Tommy Brandt, winner of 29 gospel country music awards, is our
Transcription
Tommy Brandt, winner of 29 gospel country music awards, is our
Peace River Electric Cooperative M A R C H 2016 MARCH 2016 Tommy Brandt, winner of 29 gospel country music awards, is our special musical guest at PRECO’s Annual Meeting in Wauchula. See page 4-5 for more information. Tommy Brandt, winner of 29 Christian music awards, is the special musical guest at Peace River Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting in Wauchula on Saturday, March 19. See page 4-5 for more information. New Right-of-Way Contractor PAGE 7 n Reporting Outages PAGE 28 PRECO Park 220 Knight Road Wauchula, Florida Saturday, March 19th 10:00 am: Registration opens 1:00 pm: Business Meeting FREE: Tommy Brandt n Inspirational Country Music Award winner! n www.TommyBrandt.org n Food Games & Fun Face Painting Exhibits n n n n Kids Activities n Door Prizes Live Music n Boiled Peanuts n Snow Cones n Popcorn n n n Hotdogs Ice Cream n French Fries Fried Donuts Funnel Cakes You must provide photo ID, such as a driver’s license, in order to register. SPECIAL MUSICAL GUEST Tommy Brandt, gifted singer/songwriter, tours the country with a message of faith, hope and love. Tommy is a leader in his field winning multiple Inspirational Country Music Awards, including Male Vocalist of the Year five times and New Artist of the Year. The Christian Music Hall of Fame recognized him in 2010 with a “Visionary Award” for his contributions to Christian Music using inspirational country music. 4 M A R C H 2 016 To register on behalf of a business, you must provide signed authorization from the company president on company letterhead. No smoking. No pets. Be advised that photos will be taken at this event for publications/social media. Peace River Electric Cooperative Door prizes awarded after the business meeting! PRECO Members: Come enjoy your Cooperative’s 76th Birthday! Important Information For faster registration at PRECO’s Annual Membership Meeting, bring your electric bill with scannable QR code (see left) and your photo ID. The meeting will be held on Saturday, March 19th, at 220 Knight Road, in Wauchula. Registration begins at 10 am. www.preco.coop M A R C H 2 016 5 PO Box 1310 210 Metheny Road Wauchula, Florida 33873 1.800.282.3824 MARCH 1, 2016 O F F I C I A L N O T I C E Dear Member: The 76th Annual Membership Meeting of Peace River Electric Cooperative Inc. will take place Saturday, March 19, 2016, at 1:00 pm. The meeting will be conducted at PRECO Park, 220 Knight Road, located 1.5 miles north of Wauchula, Florida. T H E A N N UA L M E M B E R S H I P M E E T I N G I S T H E M O S T I M P O R TA N T DAY O F T H E YE A R F O R T H E CO O P E R AT I V E. AT T H I S YE A R ’S E V E N T: l l l l The Board of Directors will be officially seated, Cooperative Officers and Directors will present their annual reports, Members will be asked to approve a proposed bylaws revision, and, Any other appropriate business will be considered by the membership. Food and refreshments will be available to registered members and their immediate families from 10:00 am until the business meeting officially opens at 1:00 pm. At the conclusion of the business meeting, door prizes will be awarded by random drawing to registered ticket holders. F O R E F F I C I E N T R E G I S T R AT I O N: l l l The member of record must register immediately upon arrival. Furnish a form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license, for verification of membership. If registering for a business, bring written authorization on company letterhead. Registration closes at 1:00 pm. We sincerely hope you will join us in conducting the business of your Cooperative. O F F I C I A L N O T I C E P R O P O S E D BYL AW S R E V I S I O N Sam Rawls, Secretary 6 M A R C H 2 016 At the Annual Meeting on March 19, 2016, members will be asked to approve a proposed revision of the Cooperative bylaws. The complete set of bylaws is included in this issue of Florida Currents magazine, along with proposed deletions, insertions or changes, including an explanation of why the changes are necessary. The complete text of the proposed changes was posted in October. The Cooperative received no comments, objections or suggested changes from our members. Your Board of Directors recommends approval of the revised bylaws. For questions or more information, please contact our Member Services Department at 1-800-282-3824. The proposed bylaws are also available online at www.preco.coop. Peace River Electric Cooperative Call Before You Dig! One toll free call could mean the difference between life and death. If you fail to call Sunshine 811 before digging around your home, you or a loved one could suffer serious injury, horrible disfigurement or even death! Simply