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Co-op's community connections run deep
This story continues a series, Showing Our Commitment, about how York Electric Cooperative empowers the communities it serves
By Walter Allread
As the key accounts representative for York Electric Cooperative — and a young father to boot — Brent Clinton could easily beg off when offered additional responsibilities.
The day that South Carolina Living Magazine caught up with him, however, Clinton was on his way to Clover High School to help seniors sharpen their presentation skills. Clinton wasn't going as a co-op employee but as the 2006-2007 president of the Greater Clover Chamber of Commerce. He and other chamber representatives volunteered to give students feedback.
Their investment of time and energy strengthens Clover, he says. "I'm just happy to serve and give back to the community," says Clinton, whose ties to Clover run deep.
Clinton's ancestors settled there in the 1750s. Standing in the middle of Clover, he points to the Larne Building, where his grandfather once ran a furniture store. The building, now a community meeting hall and banquet facility, highlights a tour of the historic town.
"The community is working together to keep Clover vital," says Clinton, one of several co-op employees on local chamber boards.
Others include President and CEO Paul Basha, who serves on the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce board. Basha succeeds Director of Marketing/ Government Relations Marc Howie, who now serves on the Fort Mill Chamber board. Call Center and Billing Administrator Paulette Warmoth, meanwhile, is on the Greater York Chamber board.
Basha says working with the chambers is just good business — not only for the co-op but also for its members. "We regularly collaborate with local chambers because they promote business expansion. That helps our area attract and retain industries and businesses, which in turn means good jobs for local people and more stable co-op rates, too."
Basha adds that cooperative employees also serve on the boards of local non-profits. Other employee efforts are less formal but just as important, he notes. Basha recalls with pride how, a few years ago, his co-workers reached into their own pockets to help renovate an elderly co-op member's home.
"Many people today are just caught up in their own personal needs. You've got to be bigger than that," Basha says. "When you do something for other people, that lives beyond you."
Helping neighbors is a tradition at locally based electric cooperatives, Basha says. "It's an interwoven part of what we are." After all, he points out, at a consumer-owned electric co-op, the focus is on service, not profits.
Making connections
Basha says involvement in local chambers and other community organizations holds another benefit, one that Touchstone Energy Cooperatives such as York Electric call "the power of human connections." In the business world, it's sometimes called "networking."
Basha gives an example: He was talking with a friend, David Casey of Family Trust Federal Credit Union, when Casey mentioned that he was looking for someone to serve on the District Committee for Scouting. Basha immediately thought of Oliver Dowdle, the co-op's safety and job training coordinator.
Dowdle says he was happy to help. He's been involved in Scouting for many years. Dowdle joined at age 11, later attaining Eagle status. Today, he's passing Scouting skills on to his son. Luke, 8, is a member of Cub Scout Pack 139, Den 5 in Sharon.
Dowdle's co-worker David White, a substation technician, likewise started in Scouting at age 11 and later reached Eagle status. He became re-involved in Scouting three years ago with his son, Robert, 15. A member of Troop 137 in Sharon, Robert is a Life Scout who's working on his own Eagle badge.
The senior White, now the troop's scoutmaster, notes that Scouting has evolved. Scouts today learn more than camping and knot-tying, he notes. "One of the things they've studied is Personal Management," White says. "It's about how to manage money and time."
Time management is something that White, Dowdle, Clinton and other York Electric employees definitely use. Dowdle in particular is adept at changing hats. He is also the chief of the Sharon Volunteer Fire Department. "The co-op has been very supportive," he notes.
Role models
And, as safety coordinator, Dowdle is heavily involved in York Electric's electrical safety demonstrations, given regularly in local schools. The demonstrations are just one of the ways the co-op reaches out to young people.
 Another is York Electric's ongoing support of the Clemson Extension Service's 4-H Camp Sew each summer. Margie Sippel, 4-H director, says, "The co-op is wonderful to us."
York Electric provides transportation for day camp participants who enjoy outings to places like historic Brattonsville, she says. York Electric Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Joyce Baker serves as a chaperone, says Sippel, adding that Baker is a "great role model" for the girls.
As Basha says, "York Electric's mission statement calls for community development and involvement. Our employees live up to that standard every day."
NEXT: York Electric's members are helping Operation Round Up reach a milestone in local community service »
Related Links
Outreach efforts start with those just starting out in life »
Cooperative members helping outreach effort reach a milestone »
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