Flippin' the Switch
Flippin' the Switch
S5 E10: Celebrating Co-Op Month and the Impact of Cooperatives on Communities
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Join us for a heartwarming celebration of Co-op Month as we share the inspiring journey of Mary Ann Gurganus, who has devoted 54 years to Jones-Onslow EMC. Her story is a testament to the remarkable technological advancements and unwavering community spirit that define the cooperative experience. We also take a nostalgic look back at Jones-Onslow EMC’s 85-year history, spotlighting its growth from humble origins to a cornerstone of community strength.
But the conversation doesn't stop there. Sarah Coats, Executive Director of the Cooperative Council of North Carolina, joins us to illuminate the unique principles that drive cooperatives and their profound impact on community resilience. From electric co-ops to credit unions, discover the ways cooperatives are innovating and thriving, even in challenging times like the pandemic. Celebrate Co-op Month with us and gain insights into a business model that champions community, cooperation, and democratic ownership.
Run Time: 29 Minutes
Welcome listeners to another episode of Flippin' the Switch. Today's edition of the podcast is very special because October is Co-op Month. We have some great guests lined up to give you a peek into the cooperative world and some insight into what a cooperative means to the communities that rely on them most. Even some personal stories about what it's like to work here at Jones-Onslow EMC. Marianne Gerganus, longtime employee of JOEMC, reflects on her time working in the original office and how much the co-op has grown in the decades she has been here. And Sarah Coates from the Cooperative Council of North Carolina shares why cooperatives are so unique and community-centered. You don't want to miss it. And with that let's start flipping the switch.
Speaker 2Well, it is October, which means it's co-op month Now. First of all, we'd like to start off our podcast for this section to let everybody know that our hearts are out with all of those that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene. One of the best parts of being part of a cooperative is that we have that concern for community and cooperation among co-ops, and I think you can see that firsthand whenever you look at any of your electric cooperatives throughout the state of North Carolina. We are the hands and feet next to our friends and our neighbors trying to help, you know, re-energize those communities. So if you're considering, you know, anything to support Hurricane Helene, no matter how big or how small, we encourage you to do so because those are definitely needed and a vital part of our community. So as part of co-op month, we kind of wanted to take a moment to shine a light on ourselves just a little bit.
Speaker 2Some of you may not know that it is our 85th year in business. Now, at the beginning of the month of October, we did a post on Facebook to kind of showcase where we were back 85 years ago, and we were in a much smaller building, and it was kind of fun to see people's comments on Facebook because they knew exactly where that building was. They knew who some of those folks were in the pictures and it was funny. One comment from a member said I'm that old that I remember that guy, which is pretty funny. You're not old whoever that was that posted on Facebook book, but part of being in business for that long.
Speaker 2There are lots of stories and history that has happened over the past 85 years and now we may not have an employee that was here since you know way back when, 85 years ago, but we do have an employee, marianne Garganis, who's here with us today. That has been here for 54 years and that's a testament to Jones-Onslow and to the work ethic, to the people that work here within our walls. But also we wanted to have Marianne here just to tell us a little bit about what her time has been like with Jones-Onslow through the years and have a perspective, because you've been here for quite a lot of changes through the years and evolution of electricity and even just what Jen Zonslow and Jacksonville has changed through the years. So we're going to kick it off with you, marianne. Could you tell us a little bit about what you currently do here at Jen Zonslow?
Speaker 4Absolutely. I'm currently the billing supervisor but I help out wherever I'm needed but, you know, with the supervisor calls or even taking payments and stuff. But I don't have to do that as much now because we have the echo.
Speaker 2So now 54 years ago, when you came to Jones-Onslow. Can you tell us kind of how that journey started and what maybe at the time appealed to you to come to Jones-Onslow?
Speaker 4Well, I graduated like in June of 1970, of course, and I had planned to go to college if I couldn't find a job. So I put applications in everywhere and then the opportunity came for me to have an interview with Jones-Onslow and actually Ken Jones that used to work with us. His mother is the one that helped me get my job. Wow, that's great, I was so thankful.