dial 811 at least two business days before your digging project and every utility’s lines, pipes and cables will be marked — FREE. Because it’s the law, you could also be slammed with hefty fines — up to $5,000 per citation — and costly repairs for neglecting to call 811 before digging. The State of Florida established the Sunshine 811 network to ensure protection of our vital utilities. Since PRECO’s underground lines run from the transformer to your home, you should never dig anywhere in your yard without first calling 811 to find out where lines exist. Also, never plant trees or shrubs near an underground transformer — those big, green metal cabinets found in neighborhoods. PRECO needs your help to ensure your personal safety and the reliability of electric service for everyone. Practice safe digging by calling 811. Call 811 before starting any digging project. It’s the law. For more information visit Sunshine 811 at www.Sunshine811.com. PRECO Hires New Right-of-Way Contractor Protecting the lines helps us keep the lights on Georgia Right of Way is PRECO’s new contractor of choice to clear trees, limbs and brush away from our poles and power lines. You may see them working on the side of the road, in your neighborhood or on your property. GAROW employees and trucks can be identified by a simple green and brown Georgia Right of Way contractors work to keep PRECO lines clear of tree limbs and brush w w w. pre co.coo p logo featuring a tree graphic with the words “Georgia Right of Way” on a white background. “Just like Peace River Electric, GAROW operates as a not-for-profit cooperative business,” explains Van Crawford, PRECO vice president of operations. “Even though their headquarters is in Forsyth, Georgia, GAROW is equipped to serve utilities in neighboring areas, such as Florida.” Georgia Right of Way maintains a fleet of top-of-the-line equipment designed for clearing right-of-way with the goal of minimizing environmental impact. “Florida’s climate allows trees to grow nearly year round, and when tree branches mesh with power lines, reliability of electric service and safety is compromised,” adds Crawford. “This is why we maintain an ongoing 3-year cycle to clear our 3,500 miles of line of potential hazards.” For more information, visit www.preco.coop. M A R C H 2 016 7 PRECO’s Operation Round Up Grant Bolsters the Blind SOUTHEASTERN GUIDE DOGS, IN PALMETTO, RECEIVED A $2,500 GRANT TO HELP PROVIDE MEALS FOR THEIR STUDENTS. Southeastern Guide Dogs is internationally accredited and one of the most respected guide dog schools in the U.S. Their mission is to create and nurture a partnership between a visually impaired individual and a guide dog, facilitating life’s journey with mobility, independence and dignity. Students train with their new service dog on campus for 26 days. During the training period, SEGD provides for all their needs free of charge. Everything, including services, equipment, instruction, housing, food and even the animal, is free to the recipient. “Through our programs, Paws for Independence, Paws for Patriots and Gifted Canines, Southeastern has created nearly 3,000 guide dog teams since its inception in 1982,” shares Andy Kramer, vice president of philanthropy. “And, we continue to place more than 100 dogs annually as guides and in other areas of service.” Paws for Independence is SEGD’s core program, partnering visually impaired students with professionally trained guide dogs. “Through Paws for Independence, we help students learn the 40 commands needed to interact effectively with their animal partner,” explains Kramer. “We also provide lifetime follow-up services for all graduates.” In 2006, SEGD added the Paws for Patriots program to serve the increasing number of veterans returning home with conflict-related vision loss. Everything is provided at no charge to veterans. Visit www.guidedogs.org for more information. Funding for Operation Round Up is made possible through the generosity of PRECO members who voluntarily allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the next dollar for charitable purposes. For more information about Operation Round Up or to download an application, visit www.preco.coop. Left: Paws for Independence is SEGD’s core program, partnering visually impaired students with professionally trained guide dogs. Below: Southeastern Guide Dogs provides all services – including training for the dogs, on-campus instruction for students and lifetime follow-up for graduates – at no cost. 8 M A R C H 2 016 Peace River Electric Cooperative The Weather and Your Electric Bill As the “Sunshine State,” Florida is well known for its warm winters and even warmer summers. While we might catch the occasional “cold front,” Floridians can usually enjoy shorts and flip-flops year-round. This warm weather brings