Altamaha EMC/Fiber sent Beau and Kasey Jackson to the recent annual Georgia Cooperative Council Couples Conference. The conference is a three-day event where couples across the state come together to learn more about the impact of cooperatives at the local, state and national level.
This year’s couples traveled to the historic Windsor Hotel in Americus on August 11-13 for a weekend of fun, fellowship and learning. Altamaha EMC/Fiber is proud to send couples to the conference because there they enjoy a relaxing getaway and learn about the work and impact of financial, telephone and electric membership cooperatives in the state.
“Co-ops are a powerful force, distinctive because they are owned and controlled by the people who use their products and services,” said Gale Cutler, Executive Director of the Georgia Cooperative Council. “This means that cooperatives can have a particularly profound and personal impact on local communities.”
For that reason, George McLendon with Altamaha EMC/Fiber says it is important that local leaders become familiar with the operation of cooperatives and understand the principles on which they were founded. “As a co-op, we strive to not only provide our members with reliable, safe and affordable electricity, but to also enrich their lives with learning experiences and opportunities to network,” says McLendon. “This is accomplished at the Georgia Co-op Council Couples Conference each year.”
All of the conference activities and sessions are aimed at helping enhance the communication and leadership skills of attending couples. The positive, friendly environment fostered dialogue between the couples and local cooperative leaders.
The group met at Sumter EMC’s offices in Americus over the weekend where couples participated in short, educational sessions that were led by Georgia EMC, Pineland Telephone, AgGeorgia Farm Credit and AgSouth Farm Credit. In addition, the group heard from co-op expert Adam Schwartz, founder of The Cooperative Way based in Virginia, and local resident Bill Harris of Co-op Coffees.
The conference schedule allowed couples time to explore the area on their own with free time Saturday afternoon. Saturday evening couples were treated to an Americus Trolley ride from the Windsor Hotel to Wolf Creek Plantation where they enjoyed a catered dinner. Later that night guests were invited to participate in a local history tour of the Windsor Hotel provided by the Americus Visitors Center.
“I learned so much about cooperatives and how beneficial they are. I met so many couples from across the state and each one was unique, kind and brought something special to the group. It was a wonderful experience and the best conference I’ve ever attended,” said conference attendee Kasey Jackson about her experience. The 2023 Cooperative Council Couples Conference was made possible by the Georgia Cooperative Council.
Altamaha EMC/Fiber is a member-owned cooperative providing electric and fiber internet services to 14,415 members in Emanuel, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Toombs and Treutlen counties.
The Georgia Cooperative Council is a statewide, nonprofit cooperative association whose membership is composed of supply, financial, electric, telephone, marketing and service cooperatives.
Press release issued by Altamaha EMC
