You've Got Power, And It's Not Just Electricity!
Cooperatives are examples of democracy in action. Cooperatives succeed because of the power of people working together. As a member of a cooperative, you join the one out of every four Americans who belong to these consumer-owned organizations. A cooperative is formed by joining together to accomplish a goal that cannot be done as well individually. In our case, this started with providing central station electric service and has since branched out into a variety of other services.
At Oakdale Electric Cooperative, you are not "just a customer." Instead, you are a member-owner of this private, nonprofit business. Unlike customers of investor-owned utilities, you, as a cooperative member, have a say in determining the leadership of the cooperative, how it will operate and which services it will provide.
The members, customers like you, elect fellow members to serve as directors of the cooperative. Each member has one vote in the directors' election, which takes place at the annual membership meeting held in April. The directors set policy and oversee the general operation of the cooperative. They also hire the general manager, who implements the policies and is responsible for the daily operation of the cooperative through the actions of its employees. The employees provide service to the members, thus completing the "circle of cooperation."
The Seven Cooperative Principles
- Voluntary and open membership. Because cooperatives are voluntary organizations, membership is open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
- Democratic member control. Oakdale Electric members have equal voting rights. It doesn't matter how much electricity a member consumes. When it comes to electing directors, each member has one vote.
- Member economic participation. Members contribute equitably to the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative.
- Autonomy and independence. Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations, controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
- Education, training and information. New challenges and new technologies affect your cooperative and the entire utility industry. Ensuring our continuing effectiveness can only be accomplished by providing information and training to the members and public, our employees, staff and directors.
- Cooperation among cooperatives. We are "working together, working for you," on many levels. Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-op movement by participating in local, state, regional, national and international cooperative organizations.
- Concern for community. This principle focuses on members' needs and prompts cooperatives to work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.
Welcome to Cooperative America
Every minute of every day cooperatives are impacting the lives of Americans. Because this unique form of private enterprise is a powerful economic force, we have created this publication to celebrate its importance to our nation.
A Day in the Life of Cooperative America was first published in 1994 to both describe the diversity of cooperatives and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Rochdale Pioneers, the 28 workers in England who formed the first successful cooperative in 1844. From that humble beginning has grown a business model replicated across our country—and around the world.
Our Mission Statement
Oakdale Electric Cooperative is committed to providing members safe, reliable and affordable electricity through superior customer service.
Our cooperative proudly serves our members based on a foundation of honesty and integrity, while improving the economy and quality of life in the communities we serve.
OEC History
The Story Begins Here – Oakdale Electric Cooperative’s History
The history of the Oakdale Electric Cooperative cannot be dug out of official minutes, files, or memories without first trespassing upon the history of rural electrification in Wisconsin. It is known, of course, that the machinery of state and federal governments was first put into gear in Washington and Madison, but the very core of the rural electrification program in Wisconsin took shape in the Oakdale Community Club hall on October 19, 1935. Only a week longer than five months had elapsed since the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on May 11, 1935. This action recognized that support was needed to help rural areas become electrified. But it was the self-sufficient, enterprising residents of rural areas who worked together - many by the sweat of their brows - to form cooperatives and bring electricity to their homes, schools, churches, farms and businesses.
On April 24, 1936, the Oakdale Electric cooperative was organized and incorporated, with W. E. Rabe, R. E. Dunlap, F. E. Kuckuck, F. W. Habelman, O. O. Humboldt, and J. A. Gabower signing the Articles of Incorporation. Only a handful of farmers had signed into membership on the date of the organization meeting, but there were enough to constitute a quorum and elect a board of directors. The Oakdale Electric Cooperative was born and in the space of a few hours had become a legal entity under the cooperative laws of Wisconsin.
Oakdale Electric Cooperative has come a long way since 1937 when the cooperative's power lines were energized 48 miles of line on July 14, 1937 to light up the landscapes of our beautiful rural central Wisconsin counties. Life in the days before the late 1930's was dark and filled with manual labor from dawn to dusk for rural folks. While electricity had come to many towns and cities, it remained elusive in more distant areas because existing utilities found it unprofitable to bring it to rural areas. By the end of 1938, Oakdale Electric Cooperative was serving 221 members.
How people formed their cooperatives and brought electricity to rural areas is one of the nation's greatest examples of economic democracy. Men and women petitioned, educated and organized to bring power to their communities. They drew lines on rough paper maps. They secured signatures for sign-ups. They obtained pledges of land for the paths of the lines so the cooperative could build power lines to serve them and their neighbors. Line crews, often aided by eager members in the community, cleared rights-of-way and dug holes, while others followed with poles and hardware. Last came the crews to hang the line.
Today, our cooperative still provides essential power to a growing five county area. While the cooperative has progressed and continues to prepare for the future, Oakdale Electric Cooperative remains committed today to the same principles upon which cooperatives were founded. Owned by the members we serve, we are a local business formed to provide affordable access to electricity. We return any margins in the form of capital credits to our members, and the cooperative is governed by a board of directors elected by the membership. And while the primary purpose of the cooperative is to provide affordable electricity, our greater, guiding purpose is to contribute to the communities we serve. That's the higher calling of an electric cooperative like Oakdale Electric Cooperative. And that's why we're proud to be a part of all the communities we serve.
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