a need for well air-conditioned homes. While many folks enjoy Florida’s warm climate, even the most heat-tolerant residents prefer to relax in the cool indoors. As spring and summer approach, now is a good time to evaluate your home energy use. Weather plays a significant role in your home energy use, both hot and cold. But, staying comfortable inside your home doesn’t have to lead to higher electric bills. Here are a few energy saving tricks for Florida weather: FA N S Ceiling fans do more than just move air, they can be money savers if used correctly. In summer, make sure the fan is spinning counterclockwise. This downward airflow causes a windchill effect, making you feel cooler. On cool days, reverse the motor so the fan spins clockwise at a slower speed. This will move the warm air, trapped near the ceiling, downward. PLUG LEAKS The greatest sources of heating and cooling losses in your home are often invisible air leaks. To keep cool air inside, and warm, humid air outside, weather-strip or caulk windows and doors. Check electrical outlets and S O U R C E : D E P T. O F E N E R G Y WINDOWS Curtains and blinds offer protection from direct sunlight entering through windows, heating up your home. Direct sunlight causes your air conditioner to work harder to keep you cool. On hot, cloudless days, keep blinds and drapes closed to help reflect the sun’s rays. Add landscaping to provide shade for your home. On cooler, cloudy days, opening your windows can help cool your home and give your air conditioning unit a welldeserved break. even light fixtures for cracks where air could escape. Controlling air leaks provides the best way to extend the life of your home, conserve energy and increase comfort while saving you money. C H A N G E F I LT E R S To ensure proper airflow in your home, check your a/c filters monthly. Changing the filter in your air conditioner monthly can save you up to 5 percent in cooling costs. Setting monthly reminders in your phone or on your calendar is a helpful way to keep track of filter changes. A D D I N S U L AT I O N Improving your attic’s insulation is one of the best ways to save money while increasing the energy efficiency of your home. Before adding insulation to your attic, determine how much insulation is already installed, what type it is and how thick it is. The type of insulation your home needs will be based on the design of your home and your budget. With adequate attic insulation, your heating and cooling system will operate more efficiently, keeping you cooler in the summer and warmer in winter. W H I L E T E M P E R AT U R E S CO N S TA N T LY C H A N G E A R O U N D T H E CO U N T RY, F LO R I DA’S C L I M AT E H A S I TS OW N AG E N DA. P R E CO A N D O U R W H O L E S A L E P OW E R P R OV I D E R, S E M I N O L E E L E C T R I C CO O P E R AT I V E, CO N T I N U E WO R K I N G TO G E T H E R TO F I N D T H E M O S T E F F I C I E N T A N D CO S T E F F E C T I V E WAYS TO H E L P YO U M A N AG E YO U R E L E C T R I C B I L L S. w w w. pre co.coo p M A R C H 2 016 25 B E E N E R G Y S M A R T W I T H H E L P F R O M P E AC E R I V E R E L E C T R I C CO O P E R AT I V E View outages in real time at http://outage.preco.coop YO U R V E H I C L E C R A S H E S I N TO A U T I L I T Y P O L E. W H AT S H O U L D YO U D O ? Knowing what to do saved the lives of four students. When teenagers Lee Whittaker and Ashley Taylor saw a power line safety demonstration at their high school, they never dreamed what they had learned would be tested. Only days later, Whittaker and Taylor, along with two classmates, were in a car that crashed into a utility pole, bringing live power lines to the ground. “When people are involved in a car accident, electricity is usually the last thing on their minds,” explains Molly Hall, executive director of the Energy Education We want to Council’s Safe make sure Electricity everyone knows program. “We’re usually more what to do if concerned about they’re in an whether anyone accident with was injured or how a power pole badly the vehicle is damaged. We can forget that by exiting the vehicle, we’re risking exposure to thousands of volts of electricity from downed power lines.” If you are in an accident with a utility pole, your vehicle may be charged with electricity. If this is the case and you step out of the car, you become electricity’s path to the ground and could be 26 M A R C H 2 016 electrocuted. Loose wires and other equipment may be in contact with your car or near it — creating a risk for electrocution if you leave the vehicle. While downed lines sometimes reveal they are live by arcing and sparking with electricity, this is not always the case. Power lines do not always show signs that they are live, but they are just as lethal. After an accident, stay in the car, and tell