CEO’s Message – December 2024

December 1, 2024

Embodying the Cooperative Spirit

Thad S. Ballard

With the holiday season upon us, I want to take a break from talking about the energy industry. Instead, let’s discuss the ways each of us can embody the “cooperative spirit” this December and help share it with our families, friends, neighbors, and communities.

Give the gift of energy efficiency. First, I’ll get the shameless plug out of the way. If you are looking for gift ideas, we have several great suggestions on our website, in addition to providing energy efficiency, improving productivity, or are just downright cool. Whether you are shopping for somebody interested in smart devices and home automation, your favorite handyperson, or the tech junkie in your family, there are all kinds of energy efficiency options at just about every price range.

If you want to compete with Clark Griswold rather than just keep up with the Joneses, there are almost limitless decoration options that are energy-efficient and visually stunning.

  • Attend a community event. Now that we have gifts taken care of, the simplest embodiment of the cooperative spirit remains the sense of community pride we all share. I would encourage everybody to participate in 1 of the many community events that help make December special. Find a caroling group, attend your local school’s Christmas concert, or attend 1 of the light parades. I hope that we see you there!
  • Enjoy an old tradition. 1 of my favorite parts of the holidays is the way each person and family seems to have their own unique way of celebrating. For my family, I love decorating our tree with ornaments we collected during family vacations. Each ornament—the carved wooden bear from Yellowstone or the shell from the beach—reminds me of happy times with my family.
    I hope you will take some time this month to enjoy those time-honored traditions and maybe even include something new.
  • Make a new tradition. Speaking of new, I encourage you to expand your boundaries and make a new tradition this holiday season. 1 of our WREC employees told me the other day that a few years ago his family started spending a night each holiday cooking something new together. They have boiled live lobsters, rolled their own sushi, and made New England lobster rolls from scratch in recent years. That sounded like great fun to me. If there is something you have always wanted to do with your friends or family, there is no time like the present to make it happen.
  • Help someone in need. Finally, I encourage you to be on the lookout for somebody struggling this holiday season. While December is a joyous time of the year for many, the holidays are also notoriously difficult for so many others.

Whether it is a small act of kindness, such as making a point to say hello to someone new, smiling at a stranger, or taking the time to volunteer at a local food pantry or other charity, kindness matters this time of year. After all, the real heart of the cooperative spirit is the way we embrace each other, look out for each other and take care of each other every day.

Regardless of how you celebrate, I hope your December and New Year are merry and joyful.

Best wishes,

Thad S. Ballard
CEO