You may notice our Between the Lines email has gotten a bit of a facelift, something we're very excited for this new year! All your favorite parts of the Between the Lines are still here, they may just look a little different. 

The holiday season can bring many emotions: joy, excitement, stress, connection, and so much more. An emotion filling our hearts this season was gratitude. Gratitude for our loved ones, friends, coworkers, and most importantly: our community. To end 2025, employees at NCE arranged a holiday food drive collecting non-perishable food items and pet supplies to be donated to a local food pantry and animal shelter. Our staff was able to donate over 300 items, filling multiple cars. 

NCE employees also came together to raise funds to donate to local groups as well. Our generous staff raised $680 for school lunch debt and the Kiwanis Aktion Cancer Care Packages. 

Not only is "Concern for Community" one of our Seven Cooperative Principles, but it is a value ingrained in many of us already. Here at NCE, we are proud of our employees for their generosity this holiday season, and grateful to YOU, our members, for your trust in us. From our co-op family to yours, we hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Make sure to RSVP for January's Cooperative Conversations, taking place on Wednesday, Jan. 28! Join us are we discuss ways you can get involved in YOUR cooperative, like People Fund and Member Advisory Committee, and learn what it means to serve!

Applications for NCE scholarships are now open! High school seniors that live in homes served by NCE are encouraged to apply for the variety of scholarships that are available. Scholarships include the Cooperative Trade Scholarship, Children of Members Scholarship, and Touchstone Energy Adversity Scholarship. 

To obtain rules and applications for the available NCE Scholarships, contact us at 419-426-3072 or visit our website at www.ncelec.org/scholarship. 

Applications for the 2026 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. are now open! Taking place from June 14-20, the all-expense-paid trip is open to high school sophomores or juniors whose parents are served by North Central Electric. 

Students on the trip visit monuments, museums, meet elected officials, and much more! For more information or applications for the once in a lifetime opportunity, contact the co-op at 419-426-3072, email NCE@fesco-oh.org, or go to www.ncelec.org/youth-tour.

In this episode, NCE's President/CEO Ed VanHoose chats with CoBank's Brent Behn about the organization's Sharing Success program.

Use the link below to view this episode, and access all previous videos, on our YouTube page.

Want to see your photo shared on NCE's social media? Send in a photo for Member Monday! This month's theme is Winter Wonderland! Snow or no snow, share your favorite parts of winter and what makes this time of year special!

On the last Monday of the month, we'll post a collection of some of your submitted photos!

Getting involved is easy! Take a photo that fits this month's theme, email it to NCE@fesco-oh.org, and watch to see if it's featured in #MemberMonday!

For more information and how to submit a recipe, click the button below!

Apply now for consideration to join the Member Advisory Committee! Learn about electric issues, receive education about cooperative policies and procedures, and more!

The committee meets twice per year for three to four hours per session. Applications will be reviewed and committee members will be considered by the NCE board of directors. Those appointed will serve three-year terms, which will run concurrently with the terms served by their district's board director.

For more information, contact NCE by email at nce@fesco-oh.org or call 419-426-3072. Applications are available on the NCE website athttps://bit.ly/NCE-MAC-application. 

District 1 (Crawford and Richland Counties), District 2 (Wyandot County), and District 3 (Lyme, New Haven, Norwich, Richmond, and Sherman townships in Huron County; York Township in Sandusky County; and Reed, Thompson, and Venice townships in Seneca County) on the NCE board of directors are up for election in 2026.

Any member in good standing who resides in one of these districts may now pick up a nomination petition packet from the co-op’s office in Attica. Completed petitions must be returned no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9.

For more information about running for the NCE board of directors, go to www.ncelec.org/director-nominating-election-schedule or call the co-op at 419-426-3072

The January issue of Ohio Cooperative Living is now available online! NCE-Specific information begins on page 17, and highlights include: