Arbor Day

Once upon a time, way back in the 1870’s in a town in Nebraska, lived a man by the name of J. Sterling Morton . Nebraska at that time was a treeless plain, and Mr. Morton did love his trees, so he set out to change the shape of his state by forcefully picturing to Nebraska citizens what value, beauty and comfort the planting of trees would bring. Through his newspaper Mr. Morton advocated tree planting and encouraged individuals and civic organizations to join his cause. He was so successful in his endeavor that one would no longer believe Nebraska was once a treeless plain. In addition, Mr. Morton’s actions were the catalyst by which the Arbor Day holiday was established.

Arbor Day, an annual holiday on which trees are honored, was celebrated in Texas on April 29th of this year. In honor of this National Holiday, CECA donated over 1,000 trees to twenty three fourth grade classes within the service district. These trees, packaged in workshops that employ adults with disabilities through the Free Trees and Plants project, were distributed in an effort to encourage children and their families about environmental concerns and the importance of energy efficiency. Fourth graders receiving trees were from: Nancy Smith Elementary in Albany, Moran Elementary, Baird Elementary, Cross Plains Elementary, J.B. Stephens Elementary in Bangs, Blanket Elementary, Early Elementary, May Elementary, Zephyr Elementary, South Elementary in Breckenridge, Cisco Elementary, Siebert Elementary in Eastland, Maxfield Elementary in Gorman, Ranger Elementary, Rising Star Elementary, Comanche Middle School, De Leon Elementary, Gustine Elementary, Sidney Elementary, New Horizons Elementary in Goldthwaite, Priddy Elementary, and Ann Whitney Elementary in Hamilton. The 1,085 students in these twenty three schools rolled up their sleeves and not only planted their trees, but became Fourth Grade Foresters of Texas. Each student received an individually packaged 12” -18” evergreen tree seedling sealed in a polybag by workers with disabilities through Fourth Grade Foresters USA. Each package included information about Texas’ Arbor Day, planting and care instructions, and energy efficiency and rebate information provided by CECA.

In a speech he gave over 100 years ago, Mr. Morton was quoted as saying, “Arbor Day is not like other holidays. They repose upon the past, while Arbor Day proposes for the future.” It is still true today, the reason we celebrate all holidays is based on past events or to remember people who lived in the past. They are days to look back and remember. Arbor Day on the other hand asks us to look to the future, the near future and the far future. It reminds us that every day we have to take care of our Earth not only for ourselves but also for the people who will be born long after us.

Margaret Mead was known to say “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” It is the hope of CECA that this young group of students and their families will become the committed citizens that Ms. Mead speaks of.

Comanche Electric Cooperative Helps Comanche ISD Purchase Equipment for Ag Department Through Operation Round-Up

Comanche FFA is an organization that makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agriculture education. In other words, they are preparing the next generation to become leaders in the community and helping them prepare for the future.

Comanche Electric Cooperative is dedicated to helping the youth in the communities we serve by sponsoring Ag events, sending students to Washington D.C. on our Government in Action Youth Tour, a $1,000.00 Scholarship, and through the John Ben Shepperd Leadership Program. So when the call came out for assistance to the Ag Department for the purchase of some new equipment, CECA was happy to come to the rescue with the aid of our Operation Round-Up program.

The money donated will be used to purchase a punch and die package to be used by Agriculture Science students to help them learn skills required for the future. CECA donated 1/2 of the expense of the package. Further donations can be made by contacting Stephen Davis or Roy Shackelford at Comanche High School.

Accepting the check for Comanche ISD Ag department are:
Teacher Stephen Davis, Steven Abbey, Taylor McCullough, Jacob Vaughan, Mitchell Bayer and Teacher Roy Shackelford.

Comanche Electric Cooperative Comes to the Aid of De Leon ISD

Concern for Community-While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.
--Cooperative Principle #7

At Comanche Electric Cooperative the seven cooperative principals are used as a set of guidelines by which we serve our members. So when De Leon ISD called up and asked if we could dig some holes for the new nets to be constructed at the site of their softball field, employees Curtis Tippie and John Larkin quickly volunteered for the job. These dedicated employees dug four holes under the careful instruction of DeLeon ISD employees Howard Gibbons, Nikki Wilkerson and contractor Cloyd Teague. These holes will hold pipe to anchor the new nets to protect spectators from stray balls during games. The field is used not only by De Leon ISD students, but also by area leagues.

Congratulations De Leon ISD on your improvements. We at Comanche Electric Cooperative look forward to seeing the finished product!

Comanche Electric Cooperative and Priddy ISD Team Up For Science Fair

Each year the National Rural Education Association awards grants to ten schools in the nation to help promote and encourage student participation in the science of energy or electricity. This grant is sponsored and funded by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). It is open to any school in the nation whose students are served by an electric cooperative. Priddy School has been chosen as one of the recipients of the 2007-2008 award, with a matching grant from Comanche Electric Cooperative. The grant money will allow Priddy Science classes to purchase hands-on electricity or energy science experiment kits, with the remaining funds used to host a Science Fair in the spring

Approximately one hundred students from level pre-K through 12th grade will participate in an Energy/Electricity Science Fair to be held in the spring. The purpose of the project is to motivate the students to learn about electricity and energy and to create exciting exhibits based on their lessons. The greatest benefit of this project will be the student learning and involvement. Cindy Hurst, the project coordinator and a teacher at Priddy School adds that "Another advantage of this proposal is the cooperation that it will promote between the school and the community. The collaboration between students, teachers, parents, community members and Comanche Electric Cooperative Association will bring positive results for our children, teaching them the value of teamwork and showing them the support that our community has for their education."

Congratulations, Priddy ISD on receiving this prestigious award.

Cindy Hurst, Science Fair Coordinator for Priddy ISD receives Discover! Get Charged Kit and an Operation Round-Up voucher for $500.00.