As I write this, it is December and what has simply become known as “the vaccine” is going into arms of essential workers on the front lines of our healthcare system across the country. One arm at a time, it feels like we are finally winning.

As you read this, we will be approaching one year since the first stay-at-home order. I have no time to debate the “coulda,” “woulda” or “shoulda” of such orders. I feel for those who suffered in the making of the decisions and I hurt for those affected in the worst ways. I can’t solve any of it by creating division. Together, the only thing we can do is move forward into the future and not waste energy on unwinnable arguments that look back at the past.

Between spaced, orchestrated and scheduled bouts in the office, I have worked from home from a basement bedroom, from my kitchen table and in a small workout room in my pole barn on a card table. I moved my work space around because I never wanted a permanent home office. I purposely wanted each location to feel temporary.

I was not surprised to learn that I didn’t like managing a remote work force. I feed off the positive energy of my co-workers. Culture can survive for a time on Zoom but it can’t grow and thrive. We need to see, hear and feel the messages from each other. Zoom gives you the sight and sound but it is void of any of the “feels.”

My shortcomings were bolstered by a management team that dug into supporting their teams, communicating issues and making sure all the details were covered. We (me really) learned that one phone call was better than a flurry of emails that left interpretation up to an imagination under stress. We meet outside properly spaced (so much spacing talk this past year). One on one meetings had us walking in circles around the headquarters’ facility.

Lineworkers, engineering, operations, warehouse and metering employees remained on our front lines to keep the lights on. At one time or the other, they all reported directly from home. Each put on their “new normal” like it was an old pair of shoes and service continued.

In the office, the member information reps worked out a rotation that kept service to the drive-up window open. Members phoning in never knew if the person on the other end of the phone was at the office or sitting in the corner of a home work space. The accountants scattered to their respective homes with one consistently in the office to keep payroll and bill payments on schedule. Bills went out on time, receivables were never late and payroll operated like it always had. The communications team nailed the internal and external communications while focusing on where we could help the community the most.

Cherryland’s technology team is a two-man operation that felt like a dozen. When 58 employees scattered to home, these two made sure all the technology kept every aspect of the cooperative’s operation humming along.

In short, I sit here looking back immensely proud of the work your cooperative employees got done in the past year. I am honestly not surprised. The pandemic was simply one more storm job and pulling together in storms is something they know a little bit about.

Whatever 2021 has to offer, I know one thing: we got this… for you.