Lighting the Christmas season - Northern Plains Electric Cooperative
Transcription
Lighting the Christmas season - Northern Plains Electric Cooperative
N DECEMBER 2014 News from Northern Plains Electric Cooperative N www.nplains.com [email protected] 800 882 2500 Cando Office: 609 4th Ave., Cando, ND 58324 Carrington Office: 1515 West Main, Carrington, ND 58421 OFFICE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. BOARD & MANAGEMENT: President ..............................................Tracy Boe, Mylo Vice president ...............................Curtis Wiesz, Heaton Secretary/treasurer ...........Russell Carlson, Jamestown Assistant Secretary/treasurer .....Randy Simon, Oberon District 1 .........................................Mark Brehm, Cando District 1 .........................................Bruce Olsen, Cando District 2 .........................................Dave Teigen, Rugby District 3 ........................................Jack Geske, Pingree District 3 .................................Curtis Hanson, Pettibone General Manager ....................................Jay Jacobson Manager of Engineering...............................Gary Allen IT Manager...........................................Scott Buchholtz Operations Manager ................................Craig Rysavy Director of Communications and Public Relations......................................Connie Krapp Chief Financial Officer .............................Bruce Garber Director of Business Development ...Joann Rodenbiker Northern Notes Editor ..............................Connie Krapp Northern Notes Asst. Editor..........Katie Ryan-Anderson Lighting the Christmas season DECEMBER 2014 INSIDE www.nplains.com • Students, co-ops help those in need ORTHERN • #CoopClipND • Museum features localPLAINS lineworker N Electric Cooperative N O R TH ER N N O TES , D EC EMB ER 2 0 1 4 C1 NORTHERN PLAINS Electric Cooperative LIGHTING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON Co-op lineworker continues holiday tradition BY KATIE RYAN-ANDERSON [email protected] L ighting the way is a legacy many lineworkers leave their families. For the Peterson family, it’s a Christmas tradition. This is Dustin Peterson’s third year decorating his hometown of Robinson with lights and holiday fanfare. It’s a custom he inherited from his father, the late Keith Peterson. Dustin, a power lineworker for Northern Plains Electric Cooperative in Robinson, adopted the practice of decorating the town after his dad’s death. Keith died of esophageal cancer in November 2011. For 28 years, Keith worked in the Robinson outpost as a power lineworker for Northern Plains Electric Cooperative. About 30 people live in Robinson, which is located in Kidder County, 30 miles west of Woodworth. Hanging holiday décor isn’t the only tradition Dustin acquired. Like his father, Dustin is also a member of the Robinson City Council and the Robinson Lions Club. “I used to help my dad hang the lights when I was a kid, so it’s only fitting I continue the tradition now,” Dustin said. Northern Plains Electric Cooperative allows lineworker to do community-minded projects like this during the business day. Dustin uses his Northern Plains Electric bucket truck to post the lights, which crisscross Main Street. “One of our cooperative principles is commitment to community,” said Craig Rysavy, operations manager. “Using the co-op’s time and equipment is a way we demonstrate that.” To hang the strands of multi-colored LEDs, Dustin solicited the help of his whole family, including fiancé Krissy Clark, brother, Darin and his girlfriend, Cally Musland, sister, Danielle, and Danielle’s husband, Mike. Attending to her ailing father, Dustin’s mother, Julie, was unable to attend. Her father passed away last month. “It broke my heart not to be there, but I look forward to helping in the future.” And this year, a special guest helped. The Petersons passed on the tradition to a third generation – Dustin’s son, Dylan Keith Peterson, who celebrates his first birthday on Dec. 24. n The Christmas tradition continues. Dylan Keith (pictured above) is a thirdgeneration decorator of Robinson, N.D. during the holidays. Dylan, who is Dustin’s son, and Keith’s grandson, celebrates his first birthday on Dec. 24. Dustin Peterson, right, strings lights through the town of Robinson, N.D., each Christmas. It’s a tradition he inherited from his father, the late Keith Peterson (left). For 28 years, Keith worked for Northern Plains Electric Cooperative from the Robinson outpost. Dustin filled his father’s position after Keith’s death in 2011. C2 DEC E M B E R 2 0 1 4 , NORT HE RN NOT E S www.nplains.com NORTHERN PLAINS Electric Cooperative Students, co-ops partner to help those in need Pingree-Buchanan students donate 1,000 items to Co-op Month Can & Coat Drive S ometimes the smallest of groups are also the mightiest. At five students, the senior class at Pingree-Buchanan High School isn’t big in numbers, but it is big of heart. The students, Meggan Domek, Jenna VanRay, Cole Diede, William Widmer and Ian Snow, coordinated a supply drive in conjunction with Northern Plains Electric Cooperative’s Co-op Month Can & Coat Drive. With the help of their teacher, Chantel Grosulak, the students collected food and winter apparel items. In a month, they collected more than 1,000 items. The items combine with donations collected at Northern Plains’ offices in Carrington www.nplains.com and Cando. On Friday, Nov. 7 – the opening of deer