Room at the table

Community brings us together

WHEN YOU THINK BACK to the holiday table of your childhood, what do you remember? 

If you’re like me, you can probably picture a few faces you miss. You might remember a joke that still elicits yearly groans. And if you’re lucky, there are loved ones in your memory that you’ll gather with once again on November 28. 

That welcoming table looms large in my thoughts right now. As I write this column, we’re just under a month away from the presidential election. The polls predict a tight race, and for many of us, emotions are wound even tighter. 

By the time you read these words in early November, you might have already cast your vote. The race might already be decided. And after November 5, our nation will face the next challenge—coming together around the table as one family. 

A Nolin RECC crew assists with repairs in Summertown, Ga. Nearly 350 Kentucky lineworkers and co-op contractors joined the 24-state mutual aid effort. Photo: Apprentice Line Tech Jacob Hart 

Kentucky’s electric cooperatives have always been willing to engage with politics for the benefit of our members, but we’ve never done so from a partisan perspective. Our mission is to provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity, and throughout our history, that mission has always come first. 

For co-ops, it’s not about partisan wins or losses. It’s about serving our communities the best we know how. We’re committed, as always, to keeping the lights on, investing in our communities and lending a helping hand. 

During this devastating hurricane season, Kentucky’s electric cooperatives have been shining examples of the co-op spirit. After working grueling hours to complete power restoration in their own service areas, nearly 200 Kentucky lineworkers and about 150 co-op contractors helped restore power in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, joining about 10,000 co-op personnel from 24 states. Co-ops stepped up to help because it’s who we are. Community is what drives us, and it’s what brings us together as one. 

In a time when national unity seems elusive, our co-op communities are examples of what’s possible. I hope, during this holiday season, that we can dial down the negativity in our own lives (and in our newsfeeds). I hope we recognize the values that unite us, despite our differences. And around countless Thanksgiving tables, surrounded by loved ones, I hope we find the common ground of gratitude. 

If your table is like mine, there’s always room for one more.