Rural Living TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Antonio Richardson
TCEC System Engineer Named
Young Professional of the Year Pg. 3
November & December 2018 Vol. 22 • No. 2
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Rural Living TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Vol. XXII No. II November & December 2018
Board of Trustees
Gary Fulford
Bobby Dodd
Catherine Bethea
District 6
District 2
District 5
Vice President
President
Secretary - Treasurer
Junior Smith
Donnie Waldrep
George Webb
Albert Thomas
Johnny Edwards
Elmer Coker
District 1
District 7
District 3
District 8
District 4
District 9
TCEC Staff
Julius Hackett, Chief Executive Officer Jeff Brewer, Vice President of Engineering Stephanie Carroll, Vice President of Corporate Services Eileen Herndon, Executive Assistant Darrell Tuten, Vice President of Operations Wendell Williams, Vice President of Finance Tri-County Electric Cooperative Rural Living, the voice of your member-owned electric cooperative, is published bimonthly — more if necessary — at no subscription cost to the membership. The publication team is comprised of TCEC employees in partnership with Curtis Media. Postage is paid at Blountstown, Fla.
Publication Team
Julius Hackett, Chief Executive Officer Eileen Herndon, Executive Assistant Kaitlynn Culpepper, Community Relations Director
Publisher
Curtis Media Michael Curtis & Staff Tri-County Electric Cooperative 2862 West US 90 Madison, FL 32340 www.tcec.com 1-800-999-2285
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We’re Thankful for Your Membership “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” In the spirit of this quote by author William Arthur Ward, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for your membership in our electric cooperative. Because of your connection to Tri-County Electric Co-op, we are able to make our community a better place. I generally use this space to provide updates on new projects and developments, and report on the progress of ongoing initiatives. We share these updates so that all of our consumer-members have a window into our priorities, progress and challenges. However, during this season of giving thanks, I think it’s equally important to let you and other consumer-members of TCEC know just what an impact you have on our co-op and the greater community, likely in ways you may not even realize. As part of the cooperative business model, one of our core principles is “Concern for Community.” While our priority is always to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy, we view our role in the community as a catalyst for good. We work closely with our local schools to provide safety demonstrations, award college scholarships, and participate in an annual Youth Tour where we take our community’s brightest young people to Washington, DC, for a week-long immersion to experience democracy in action. The trip is inspirational for many students, and we are both humbled and honored to be a part of this leadership development journey. Ultimately, the larger community benefits from these programs because of you! You empower the co-op through your membership and through your participation in and support of these programs. When you attend co-op events, alert us to problems, and provide suggestions online or to our employees, you help us
Julius Hackett, CEO improve operations and thereby better serve the larger co-op membership. Because we are locally governed by members of our community, we are able to get a first-hand perspective on community priorities, thereby enabling us to make more informed decisions on long-term investments, such as highspeed broadband, community solar programs, equipment and technology upgrades, and electric vehicle programs. We are thankful that our co-op board members carve out time to attend important training sessions, participate in planning meetings, and keep abreast of industry trends. This investment in time results in better-informed advisors that serve the co-op’s interests in a way that our consumer-members expect and deserve. On a more personal note, we appreciate the countless acts of kindness our lineworkers and other employees receive when they are working in severe weather and dangerous conditions. Our employees are thankful for your patience and consideration when we are trying to restore power during challenging situations and prolonged periods. TCEC was originally established 78 years ago to bring electricity to our area when no one else would. The cooperative is a reflection of our local community and its evolving needs. Together, let’s continue making our corner of the world a better place. We can’t do it without you, and for that, we’re thankful for your membership. November & December 2018
2019 Youth Tour Applications Available Now! Each year Tri-County Electric Cooperative sponsors several juniors from area high schools to attend the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, DC. The Youth Tour is more than an all-expense paid trip to the nation’s capital to sight-see; it is a prestigious event in which thousands of high school juniors from across the nation join together to gain an understanding of our nation’s history and the freedoms we enjoy, as well as the many costs of those freedoms. The experience is rewarding, educational and fun! Students tour memorials, museums and national landmarks that they may have only read about in history books. We believe by investing in today’s youth, we are investing in our, and your, future. We know that some of the brightest and best students live right here in north Florida, and we want to give them an opportunity to experience the past, present and future of our country. For many students, it will inspire a career in government or political science or your local cooperative. We ask for support by informing eligible juniors in our community of this great opportunity. Visit www.tcec.com/youth-tour for more information. Applications are now available online, at your local TCEC district office, and with guidance counselors at all of the high schools in Madison, Jefferson, Taylor and Dixie counties. Deadline to apply is Tuesday, Dec. 11, by 5:00 p.m.