Speaker 2Oh, I bet. And you had just graduated and you're looking for a job and you wound up here. What was it like that first day of work for you in 1970?
Speaker 4It was so exciting because actually I worked into BACA before I came to work. Oh yeah, the drastic change, Absolutely. I thought well, you know, if I can't find a job here, I'll go to Wilmington. But the Lord looked out for me and I got an awesome job and have been here ever since.
Speaker 2So what was your first job here at Jones-Onslow?
Speaker 4I actually we did IBM cards. We used to type addresses and stuff. So that was my first job. I worked with the IMB typing the IBM cards or addresses and their names and stuff.
Speaker 2I know that's not a job we have anymore, is it Absolutely not.
Speaker 4It's changed just a little bit, just a tad, is that?
Speaker 2one of those machines that printed out like on the green bars, of paper too, it was white paper, but yes, it had like codes, you know, able to read it and everything. Very cool. Now, when you started, do you remember kind of what the day-to-day operations were like? Now I know you were inputting it, you know on the IBM cards, like what was an average day.
Speaker 4I mean it was an eight-hour day. I mean we did eight hours and then I would help. I learned the switchboard as well, and it was nothing like our switchboard is now. It was totally different.
Speaker 2For the switchboard. Did you actually have to like, did you have one main person and you'd have to transfer everybody out?
Speaker 4Yes, yes, we had to transfer the calls.
Speaker 2It is a little different Now. We have Miss Jo. You will answer the phone and she'll just move you right on over to the next place with the push of a button.
Speaker 4It was an old-timey phone.
Speaker 2You know how the old-timey phones were. Yes, that's what we used back then. Did it have? I'm sure it had a cord and lots of buttons.
Speaker 4Lots of buttons. Absolutely, yes, absolutely.
Speaker 2Now you've gone from entering in names and addresses on this IBM, then you've gone from working switchboards and now, as billing supervisor, let's talk about how billing probably has changed in through the years yes, because used to the older days the customer would read their own meters and mail in a meter reading card.
Speaker 2Oh really, punch in the meter readings so you had to depend upon the honesty of our members, which all of you are very honest. We know that would have to enter it, and then you would go off of what they read off their own cards.
Speaker 4They would mail it in to the office and we would punch the meter reading.
Speaker 2So then, when did meter readers come?
Speaker 4When we moved over here.
Speaker 2I'm pretty sure it's when we moved, so you started off in the old building. Yes, I did.
Speaker 4Yep, so we built this new building.
Speaker 2Okay, I had no idea. Like I am learning something new as well. This is really interesting. So then you went from cards that you sent in or a member sent in to the office to a meter reader and to where are we now?
Speaker 4We actually have the AMIs now, so we just have to run the imports and then do the exceptions, because they take a midnight reading and then we come in and run an import and then do the exceptions. Like if a customer uses a bunch of kilowatt hours like there's something wrong with their HVAC system, we'll call that customer and let them know they have an issue or ask them if they have any problem or anything.
Speaker 2Which I think you go back from where it was to now. It was a lot harder to spot issues if a member, because it would be 30 days later or longer until something like that popped up, Exactly exactly. Now for billing and for members that may not be aware, the AMI meters. All of our members have those on their home.
Speaker 4There's some that have opt-out. There's 23 customers that have opt-out. There's 23 customers that have opt-out so that we have and they are read on the last day of the month, so someone actually has to go out. So we still have a meter reader for those. Yes, okay, yes.
Speaker 2Now the rest of our membership has ones that are digital readouts, that are reporting back every day, like you're saying, right? So that makes life a little bit easier than it was in 1970,. I'd say Now for the past 54 years. Can you make some comparisons of what you see in the evolutions and strides that have taken place here?
Speaker 4It's changed a lot, especially the technology with everything I mean, because back then we didn't know what technology was. There's been so many changes from like I said because back then we didn't know what technology was. There's been so many changes from like I said, like from reading their own meter. We used to key in the meter readings to. The guys would go out and read the meters and then we would bring them in or they had like meter reading books. So, johnny Edwards, they would bring those meter reading books in when we would punch all the readings. And now all we have to do is download the imports and do the exceptions and they're done in probably 30, 45 minutes.
