By Willie LaLonde, Chairperson, Cloverland Electric Board of Directors
At Cloverland, every decision we make is guided by a simple principle: serving our members with reliability, transparency and long-term value. That means not only investing in our system but also being thoughtful about how we manage costs and strengthen our cooperative for the future. Earlier this year, Cloverland renewed its partnership with the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (MECA), reconnecting us with a statewide network of cooperatives working together on shared challenges. This collaboration enhances our ability to respond during major outages through mutual aid, ensures our members are represented in legislative discussions that impact energy policy and funding, and provides valuable opportunities for our team to learn from and collaborate with peers across Michigan.
One of the practical advantages of this partnership is the opportunity to participate in Michigan Country Lines, a statewide cooperative publication. By re-joining this publication (starting with the July|August issue), Cloverland will significantly reduce the costs associated with producing and mailing a bi-monthly magazine, while still delivering meaningful, high-quality local and regional content to our members. You’ll continue to see stories that reflect the communities we serve, along with features on energy and Michigan life and the photo and recipe contests many of you enjoy.
While this transition means some changes, such as moving board meeting minutes to our website, we remain committed to accessibility and transparency. Board meeting minutes are always available at cloverland.com or by contacting our member services team (800-562-4953). As always, our monthly board meetings are open to all members.
Most importantly, your voice remains at the center of everything we do. As a member-owner, you have a direct role in shaping the future of your cooperative—through participation in our director elections, feedback and engagement.
By working together and making thoughtful, strategic decisions, we can continue to deliver reliable service while being good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.