others to do the same. If you come upon an accident involving power lines, do not approach the accident scene. If you see someone approaching, warn them to stay away. Call 911 to notify emergency personnel and utility services. Do not leave your vehicle until a utility professional has told you it is safe to do so. The safest place is almost always inside the car. Only exit the vehicle if it is on fire — and those instances are rare. If you must exit the vehicle, jump clear of it with your feet together and without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Continue to “bunny hop” with your feet Ashley Taylor (above) and Lee Whittaker (below left), along with two classmates, survived a vehicle collision with an electric utility pole. Knowing what to do saved their lives. together to safety. Doing this will ensure that you have only one point of contact and will not have different strengths of electric current running from one foot to another, which can be deadly. Whittaker, Taylor and their friends survived their accident because they knew what to do. While they waited more than 30 minutes for line crews to arrive and deactivate the power line, Whittaker and Taylor made sure nobody left the car and warned those who came upon the accident to stay far away. “Knowledge was crucial in keeping everyone safe,” Hall says. “We want to make sure everyone knows what to do if they’re in an accident with a power pole.” For more information and to see Lee and Ashley’s story, visit SafeElectricity.org. Peace River Electric Cooperative Reporting Outages For your convenience, PRECO offers a variety of methods for assistance with questions and services, such as email, a convenient toll-free phone number, in person and more. But when it comes to reporting outages, only two avenues provide the fastest service: our Outage Hotline and SmartHub on the web or mobile app. While sending an email or posting a message on Facebook are great communication tools by day, these methods are not monitored 24/7. TO REPORT A POWER INTERRUPTION: n Call the Outage Hotline n Visit SmartHub on the at 1-877-282-3656 web or mobile app. Click “Report an Outage” In other words, if you report an outage or dangerous situation on the power lines using a method other than the Outage Hotline or SmartHub, it could delay a response by hours or even days. If you see a dangerous situation, such as a downed pole or power line, don’t approach the area. Call 911 first, then call us on the Outage Hotline. Help us respond to power interruptions as quickly as possible by using the correct communication tools. F I E L D R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S D O N OT ACC E P T C A S H For your safety and ours, PRECO employees working in the field do not accept cash for any reason. To make a payment in cash, please do so in person at one of our convenient office locations. 28 M A R C H 2 016 Peace River Electric Cooperative P R I V A C Y P O L I C Y F O R P E A C E R I V E R E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E Our Commitment to Privacy: At Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO), confidentiality is very important to us. As we strive to improve and expand our services, we recognize our members’ need and desire to preserve their privacy and confidentiality. PRECO recognizes the trust members place adhere to privacy principles that provide for keeping in us and is committed to safeguarding member information. such information confidential. The following policy affirms our continued commitment to Limiting Employee Access To Information: PRECO preserving member confidentiality. limits employee access to member information to those with The Information We Collect: We receive and retain a business reason for knowing such information. All of our information about our members through many sources: employees are educated on the importance of confidentiality information we receive on member applications or other and member privacy. Any employee that violates the financial forms; information on usage gathered by our metering privacy of our members will be subject to appropriate systems; information through member transactions with disciplinary measures and possible termination. us, our affiliates or others; and, information we receive Protection of Information via Established Security from consumer-reporting agencies. Procedures: To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data The Way We Use Information: We limit the use and accuracy and ensure the correct use of information, we have collection of nonpublic personal information to that which is put in place appropriate physical, electronic and managerial necessary to maintain and administer financial services. We do procedures to safeguard and secure the information. not share this information with