Speaker 2Something that would have taken days, if not weeks, is now done in a couple hours.
Speaker 4And we can get it done so much faster because we don't have to wait for the guys to come in, because, like up the country, like in Trenton and Cove City, we have to wait, you know, because sometimes it would be after lunch and like if the weather was bad, it was hard for the guys, you know, especially with it raining and stuff.
Speaker 2Oh, yeah, for sure, changes have been made, absolutely. Now, through those changes, I'm sure there have been some doozies of stories that have been shared or that you've experienced. Do you have some favorite stories or memories from your time here so far?
Speaker 4Well, I remember one time when we used to have an inserter, I used to do the inserting. We used to insert the bills ourselves before we got South Data, and one time we were trying to get the bills out and somehow I lost my footing and I fell on the machine. Oh no, and thank God our former CEO, Ron, was in there and he happened to catch me. But it was funny, but yet it was scary. Yeah, I'm sure, oh my gosh, I'm going to break something.
Speaker 2You weren't concerned about yourself. You were worried about the machine. I hope you were hoping you were not going to break something of yourself.
Speaker 4Oh my God, I broke something, but I didn't.
Speaker 2Thank goodness, I was just scared, I was just, I was afraid it was too funny, isn't it funny how things like that just kind of burn into your memory, exactly. It doesn't go away. Exactly so. At the top of this we talked about the seven cooperative principles, and some of them were concern for community and various other things. Can you kind of remember some?
Speaker 4of the ways that you've seen the cooperative in action. We're always helping someone, no matter who, if employee or a neighbor, and just like now, we're up helping in the mountains. Ever since I've been at Jones-Oslo, we have always done that. We've always helped our neighbors and the neighbors have always helped us as well.
Speaker 2That's true, and I think you're a caring community, a caring business, and speaking of taking action and things that have happened through our cooperative principles and how that has evolved, do you have just some of those core memories that stick with you of Jones-Onslow? Well, I have one.
Speaker 4I had been sick so I had to go have a procedure done. And so that morning when I left work, I left home, I was feeling fine, and by the time I got into the billing room I could not walk. I was walking like sideways. Oh my word, and I don't know. So it's when dispatch was over, where the training room is now, and if it hadn't been for Johnny Edwards and some of the other employees, I don't know what I'd done, cause the rescue squad did come pick me up, but I was okay. So I don't know if it's from the procedure that I had Right, but, um, I just thank God for everybody that was there that morning, because it was early, so there wasn't a whole lot of people.
Speaker 2Right.
Speaker 4Because I used to come in by 630 or 7 to start building so that we could start building, because especially if we had a larger cycle. So I just thank God for the employees. It's just, it's family.
Speaker 2We're just all family. I agree. I think one of the things when people start working at Jones-Onslow, we always hear you know little buzzwords, and family is always one of those ones that is thrown out. And I don't think we'd say it lightly, because one of the things about being a part of Jones-Onslow and, I would think, most cooperatives is that it's a small group. We may be, not, you know 35 employees from the beginning and now we're over 180. Not, you know 35 employees from the beginning, now we're over 180, but that group of 180, you know, at the end of the day somebody's going to be there for you if you need them Now for our members. Do you kind of want to share about something about Jones-Onsel to our members, one thing that you've kind of carry with you whenever you go out and somebody says where do you work? And you say I work at Jones Onslaught and I'm proud. Because of what would you say?
