Member Services
Celebrating 60 years!
The following information appeared in a flier that was published in 1948:
It’s here! At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, 1948, the manager of the cooperative, Arthur Leno, threw the big air-break switch which brought power over the feeder lines of Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative for the first time. Present for this occasion were C. R. Albrecht; John Toman, representing the board of directors; Clarence Hanks, REA field engineer; R. W. Carlson, project engineer; Mr. Williamson of Bismarck and Mr. Larson of Fort Peck, representing the Bureau of Reclamation; seven of the coop’s employees; and a number of prospective patrons. The board president was quoted as saying, “It was an uneventful event.” Everything worked out to perfection—no fuses blew and all of the automatic circuit reclosers held when tripped. It was indeed a happy occasion and the faces of everyone present were wreathed in smiles.
As we take a moment to remember that first flip of the switch in the Mor-Gran-Sou service area, let us pay tribute to our first two co-op employees. C.O. Stoddard was hired in May 1947 to operate the plant, and Paul Baarstad joined the co-op in August 1947. It was Baarstad and Stoddard who witnessed the shutdown of the diesel plant that once served Flasher, and the startup of a 24-hour central power station.
As we reflect on those early employees who played such a vital role in Mor-Gran-Sou’s history, we must also remember their purpose: to serve member-owners like Carl Albrecht, who was the first consumer to receive electric service from Mor-Gran-Sou. The first farm to receive electricity belonged to Herbert Friese of New Salem on May 29, 1948. The second farmer to receive electricity was Clarence Schwartz. This particular event was reported in this fashion: “The cooperative’s crew arrived at the Schwartz farm, and within a short time lights were burning and their new refrigerator had been reconverted from a temporary linen closet to an actual refrigerator.”
It is early recordings of electrification like this one that represent the thousands of baby steps the members, employees and directors of Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative have taken during a 60-year journey to get where we are today.
You may ask, “Who cared so much about those first electrifications that he or she recorded those events?” The answer is simple: It mattered to the members who wanted and needed electricity. It mattered to co-op employees who served those members, and it mattered to co-op directors who governed the co-op. What seems transparent over the past 60 years and still rings true today is the importance of a strong relationship between the cooperative’s members, employees and directors. So how have each of these groups contributed to the success of the cooperative?
First, directors are elected by the membership to serve a three-year term on the board. They meet monthly to offer suggestions and make decisions that will best guide the cooperative on its continual journey. From a historic perspective, almost 70 co-op members from the counties of Morton, Grant and Sioux have served in a board director position. Today there are nine determined, optimistic and visionary directors who represent the members’ ideals. These nine people, who are members themselves, will take Mor-Gran-Sou past this 60th celebration and into the future.
Next, the employees of Mor-Gran-Sou are the character and the horsepower behind the cooperative. Imagine this if you will: a lineman sweeping through the office to pick up his personal protective gear before climbing into a truck and leaving in the worst of conditions to restore power. Or close your eyes and listen as a Mor-Gran-Sou employee patiently explains to a member how to read a meter, the benefits of levalized budget billing or how to incorporate a plenum heater. While both are meant to be examples, they happen every day.
Your cooperative employs dedicated people who always strive to listen and respond to your needs. To date, our records indicate that 324 employees have been granted the privilege of working for you, the member-owner, throughout our 60 years.
Last but certainly not least, members like you are the heart of the cooperative. Your co-op is a local business owned by the people it serves. It’s the “people” part, such as the personal involvement and the grassroots activities, that characterizes what electric co-ops are all about. So what does it mean to be a member of a cooperative?
As a member …
- You have the privilege of learning about your electric cooperative and serving an active role if you are elected to the board of directors.
- You are welcome to attend the annual membership meeting held each July. During this process, as you vote either by mail-in-ballot or in person, you are allowed the opportunity to voice your opinion as you cast your ballot.
- Your vote indicates who you favor to serve on the board of directors, as well as how you feel about bylaw changes brought forward by the membership.
- You earn money in the form of capital credits. As a cooperative, Mor-Gran-Sou is a private, non-profit entity. Any money your cooperative makes after the bills are paid eventually goes back to the members.
- You have the opportunity to participate in grassroots efforts by speaking for the cooperative on legislative matters affecting Mor-Gran-Sou and other cooperatives across North Dakota.
- You have a voice in the type of service you receive.
- You have a responsibility to report power interruptions, damage to poles or lines, or any unusual or dangerous conditions throughout the system.
In conclusion, people are the backbone of our cooperative. Ever since rural electrification began, the neighbors that make up Mor-Gran-Sou have been united in spirit. Your cooperative can attribute its success to the vision and forethought of its founding members and to those who were chosen to carry the cooperative torch since its inception. As we look to the future, Mor-Gran-Sou remains dedicated to providing high-quality and responsive service with integrity, accountability, innovation and a commitment to our community. This is our home. Congratulations and happy anniversary, Mor-Gran-Sou! We tip our hats to those who have helped build this cooperative, and we look to the future with optimism as we together celebrate 60 years.
(701) 663-0297 :: (701) 597-3301 :: 1-800-750-8212