Shelby County Gathering Celebrates KFTC's 30th Birthday

Sixteen people gathered on Tuesday night in Shelbyville to get to know one another and to celebrate KFTC's 30th anniversary (some are shown, left). Several existing Shelby County members turned out for the gathering as well as a handful of folks new to KFTC. 

Participants expressed enthusiasm about meeting one another and feeling less alone locally right from the start.

After introducing herself, member Averie King said, "It's so refreshing to meet people that share these ideas because I did not think many of them existed in Kentucky let alone Shelby County." 

Member Jerry Scrogham added, "I have driven into Jefferson County for chapter meetings, but for as long as I have lived here, I have never thought of the idea that we could gather here (in Shelby County) and have this going on."

Shelby County member Carlen Pippin (shown above, far right), along with two others present, discussed efforts to improve the democracy and transparency in the Shelby County Electric Co-op. The Shelby County co-op is part of the East Kentucky Power Cooperative, the reformation of which has been a part of KFTC's statewide work for more than two years. Jefferson County member Beth Bissmeyer gave a broad overview of KFTC as well.

Everyone was interested in the topics discussed and several people signed up to get involved in the electric co-op reform work. Several at the table immediately connected that making the co-op more transparent would also open the doors to increasing demand for efficiency and renewable energy from EKPC. Carlen Pippin, who has just become a New Power Leader, plans to form a New Power cluster of the people who signed up to engage more deeply in the co-op reform work.

After the gathering was over, two families committed to coming to KFTC's 30th birthday bash in Irvine on August 27th. Other folks discussed printing a local voter guide and forming a chapter at some point in the future as action steps to follow up to the meeting.

As the gathering came to a close, Bill Young, a teacher who has run twice for local offices in Shelby County, identified strongly with KFTC's vision and action around democracy-building and civic engagement.

"I cannot even believe it. Me and my friends were talking the other day about forming an organization just like KFTC. and THIS IS IT!I can't believe I never knew you all existed. I feel like i have come home," Bill said.

To learn more about this event or sustainable energy solutions, contact Nancy Reinhart at [email protected].