TCEC System Engineer Named Young Professional of the Year The Madison County Chamber of Commerce recognized outstanding Chamber members, individuals and businesses throughout the community at their Annual Banquet and Silent Auction on Oct. 8. Tri-County Electric Cooperative was nominated for Large Business of the Year, and though we did not bring home the trophy, an even sweeter award was brought back to the office in the hands of Antonio Richardson, TCEC’s System Engineer. Antonio was named Young Professional of Year, as voted on by his peers for his positive impact to his industry, devotion to community service, civic engagement, and economic development. Congratulations, Antonio. Your coop is proud of you!
School Supplies Donation Drive TCEC members, guests and employees donated school supplies at this year’s Annual Meeting. TCEC Linemen Tony Stephenson, Scotty Henderson, Dustin Fletcher and Chad Mitchell made the special delivery to Greenville Elementary school of the two large boxes of supplies. The delivery included pens, paper, craft materials, folders, notebooks, supplies just for teachers and more. We thank everyone who participated and helped make the donation drive a huge success. November & December 2018
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“Powering Your Future” Theme Shines at TCEC Annual Meeting More than 900 Tri-County Electric Cooperative members and guests gathered Saturday morning, Sept. 15, 2018, at the Madison County High School gymnasium for the 78th Annual Meeting. After registering, attendees visited several booths with information from local businesses and organizations such as Generlink®, North Florida Community College, the Florida Department of Health, Florida Rural Electric Credit Union, Madison Senior Citizens Council, Healthy Start Coalition, and Seminole Electric Cooperative. Younger guests received bags of treats while posing for photos with special guests Solar Sam and LED Lucy. Everyone enjoyed breakfast served by Covington’s Dining and Catering and the great music provided by The Michael and Jennifer McLain Band. The meeting was opened by Board President Gary Fulford, followed by the presentation of colors by the Jefferson Somerset Junior ROTC. Next, President Fulford welcomed 2018 NRECA Youth Tour participants Jalen Sanders and Ellie Cherry to the stage to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation, respectively. 80080002003 In his address, President Fulford explained how the TCEC Board of Trustees is always looking to the future to ensure that electricity needs of the communities served by the co-op will continue to be met. He also reminded the members “every decision in the boardroom is based upon you, the member(s).” Julius Hackett, CEO of TCEC, shared that low natural gas prices, declining costs of solar, and the emergence of lithium ion batteries “is creating a dramatic shift” in “future energy needs over the next decade.” CEO Hackett also discussed the proposed bylaw amendments that have been brought about by requests of the members to simplify the trustee election process. He explained how the proposed changes would allow members to cast their votes for trustee at a district meeting location, which will be open for voting a few hours prior to the start of the meeting. “Moving the elections to the district meetings becomes very convenient for members,” he stated, and as a member of the co-op, “you have the power in your voice and vote to influence how your electric co-op is run.” President Fulford then introduced special guest speaker Commander Drew Brown, a former Navy jet pilot and motivational speaker. Commander Brown wowed the audience with inspirational stories of growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood, making his way through college and joining the U.S. Navy, where he went on to fly fighter jets and become a Top Gun pilot. He offered 11 Facts in Life to living a better life, and encouraged everyone to “wake up, show up and pay attention to details.” Catherine Bethea, Board Secretary-Treasurer, announced that a quorum was present, and the business meeting was called to order at 11:05 a.m. She conveyed to the members the cooperative had revenues of $38.5 million with operating expenses of $35.7 million, which resulted in net margins of $1.7 million at the end of 2017, so the Board of Trustees authorized the return of $971,000 in capital credits to members. 4
She reported on major line rebuilding projects in Taylor and Madison counties, as well as investments in the power system, all of which were meant to provide a reliable and efficient distribution system for the members of TCEC. She concluded by saying that “managing costs is extremely important to the Board of Trustees and officers and employees.” Cooperative Attorney Dylan Rivers announced incumbent trustees Junior Smith (District 1), Bobby Dodd (District 2) and George Webb (District 4) were re-elected by acclamation. The attorney then reaffirmed the proposed changes to the bylaws to be voted upon by the membership. He then proceeded with conducting the vote, and TCEC members voted in favor of the bylaw amendments, which will be effective with the district meetings in 2019. The meeting ended with the drawing for over 100 door prizes, and member Ms. Shamelle Pryor won the grand prize of an extended cab pickup truck retired from the co-op fleet vehicles. Mr. Richard Cone won the second grand prize of a generator, Generlink® plug and complimentary installation.
