Co-op Connections Card Joins Twitter

It finally happened! Us old fogies that have been around the electric cooperative world for centuries are being dragged into the new world of communication as the Co-op Connections Card program now “Twitters."

Twittering is a method that allows you to receive a text message from someone you provide access to. If you sign up for a Twitter account, you select who you want to receive “Twitters” from. Its an easy way for someone to instantly broadcast a message to a large group of people.

There are times I’d love to disconnect myself from my cell phone by accidentally dropping it under the lawn mower or into the car wash bucket, but reality is we’ve pretty much become dependent on our “smart phones.”

For Co-op Connections Card, it is a quick and easy way to send out information about new deals and savings as they become available. Many of the national account providers offer special deals from time to time and with a lag in publication time, it is too late to get the information to you. With Twitter, you’ll find out as soon as the offer becomes available.

Touchstone Energy, the coordinator of the Co-op Connections Card program promises to only send messages when necessary. Like all of us at Egyptian Electric, they value the relationship we have with our members and they do not want to hurt that relationship. But for those that rely on instant communication, Twitter is a great way to get the message out quickly and inexpensively.

Your Co-op Connections Card is your card to valuable savings offers both locally and nationally. In the last 18 months, many of our members have saved over $29,000 by using the prescription discount offered through the Card program. Next time you purchase a prescription medication, ask you pharmacist which is best for you, the savings through the Co-op Connections card or your medical coverage. Many have found the Co-op Connections card to have greater savings.

To sign up for Twitter, follow these instructions:

  1. Visit www.connections.coop and click the "Follow us on Twitter" icon in the lower left corner of the home page.
  2. You'll be taken to the Co-op Connections page on Twitter.  Click on "Get Started--Join!"
  3. Choose a username, etc. and sign up.
  4. Click on "skip" at the bottom of the next page, don't worry about signing up your friends yet.
  5. Click on "Settings" at the top of the next page.
  6. Update your name (first name only is fine), Time Zone, and Location and click Save. You can fill out the rest later. Do not choose "Protect my updates" for now. You can always change your mind later, but to really understand the full power of Twitter, you should go for the first 2 weeks doing what most people on Twitter do, which is have everything be public.
  7. Click on the Devices tab, enter your phone number, check the box under your phone number and hit "Save".
  8. You will be given a 6 letter code.
  9. On your cell phone, create a new address book entry called "Twitter", and use 40404 as the phone number (for people in the United States).
  10. Send a text message to Twitter on your cell phone with the 6 letter code that you saw on the web site. You should get a confirmation text message back from Twitter.
  11. Your account is set up! Now you can follow Co-op Connections.