You probably noticed something different when you pulled this magazine from your mailbox. After months of conversations with our member-owners, cooperative staff, and industry experts, we’ve finished an extensive graphic redesign of your magazine. This, the first issue of Ohio Cooperative Living, is a culmination of those planning efforts.
It’s been several years since we took a hard look at the style and format of the magazine. During our review, nothing was off-limits — right up to and including the name of the publication itself.
We certainly didn’t take the changes lightly; after all, we have nearly a 60-year history as Country Living, during which time the name and style have served us well. But, in our discussions with readers and cooperative employees, a couple of themes resonated: First, that our magazine had come to look a little old-fashioned and could use some sprucing up; and second, that many of our readers no longer live in “the country” (though, of course, many still do).
We intend for Ohio Cooperative Living not only to entertain you, but also to provide information about your electric cooperative and our network of related cooperatives. One of our primary aims is to inform and educate — making it clear that you, our members, own the company, and so you have a say in how the organization is operated. Our success is based on the trust and confidence that a well-informed membership places in us. We hope our revamped magazine is a visible reminder of that.
There are changes inside, as well. We’ve modernized our design, improved our graphics, and concentrated on writing stories that are both interesting and readable. We’ve also upgraded the paper and put a renewed focus on photography to improve the magazine’s overall appeal.
Welcome to Ohio Cooperative Living. Let us know what you think.