November & December 2018
The Michael and Jennifer McLain Band
Grand Prize Winner, Ms. Shamelle Pryor
November & December 2018
Jefferson Somerset Jr. ROTC
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Cooperation Among Cooperatives In September, Hurricane Florence directly impacted east coast states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and parts of Virginia with devastating winds and flooding, taking out power to more than 250,000 electric cooperative member-consumers in the region. As Florence stalled over the Carolinas and dumped more than 60 inches of rain, access to affected areas was a tall order for crews ready to restore power. Just one short year ago, TCEC found itself in a similar situation while bracing for the impacts of Hurricane Irma. As the entire state of Florida prepared for restoration efforts in the wake of Irma’s destruction, lineworker crews from utilities across the country were headed to Florida to lend a helping hand. The efforts of out-of-state crews to bring our member-consumers back online are not forgotten. While our service territory was unaffected by Florence, our crews packed up and made their way north. In addition, TCEC was coordinating with our statewide organization, the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association
(FECA), as well as Seminole Electric Cooperative (Seminole), our wholesale power provider. Many cooperative crews, including TCEC crews, were released before arriving to their final destination due to severe flooding, but all preparations were made with the intention of being ready, willing, and able to assist. As an electric cooperative, we follow the Seven Cooperative Principles. One of these is cooperation among cooperatives, an important principle that encourages support of cooperatives in need. Just as
cooperatives from other states travelled hundreds of miles to assist our memberconsumers one year ago, TCEC was just one of many cooperatives in Florida prepared to make the trip north to lend a helping hand. Cooperatives will always look out for each other in the effort to ensure that all member-consumers, regardless of service provider, have access to safe, affordable, and reliable power. Being a member of TCEC has many benefits, including support from other cooperatives across the country in times of need.
Cody Holden, Josh Williams, Seth Ragans, Kyle Fox and Clint Nash
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November & December 2018
Protect Food During a Power Outage Severe storms have made their trek through our area in recent weeks. The rain is welcome, but these storms sometimes cause a power outage. Although most electricity is usually restored quickly, you may find yourself without power for several hours. Consumers risk losing food stored in the refrigerator and freezer during long periods of power loss, and it can have a significant drain on your wallet if you have to replace food. If you experience a situation where the power is out, USDA has recommendations you can take to safe guard your refrigerated and frozen food. When the power fails, do not open the refrigerator or freezer. It is hard to resist, but keep the door closed! Our first instinct is to check on the food, but opening the door will raise the internal temperature, which of course raises the temperature of the food. Food stays frozen longer if the freezer is full, well insulated and located in a cool area. A half-filled freezer will keep foods frozen only about 24 hours. Cover the freezer with blankets to help hold in the cold, but don’t cover the air vent. If power is not resumed within one to two days, or the freezer is not back to normal operation in that time, use dry ice to keep the temperature below freezing and to prevent deterioration of spoilage of frozen foods. This situation is more
November & December 2018
common if we get a direct hit by a tropical storm or a hurricane. To locate dry ice, check with companies that transport food. When dry ice is obtained quickly after a power interruption, 50 pounds of dry ice should keep the temperature of food in a full 20 cubic foot freezer below freezing for three to four days. Refreezing Thawed Food The first rule of thumb is, “When in doubt, throw it out.” It is not unusual for me to get calls each summer concerning a freezer crisis and half-frozen foods. Some partially thawed foods can be refrozen; however, the texture of the food will not be as good once it has been refrozen and cooked at a later date. Extension specialists in food safety recommend the following: Meat — Refreeze meat and poultry only if the temperature is 40°F or below and if the color and odor are good. Check each package and discard if signs of spoilage, such as an off color or odor are present. Vegetables — Refreeze only if ice crystals are still present, or if the freezer temperature is 40°F or below. Fruit — Refreeze if they show no signs of spoilage. Thawed fruits may be used in cooking or making jellies, jams and preserves. Fruits survive thawing with the least damage to quality.
