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Operation Round Up &
Operation Round Up® is Choptank Electric Cooperative's community service assistance program. The concept is to extend the principle on which electric cooperatives were built over 60 years ago - neighbor helping neighbor - and as a Touchstone Energy Cooperative to follow one of the core principals which is commitment to community. "Small change that changes lives," is the foundation upon which Operation Round Up is built. This simple and rewarding way to enable members to raise money for local charities, needy individuals and service organizations is operated as the non-profit Choptank Electric Trust, Inc. Palmetto Electric Cooperative in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, began Operation Round Up in 1989. Almost 200 other electric cooperatives nationwide have chosen to adopt the program. How is the program funded? The cooperative will "round up" a member's monthly electric bill to the next highest dollar unless the customer chooses not to participate. For example, if the bill is $6.54, it is rounded up to $7.00 and the extra 46 cents is contributed to the Choptank Electric Trust. The average annual contribution will be about $6.00. All administrative costs of the program are absorbed by Choptank Electric. How will the program work? Choptank Electric members will be automatically included in Operation Round Up, however if a member does not wish to participate they just need to call the co-op at 1-877-892-0001 and request to not be included; or email us. Most participating cooperatives nationwide administer the program in this way. A member may choose to discontinue their contribution at any time. The co-op will remove members at their request, but will not refund contributions made up to that time. How will I know how much is contributed? The monthly billing statement shows how much is being contributed to Operation Round Up. The amount contributed to Operation Round Up is tax deductible since the Choptank Electric Trust is a 501(c)3 organization. Members will receive a year-end statement for tax purposes. What type of donations are made with Operation Round Up funds? According to the bylaws, the trust board is allowed to make donations to any worthwhile community cause, with the exception that no Operation Round Up funds can be used for political purposes or to pay electric bills. The current mission statement of the Choptank Electric Trust allows for donations to be made for food, clothing, shelter, equipment, medical and educational needs. Are Operation Round Up donations limited to cooperative members? No. Donations may be made to anyone or any organization within the entire nine county region of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. How do organizations/individuals apply for Operation Round Up funds? Applications are designated for either an individual or an organization in need. The correct form must be completed and mailed to the trust: Choptank Electric Trust, Inc. P O Box 426 Denton MD 21629 Applications are reviewed at the monthly meeting of the trust board, and a decision is then made on disbursement of funds. Forms are available at the bottom of this page as Adobe PDF files. How is the trust board selected? The trust board is named by the cooperative board of directors. Each co-op board member selects a trust board member from the same geographic area that the cooperative board member represents. Choptank Electric Trust Application for Organizations (  162 KB)
Choptank Electric Trust Application for Individuals and Families ( 6.76 MB)
Choptank Electric Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 430, Denton MD 21629
Toll Free: 877-892-0001
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