Operation Round Up
Small Change that changes lives
Roughrider Electric Cooperative members in Mercer and Oliver Counties now have the opportunity to participate in Operation Round Up.
Previously,the program is only available in the Dickinson office. Once the Hazen office has migrated to a new billing system with automatic meter reading, the Hazen members will have the opportunity to also participate in the program. The Operation Round Up Board will be revamped to reflect this.
Along with a name change, and during the transition, two members will be added in 2011 to the Operation Round Up board of directors from the Eastern District. This brings the present board to nine members. The first meeting of the reorganized charitable foundation will be in July 2011 with the nine members. We will have a nine member board until 2012 when two present board members' terms will expire and will not be replaced. Going forward, we will have two directors from each district and one at-large member making a seven member board.
Since electric cooperative's were formed in the 1940's, we have been dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in our service area. We do this by not only providing affordable electric service to our customers, but also by our active involvement in a number of important efforts and events.
One of the successful community service efforts in which we're involved has been the Operation Round Up program. Through Operation Round Up, Roughrider Electric automatically rounds up a participating member's electric bills to the next highest dollar. For example, a consumer's monthly bill of $52.73 would be automatically rounded up to $53.00, with the additional 27 cents going to the Operation Round Up fund. On an annual basis, we are able to donate roughly six dollars for each participating customer - and that pool of money is then allocated to a variety of worthy causes throughout our service area.
With the possible participation of nearly 6,800 members, the money raised through Operation Round Up has the potential to make a difference for the organizations and less fortunate in our communities. Since 2003, Operation Round Up has distributed $182,000 to worthwhile charities, needy individuals, and service organizations in Billings, Dunn and Stark Counties. The foundation board meets twice a year to review applications and fund projects to help (for example), area fire departments, ambulance squads, non-profit projects and other projects that are non-political in nature
Operation Round Up
- Operation Round Up is a program made possible by the generosity and compassion of Roughrider Electric Members
- Operation Round Up is a voluntary charitable program that allowsRoughrider Electric Cooperative to round up members' electric bill to the next whole dollar. The difference is placed in a totally separate account called the Roughrider ElectricCharitable Foundation, Inc., to be distributed to worthwhile causes.
- Operation Round Up actually began with the Palmetto Electric Cooperative in Hilton Head, SC, many years ago. Co-op leaders there saw a need in their own backyard to help communities and started the fund. It has helped many people with hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years all with accumulated "change" on the electric bill that was rounded up.
- By just adding up a few cents each month, collectively our consumers can contribute to many worthwhile causes. Examples of organizations that might benefit are food banks, senior groups, fire departments, EMS, school organizations, capital projects, clubs, etc.
- Commonly asked questions: Q & A
We encourage all members to participate in Operation Round Up and see the results your small donation will help generate. Together, by giving a few cents per month, Roughrider Electric members can make a big impact on life in our area. The Foundation Board, the Roughrider Electric Board and Roughrider Electric Staff thank you for your participation.
The program is strictly voluntary. If you are a Roughrider Electric Cooperative member, and you choose not to participate, simply notify Roughrider Electric Cooperative. You can call us, or send an e-mail to info@roughriderelectric.com. But you need to contact us only if you DO NOT want to participate.