Cooked foods and shellfish — Refreeze only if ice crystals are still present or the freezer is 40°F or below. If the condition is questionable, throw the food out. Ice cream — If partially thawed, throw it out. The texture after thawing is not acceptable. If its temperature reaches above 40°F, it could be unsafe. Bacteria grows rapidly at temperatures above 40°F. You can’t see it or taste it, so it is better to be safe than sick. During the summer months, it may be a good practice to lower the temperature in your refrigerator and freezer to make sure food is stored at colder temperatures. This will give more time if the power does fail. For more information on food safety, food preservation and nutrition, contact the Madison County Extension Office.
By Diann Douglas The University of Florida Extension/ IFAS – Madison County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Institution.
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Fight the flu–it’s in your hands! FloridaHealth.gov
Get your flu shot—the first and most important step to fight the flu.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If you don’t have soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Try not to touch your face with unwashed hands.
Don’t touch or shake hands with people who are sick. Stay home when you’re sick, and keep your children home when they’re sick.
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November & December 2018
Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board Meeting Notes for June 11, 2018
Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board Meeting Notes for July 9, 2018
With all trustees except one, key cooperative personnel, guests, and the attorney present, the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held on Monday, June 11, 2018, in the Tri-County Electric headquarters office building located in Madison, FL. Reports to the Board included those of the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association June Board Meeting, Finance Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Land Committee, and CEO. The Board was asked to take proposed revised Policy No. 509, “Non-Smoking Areas and Facilities of Tri-County Electric Cooperative;” proposed revised Policy No. 516, “Education Assistance Program;” and proposed revised Policy No. 517, “Use of Tri-County Electric Cooperative Credit Cards,” home for study for possible action at the July 2018 Board Meeting. Action taken by the Board included the following: approval of the June 11, 2018, Board Agenda; the May 14, 2018, Board Meeting Minutes; and Consent Agenda items as written and recommended by the CEO, which included the WPCA for June 2018 as established by resolution; RUS Form 7 for April 2018; the list of new members for April 24–May 20, 2018; and Work and Accident Reports for April 2018 along with the System Outage Reports. Other action taken by the Board included the following: approval of the employee health insurance renewal for 2018-19; approval of Work Order Inventories (RUS Forms 219) for April–December 2017; approval of Work Order Inventories (RUS Form 219) and other close out documents for the Sonnie 115 KV transmission line project; and adoption of a resolution approving and accepting the Emergency Restoration Plan. The upcoming July district meetings were discussed. Miscellaneous information presented included cost comparisons of contractor crews versus cooperative crews, and FEMA reimbursements for Hurricanes Hermine and Irma. The attorney distributed a copy of the proposed bylaw revisions to the Board to take home and study for possible action at the July Board Meeting.
