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East River Employees, Directors Show Excellent ACRE Support

Again this year, East River employees have recognized the importance of contributing to the Action Committee for Rural Electrification^® (ACRE).

With over 77 percent of East River’s workforce committing to the grassroots political action committee of NRECA, they join more than 34,000 members nationwide. NRECA CEO Glenn English has set a long-term goal of 100,000 ACRE members.

One hundred percent of the East River Board of Directors are Century Level contributors to ACRE for the upcoming year.

These personal contributions are made by local co-op managers, directors, employees and member-owners of electric cooperatives. “Leading by example is a time honored and valued tradition. Here is a fine case of doing just that,” acknowledged East River General Manager Jeff Nelson.

Founded in 1966, ACRE represents the interests of the nation’s nearly 1,000 not-for-profit electric cooperative systems and their 42 million consumers in rural, suburban and ex-urban areas of the country. The average ACRE contribution is about $44 dollars per year.

ACRE members also receive information on important electric cooperative issues through political education workshops and publications. ACRE members also routinely write letters and visit legislators in their district offices to voice concerns on issues important to electric cooperatives.

Supporting congressional candidates, regardless of party, who share public policy goals that are consistent with the mission of member-owned electric cooperatives, ACRE also returns half of its contributions to statewide associations for use in state elections.

ACRE follows established procedures for making contributions to candidates running for political office. Factors that determine financial support include the candidate’s position on issues critical to electric cooperatives, as well as their votes and public statements on these issues; the candidate’s committee assignments and leadership positions and his or her relative importance to cooperatives; and a candidate’s financial need and the strength of his or her opponent. The candidate’s political affiliation is never taken into account.

All PAC contributions, including ACRE’s monthly disclosure report, are available from the Federal Election Commission’s website.

Liz Avery, East River manager of administrative services and ACRE campaign representative, is pleased with the staff’s commitment to this political movement. “It is our responsibility as electric cooperative employees to make our voices heard before the decisions that affect our energy future are made.”