CHELCO News
March 2016
Vol. 21 | No. 3
Join us at the 75th annual meeting
Please join CHELCO for food, fun and prizes at
our 75th anniversary celebration and annual
meeting on Saturday, April 16.
Inside
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A lineman’s life:
Growing up with a
cooperative heart.
Savings: Co-op
Connections card offers
local and national
discounts.
Anniversary: A
roaming exhibit of
CHELCO’s history.
Onlinenow
Paperless Billing: Sign-up
for paperless billing during the
month of March, and you will
be entered to win one of 10 bill
credits worth $50 each.
Find us @chelco1941 on
YouTube for videos on
electricity and your MyCHELCO
cooperative.
March 2016 CHELCO News.indd 1
There will be sausage biscuits and donuts,
exhibits, a high-voltage electrical safety
demonstration and a drawing for door
prizes. For the children, CHELCO will provide
a bounce house and maze, plus a special
drawing for children’s prizes and face painting.
Special activities this year include the
Touchstone Energy hot air balloon, a video
on the history of CHELCO, a 75th anniversary
Depending on the weather, there will be
cutting board gift for each membership and
a limited number of tethered rides in the
special entertainment. The award-winning
Niceville High jazz band will appear before the Touchstone Energy hot air balloon.
meeting. The Niceville
Registration opens at 9 a.m.,
High marching band,
with the Niceville jazz band
which includes
playing at 9:30 a.m. The
the jazz band, will
CHELCO history video will be
appear in the 2017
at 10:30 a.m., followed by the
Tournament of Roses
business meeting at 10:45 a.m.
Parade. We also will
At the business meeting, there
have a local storyteller
will be reports from the board
who recreates Franklin
president and CEO, as well as
D. Roosevelt talk to us
the announcement of election
about the founding of
results.
electric cooperatives
when rural areas had
We can’t wait to see you there!
no electricity.
Touchstone Energy hot air balloon
Embrace social media with CHELCO
Social media is a part of most people’s
daily lives. Don’t hide from it; embrace it
with CHELCO’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,
Instagram and more!
Becoming a part of CHELCO’s network allows
you access to information on outages, events,
energy tips, news and contests first. It is just
another perk of being a CHELCO member. Any
member who likes or follows CHELCO on any
social media outlet throughout the month of
March will be entered in a drawing to win a
$50 bill credit. Share any
CHELCO page with your
friends and followers, and
you will be entered three
times! #winning
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2/16/2016 9:03:20 AM
A lineman’s life
Growing up with a cooperative heart is what makes BJ put members first
CHELCO is featuring our linemen as a
beginning to an ongoing series of stories
about our employees.
in the linemen rodeos for years, enjoying
the fun, competition and practice.
CHELCO history runs deep with BJ,
from family to career. His own beloved
grandmother, Ovela Ealum, signed up as
the 141st member. The cooperative spirit
is part of why BJ has so much of his heart
at CHELCO.
DeFuniak Springs but wanted a career
working outdoors that would provide
security for the family they wanted to
have.
BJ landed a meter reader job with
CHELCO, and just a short four months
led to a lineman apprenticeship. It had
been a few years since he was in school,
and BJ leaned on senior linemen and
others for help during his four-year
apprenticeship program. CHELCO is like
a family, and in a dangerous job such as
line work, you have to trust and protect
each other. Three grown boys and four
grandkids later, he still leans on his family
at CHELCO.
BJ met best friend and future wife
Johnnie Kay in high school, and they
have been inseparable ever since. He
was working at Summerlin Auto Parts in
After 26 years, there probably isn’t a pole
on the system he hasn’t touched. He still
drinks coffee out of his 50th anniversary
cup, when it’s washed. He participated
But still, little has changed in the way the
co-op provides safe, reliable power to the
members. And members always come
first. And, that will never change.
BJ Ealum’s family attended CHELCO
annual meetings at Camp Timpoochee
every year. He remembers it like
yesterday: a large crowd of members
enjoying electric co-op fellowship.
He has worked in all weather, all hours of
the day, all over the system and restored
power to thousands of members.
Sometimes, he missed a ball game or
awards ceremony, and Johnnie Kay was
strong for the family so he could work to
keep the lights on.
When BJ reflected on what’s different
since CHELCO’s 50th and this year’s 75th
anniversaries, growth in membership
and improved technology are among the
apparent changes.
InBrief
CHELCO ballot packages will be mailed this month
CHELCO to host charity golf event
The 2016 Board of Trustees election ballots will be mailed after
March 11. Please keep an eye out for yours.
CHELCO will host a charity golf tournament March 18 at
Blackstone Golf Course in Mossyhead.
Members will elect trustees for Districts 2, 4, and 6. Incumbents
Terry Pilcher and Gerald Edmonson, Districts 2 and 6
respectively, do not have opponents. District 4 incumbent
James Hagan will face previous board member Dewyne
Douglass. Additionally, nominations by petition were still
possible at deadline for CHELCO News. If there are additional
candidates, they will be listed on the election materials.
Candidate biographies will be included in the packet.
The four-person scramble will be $350 per team, which includes
lunch. Hole sponsorships are $50. Registration and lunch start
at 11:30 a.m. with tee times at 1 p.m. All proceeds will benefit
the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and American
Heart Association Heart Walk events, which are supported by
volunteer employee teams from CHELCO. It will be a fun-filled
day supporting two great causes!
The ballot packet will include CHELCO annual meeting
information, the ballot and a self-addressed, postage-paid
envelope to make voting easy and convenient. All ballots must
be received no later than April 11, and the election results will
be shared at the annual meeting.