season and also a day of no school – the students met at 8 a.m. to launder the winter apparel items. From there, the co-ops donated the winter apparel items to families in need throughout the service area. “These students set the bar,” said Steve Homes. Homes is the foreman of the Jamestown crew at Northern Plains Electric Cooperative. He is also a member of the Pingree-Buchanan School Board. “I’m proud of them.” Members – the people who use the cooperatives’ products and services – own co-ops. Because of that, service drives co-ops, not profit. Thousands of cooperatives operate in dozens of industries throughout the world. Rural electric cooperatives formed more than 75 years ago. Back then, the cost to string poles and wires through the countryside discouraged for-profit utilities from providing electricity to rural areas. “We’re proud to have served for more than 75 years,” said Darrin Sand, co-general manager. “As a thank you every year, we organize this Co-op Month Can & Coat Drive. We ask the public to help. Our boards give a financial donation, too.” After collecting, the co-ops will donated the items to families in need throughout the service area. n N O R TH ER N N O TES , D EC EMB ER 2 0 1 4 C3 NORTHERN PLAINS Electric Cooperative < How we traded this For this < < We traded the cookbook for this $60 Wishek Sausage Gift Card, courtesy of Tracie Bettenhausen, Basin Electric Power Co-op. A native of Wishek, we got to know Tracie better, plus raised awareness to a business in her hometown. We traded the Gift Card for an Instant Hunting Package with Basin CEO Paul Sukut. Sure, our knees shook a little, asking such a high-ranking member of the co-op family to participate. But he agreed and we’re so grateful (and relieved!). Added Bonus: Paul donated the gift card back, so included in this hunting pack is $60 worth of Wishek Sausage. < C 4 DEC E M B E R 2 0 1 4 , NORT HE RN NOT E S www.nplains.com NORTHERN PLAINS Electric Cooperative #CoopClipND Northern Plains Electric Cooperative began with this purple chip clip. We traded it for a Founding Fathers cookbook, courtesy of Rep. Jessica Haak, D-Jamestown, and North Dakota Farmers Union. < www.nplains.com Co-ops raise $1,500 for charity The results are in: Northern Plains Electric Cooperative raised $200 as part of the #CoopClipND project. But the value of the project isn’t limited to dollars and cents. This fall, five rural electric cooperatives began with something small – like a paper clip - and traded it for something big. What resulted were new and enhanced relationships, raised awareness to co-op projects and the cooperative difference and increased revenue to charities across the state. The project is based on the book, “One Red Paperclip,” by Kyle MacDonald. In the memoir, MacDonald begins with a red paper clip. One year and 14 trades later, he exchanges it for a house in Saskatchewan. Northern Plains Electric Cooperative began with a purple chip clip. From there, the co-op traded several times, all the way up to an instant hunting package, courtesy of Paul Sukut, chief executive officer of Basin Electric Power Cooperative. The money benefits Northern Plains Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up program. Funded through the generosity of members who round up their power bill, Operation Round Up gives grants to local individuals and organizations in need. In total, the co-ops raised more than $1,500 for their respective charities. Other participating co-ops include: • KEM Electric, Linton, which raised money for its Operation Round Up program • North Central Electric, Bottineau, which raised money for its Willie Wired Hand Christmas Giving Fund • Dakota Valley Electric, Edgeley and Milnor, which raised money for its Operation Round Up program • Basin Electric, Bismarck, which raised money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck For more information regarding #CoopClipND, visit www.CoopClipND.com, www.Facebook.com/ CoopClipND or email [email protected]. For more information on Operation Round Up, visit www. dakotavalley.com or call 1-800-882-2500. n N O R TH ER N N O TES , D EC EMB ER 2 0 1 4 C5 NORTHERN PLAINS Electric Cooperative Museum exhibit features local lineworker T he image of a lineworker from Northern Plains Electric Cooperative is featured in a North Dakota museum. Lineworker Chris Schroeder is one of five life-size cutouts in the Power to the People Exhibit at in the Governors Gallery at The Heritage Center in Bismarck. Schroeder, Rolla, joined the staff at Northern Plains Electric in 1999. The Governors Gallery features traveling and temporary exhibits. The gallery’s first display – Power to the People - features rural North Dakota residents and how their lives changed from using kerosene lamps to having electricity. Power to the People features the history of rural electric cooperatives as well as their vision for the future. The Heritage Center and State Museum – a collection of North Dakota history – re-opened in November. The opening coincided with the state’s 125th birthday. The museum is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. n C 6 DEC E M B E R 2 0 1 4 , NORT HE RN NOT E S www.nplains.com ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE YOUTH TOUR June , 13 to 19 2015 • To enter the essay-writing contest, you must be a junior or senior in high school in the fall of 2014. • You and your parents or guardian must be served by Northern Plains Electric Cooperative. ING WRITE A WINN IP TR A IN ESSAY AND W E! M TI OF A LIFE • Essay is not to exceed two standard 8½- by 11-inch typewritten, double-spaced pages on this topic: -paid An all-expense trip to HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS & SENIORS . .C WASHINGTON, D Many North Dakota electric cooperatives are or will soon be celebrating their 75th anniversaries. Describe how rural electrification and rural electric cooperatives have contributed to the quality of life in North Dakota and your local community. • Submit your essay in hard copy or electronic format to Northern Plains Electric. Electronic submissions • To enter the essay-writing contest, you should conform to athe two-page, double-spaced must be junior or senior in high school guideline in described the fall ofabove. 