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1,100 Attend 69th Annual Meeting in Chillicothe Billy Campbell, wins big screen TV; 573 members register Tuesday, June 5 at the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center
Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center Approximately 1,100 people of all ages attended the 69th Annual Meeting of Farmers' Electric Cooperative June 5 at the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center in Chillicothe. A total of 573 members were registered at the meeting. It was the largest number of registered members since the 2001 annual meeting, when 588 registered for the meeting. Member-owners of the cooperative re-elected one member to the Farmers' Electric board of directors and heard reports on the cooperative's activities in the previous year, as well as information pertaining to electric rates in the future. FEC attorney Lloyd Cleaveland was also recognized by the board of directors for his years of service to the cooperative. Re-elected to FEC's board by acclimation was Ray Shields, Meadville. Shields is the board's District 6 representative in Linn County.
"The days of cheap energy are probably gone forever," noted Ron Cornett, FEC's Board President, in his message to the members. "It will be wise to economize in the future. "Cornett cited the increased expenses to the cooperative's power supplier in generating electricity, including increased costs in purchasing coal, transporting the coal from Wyoming to the cooperative power plants at Thomas Hill and New Madrid, and materials in providing and maintaining the cooperative electrical grid across Missouri, as just a few reasons regarding rate increases that are occurring for FEC. "These are costs that are beyond the control of the board," Cornett said. Cornett also discussed the increased environmental costs, due to changes in environmental regulations, that have cost the cooperatives in Missouri over $1 billion since the early1990's."Think about the energy you waste," Cornett stressed. "The unnecessary trips you take in your automobile. Or, driving a truck instead of a car, or driving when you could have walked somewhere. "Cornett urged the members in attendance to "winterize your homes, turn down your thermostats in the winter and turn them up in the summer. Again, be wise…economize." FEC's Chief Executive Officer, Mike Sanders focused his remarks on electric rates and the need to become more energy efficient in the homes and businesses served by Farmers' Electric. "Rates are going up, as we've been telling you for the last three years, "Sanders said. "We will not have stable rates like we had for most of the last 15 years.” "Nobody likes rate increases," continued Sanders. "You don't like them, the board doesn't like them and the employees don't like them. Yet, we are not alone in dealing with this issue. This is a nationwide problem." Sanders emphasized the cooperative was doing everything it could to minimize the rate increases to its members. "However, we do need to meet certain financial requirements to satisfy our lenders and we do need to maintain our strong maintenance program, such as trimming trees, to provide you with reliable power, "Sanders said. Sanders' remaining remarks focused on the need of the membership to become more energy efficient. "You can help us reduce the demand for electricity and to stabilize your electric bills by using it wisely," Sanders said. Sanders cited the use of compact fluorescent lighting, buying Energy Star appliances, adding insulation in the attics of homes, caulking around windows and doors, and adjusting thermostats in the winter and summer. He urged members to join up for the cooperative's Switch Team, which allows the cooperative to control electric water heaters and air conditioners during peak usage times. "This will help to reduce our cost of power, which, in turn, will help to keep your electric bills lower," explained Sanders. "Reduce your energy usage between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the hottest and coldest days of the year. This will make a difference. "Sanders announced that the cooperative would be providing home energy audits for its members later in the year. Details on the home energy audits would be announced in future issues of the Rural Missouri magazine, Sanders said. Guest speaker Don McQuitty, CEO of N.W. Electric Power Cooperative, Cameron, focused his presentation on current generating assets in Missouri that are owned by the rural electric cooperatives and the need for more generation in the near future. McQuitty specifically discussed the cost differences in the wide variety of generation facilities owned and operated by Associated Electric Cooperative, the power provider for FEC. "It is much cheaper to generate electricity with coal than with gas," said McQuitty. The number cited by McQuitty showed coal to be two to three times cheaper in generating power than natural gas. "This is why we need that new power plant down at Norborne," McQuitty concluded.
I want to thank all of you who were able to attend the June 5 Annual Meeting of your cooperative. We had a large crowd in attendance and for those of you who did attend I hope you found the meeting entertaining and informative. For those of you who couldn't make the Annual Meeting a variety of topics were covered. Most of the information presented by myself, FEC Board President Ron Cornett, and N.W. Electric Power Cooperative CEO Don McQuitty pertained to electric rates and energy efficiency. At the 2004 Annual Meeting of your cooperative and in this publication since that meeting, we have provided you with the simple fact that FEC will be undergoing a series of rate increases over the next decade. This follows an unprecedented14-year period in which we did not raise our electric rate to you and did, in fact, lower our electric rate in 1995.What can you do as a member to help yourself and your cooperative? First, you must become more energy efficient in your daily activities. This doesn't mean you have to make huge changes in the way that you choose to live. Sometimes it just means making better energy choices or performing a few simple tasks to improve the efficiency of your home. For example, later this year your cooperative will be able to offer a Home Energy Audit to you. The Home Energy Audit will show where air infiltrates your home, which hurts the heating and cooling efficiency of the house. Specific recommendations will follow from cooperative employees who will have been trained and certified to conduct these audits. Take advantage of this opportunity to help yourself. There will be more information provided to you on these pages in future issues of the Rural Missouri magazine. Energy efficiency can mean a significant financial savings to you every month. At the same time your cooperation in joining our Switch Team, which lowers your cooperative's demand payment, does have an impact on the bill you pay each month. There are several things you can do immediately to help yourself and the cooperative. Switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Replace your older appliances with Energy Star appliances. Caulk around windows and door entrances. Check to see if you have enough insulation in the attic (R-49 is recommended). Energy efficiency is a topic that is not going to go away. As a member-owner of this cooperative, you can do something about your monthly kilowatt hour usage. Together, we have the power to make a difference. You Could Be The Lucky Person To Win A 52-Inch
RCA Big Screen TV! Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. with the Annual Meeting being called to order promptly at 7 p.m.
DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR REGISTRATION CARD! Also featuring... *1,000 Dairy Queen Ice Cream Sandwiches * Registration Gifts * Bucket & CFL Bulbs, Fuel Expresso gift * 52-inch Big Screen TV * Flat Screen TV prize * Switch Team * Kids Fun Zone * Touchstone Energy * Culligan Water * Dish Network * Board Election * FEC History Book * Homeguard Defender * Contractor Booths
We
Hope to See You June 5 It has been nearly a year since I replaced Dan Bryan as the CEO of Farmers' Electric. We have made several changes in that time, including completing our Automatic Meter Reading program. This program was completed nearly a year earlier than scheduled. Besides saving you from having to read the meter, the AMR program provides the Cooperative assistance in locating the source of a power outage, tracking usage patterns, and monitoring the number of blinks that occur so that we might be able to correct problems. Other changes include switching our bill format from a postcard bill to a letter-type bill, and revising our water heater and heat pump programs. And, there are more changes to take place in the not too distant future. All of these changes were made to provide you with better service or to improve the financial condition of the cooperative. On June 5, Farmers' Electric will have your Annual Meeting at the Chillicothe High School. More details on this meeting can be found in this month's Rural Missouri. This year when you register, you will receive a hardback copy on the history of Farmers’ Electric. We hope that you can attend the Annual Meeting and learn more about what is going on at your cooperative. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Steve Shoot The 69th Annual Meeting of Farmers’ Electric Cooperative will be held Tuesday, June 5, at the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center in Chillicothe. Every member who registers will receive the new hardcover copy “Rural Wonder, a History of Farmers’ Electric Cooperative,” as part of their registration gift package. Registration for the meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Board President Ron Cornett will call the meeting to order at 7 o’clock. One director will be elected to the cooperative’s board of directors. The cooperative’s Committee on Nominations met April 10, nominating Ray F. Shields, representing District No. 6, which covers the cooperative’s service territory in Linn County. The 2008 Committee on Nominations will also be elected at the June 5 meeting. The business meeting will include presentations by Cornett, CEO Mike Sanders and FEC attorney Lloyd Cleaveland. “While we always feel each Annual Meeting is important for our members to attend, we have entered a period in which the energy market as a whole has become more volatile,” said Sanders. “It is important for our members to understand that we will be presenting information that will impact them financially in the future.” Prior to the cooperative’s business meeting, members who register will receive a bucket with several compact fluorescent bulbs, a go-cup, plus a $10 gift certificate good at the Fuel Expresso convenience store in Chillicothe, and other items which will save members money at the convenience store and Dairy Queen. Members can also enjoy a DQ ice cream sandwich in the commons area of the high school. At the conclusion of the Annual Meeting over 50 prizes will be given away, including four televisions, one of which is a 52-inch RCA big screen TV. Members who attend the June 5 meeting will also have an opportunity to check out a variety of FEC booths and displays, which will be located in the foyer of the Performing Arts Center. Additional booths will be located in the commons area of the high school, including information on FEC Services, plus a number of area heating and cooling contractors will also be in attendance. A concession stand will be in operation in the high school commons area, as well. Sandwiches, chips, pies and soft drinks will be available for purchase from a local 4-H chapter. Once the business meeting begins, the Chillicothe FCCLA chapter will provide a Kids Fun Zone for the younger members of the cooperative. |
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Following the
presentations by Cornett, Sanders and McQuitty, the cooperative's attorney
conducted the election of the Committee on Nominations for 2008. Elected to the
committee were Kenneth Lee, Dennis Farmers, James A. Waters, Vernon Williams, Charlotte Miller,
Judy Holcer and Dennis Widhalm. At the conclusion of the committee elections, Cornett
surprised Cleaveland with a unique plaque, citing Cleaveland's 50 years of
service to the cooperative. Cleaveland received a standing ovation from the large crowd in
attendance. Billy Campbell, Braymer, won the 52-inch big screen television. Ron
Surber, Wheeling, won a 37-inch plasma television, donated by North Missouri
Construction, Chillicothe. Over 70 prizes were given away at the conclusion of
the business meeting. The 2008 Annual Meeting will beheld Tuesday, June 3.
INFILTRATING YOUR HOME