outside parties unless: Maintaining Accurate Information: We have established the information is provided to help complete a member- procedures so that our members’ financial information is initiated transaction (such as credit reporting agencies, accurate, current and complete in accordance with reasonable document processing companies, etc.); the member has commercial standards. PRECO will respond to requests to requested it; the disclosure is required by law (e.g., subpoena, correct inaccurate information in a timely manner. investigation of fraudulent activity, etc.); or, the disclosure is required by banking regulation (e.g., Fair Lending Reporting Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, etc.). At PRECO, we value our member relationships. We want you to understand how we use the information you provide and our commitment to ensuring your personal privacy. When member information is provided to any of the third If you have questions regarding our privacy policy, please parties mentioned above, that third party must agree to contact us at 1-800-282-3824. T H IS IN STI TUTI ON I S AN EQUAL O PPO RT UN IT Y PROVID E R AN D E M PLOYE R. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at US Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected]. www.preco.coop M A R C H 2 016 29 TO REPORT POWER OUTAGE CALL: 1-877-282-3656 CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 210 Metheny Road Wauchula, Florida 33873 Hours 8 am to 5 pm, M-F Telephone: 1-800-282-3824 FAX: 866-201-1814 MANATEE SERVICE CENTER 14505 Arbor Green Trail Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 Hours 8 am to 5 pm, M-F Telephone: 1-800-282-3824 Fax: 941-752-4928 Be Our Guest PRECO’s 76th Annual Membership Meeting You are a member of PRECO. That means you belong to a family of folks who owns the co-op providing their electric service. Once a year family members meet on a specific day – we call this get-together the Annual Membership Meeting. On March 19th, we’ll celebrate 76 years of service to our members. In 1940, a group of rural residents seeking to bring electricity to the area got together to form this electric cooperative, made possible through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 17363 County Road 630 “New Deal” program. We’ve been bringing electricity to central Florida homes and Lake Wales, Florida 33898 businesses ever since. For your convenience, a payment drop box is located at the front gate. Payments As a PRECO member, you have a standing invitation to the Annual Membership Meeting, will be posted on the next business day. held in March each year. We strive to provide a quality event with a county fair atmosphere. BOARD OF DIRECTORS This day of food and fun officially kicks off at 10:00 am. Free hotdogs, soft drinks, ice John Martin PRESIDENT cream, boiled peanuts, french fries and much more are provided, along with Hollis Albritton activities and entertainment for all ages. VICE PRESIDENT For your listening pleasure, live music will fill the air during the event. Sam Rawls S E C R E TA RY/ T R E A S U R E R Tap your toes to some tunes by Doug Henderson’s bluegrass band. And, you Maurice Henderson A S S T. S E C R E TA RY/ T R E A S U R E R don’t want to miss our special musical guest, Tommy Brandt, winner of more Ellen Bachman than two dozen gospel country music awards, who will inspire you with his DIRECTOR celebrated music and message. Leonard Crawley DIRECTOR Supervised children’s activities include a bounce house, climbing wall, Willie Dawes DIRECTOR horse rides and more. Adults will enjoy mingling with the many educational Chris Portale Randy Shaw booths sponsored by local civic and community groups. DIRECTOR General Manager & CEO Bruce Vickers At 1:00 pm, we’ll call a brief business meeting of the members. PEACE RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE DIRECTOR We especially need your attendance as we ask our members to vote on a BOARD MEETING revision of the Cooperative’s bylaws. ATTENDANCE Any PRECO member may attend Following the business meeting, door prizes will be awarded to registered members by a a Board Meeting. Due to building random drawing, so don’t lose your prize ticket. security requirements and for us to facilitate attendance, members Finally, don’t forget to bring your picture ID, such as a driver’s license, to officially register wishing to attend a Board Meeting should contact the Cooperative for voting privileges and for your chance to win door prizes. INDIAN LAKE ESTATES in a timely manner for logistical information regarding the meeting. UPCOMING BOARD MEETING DATES March 22, 2016 April 26, 2016 May 24, 2016 32 M A R C H 2 016 Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, March 19th, at the cooperative’s park in Wauchula. See pages 4 – 5 for more information.