REGIONAL FOCUS Members of the Midland Services cooperative in northern Wisconsin use patronage earned on Cenex convenience store purchases to fund local school activities. Wisconsin Co-op Members Donate Patronage to Schools Giving back to the community has special meaning in northern Wisconsin, where members of Midland Services redistribute their patronage earned on Cenex® convenience store purchases to fund extracurricular activities at local schools. “We recently presented $50,000 to fi ve schools in the Ashland, Hurley, Maple, Mellen and Washburn school districts through our Cash for Kids Program,” says Randy Knapp, energy operations manager for the Ashland-based cooperative. When making a purchase at any of the co-op’s fi ve convenience stores, customers can ask to donate their patronage earned on the transaction to Cash for Kids. They then specify which school district should receive the donation. Donations are used to fund athletic equipment, band uniforms, club activities and other items not covered by the school districts’ operating budgets. “It’s amazing how benevolent people in small towns can be,” says Knapp. “We take care of our customers almost like they’re family. In return, thousands of our members share their patronage directly with schools. I joined the cooperative world two years ago and I’ve been amazed at how diff erent our convenience stores are compared to all the others.” Since it was started fi ve years ago, the Cash for Kids program has contributed more than $120,000 to area schools. Many c-store customers who are not members of the co-op also donate the change they get back on their fuel and in-store purchases and even make additional contributions, says Knapp. Much of the program’s growing popularity stems from enthusiastic involvement of area students, who put up posters, lead cheers at football games, discuss the program on the local radio station and find other creative ways to promote Cash for Kids. Q SEE MORE To watch a video, go to chsinc.com/c. EDITORIAL STAFF Linda Tank / publisher / senior VP Greg Lamp / editor in chief Joel Schettler / managing editor Lisa Graham-Peterson Lani Jordan David Lundquist / photographer OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Chairman David Bielenberg, Silverton, Ore. First Vice Chairman Dennis Carlson, Mandan, N.D. Secretary-Treasurer Dan Schurr, LeClaire, Iowa Second Vice Chairman Steve Fritel, Barton, N.D. Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Curt Eischens, Minneota, Minn. Don Anthony , Lexington, Neb., Robert Bass , Reedsburg, Wis., C.J. Blew , Castleton, Kan., Jon Erickson , Minot, N.D., Alan Holm , Sleepy Eye, Minn., David Johnsrud , Starbuck, Minn., David Kayser , Alexandria, S.D., Randy Knecht , Houghton, S.D., Greg Kruger , Eleva, Wis., Edward Malesich , Dillon, Mont., Perry Meyer , New Ulm, Minn., Steve Riegel , Ford, Kan. Copyright 2015 CHS Inc. All rights reserved. Vol. 8, No. 4 C is sent to you courtesy of CHS to connect you with its broad world of resources and solutions. CHS is the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company. C is published bimonthly by CHS, 5500 Cenex Drive, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077. Subscription cost is $6.00 per year. Please send address changes to C, CHS, mail station 408, 5500 Cenex Drive, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077; call 630-462-2307; or fax 630-462-2202. For editorial requests, call 800-232-3639, ext. 4323, or send email to greg.lamp@chsinc.com. TM 4 MAY/JUNE 2015 CHSINC.COM
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Regional Focus
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