News Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board Of Trustees

Transcript

P.O. Box 307, Mankato, KS 66956 www.rollinghills.coop ROLLING HILLS E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E NEWS Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. Douglas Jackson–General Manager Board of Trustees Gary Frieling, Athol President–District 2 Kenneth Becker, Sylvan Grove Vice President–District 1 Kevin Cromwell, Haddam Secretary–District 3 Bernard Bohnen, Dorrance Treasurer–District 1 Bryan Boyles, Burr Oak Trustee–District 2 Leon Eck, Tipton Trustee–District 2 Jim Ehrlich, Wilson Trustee–District 1 Melroy Kopsa, Cuba Trustee–District 3 Jay Overmiller, Smith Center Trustee–District 2 Justin Trost, Concordia Trustee–District 3 District Offices District 1–Ellsworth 208 W. First Street P.O. Box 125 Ellsworth, KS 67439-0125 785-472-4021 District 2–Mankato 122 W. Main P.O. Box 307 Mankato, KS 66956-0307 785-378-3151 District 3–Belleville 2305 US 81 Hwy P.O. Box 309 Belleville, KS 66935-0309 785-527-2251 Candidates Nominated for Trustee Positions On October 14, nominating committees met in their respective district office. The nominating committee is responsible for nominating at least one candidate to fill the trustee position(s), which will expire on December 31. The positions are threeyear terms that begin on January 1, 2014. District 1 District 1 (Ellsworth) Nominating Committee consisting of Larry Hiiter and Gene Meitler take time out of their busy schedule to visit with Marc Martin and Steve Bahan on Monday, October 14, 2013. The District 1 meeting was held in the Ellsworth office commencing at 8:30 a.m. Members of the Nominating Committee were Larry Hiitter, Lincoln; and Gene Meitler, Lucas. Bernard (Sonny) Bohnen’s Position 1 is up for election. District 2 The District 2 meeting was held in the Mankato office commencing at 10 a.m. Members of the Nominating 2014 Trustee Nominees District 1, Position 1 ff BERNARD (SONNY) BOHNEN District 2, Position 1 ff GARY FRIELING District 2, Position 4 ff LEON ECK District 3, Position 1 ff KEVIN CROMWELL Committee were Francis Ice, Smith Center; and Cecil Lambert, Smith Center. Gary Frieling’s Position 1; and Leon Eck’s Position 4 are both up for election. District 3 The District 3 meeting was held in the Belleville office commencing at 8:30 a.m. Members of the Nominating Committee were Arlan Benyshek, Cuba; and Kevin Kuhlman, Belleville. Kevin Cromwell’s Position 1 is up for election. The 2014 nominees are listed below. The Nominating Committees have determined that each candidate is a member of the cooperative and is receiving electrical service at his/ her primary residence from Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative. They have also determined that each candidate Continued on page 16-Bf NOVEMBER 2013 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 16-A YOUTH TOUR E N E W S F R O M R O L L I N G H I L L S E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E From Rolling Hills’ Kitchens ZUCCHINI BROWNIES 2 cups grated zucchini 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup oil 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cups flour 1/4 cup cocoa 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 cup chopped nuts Combine zucchini, sugar, oil, salt and vanilla in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together remaining ingredients. Combine both mixtures and pour into greased 9 x 13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Submitted by Sue Arensman How to Submit To submit your recipe please send the following information: ff Your name ff Contact information ff The recipe (clearly printed or typed) Send your entry to: Linnea at lbeebe@ rollinghills.coop or to: Rolling Hills Electric P.O. Box 125, Ellsworth, KS 67439 Tip of the Month If you’re expecting guests for holiday festivities, consider giving your heating unit a break. With the oven cranked up and the house packed with people, the temperature will rise on its own. Also make sure it has a clean filter so it can work as efficiently as possible all winter long. Find more ways to save at TogetherWeSave.com 16-B KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING    NOVEMBER 2013 Watt’s Happenin’? Beware of Scams Have you sat down to eat a meal with your spouse, family or a friend and had the phone ring? Irritating, isn’t it? Telemarketers, scammers or political robo calls have been horrible lately at our house. We have also received these calls during work hours at the offices of Rolling Hills Electric. We have been contacted by members indicating that Rolling Hills Electric had called them regarding a past due bill and wanting credit card information for payment over the phone. The member was told by the caller that if they didn’t have payment of “x” amount within 30 minutes, the electricity would be shut off. If you should receive one of these calls, please do NOT give out any personal information. Rolling Hills does NOT accept credit or debit card payments on electricity accounts over the phone. Tell the caller that you will need to get some information and that you will call them back. Ask for their phone number, which they most likely will not provide. Linnea Beebe Immediately call Rolling Hills Electric or the police. Recently, Rolling Hills Electric RadioShack had a customer come in requesting a “Green Dot” Money Pak, with which I was not familiar. He was advised by the caller to get it at RadioShack. After checking online, it was determined that this customer was being scammed. Luckily, we saved him $300. There are many types of scams. If what the caller is promising sounds too good to be true, it is most likely a scam. Please use caution whether over the phone or internet. Please note that Rolling Hills does NOT accept credit or debit card payments on electricity accounts over the phone. Candidates Nominated is eligible according to Section 4.02 of the cooperative bylaws. Candidates names were presented to the Rolling Hills Electric Board of Trustees at their regular monthly meeting on October 22. The names of the candidates are posted in each district office. The ballots for each district will be approved at the November Board of Trustees meeting, scheduled for November 26. Any member who wishes to file by petition must have the process complete and their name posted by December 1, 2013. Continued from page 16-A All nominees for Trustee positions will be published in the December issue of the Kansas Country Living in these pages. Ballots will be mailed to members on or before December 9, 2013. Ballots will be counted January 6-7, 2014. Unsigned ballot envelopes are considered null and void. We encourage you to be a part of this very important process by marking your ballot, signing the envelope and returning it to your district office promptly. This is your opportunity to have a voice in your cooperative. ESSAY The Value of Cooperative Membership By and large, we don’t get to choose who provides our electric service. Folks on opposite sides of the road may be served by different electric providers, some by a stockholder-driven investor-owned utility, others by a city-owned municipal electric system. Electric cooperatives are not-for-profit, owned by you and your fellow members, and serve more than 42 million people across the nation. Why Membership Matters: ff Every home or business that receives power from an electric cooperative owns a portion of the utility. ff Anyone who receives service becomes more than a customer or consumer, they are a member-owner. ff Members have a voice and a vote in how the co-op is governed by democratically selecting fellow members to represent them on the board of directors. ff The co-op is controlled by local hands, not shareholders in far off states or countries. ff Co-ops are not-for-profit, which means they have no need to increase revenues above what it takes to run the co-op in a financially sound manner. ff When co-ops make excess revenues, or margins, they are returned to members as capital credits based on their patronage. ff Co-ops want to help members find ways to lower electricity use and cut costs. ff Co-ops care about improving the quality of life in the areas they serve, with programs including: fCo-op Connections Card fYouth Leadership & Outreach fEconomic Development fCollege Scholarships & fDonations to Schools Internship Programs The Value of Your Dollar Average Annual Price Increases Electricity Ground Beef Oranges Bread Eggs Unleaded Gasoline 1.4 2.2 2.9 3.1 3.2 3.9 The Value of Electricity Popular demand and short Home Price Electricity supply drives up the cost of ev1936: $3,925 1936: 5¢ eryday necessities. Some price 2013: $313,700 2013: 11¢ tag changes—like the cost to fill your car’s gas tank—are obvious to anyone at the pump. Other increases at the grocery store are more subtle, but still impact your family’s bottom line. Compare the average price increase of a few household expenses to There’s something to be said see how the value of electricity about staying in the same stacks up. Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative works hard to keep Though the price of a new home has increased 80x we’ve helped your electricity safe, reliable, to ensure that the price of and affordable. But you play electricity has barely moved. a role in the price you pay for Source: NRECA your power. Just as you might cut back on expenses if your budget is tight, we can work with you to cut your monthly electric bill. See how little changes add up at www.TogetherWeSave.com. neighborhood. Electricity puts bread on your table. And keeps it in your wallet. Price Increase Since 1936 Loaf of Bread: 18x Affordable electricity. It’s the best thing since… well, since we first supplied electricity! Monthly Residential Electric Bill The cost of powering your home rises at a slower pace than other expenses like gas and many groceries. Compare the average annual percentage increase of these expenses over the last 20 years. 6.0 Source: NRECA Your electric bill has increased slower than the rate of inflation over the last 30 years. Since 1982, inflation has been an average of 2.8% per year. Monthly Residential Electric Bill 1982 Electric Bill Adjusted for Inflation Sources: RUS Form 7, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U Midwest NOVEMBER 2013 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 16-C Join Us for RadioShack’s Black Friday! November 29 208 W. First in Ellsworth Join Linnea the day after Thanksgiving for the “Black Friday” specials. RadioShack will open at 8a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Our Saturday hours during the holiday and Christmas season will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will have regular business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week. The Rolling Hills Electric offices will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and the day after. If you should have questions, please call 785-472-5888. 16-D KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING NOVEMBER 2013 Protect Electronics, Prevent Hazards in Your Home Big-ticket electronics, such as televisions, computers, and gaming consoles, are at the top of many holiday wish lists–but safety may not be. Purchasing, installing, and operating these items safely protects not only the expensive equipment, but also your entire home. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) offers the following tips, and for more information, visit holidaysafety.org. ff Always purchase electrical devices from a reputable retailer that you trust. Be especially wary when making online purchases. ff Check that all electrical items are certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or Intertek (ETL). ff Send warranty and product registration forms for new items to manufacturers in order to be notified about product recalls. Recall information is also available on the website of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (www. cpsc.gov). ff Never remove the ground pin (the third prong) to make a three-prong plug fit into a two-prong outlet. ff All appliances and cords should be kept in good condition. Examine them regularly for damage, and repair or dispose of damaged items. ff Keep cords out of reach of children and pets. ff Make sure entertainment centers and computer workstations have enough space around them for ventilation of electronic equipment. ff Unplug equipment when not in use to save energy and reduce the risks for shocks or fires. Power strips or surge protectors make a good central turn-off point. ff Always unplug electrical items by grasping the plug firmly rather than pulling on the cord. ff If you receive any kind of shock from a large appliance or any other electrical device, stop using it until an electrician has checked it. ff If an appliance smokes or sparks, or if you feel a tingle or light shock when it’s on, stop using it. Discard and replace it or have it repaired by an authorized service provider. Extension cords ff Extension cords are meant to provide a temporary solution. They should not be used as a long-term or permanent electrical circuit. ff Never use a cord that feels hot or is damaged in any way. Touching even a single exposed strand can result in an electric shock or burn. ff Only use weather-resistant, heavy gauge extension cords marked “for outdoor use” outside. ff Arrange furniture so that there are outlets available for equipment without the use of extension cords. ff Do not place power cords or extension cords in high traffic areas or under carpets, rugs, or furniture (to avoid overheating and tripping hazards), and never nail or staple them to the wall or baseboard. Surge protector or power strip? Although surge protectors and power strips both allow you to plug several devices in one location, it is important for consumers to understand that they are not interchangeable. A true surge protector includes internal components that divert or suppress the extra current from surges, protecting your valuable electronics from electrical spikes, while a power strip simply provides more outlets for a circuit. This surge protector also offers energy-saving options.