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CHELCO funds teacher grants for
Okaloosa County school teachers
CHELCO donated $6,000 to the Okaloosa County Education
Foundation to fund teacher grants and other school-related
projects. Six teachers from Baker School and Bluewater Bay
Elementary will receive 2016 CHELCO teacher grants.
This newsletter is published monthly to provide information on news, events, services, energy advice and safety tips to the member/owners of CHELCO.
Comments and questions should be directed to newsletter@chelco.com or (850) 892-2111.
March 2016 CHELCO News.indd 2
March 2016 CHELCO News
2/16/2016 9:03:21 AM
Insights
Sure annual meeting is fun...
But you also get to learn more
about the business you own
CHELCO is gearing up for its 2016 annual
meeting, which is a special time for co-op
members to gather, share experiences,
enjoy some entertainment and hear from
co-op leadership. This year, with it being
the 75th annual meeting, the event will
be even more special.
CHELCO employees work hard to host
this fun event, and we encourage you
to attend with your family and enjoy
yourself as a member of an electric
cooperative. We know you look
forward to the food, entertainment
and prizes. This year we will have a few
special additions to the meeting. The
Touchstone Energy hot air balloon will
be there, weather permitting, and we
are giving our members a special 75th
anniversary cutting board as a gift. We
also created a video on our corporate
history to share our story with members.
Of course, we provide entertainment,
prizes and activities for the kids every
year.
CHELCO’s annual meeting is an
opportunity to learn more about what
the co-op is doing to ensure you have
safe, reliable and affordable electricity.
The results of the election for the Board
of Trustees will be announced as well.
Your electric cooperative is not owned
by far-away investors, and it is not run by
an appointed board of directors. CHELCO
is governed by a democratically elected
board that is given the privilege to serve
because of your vote. You will receive a
mail ballot in March, so please review the
information and send in your vote by the
deadline indicated.
STEVE RHODES
Chief Executive Officer
So, at this year’s annual meeting, not
only will you have a blast (and maybe
win a prize!), but also you will feel
good knowing that you are part of a
membership that impacts one of our
most vital resources, electricity.
From all of your friends at CHELCO, we
hope to see you April 16 at the annual
meeting. Remember you are a memberowner, and we are all MyCHELCO!
Co-op Connections card offers local and national discounts
Co-op Connections discount cards are a
just another benefit of being a member
of this co-op. Dozens of local businesses,
plus thousands nationally, offer discounts
to co-op members.
Sleep Inn & Suites is offering 10 percent
off its best available rate. TripAdvisor
rated the DeFuniak Springs location
number one in Florida out of 383 hotels,
according to Manager Austin Pace.
Thank you to Air Services of America LLC,
with locations in Panama City and Vernon,
and Sleep Inn & Suites in DeFuniak Springs
for signing up and offering even more
great discounts locally for our members.
If you don’t have your Co-op Connections
card, call today, and we will mail you
one. If you are a business that would
like to offer CHELCO’s 47,000 members
a discount, we would love to explain the
free program. Call CHELCO’s marketing
department at 850-892-2111. Check out
chelco.com under programs and services
tab, then Co-op Connections card. You
CHELCO members can receive 10 percent
off at Air Services of America on labor and
parts with their Co-op Connections card.
can also check out the link to find out all
the local and national deals.
The savings add up!
CHELCO is governed by a nine-member board of trustees: Pat Carlyle, District 1; Terry Pilcher, District 2; Jim Bishop, District 3; James Hagan, Assistant
Secretary/Treasurer, District 4; Ronald Jones, President, District 5; Gerald Edmondson, Vice President, District 6; Bert Prutzman, District 7; Gayle Hughes,
Secretary/Treasurer, District 8; Burt Cosson, District 9.
March 2016 CHELCO News
March 2016 CHELCO News.indd 3
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2/16/2016 9:03:22 AM
POSITIVEEnergy
Energy Advisor
Tina Rushing
Spring clean for
energy efficiency
Spring cleaning can translate to creating
a home that is more energy efficient.
Follow these tips from Touchstone
Energy’s Together We Save program as
the days get longer and warmer:
•
Change filters regularly. Change
furnace and air conditioner filters
monthly. Dirty filters restrict air flow
and reduce the overall efficiency of
your heating and cooling system
by making it work harder on hot
summer days.
•
Clean the refrigerator inside and
out. Check the temperature settings
on your refrigerator. Ideally, a
refrigerator’s temperature should
be between 37 and 40 degrees for
maximum operating efficiency. Dust
the vent to ensure it’s running at top
notch efficiency.
•
•
Think sun block. By pulling down the
shades on your windows this spring
and summer, you could save about
$35 a year. Your house will stay cool
and comfortable year-round.
Enjoy spring breezes. Use a
clothesline during warmer months
and let sunlight and breezes dry
clothes naturally. This will reduce
your electric bill by not running a
dryer, and add a genuine clean scent
to your family’s laundry.
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March 2016 CHELCO News.indd 4
CHELCO’s 75th anniversary display will be located at the Florida Chautauqua Association’s exhibit
hall located at 1290 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, through mid-March. Some of the display
items include a photograph viewer, meter base with original seal, Willie Wirehand and various
kitchen and grooming gadgets. Take a tour and enjoy seeing some really neat things gathered
by our community for this celebration of light. CHELCO thanks the many employees and trustees,
community members and local organizations for providing many great items for the display.
Tip of the month
Water heating accounts for 14-25% of
the energy your home consumes. Set the
temperature to warm (120°F) to save energy.
March 2016 CHELCO News
2/16/2016 9:03:22 AM