2015.Include a cover page with your name, date of birth, school and grade in 2014,•parent or your guardian’s address and You and parentsname, or guardian must telephonebe number. served by Northern Plains Electric Cooperative. • The deadline is Jan. 31, 2014. Emailed entries • Essay is not to exceed two standardand 8½should be directed to [email protected], 11-inch typewritten, double-spaced hard-copybyentries mailed to: Youth Tour Essay pages onPlains this topic: Contest, Northern Electric Cooperative, 3322 you were asked to uence other Hwy. 281 IfNorth, Jamestown, NDinfl 58401. students your age to become more involved in their • If you haveactively a question, contact Katieelectric RyanAnderson,cooperative—including Northern Plains Electric,attendance at the address at the electric cooperative annual listed above, or call 701-252-1474 during regular meeting—what would you tell them business hours. and why? 3 TOP REASONS TO ENTER THE ESSAY-WRITING CONTEST 1. All-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., compliments of Northern Plains Electric Cooperative. 2. A whole week to visit unforgettable historic monuments, museums and the U.S. Capitol. 3. A learning experience you’ll never forget. CHECK IT OUT AT www.ndyouthtour.com and www.youthtour.coop www.nplains.com • Submit your essay in hard copy or electronic format to Northern Plains Electric. Electronic submissions should conform to the two-page, double-spaced guideline described above. Include a cover page with your name, date of birth, school and grade in 2015, parent or guardian’s name, address and telephone number. • The deadline is Jan. 30, 2015. Emailed entries should be directed to [email protected], and hard-copy entries mailed to: Youth Tour Essay Contest, Northern Plains Electric Cooperative, 3322 Hwy. 281 North, Jamestown, ND 58401. • If you have a question, contact Katie Ryan-Anderson, Northern Plains Electric, at the address listed above, or call 701-252-1474 during regular business hours. N O R TH ER N N O TES , D EC EMB ER 2 0 1 4 C7 NORTHERN PLAINS Electric Cooperative N www.nplains.com [email protected] 800-882-2500 CANDO OFFICE: 609 4th Ave., Cando, ND 58324 CARRINGTON OFFICE: 1515 West Main, Carrington, ND 58421 Dale Auka Rylen Wick Congratulations to Dale Auka and Rylen Wick! B oth boys are winners of the 2014 Color & Win Farm Safety Contest. Northern Plains Electric Cooperative randomly selected Dale and Rylen as our contest winners. Dale and Rylen helped remind farmers to “Look Up & Live.” Dale, age 12, is the son of Stephanie and Russell Auka, Mylo. Rylen, age 8, is the son of Mary and Trevor Wick, Woodworth. As the winners, Dale and Rylen will receive NPEC prize packages in the mail. Thank you, Dale and Rylen, for spreading the word about farm safety. As a rural electric cooperative, farmers and farm workers are close to Northern Plains Electric’s heart. Stay safe! n SAVE SAVETHEDATE NORTHERN PLAINS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE 2015 DISTRICT MEETINGS TUESDAY, FEB. 10, Rolla WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11, Maddock THURSDAY, FEB. 12, Pingree MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.NPLAINS.COM C8 DEC E M B E R 2 0 1 4 , NORT HE RN NOT E S OFFICE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. BOARD & MANAGEMENT: President ......................................................... Tracy Boe, Mylo Vice president ................................................. Curtis Wiesz, Heaton Secretary/treasurer ......................................... Randall Simon, Oberon Assistant Secretary/treasurer ......................... Dave Teigen, Rugby District 1 .......................................................... Mark Brehm, Cando District 1 .......................................................... Bruce Oisen, Cando District 3 .......................................................... Russell Carlson, Jamestown District 3 .......................................................... Jack Geske, Pingree District3 ........................................................... Curtis Hanson, Pettibone Co-General Managers .................................... Darrin Sand Bruce Garber Manager of Engineering ................................ Seth Syverson IT Manager ...................................................... Scott Buchholtz Operations Manager ....................................... Craig Rysavy Business Manager .......................................... Cheryl Belle Director of Business Development ................. JoAnn Rodenbiker Northern Notes Editor ..................................... Katie Ryan-Anderson NORTHERN PLAINS Electric Cooperative www.nplains.com
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