CIPCO and Corn Belt Power Cooperative were recently recognized during the 2009 “Spotlight on Excellence” national awards program. The “In Balance” TV commercial received an Award of Merit in the Best Individual Ad category. CIPCO and Corn Belt were recognized for this combined effort in the production of this television commercial benefiting the entire membership of both G&T cooperatives. This program is sponsored by the Council of Rural Electric Communicators and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. 

 

“The judges’ descriptions of this year’s entries ranged from ‘extraordinary’ to ‘impressive,’ ” said Maggie Tilley, administrator of Spotlight on Excellence. “The consistent comment was that consumers are being well-served by communications that seek to inform and to add value for co-op members.”

 

Participants in the awards competition competed with electric cooperatives of similar sizes in 19 categories. Electric cooperative communicators and marketing professionals submitted more than 744 entries in the Spotlight on Excellence program, now in its 21st year. Faculty members from the University of Missouri – Columbia and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill judged the entries.

 

A special luncheon honored the award recipients during the Connect 2009 Conference held in Las Vegas, Nev., May 12-15. Winning entries were displayed during the event.

 

The Council of Rural Electric Communicators was organized in 1982, and seeks to advance the recognition, education, and professionalism of electric cooperative communicators and their affiliated organizations. It is a volunteer association working on behalf of more than 3,100 electric cooperative communicators across the United States.

 

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the service organization representing the national interests of cooperative electric utilities, coordinates the Council’s activities. Other national organizations supporting the work of the Council are the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, the National Cooperative Services Corporation, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, and Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange.