The Power of Connections

CREC’s member monthly newsletter, Current Times , is contained within the state rural electric cooperative magazine, Rural Missouri . A monthly e-newsletter was introduced to members in 2019, CREC Connections , and includes a link to the month’s digital copy of Current Times/Rural Missouri .

Expanding the Communication Palette Keeping members informed and engaged remains a fundamental mission of Cuivre River Electric, and the co-op continues to expand its suite of communication tools to serve the needs and preferences of its diverse membership. The communications team produces a broad range of materials to engage multiple generations of members, some of whom rely on traditional print media as their primary source of news and others who prefer digital and online platforms. In recent years, the communication palette has expanded to include videos, the website, social media, and even a drone to document outages. “We’ve had to embrace newer ways of communicating to ensure that we are reaching all of our members,” tells Tracy, who notes that about 60 to 65 percent of members live in suburban areas and the remaining 30 to 35 percent come from rural areas. “Your needs and interests are going to be different if you live in a subdivision than if you live in the country. But

46 Cuivre River Electric Cooperative