Speaker 4Because of our caring and everybody being getting along with everybody. Because so many places don't get along I mean most places that you work at you don't see them get along as well as they do at Jones Onslaught, I feel like I think you're right and, marianne, thank you so much for being here with us today, and thank you for being with us for 54 years and
Speaker 2many more to come. Thank you. Thank you and for our listeners and members, we just thank you for being part of Jones-Onzo through the years and we hope that your membership lasts forever with us. We're honored to serve you each and every day as your proud utility provider. But, most important, we are proud to be your neighbor and your friend, and we're here for you in times of trouble and times of good things, and that's what a cooperative is all about. So, thanks a lot and happy co-op month. In this section of flipping the switch, we are still highlighting Co-op Month because it is October and that's our month, and today we have Sarah Coates, who is with the Co-op Council of North Carolina. Welcome, sarah, thank you. Thank you, we are excited to have you. We have lots of questions because some of our members know that they are part of Jones-Onslow, which is an electric co-op, but they may not be quite sure what a co-op is. So, sarah, you're here to the rescue today. First, can you kind of tell us a little bit about your role at the Co-op?
Speaker 5Council, absolutely. Thanks for having me. I am the executive director of the Cooperative Council of North Carolina. I came from a world of credit unions, which is another co-op space, and learned about the co-op business model and it brought me to where I am today. To help spread that visibility, like we're doing right now.
Speaker 2We're happy to have you here, Thank you. So can you kind of explain to our members in detail not huge amounts of detail, but a bit about what a co-op is Absolutely so.
Speaker 5Co-ops are a little bit different from your typical business model for a few reasons. One, we have cooperative principles that we go off of, seven cooperative principles that every co-op, regardless of what industry they're in they follow. Those principles are really tried and true to our values as well, so they incorporate things like concern for community, where all cooperatives are very concerned for their communities. Also cooperation among cooperatives, so we are working together to make a bigger impact. We know that we're stronger together. So other principles like that that really set us apart. Another one is that we are democratically owned and governed by our members, so we do not have stockholders that have a financial investment in us. Instead, we have shareholders or stakeholders that are here to help us make the decisions for the members, so we're not worried about the investment going back into their pockets and expanding their wallets. We are here to benefit the members specifically.
Speaker 2Now it being co-op month, what do you think makes this month special? This?
Cooperative Impact on Communities
Speaker 5month is special because I think it's a time for celebration. I think it's a time for us to be able to come together and acknowledge the impact that we do have together. I also love it because it's a time for us to really share what co-ops are, because as we're doing this, you know there's a ton of people that don't know this business model and education, education, education that is the forefront of what we need to do is educate people on what this is, and especially for young people, just to let them know their options, to let them know that this is something they could get into and make a career out of, while also making a difference. So I think it's important that we come together to gain that visibility so that we can educate people, especially the youth, on what this is.
Speaker 2Absolutely. I think a lot of people see a co-op and they think of like a food co-op is the first one that comes to mind.
Speaker 2I was guilty as charged on that one as well. I pay my utility bill and I'm probably like many of our listeners. I just pay my bill and didn't think about what was, at the end, cooperative, and so it's really full circle. When you come in and you get to see from another perspective about what a co-op is doing and wow, is it incredible because we're able to help so many people while providing a service to our members. Now, as part of the co-op council, are you guys doing anything special to celebrate and engage with all?
Speaker 5the cooperatives. What we are doing is assisting all of our members. So our members are across North Carolina, also expanding into South Carolina now, so also very exciting. So we will soon be a cooperative council of the Carolinas, so very excited about that. So they do not have a state council to assist their co-ops. So what we're doing is really feet on the ground kind of work to assist our members whatever they need, to help them celebrate in their own communities. We know that our members celebrate co-op month all the time, right. So when they're making an effort in their specific communities, we want to help make that footprint.
Speaker 2Now, just to kind of enlighten our members a little bit, let's talk about who are some of the cooperatives that are part of North Carolina.
Speaker 5I love this. So we think about food co-ops a lot, right, of course y'all think of electric co-ops, and I think especially Jones-Onslow. It's a great community where y'all do a great job expressing that it's a co-op we try. Y'all do an amazing job of educating your community. So I think some people are familiar with electric co-ops credit unions A lot of people may think of those, but it's also insurance mutuals. It's also telecommunications and utilities, and agriculture is a huge one. So the list goes on. But we also have a lot of worker owner co-ops that people are not familiar with. So housing cooperatives the people that live in those houses, in that housing community, they are the owners of that co-op. And you also have Tilda. Language Justice is a language translation co-op owned by its workers. You also have a lot of daycares and homeschool. There's some transportation co-ops. So the sky's the limit. Whatever organization you want to have, but when it comes to sectors, I would say the most popular are the electric credit unions, insurance mutuals, agriculture.
