Press Release

Governor Kim Reynolds has proclaimed October as “Co-op Month in Iowa” to help celebrate the positive impact Iowa’s cooperative organizations have in the state.

Almost one in two Iowans belongs to a cooperative, whether in agriculture, energy, credit unions, telecommunications, farm credit, petroleum, or retail. Cooperatives are member-owned and member-governed, with boards of directors elected from within their membership. Unlike traditional businesses driven by outside investors, co-ops prioritize service to their members over profits.

In late September, staff from 6 IAEC member cooperatives, along with IAEC policy and advocacy staff, traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with Senator Chuck Grassley (photo), staff from 5 of Iowa’s Congressional offices, energy and rural development staff from the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, and NRECA’s legislative affairs team.

Fly-in participants emphasized how federal programs and policies directly impact rural communities and electric cooperative members across Iowa. Discussions focused on three key priorities:

• Reform of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Support for USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric loan program
• Funding for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDLG)

The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives of Iowa are pleased to announce our 2025 Shine the Light contest winners, who each received a $3,000 donation to their local charity: 

• Chuck Bildstein of Anamosa was nominated by Al Reiter, who is an employee at Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative. Chuck was selected as a 2025 Shine the Light winner for his work with Chelsey’s Dream Foundation, which assists families with adoption fees and emotional support. Chuck started the foundation in 2014 in memory of his daughter Chelsey, who died of cancer before she was able to start a family of her own; her dying wish was to help others experience the joys of parenthood. The foundation has helped more than 100 families, most of them in Iowa, with adopting 141 children so far. Learn more at www.ChelseysDreamFoundation.com. Watch Chuck’s video at https://youtu.be/IsA22eUUPLw.

• Aimee Goeman of Belmond was nominated by 4 member-consumers of Prairie Energy Cooperative. Aimee was selected as a 2025 Shine the Light winner for her work with Build a Better Belmond, which is raising money to rebuild and reopen the community’s pool. Aimee returned to her hometown in 2020 to run a small business and quickly became a community champion. She is leading the charge to raise money to rebuild Belmond’s recently closed swimming pool as an essential oasis in the community. Search for the Luick Memorial Swimming Pool page on Facebook to learn more about this effort. Watch Aimee’s video at https://youtu.be/yl6Ro8YHsuo.

• Gerry Holtrup of Hospers was nominated by Molli Griffin, a member-consumer of North West Rural Electric Cooperative. Gerry was selected as a 2025 Shine the Light winner for his work with Partners for Patriots, which trains service dogs for disabled military veterans. Gerry is a board member of this Iowa-based organization and is the force behind their fundraising and community outreach efforts. He has also raised a service puppy and serves as a traveling trainer once the dogs are ready to move to their new homes with veterans. Learn more at www.PartnersForPatriots.org. Watch Gerry’s video at https://youtu.be/bL2HgNTmg1c.

During the month of June, member-consumers and employees of Iowa’s locally owned electric cooperatives were invited to nominate volunteers in their communities who are working to improve quality of life. This was the 5th year of the Shine the Light contest, designed to celebrate our cooperative commitment to community.

Severe blizzard conditions in western and northern Iowa couldn’t hold back employees and elected directors from Iowa’s locally owned rural electric cooperatives (RECs) as they convened at the Iowa Capitol to advocate for important issues during the annual “REC Day on the Hill” event on March 19.

“Our annual advocacy day at the state house is a powerful opportunity to meet face-to-face with our state legislators and share a local perspective on issues that impact the members and communities we serve,” remarked Leslie Kaufman, executive vice president and general manager for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.

As IAEC moves forward with our new policy & advocacy department, we are pleased to announce that Haley Moon has accepted the senior manager of policy & advocacy position. Her start date is scheduled for October 21.

Moon will be a familar face to IAEC staff and members; she previously served as IAEC's advocacy and political action manager from 2017 to 2022. Most recently, Moon has been serving as assistant director of federal relations in the office of the president at Iowa State University. She will report to Ethan Hohenadel, IAEC director of policy & advocacy, and supervise the manager of policy & advocacy.

Hurricane Helene knocked out power to an estimated 1.25 million co-op members located in the Southeast last week. A Category 4 storm, Helene has proven to be one of the most destructive hurricanes for electric cooperatives. The Carolinas were hit particularly hard, and IAEC Director of Safefy Scott Meinecke checked in with his South Carolina statewide contact to offer assistance from Iowa's electric cooperatives.

Governor Kim Reynolds recently signed a proclamation declaring October as “Co-Op Month in Iowa.” The Proclamation, available to download below, highlights several key points: 

• Concern for the community is a fundamental cooperative principle
• Cooperatives invest significant human and financial resources to benefit their communities beyond their core business activities. This includes charitable contributions that address the needs of underserved groups, investments in community development that create jobs and services, involvement in environmental protection efforts, and innovative projects aimed at improving child health, welfare, and quality education.
• The commitment of cooperatives to their communities boosts economic opportunities and enhances the quality of life in towns and cities across Iowa.
• In October, cooperatives from various sectors and industries reaffirmed their dedication by pledging to remain actively involved in the communities where their members live and work.

The week of Sept. 23, more than 20 Iowa electric cooperative advocates flew to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of the Iowa Congressional Delegation during IAEC's Legislative Fall Fly In. 

“Going to our nation’s capital is a valuable opportunity for our Iowa Rural Power grassroots efforts to shine. Iowa’s electric cooperatives care deeply about the member-owners and communities we serve and it’s important to meet with elected officials to discuss issues that affect our ability to provide reliable and affordable power,” remarked Leslie Kaufman, executive vice president of IAEC.

The group of electric co-op directors, managers and senior staff talked with all members of Iowa's Congressional Delegation, including Senator Ernst, Senator Grassley, Congressman Feenstra, Congresswoman Hinson (pictured), Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and Congressman Nunn.

In June, 14 electric cooperative linemen from Iowa and Minnesota teamed up to complete a rural electrification project in rural Guatemala made available through NRECA International, which is affiliated with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Since 1962, NRECA International has brought electricity to more than 220 million people throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Guatemala project was coordinated by the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC) and the Minnesota Rural Electric Association.

The electric co-op linemen (7 from Iowa and 7 from Minnesota) were selected from volunteers to journey to the small village of Las Peñas in southeastern Guatemala with the mission to build primary and secondary electric distribution infrastructure and wire more than 30 homes with electric outlets and light sockets. Mountainous terrain at an elevation of 6,000 feet above sea level, rainy conditions and a lack of modern equipment made the two-week project challenging at times. 

After an extensive executive search, the Board of the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC) is pleased to announce Leslie Kaufman of Topeka, Kansas, as the association’s next executive vice president and general manager.

“Leslie is a visionary leader and seasoned executive,” said Kenny VandenBerg, IAEC board president. “She brings a unique combination of skills and experience to lead the association into a new era.”

Kaufman will start on July 29 as IAEC’s current EVP/GM Chuck Soderberg retires on August 1 after an impressive electric cooperative career spanning 45 years. “I am extremely honored by the confidence the Board has placed in me to continue advancing IAEC’s mission and vision,” remarked Kaufman.