety. We often look to lend a hand with community projects that promote a safe community for our youth and residents.
The list of ways that Kankakee Valley REMC employees have demonstrated a mutual concern for the community is long and one that makes us proud. We reach out spreading the message of safety in a number of ways, such as:
• Installing mailbox signs to help first responders identify locations quickly;
• Teaching classroom safety on the importance of calling 811 before planting a tree or digging;
• Showing the dangers of high voltage in overhead power lines from our safety demonstration trailer.
During a recent Kankakee Valley REMC High Voltage Demonstration, Line Superintendent Jeff Newburn uses a fake squirrel on a lineman’s hot stick to show how an animal on top of a transformer can cause a power outage.
Recently, Kankakee Valley REMC helped a park provide an extra layer of safety and security for visiting children. Through the donation of poles and labor, the park will now be equipped with surveillance cameras.
Your cooperative promotes a culture of safety within the organization and in the community. We not only ensure that our employees are working safely, but also that residents are practicing safety in their homes, school and at work as well.
Information and education is key, which is why our high voltage demonstration trailer is making stops at community and private events. This demonstration, conducted by two lineman, shows the dangers of coming into contact with underground or overhead power lines.
When co-ops were formed, the biggest concern for the communities we now serve was a lack of power. We have electricity now, so our mission has expanded beyond providing power. We are a resource to the community, educating and helping to provide safety in the communities that we all call home.
Amanda Steeb is communications/marketing director at Kankakee Valley REMC.
