Chad Stone
GENERAL MANAGER
As November arrives, I find myself thinking about Thanksgiving, family and the memories that stay with us through the years. Some of my memories are of walking to my grandpa’s house during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Before I reached the door, I could smell the smoke coming from his fireplace. That smell meant warmth, family and a place where I belonged.
I still burn wood today. I enjoy the heat, but I also enjoy the memories it brings back. My hope is that my grandchildren will grow up remembering that same feeling when they come to our home. Sometimes the simplest things become the memories we treasure most.
Life was different when many of us were growing up. Families heated their homes with wood, and when the weather was warm, we opened the windows and hoped for a breeze. Today, electricity heats and cools our homes, keeps our food fresh and supports everything we do. We depend on it in ways our grandparents could hardly have imagined.
That dependence gives all of us at Little River Electric Cooperative a responsibility we take seriously. Behind every meter is a family, a farm, a business, a church, or someone counting on us. When we make decisions, we must remember the people those decisions affect.
This year has brought progress and reasons to be thankful. We received FEMA reimbursement money for eligible storm recovery expenses. Recovering those dollars helps our cooperative carry the cost of restoring service and protects the resources entrusted to us by our members. I appreciate the work required to document those expenses and follow that process through.
We have also continued planning for the future of Little River Electric. That includes evaluating our facility needs and how we can best support our employees, equipment and service to members. These are important decisions, and we owe you responsible planning and good stewardship of your cooperative’s money.
Progress also happens in the everyday work that may never make a headline. It happens when a crew repairs a line, an employee answers a billing question, or someone helps a member understand how to manage electricity use. Those moments are the heart of cooperative service.
After 32 years at Little River, I remain thankful for the opportunity to serve the communities I call home. I am grateful for our employees, our board and the members who place their trust in us. I also thank God for His guidance and the opportunity to serve others.
As you gather around your Thanksgiving table, I hope you will take time to remember the people and traditions that have shaped your life. Check on a neighbor. Encourage someone facing a difficult season. Share a story with your children or grandchildren.
From all of us at Little River Electric Cooperative, thank you for allowing us to serve you. May God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
CHAD STONE
General Manager
