Counting my Blessings
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by Barry Hart
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In December, things slow down enough for me to take a look back on the past year. Whenever I do, I count my blessings because no matter how difficult things are for me, I know there are always others who are in much worse circumstances.
What stood out to me the most in 2011 was how people came together to help one another during trying circumstances. The first example of this came in the winter when a heavy snowstorm, dubbed “Snowpocalypse,” shut down the state.
While snow doesn’t cause as many power outages as ice, there were a good number of outages in the affected area. Line crews from Co-Mo Electric Cooperative based in Tipton found their trucks unable to move in the heavy snow. But they were able to restore service thanks to farmers who towed them behind massive tractors.
In May, Joplin was devastated by one of the worst tornadoes to hit Missouri. As news of the tragedy spread, people from all over the state and nation offered their time and treasures to help Joplin get back on its feet. Gov. Jay Nixon told me that unlike other major disasters in the U.S., residents of Joplin have not left and are committed to rebuilding. I will keep you updated on the rebuild efforts and let you know how we can help.
We featured one group of kids in our October issue who raised money to help pets left homeless by the storm. Employees of electric co-ops dug deep to assist fellow employees at New-Mac Electric and KAMO Power who lost homes in the disaster.
Closer to home, we have two employees at the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives who are either battling cancer personally or are helping loved ones fight this disease. I was inspired to see how everyone at our office pitched in financially and emotionally to help them cope. It’s encouraging to see fundraising efforts locally, in the state and nation to find a cure for cancer. They tell me the battle is easier when you know you aren’t alone. As I travel and stop for gas, I often see coffee cans on the counter asking for donations to assist someone in need. Seems to me these cans are always full.
This fall we had an opportunity to come together to support a cause that was a lot less heartwrenching. I’m talking about the Cardinals’ unlikely World Series Championship.
If you weren’t a Cardinals fan when the regular season ended, you most likely were before the dramatic game 7 came to an end with the Redbirds on top. Everyone likes to root for the underdog. It’s hard to imagine it’s been more than 25 years since the I-70 World Series between the Royals and Cardinals, and many of us hope to see that happen again.
As I look toward 2012, I am reminded that this will be the 75th anniversary of this association. It was formed in 1937 to help electric co-ops do the things they couldn’t do on their own. By working together the way neighbors in rural areas have always done, they achieved great things despite the warnings of skeptics who said it couldn’t be done.
May you all have a blessed Christmas, and all the best in the coming year. It’s been a pleasure visiting with you in 2011, and I look forward to continuing this dialog. Even though we face challenges every day to ourselves, our families and our friends, we can all be thankful for our electric cooperatives’ commitment to community and the members they serve. We will do our best to keep you informed of the challenges facing your electric cooperative in the future.
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