Rebecca Chambless, marketing manager for Southwest Rural Electric Association, Inc. (SWRE), was our Rotarian of the Day and our guest speaker. Rebecca grew up all over Southwest Oklahoma. She currently lives in Duke with her husband and their two boys. Rebecca is a graduate of Western Oklahoma State College and received her master’s degree from Southwest Oklahoma State University. She says she wears many different hats at SWRE, and she spoke on some of the great outreach programs SWRE provides.
SWRE is made up of 3,760 members and is more than just a power provider; it’s a proud supporter of its community and young members. SWRE offers a variety of programs designed to engage youth and foster leadership, education, and community involvement.
One standout initiative is the Youth Tour, which gives juniors in high school the chance to visit Washington, D.C., learn about government, and build lasting friendships. Rebecca tells us that this is not your typical school trip. She says that the students will spend a significant amount of time with their representatives. There are two students chosen each year for this all-expenses-paid trip. Applications open in the fall and are due by December 1st.
SWRE also offers an Energy Camp for 8th grade students. They send two students each summer to a camp where they will learn to create and run a true energy company. Applications can be found on their website and are due March 1st.
In addition to youth programs, SWRE hosts safety demonstrations and energy efficiency workshops that benefit the whole community. Rebecca was especially excited to announce that they now have a full-size live-line demo trailer that can be brought to your school or business to educate students or employees.
Perhaps SWRE’s most well-known program is Operation Round Up. This program was instituted in 2018 and has collected over $1M that is distributed back to the community. Members can round up their energy bills to the nearest dollar as a tax-deductible donation. Some members choose the Round Up Plus Program and have a specific dollar amount added to their bill each month as a donation. 100% of the funds remain within the SWRE service area.
By investing in youth and community growth, SWRE strengthens the connections that keep rural areas vibrant and energized for generations to come.
Altus Rotary Club Newsletter