Speaker 2I think it's a really eye-opener for most folks, because when you think of a co-op you certainly don't think of maybe your housing cooperatives and things. So there are lots of ways to do business, but we are most certainly one of the most unique ways to do business, absolutely. Now, one of the principles that we have as a co-op is concern for community, and how do you think co-ops are special to kind of build those communities in rural regions?
Speaker 5Electrics and telecommunications utilities. They come together again cooperatives, helping co-ops, cooperation among co-ops and they come together to do what it takes. If there's not a region where there is fiber or where there's broadband, they're going to work together to see what needs to be done. It is not an easy task. No, it's not, and we still have a huge way to go. But you know, co-ops were started and continue to start and be founded because of a problem. It's a common problem that a lot of people have and co-ops can be a huge solution. So when the first electric co-op started, it was hey, we needed some internet, we needed to drill some lines. They came out and they did this when there was no other option. There have been co-ops started in the back of a van, in a living room. The stories are crazy, but it's whatever. The need is, people have come together.
Speaker 2Trying to meet the needs of a community.
Speaker 5Absolutely, and with the rural areas. That is where we know that there are Wi-Fi deserts and financial deserts and food deserts, and so that's when we really count on concern for community to come together and either create, maybe, a food co-op or at least assist a food co-op, try and get the Wi-Fi out there, try and get whatever the need may be to work together to make that happen.
Speaker 2So one of the things I notice now is that co-operators are such an important part of what we are today. Have you seen just in your time in that space, have you seen a lot of changes coming forward through that? I?
Speaker 5have. I've seen a lot of positive changes, for sure. We have a great organization here in North Carolina, carolina Common Enterprise, and they are a consult attorney for this business model. What does it take to either convert a business to a co-op how do you start it up? Because that's another way. Education needs to come into play because people just don't know where to start. So I have seen a lot improve as far as the start of co-ops, but also when it gets to be you know the pandemic and there are some businesses that aren't able to sustain and we've been able to make that happen with co-ops. So I've seen some great improvements when it gets to that, to be able to sustain those businesses. But I have seen also, you know, there's not as many ag co-ops as there used to be. You know co-ops started from ag and I have seen that Well, I guess I would say in our states, right right, ag has been less. It's definitely still thick as thieves.
Speaker 5You know, in other areas as far as our state, I've seen less co-op farmland but just less farmland in general. So it's I've seen less co-op farmland but just less farmland in general. So it's not necessarily co-ops. I would say that the improvement has been the amount of co-ops that we are seeing, but also there there is some negative ways that it has changed. You know the the federal assistance hasn't been as strong as it has been in the past, going back to like World War II. You know, like a long time ago we had a lot more federal assistance for the cooperative business model. So I've seen good and bad.
Speaker 5But it varies state by state, that is for sure.
Speaker 2Maybe one of the things too is like if the average person doesn't really know what a co-op business model might be, when you go to school it's not probably the top of the business class list. I know it wasn't in mine, but one of the things now is that if we could kind of just like shout it from the rooftops, people might open up their eyes a little bit more that it is a collective and it's a great way to operate a business. Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2For you. How do you see co-ops? You know, like you said, we're evolving, so how do you see them being active members of the communities that they're in, whether volunteering, and how do their members get involved?
Speaker 5Yes, so with food co-opsops and I want to throw out some stats for you too but, um, with food co-ops they give back typically 30% to their communities in various ways. So either they are supporting local farmers or they are just giving back food discounts to people and their members. What I encourage people to do when they are looking for a co-op is to and to join. You know it varies everywhere you know to be at for a co-op is to and to join. You know it varies everywhere you know to be at a food co-op, that membership may be different than your food co-op an hour away, but with the communities, I think it gets to be super important with electrics and food and telecommunications, all in various ways. You know electrics, they give back to their members in capital credits, right? So I've I've heard so many people that tell me they have no idea why the check showed up right.
Speaker 3They're like.
Speaker 5It must be a scam. I'm not depositing this. So it really varies based on the sector. We had just a story yesterday. The lines were non-existent right when they were in Western Carolina and just this, this one region. There's still so many without power, but this one. Within three days they had something up and running and to create that like, can you imagine? How do you?
Speaker 5you know, it's a lot of long days for sure a lot of long days and they're just pulling people from everywhere, right, and so it's just another example. They are coming together to help one another. So I think the community assistance really is based on the sector and how they can share their talents with the community.
Speaker 2So, whether it be food or electricity or whatever, so, as we wrap it up, we're going to ask a couple of rapid fire questions.
Speaker 5I'm a little nervous right now, but I like a game.
Speaker 2One. If you were in the elevator with someone that didn't know what a co-op was, what would you tell them real quickly?
Speaker 5One member, one vote. Members make the decisions.
Speaker 2Okay, I think those are all valid points and I would understand that easily. Which?
Speaker 4is a good thing.
Speaker 2If you were to still talk to them and they had kids, what would you recommend them to do for to learn more about a co-op?
Speaker 5Get them into uh cooperative leadership um and to research uh, whatever state they may be in for their state council for co-ops.
Speaker 2And then are there opportunities for them to get involved in the summer, maybe Absolutely, or youth.
Speaker 5Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. Cooperative Leadership Camp is a camp that we host for high school students to be educated on the business model. See, I knew you could answer those rapid fire things, no problem.
Speaker 2Well, that's it for Co-op Month and Sarah. We are so happy to have you here. You are spreading the word of cooperatives all throughout the state of North Carolina and we know that the future is bright for all of us when we're all together as one big family, as a cooperative.
Speaker 5Thanks so much.
Speaker 3Thank you. Fall into energy savings with these quick tips. First, weatherize your home by caulking and weather stripping all windows and doors. Next, washing clothes in cold water is a money saver, but remember to purchase cold water detergent. Also, open blinds and curtains during the day to let warm sunlight heat your home, and close them at night to keep the drafty air out. For all of our fall energy-saving tips, visit our website at joemccom.
Speaker 1Welcome back to another segment of what's Happening at Jones-Onslow EMC. Here's what you need to know this month. Not only is October co-op month, it is also cybersecurity month. Technology is ever-changing, so it's important to know best practices in safeguarding your information. Learning how to spot phishing attempts, enabling two-factor authentication using strong passwords and a password management tool, and keeping your software up to date are all ways to stay safe in a digital world. Learn more by reading our Spotlight newsletter on our website.
Speaker 1Don't fear winter bills. Sign up for budget billing today. Unexpected weather can lead to higher thanthan-usual utility bills, especially in the winter. With budget billing, you can avoid surprises by spreading your energy costs evenly throughout the year. Enjoy stable and consistent monthly bills, avoid seasonal spikes and manage your budget easily. Visit joemccom or call 910-353-1940 to enroll and take control of your energy costs today. If you recently made or plan to make energy efficiency improvements to your home, you may be eligible for federal tax credits. The inflation reduction act ira of 2022 empowers homeowners to save money on energy efficiency improvements and upgrades. A few upgrades covered through the IRA include new exterior doors, windows, insulation, heating and cooling equipment and other major appliances. If you completed an upgrade this year or you are considering one. Visit wwwenergystargov slash federal dash tax, dash credits to learn if you qualify for a tax credit. And that's all you need to know this month for what's happening at your co-op.
Speaker 6Well, folks, that'll do it for this episode of Flipping the Switch Until next time. If you don't currently follow us on Facebook, instagram or any of our other social media channels, consider doing so. It's the best way to keep informed about what's going on with your cooperative. Thanks again.