Rural Missouri - January 2024 - 5

Missouri
RURAL
Volume 77 | January 2024 | Number 1
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Sara Schafer, editor
sschafer@ruralmissouri.coop
Jim McCarty, editor emeritus
jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop
Paul Newton, managing editor
pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop
Megan Backes, creative director
mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop
Angie Jones-Wheeler, associate editor
ajones@ruralmissouri.coop
Mike Sutherland, VP communications
msutherland@amec.coop
ADVERTISING:
Mary Davis, production manager
mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop
CONTACT:
Rural Missouri
2722 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-659-3423 info@ruralmissouri.coop
Postmasters: Send address changes to Rural
Missouri, 2722 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City,
MO 65101. Subscribers: Report change of address
to your local cooperative. Do not send
change of address to Rural Missouri.
Advertising standards: Advertising published
in Rural Missouri is accepted on the premise
that the merchandise and services offered are
accurately described and sold to customers at
the advertised price. Rural Missouri and Missouri's
electric cooperatives do not endorse
any products or services advertised herein.
Advertising that does not conform to these
standards or that is deceptive or misleading is
never knowingly accepted by this publication.
The acceptance of all advertising shall be in
the sole discretion of the editor.
Rural Missouri (ISSN 0164-8578) (USPS 473000)
is published monthly by the Association
of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, 2722 E.
McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101,
Caleb Jones, CEO/executive vice president.
Individual subscription rate: $12 per year
or $25 for three years, taxes and postage
included. Group rate for members of participating
RECs $3.24 cents, plus taxes and
postage, paid from equity accruing to the
member. Delivery as specified by subscriber.
If not specified, delivery will be by periodical
class mail at subscriber's expense. Periodical
Class postage paid at Jefferson City, MO, and
additional mailing offices. Copyright 2024,
Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
Call for reprint rights.
Circulation of this issue: 584,606
RM | PERSPECTIVES
New Year, New Day
by Caleb Jones | cjones@amec.coop
ront-row parking at the grocery
store, stopping at the
gas station and finding my
cellphone on the tailgate of
my truck or catching the biggest
trout at fish camp opening day - if
you ask my wife or any of my buddies,
I'm a pretty lucky guy.
I'm going to let you in on a little
F
secret ... it isn't luck, it is perspective.
A lot of people would be frustrated
about losing their phone or
getting a fishing hook ran through
their hand. Rest assured, that happens
to me too. I just think it's more
important to be thankful for the
good things that happen every day.
I wanted to share with you some
of the good things we all should be
thankful for as we start 2024:
1. We live in the best country
in the world. It isn't perfect now
and wasn't perfect in 1776 either.
There is no shame in trying to make
the U.S. better, and every one of us
should strive to do so, but I'll take
raising my family here over anywhere
else in the world.
2. Our political process works.
We get to go to the ballot booth and
help determine who is running our
government. You can listen to the
news talking about our flawed election
system, hanging chads, stolen
ballot boxes and dogs registering to
vote, but don't forget we don't have
a dictator, king or general making
decisions without accountability.
That's pretty dang cool.
3. Your lights come on when
you flip the switch. This may
sound trivial, and I more than anyone
take this daily task for granted.
But just a couple of years ago our
friends in Texas were without power
for weeks - not days, weeks. Your
Missouri electric cooperatives have
the foresight and dedication to make
sure those kilowatts are there when
you need them the most.
4. My family is healthy and
happy. We have the best health
care options and services in the
world. This past December marked
I have more blessings than I can count
to start 2024, but at the top are Lindsey,
Max and Charlie - especially when we're
watching Mizzou football. Go Tigers!
one year since my son, Max, was
in the hospital fighting a rare disease.
Thanks to the amazing doctors,
nurses and technology, he is a
happy and healthy 10-year-old.
5. Status quo is not acceptable.
Our country was founded on the
belief we can do things better. Your
electric co-ops believe this when it
comes to serving you. Just think
about the advancements in electric
vehicles, broadband technology and
smart meters. In one generation,
we have gone from homes having a
single light bulb and plug-in to ones
full of computers and doorbells with
video cameras.
As you start this new year, I hope
you take a minute to remember just
how lucky you are. Oh, and by the
way, our Mizzou football team is
ranked in the Top 10!
Caleb Jones is the executive vice
president and CEO of the Association
of Missouri Electric Cooperatives in
Jefferson City. He is a member of
Boone Electric Cooperative.
JANUARY 2024 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 5
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Rural Missouri - January 2024

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