By: Erica Fitzhugh, CCC Marketing Coordinator East River Electric Cooperative
On March 12, the Certified Cooperative Communicator (CCC) board met virtually for their winter board meeting. Eighteen of our board members and NRECA staff attended the virtual meeting.
Jean Capon, CCC program administrator, reported on the elections: there are eleven candidates running for five board seats. Voting begins on Monday, March 15 and will end on Friday, March 26. The winners will be announced on April 2. Sheila Glenn reported on the status of the 37 candidates that were in the pipeline in March 2020 when the pandemic hit. Twenty-four successfully completed the program, and thirteen left the program (either suspended or dropped out). Christine Miller (NRECA’s Education, Training & Events department) provided an update of her work in putting together recommendations for the relaunch of the program. She is still in the research phase, gathering information and talking with subject matter experts.
Lydia Walters, CCC board president, led a discussion on the updated mission, value, and goals statements. After discussion and some revisions, the board moved to accept the revisions and approve the mission and value statements. The updated statements are listed below.
Erika Neff gave an update from the Council of Rural Electric Communicators (CREC). She reported they are still accepting applications for the updated Jimmy Autry Award. CREC is working on a virtual Spotlight Award event, possibly to be held in conjunction with Connect.
Each committee reviewed their progress on their projects. The CAPS committee submitted all BOK materials to NRECA at the end of January. The Communications and Marketing committee gave an update on the next newsletter.
The spring board meeting will be held virtually in May.
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Certified Cooperative Communicator Program
Mission/Value/Goals Statements: Approved at CCC Board Meeting March 12, 2021
Mission: The CCC program raises the level of strategic thinking, competence and ethical standards of electric cooperative communicators by increasing their knowledge, skills and abilities.
Value Statements
Leadership - The CCC Program strives to advance the role of communicators as cooperative leaders by building foundational knowledge of the cooperative business model, enhancing strategic thinking, and by promoting the highest level of professional ethics and competence.
Professional Development – The CCC Program promotes life-long learning through the certification process and continuing educational requirements, ensuring communicators' knowledge, skills, and abilities evolve and remain relevant.
Cooperative Advancement – The CCC Program enhances communicators' ability to advocate for and strengthen the position of their cooperatives in the electric power industry and in their local communities.
Goals (Items in parentheses are for the development of future objectives and tactics.)
Empower communicators to progress in their careers from task-oriented practitioners to strategic thinkers, effective advocates and planners (BOK, Communication plan)
Promote life-long learning and advance leadership skills through the certification process and through continuing educational requirements (Modules in the study guide - ethics, planning; CEUs, attendance at conferences)
Enhance strategic communication skills to advocate for the cooperative form of business and the advancement of the electric cooperative network (increase knowledge of the cooperative business model, advance strategic planning, media relations, government relations, etc.)
- Build a professional network of communicators for the purpose of knowledge sharing, collaboration and crisis alliance (Cohort, classroom learning, raises communication network for individuals)
Target Audience:
Communicators who are moving from early career to mid-career (may need to evolve as the program evolves)
From early career to mid-career (may need to evolve as the program evolves)