With all trustees, key cooperative personnel, guests, and the attorney present, the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held on Monday, July 9, 2018, in the Tri-County Electric headquarters office building located in Madison, FL. Reports to the Board included those of the Finance Committee, Policy Committee, Building and Land Committee, and CEO. The Policy Committee recommended and the Board approved revised Policy No. 509, “Non-Smoking Areas and Facilities of Tri-County Electric Cooperative;” revised Policy No. 516, “Education Assistance Program;” and revised Policy No. 517, “Use of Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Credit Cards” effective immediately; approval of changes to the bylaws for presentation to the membership during the Annual Meeting for their acceptance or rejection regarding the election of Trustees. Other action taken by the Board included the following: approval of the July 9, 2018, Board Agenda and the June 11, 2018, Board Meeting Minutes, a resolution adopting the Seminole Electric Cooperative 2018 Load Forecast; Consent Agenda Items as written and recommended by the CEO, which included the WPCA for July 2018 as established by resolution; RUS Form 7 for May 2018; the list of new members for May 21– June 17, 2018, and June 18–July 9, 2018 (cutoff date for voting at district meetings); the Safety and Accident Report for May 2018 along with the System Outage Reports; authorization for the first quarter 2018 present uncollectible accounts for the appropriate accounting designation; acceptance of bid for Tri-County Utilities Management for pole inspection for the term of one year; and the approval of the Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Promissory Note and Resolution with CoBank.
Gary Fulford Catherine Bethea President Secretary-Treasurer
Gary Fulford Catherine Bethea President Secretary-Treasurer
Find Your Hidden Account Number & Get a $150 Bill Credit! Hidden somewhere in this issue of Tri-County Rural Living are two member account numbers. Look carefully, one might be yours. If you find your account number exactly as it appears on your bill for electric service, we’ll credit your bill up to the amount of $150!* You have until Dec. 31, 2018, to claim your credit by calling TCEC representative Carol Timmons at Ext. 203, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You must contact TCEC before the deadline to collect your prize. Congratulations to last issue’s winners: Ritchie Kelly, Lamont, FL, and Earl Young, Perry, FL * Total credit on bill will not exceed $150. This one-time credit is valid only on the current balance. Any balance remaining after the $150 applied credit is the member’s responsibility.
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This Publication’s Inspirational Moment “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)
BOARD MEETINGS The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of Tri‑County Electric Cooperative, Inc. will be held the second Monday in each month at 3:00 p.m. in the central office building of the Cooperative located at 2862 West U.S. 90, approximately two miles west of the city of Madison.
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Holiday Schedule Reminder All Tri-County Electric offices will be closed the following days: Nov. 22 & 23 for Thanksgiving Dec. 24 & 25 for Christmas Jan. 1, 2019, for New Year’s We will have standby crews available for power restoration if needed. Please see “To Report Electrical Problems or Outages” on the next page. The TCEC staff and employees appreciate the honor of serving you and wish you peace and joy this Christmas, and the very best for the New Year.
November & December 2018
Christmas Gingerbread Cookies Christmas time is all about tradition, and why not start you own Christmas cookie tradition with this simple and delicious gingerbread cookie recipe? Total Time Prep: 40 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling Makes about 2 dozen cookies Ingredients ½ cup butter, softened ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar ⅓ cup molasses 1 large egg 2 tablespoons water 2⅔ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon ground allspice Frosting of choice
Directions 1. Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses, egg and water. In another bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients minus frosting; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until easy to handle, about 30 minutes. 2. Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to ⅛-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 4-in. gingerbread man cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on greased
Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month Heading out of town for the holidays? Remember to unplug electronics that draw a phantom energy load. Some gadgets, like TVs, gaming consoles, chargers, and DVD players, use energy when plugged into an outlet, even when they’re not in use. Source: energy.gov 24600001
To Report Electrical Problems or Outages Please Call:
850-973-2285 or 1-800-999-2285 24-HOUR SERVICE THANK YOU
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baking sheets. 3. Bake until edges are firm, 8–10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Frost as desired. Recipe Source: Taste of Home
If the holiday season is nudging you toward good
deeds, consider giving the
Gift of Light
a special gift that will provide an electric bill credit for the co-op member of your choice. Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart. A wide open heart that thinks of others first. Ask one of our Member Service Representatives for more information about the perfect Christmas gift . 11
Pick up an application today at your local TCEC district office, from guidance counselors at high schools throughout our service territory or download a copy from our website at www.tcec.com/youth-tour.
Deadline to apply - Tuesday, December 11th at 5:00PM
More Information- Pg. 3
Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc. 2862 West US 90 Madison, FL 32340