The Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) is the service organization for member electric and telephone cooperatives for the state of Illinois and their associate organizations. The AIEC provides its members with the advantages of a large utility operation without sacrificing the local control and local ownership essential to the spirit of these tax-paying Illinois businesses. To achieve this objective, the association provides a variety of services for its member-systems. These include engineering services, coordination of safety programs, training of line personnel, legislative research and information, member communication programs, printing and publications, public relations, and group purchasing of materials and supplies. The AIEC also publishes Illinois Country Living, which is distributed monthly to member-owners of subscribing electric cooperatives throughout the state. The magazine provides feature articles on rural lifestyles, as well as regular columns on energy efficiency, household safety, lawn and gardening, and country recipes. Mission: To provide leadership, expertise and unity of purpose in support of the cooperative utilities of Illinois and their efforts to improve the quality of life for their members.