April 2026 | Volleys, Vision, and Working Together

Posted: April 1, 2026 at 9 a.m.

April is nationally recognized as Lineworker Appreciation Month. At SEMO Electric Cooperative, we choose to call it Utility Workers Appreciation Month — because it truly takes everyone.

Yes, you see the lineworkers restoring power after a storm. You see the fiber technicians connecting homes. But you may not see the dispatchers answering calls, the member and subscriber services team solving problems, the warehouse team staging materials, the IT team monitoring systems, or the engineers planning tomorrow’s upgrades. It takes all of us working together to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable electricity and fiber-fast internet.

I get a front-row seat to watch it happen. Recently, we hosted two groups from electric and fiber cooperatives who spent the day with Team SEMO sharing ideas and learning from one another. I wish I could bottle the energy in the room. It reminded me of a good pickleball match — ideas volleyed back and forth, each exchange sharpening the next one. No egos. Just people focused on getting better so we can better serve you.

That spirit connects with my Book of the Month, The Forgotten Way by Matthew Kelly. One line stood out to me: “Introducing people to the purpose of their lives isn’t an unnecessary burden. It is merciful. It is a great kindness. Clarity about our essential purpose lightens our burdens, it doesn’t add to them.”

When I think about Team SEMO, I think about purpose. We know why we show up each day. It’s not just about poles and lines or routers and fiber. It’s about people. It’s about doing the job right. It’s about going home safely to our families. And it’s about strengthening the communities we all call home.

Much of what we do happens behind the scenes — ongoing safety training, operational reviews, and strategic planning. Directors and employees invest the time to ensure we remain accountable, reliable, and forward-looking. Serving you means we get to work — 24/7 — even when you don’t see it.

I also want to personally invite you to our 2026 Annual Meeting. It will be a drive-thru event on Thursday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Grounds. It’s simple, convenient, and an important way for you to stay connected to your cooperative.

I am grateful for Team SEMO. Their commitment makes southeast Missouri stronger. If you see one of our employees this month, please take a moment to say thank you. It means more than you might realize. We are proud to serve you. Keep pushing foward!

Vanslyke is general manager and chief executive officer of SEMO Electric Cooperative and GoSEMO Fiber.

Sean and his wife, Debbie, pause with pickleball paddles in hand. Like Team SEMO, they’re still working on their game — learning that progress comes one volley at a time and that laughing at yourself makes the journey better. That same spirit was on display as members of Team SEMO welcomed OzarksGo from Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Sho-Me Technologies from Marshfield, Missouri, sharing ideas and best practices in a true exchange of cooperation — volleying insights back and forth to better serve our member-owners and subscribers.