Giving Thanks in 2025
Wireside Chat
It's the time of year when we collectively stop and reflect on all the things for which we're grateful — even if sometimes we aren't feeling it. In this month's episode, host Nathan Grimm highlights some of the things he's giving thanks for this year, from roller hockey to musical theater and, of course, electric cooperatives.
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Lineworker's Safety Rodeo 2025
Wireside Chat
The Southwestern Electric crew returned to this year's Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) Lineworker's Safety Rodeo with double the number of competitors — and with its own friendly intracompany competition between the two teams. In this month's episode, hear from the apprentice linemen who took part in this year's event, what they gained from the experience and who holds bragging rights between them and their journeyman linemen colleagues.
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The 87th Annual Meeting of Members
Wireside Chat
On Sept. 6, 2025, Southwestern Electric Cooperative held its 87th Annual Meeting of Members at the American Farm Heritage Museum in Greenville. In this month's podcast, hear the addresses from CEO Bobby Williams and Board President Jerry Gaffner in their entirety.
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At Home With CASA
Wireside Chat
In conjunction with our third-annual Safety Day event for Southwestern Electric Cooperative employees and their families, the cooperative was able to raise $3,370 for two Court Appointed Special Advocate organizations that operate in our service area. Tawny Rodriguez, the Bond and Madison County Volunteer Coordinator for CASA of Southwestern Illinois, joined this month's podcast to tell members about CASA, where that money goes and how they can get involved if they're interested in volunteering.
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Meet and Greet
Wireside Chat
A lot about September's 87th Annual Meeting of Members will look the same, but one thing will be different — the person running the show. Manager of Member Services Jennifer Gillan joined Southwestern Electric Cooperative in May, meaning this will be her first annual meeting in charge of the event. Jennifer joined the podcast to discuss her background, her acclimation to the cooperative and what we can expect from the meeting itself.
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Planting the Seeds
Wireside Chat
Electric cooperatives and the Future Farmers of America go hand in hand. Southwestern Electric Cooperative and the Illinois Association FFA are no exception, and the cooperative was recently recognized for 75 years of support for the statewide organization. In this episode, go inside the 97th annual FFA State Convention in Springfield earlier this month and hear from Southwestern CEO Bobby Williams and director Jared Stine about the importance of the cooperative's longstanding dedication to the FFA.
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The Principle of the Matter
Wireside Chat
Cooperatives are guided by a set of seven principles that help shape their actions and policies. In this solo episode of the podcast, host Nathan Grimm details those seven cooperative principles and how they relate to Southwestern Electric and its members.
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Capital Venture
Wireside Chat
For the third consecutive year, Southwestern Electric Cooperative sent a few select high school-aged members to Springfield, Illinois for the Illinois Electric and Telephone Cooperatives Youth Day. Southwestern Executive Assistant Brooke Scott served as the chaperone for the trip this year, and she joined the podcast to discuss the experience.
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Help After Helene
Wireside Chat
On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Gulf Coast and quickly made its way across the Southeastern United States. In total, seven states felt the effects of Helene and another 17 states provided mutual assistance to those affected. Among those affected was Satilla Rural Electric Membership Corporation, an Alma, Georgia-based electric cooperative that's one of the biggest east of the Mississippi River. Satilla manages more than 7,000 miles of power lines in serving more than 59,000 members across nine Georgia counties. And in Helene's wake, nearly all of those 59,000...
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Speaking of SmartHub
Wireside Chat
In March, Southwestern Electric will switch over its software platform provider, a change that means members will have a new account management system as well. Vice President of Information Technology Glenn Williams joins this month's episode to talk about the system, SmartHub, and what members can expect with regards to the change.
info_outlineOn Sept. 6, 2025, Southwestern Electric Cooperative held its 87th Annual Meeting of Members at the American Farm Heritage Museum in Greenville. In this month's podcast, hear the addresses from CEO Bobby Williams and Board President Jerry Gaffner in their entirety.