The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-04-01
More About The REA

weeks and especially since this paper
made a number of specific criticisms, the
Blue Ridge Electric Membership corpora
ton has been endeavoring to render better
service by making needed improvements
or corrections on the lines and by attempt
ing to improve its billing practices
We are also glad to note from the tone
of and from the information contained in
the March issue of the Blue Ridge Electric
News" that the management of the Coop
is again adopting a more cooperative and
less dictatorial attitude, and that at last it
is boosting the sale of war bonds and
stamps.
This was by the way what the adver-
tisement was on that Mr.. Messick author
lied in both the Skyland Post and Allegha-
ny News, then failed to pay for, describing
as non essential.
It is, therefore, obvious to us that the
board of directors is now spending more
of their valuable time in directing the &C
Invites of the Coop, rather than in leaving
its operation largely in the hands of the
superintendent And that is wise move
on their part!
We are gratifed to note further that
according to statements made by National
REA Administrator Harry Slattery, the
cooperatives of the nation are getting along
satisfactorily from financial standpoint.
A good deal of space in the March issue of
the local Co-ops alleged news bulletin is
devoted to Mr. Slattery's remarks, but no
financial statement about the Blue Ridge
Electric Membership cooperative is made
except the announcement that on January
T. 1913, ut purchased $4,000 worth of
Series F War Savings Bonds" which will
form a reserve fund. That statement in
dicates some good news, but why isn't the
financial statement of the Coop, or at
least summary of it, sent to members?
What members who have to pay the
bills want to know is: How much money
does the Coop owe and what amounts
over what period of time? How much is
being collected monthly? What are the
monthly operating expenses? What is the
outlook for increasing or decreasing light
and power rates? How much has been
paid on what is owed? How much money
is on hand?
Rural Identification Cooperatives are
still in the experimental stage. Their sue
cess is dependent entirely upon Coopera-
ton and Cooperation is dependent upon
common knowledge, understanding and
appreciation by all parties concerned. Thus
proper public relation is extremely i'm
portant Members want facts, not recital
of mere regulations and propaganda Good
will to Cooperative is equally as impor-
tant as it is to any business, industry or in
stitution
The success of the operation and public
relationship rests heavily upon the man.
agement. If this cooperative and the 9TH
er cooperatives of the state and nation are
to succeed it will be DUE in large meas
ure, to the management. Organization is
one thing and successful operation is an en-
tirely different thing. First, last and al
ways, Cooperatives must be Cooperative
in the true sense of the word.
Another observation that we wish to
make at this time is that the home office
of the Blue Ridge Electric Membership
Coop SHOULD BE located in West Jeff
erson which is more or less the center of
the project, rather than over at Lenoir,
which is located at the extreme end of the
project territory
One of the untitled promises previously
referred to in these columns is this mat
ter of location. Here and in Allegheny,
the cooperative operates in the towns as
we'll as rural areas, while in Caldwell, it
only operates in part of the countys rural
area.
For these and other important reasons,