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 LMRE arranged a holiday food drive collecting non-perishable food items and pet supplies to be donated to a local food pantry and animal shelter.

LMRE employees also came together to raise funds to donate to local groups as well. Our generous staff raised $720 for school lunch debt and The Gathering Place. 

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 LMRE, 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 Tuesday, Jan. 27! Join us as 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 LMRE scholarships are now open! High school seniors that live in homes served by LMRE 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 LMRE Scholarships, contact us at 440-647-2133 or visit our website at www.lmre.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 Lorain-Medina Rural 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 440-647-2133, email lmre@fesco-oh.org, or go to www.lmre.org/youth-tour.

In this episode, LMRE'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 video, and access all previous videos, on our YouTube page. 

Want to see your photo shared on LMRE'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 LMRE@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 LMRE 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 LMRE by email at lmre@fesco-oh.org or call 440-647-2133. Applications are available on the LMRE website at https://bit.ly/MAC-application. 

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