September 2025 Training and Safety Rewind

NRECA CCD 2630 | Strategic Planning

Sept. 3

Boards have ultimate responsibility for ensuring and evaluating the long-term health of the organization. They help fulfill this duty through strategic thinking, identifying goals through strategic planning and authorizing the appropriate allocation of resources through the adoption of financial policies, budget review and approval and monitoring management's progress toward strategic goals. This course teaches directors how to participate effectively in strategic thinking and planning processes. Learning objectives included understanding the difference between strategic thinking and strategic planning; analyzing your cooperative's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; recognizing the board's oversight responsibility; and using the strategic plan in the annual evaluation of the cooperative's accomplishment and as the foundation of the CEO's performance appraisal. Presented by Scott Luecal.

NRECA CCEP 5101 | Cooperative Finance & Accounting for the Non-Accountant

Sept. 4

Understanding cooperative finance, financial statements and practices is essential for connecting the dots between your department's decisions and activities and the organization's financial position. This is an opportunity for you, as a non-accountant, to ask questions and gain insight into what the numbers mean, how they relate to each other and how you impact them. Hands-on activities and scenarios will explore and clarify cooperative finance terminology, reporting and strategies. Learning objectives included defining basic accounting concepts and processes; interpreting the three primary financial statements; describing how departmental operations impact financial statements; calculating common key financial ratios; differentiating between margins and cash; explaining the basic concepts of the financial audit; summarizing employees' roles in maintaining the integrity of internal controls and accuracy of financial statements; and describing key ideas for improving the budgeting process. Presented by Scott Luecal.

Fall 2025 Accountants' Meeting

Sept. 10-11

Topics covered Wednesday included financial statements and variance analysis; AI-powered balance sheet analysis; analytics and financial storytelling; and key financial ratios for electric co-ops. Lunch was sponsored by Toth & Associates, followed by an update from Craig Woycheese, and later, CFC's Brian Stagen. That evening, attendees enjoyed dinner at the Chesapeake Seafood House in Springfield. On Thursday, participants received updates from AIEC's Baylee Flowers and CoBank's Molly Bohlander and heard from Jane Miller at the Department of Revenue. Training was provided by Teri Wallis Consulting.

Climbing School | Fall 2025

Sept. 8-19

Hands-on training covered proper techniques for climbing poles up to 60 feet, along with testing to include a 65-foot pole climb, a 45-foot H-structure pole climb and a 55-foot transition pole climb; proper use and care of fall arrest systems; proper use of fall arrest, i.e., secondary safety while transitioning on pole; becoming familiar with "hot line" tools; practicing pole top rescue and the ability to complete it in less than 4 minutes; basic "on the pole" rigging using knots; and handline use and care.