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Happy Retirement to Todd Blocker

Over the course of almost three decades, Todd Blocker has dedicated his career to the electric cooperative world. The last 13 of those 27 years have been spent with the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association as the director of member services. Blocker will retire January 2025.

“Todd’s impact on our cooperatives is not just in what he did, it will show itself for years through what he has done,” Mike Knotts, CEO of TECA, says. “He has a tremendous love for young people, and by providing young leaders from all across the state the opportunity to learn more about their co-op, their state, their nation and themselves he has truly helped mold the next generation.”

A major part of Blocker’s role was helping with the Washington Youth Tour where students in cooperative areas write a short story and the winners explore our nation’s capital during a six-day, all-expense paid trip.

“I worked on 13 youth tours, went on 10, and missed two (everyone did) due to COVID,” Blocker says. “I have personally been on tour with over 1,800 student delegates and cooperative chaperones.”

Helping cooperatives and their service areas during disaster was another key aspect of Blocker’s service. Over his time, he helped with approximately 26 hurricanes as well as countless tornadoes and ice storms throughout the Valley.

“Even after long hours of coordinating crew movements to assist cooperatives when disasters hit, you can always count on Todd to bring a positive attitude and a smile for everyone around him,” Knotts says.

When asked what Blocker will miss most about his time with TECA, he said the answer was simple.

“It has been a true privilege to serve as part of the electric cooperative family,” Blocker says. “I will always cherish the countless experiences and the lasting relationships I’ve built with our members, as well as with my extended family and friends over the years.”

BJ Bernard has joined the TECA team as the incoming vice president of member services.

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Connecting During the Holiday Season

Caney Fork Electric Cooperative has “decked the halls” and “brought some corn for popping” this month as it hosted Christmas Open House events. Every year the cooperative puts forth the effort to connect with members during the holiday season. Members across the service area can visit all four decorated locations in Smithville, Sparta, Spencer and McMinnville. Not only are members able to see the offices and faces behind the scenes, but they also have the opportunity to give canned foods and receive cookbooks in return.

“After the pandemic, we decided to turn it into a giving and receiving event since so many were struggling,” Angel Wood, CFEC’s communications coordinator says. “We knew our employees and members were up for the challenge.”

The challenge also helped bring attendance numbers back up. The idea of the open house was spurred from meetings that took place in the 1940s and 1950s.

“The concept was a throwback to when co-ops had home economists that would demonstrate the latest in electric appliances,” John Chisam, CFEC’s director of member services, says.

Duck River Electric Membership Corporation was doing something similar at the time and both the former director of member services and marketing coordinator at CFEC decided to bring something similar back home. The event kicked off in 1991 and was originally called “Holiday Festive Foods”. Recipes have been involved ever since.

As years went on, attendance declined at the event as the older generation stayed home at night and younger ones used their phones to find recipes. The size of the event has been scaled down to afternoons at the office rather than an evening party, and now members have a purpose – to help those in need.

“So far, the numbers at each office for attendance have held steady for this new concept,” Chisam says. “We are still giving out about 2,500 or so books each year.”

The cookbook is special this year as it encompasses the theme of “Nostalgic Noel”, including recipes from throughout the history of The Tennessee Magazine.

“We pulled and compiled all of these recipes, with the help of the TECA staff, and we truly hope our members will love reflecting on a simpler time,” Wood says. “Many of our members have the full collection of cookbooks and think they are worth more than gold.”

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Happy Retirement to Ron Bell

For 30 years, Ron Bell has helped craft and design some 360 editions of The Tennessee Magazine. Since 1994, Bell has served the magazine as well as the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association as art director and will retire January 2025.

“Ron has been an asset for The Tennessee Magazine and the state’s electric cooperatives,” Chris Kirk, editor of The Tennessee Magazine, says. “His talents are seen in magazine sections, feature story layouts, illustrations, ads, posters, T-shirts, certificates — even co-op logos.”

Needless to say, Bell has done it all creatively during his time with the association, including an iconic staple in the publication.

“I hide the flag,” Bell jokingly says about what he has done over the last three decades.

Aside from the creativity, Bell has made lifelong friendships in the cooperative world and says that’s what he will remember and miss the most.

“I may have to pop in the office from time to time just to share a joke or two,” Bell says.

The staff at The Tennessee Magazine will greatly miss Bell, but thankfully the publication hasn’t seen the last of him, or Antsy McClain, as he plans to continue his My Tennessee Notebook column.

“We wish him years of relaxation, creativity and adventure in retirement,” Kirk says.

And of course, you can continue to follow along with Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours at unhitched.com.

“I enjoy my career in music, which I will be continuing,” Bell says. “I’ll keep traveling around the country, as well as Canada and Europe, playing music as I have since 1992.”

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Annual Meeting Wrap Up

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s 83rd annual meeting has come and gone, and it was nothing short of a success.

“This year’s annual meeting was a resounding success at the new venue,” Dan Rodamaker, TECA’s board chairman, says. “The changes in the agenda with a reception instead of a dinner were well accepted by the membership.”

More than 350 electric cooperative leaders embraced the changes this year. The meeting took place the week before Thanksgiving on Sunday, Nov. 17 through Tuesday Nov. 19 and it was held at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs for the first time. A new agenda was also in place, including breakout sessions and a grand reception. This allowed members to cover more ground, fellowship with one another and enjoy some good food and entertainment.

The unveiling of a new logo for The Tennessee Magazine, a panel discussion on how the Rose family balances political office while raising kids and thoughts on leadership from UT Baseball coach, Tony Vitello, all helped energize every moment at the annual event.

Energizing every moment happened to be the theme of this year’s meeting. Jessica Toliver, the community and member engagement specialist at Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, was the emcee for the three-day gathering and thought the event fit the theme well.

“The 2024 TECA Annual Meeting lived up to the theme – energizing every moment,” Toliver says. “Each session was as informative, and it was engaging.”

During Monday’s lunch, the 2024 Washington Youth Tour Delegates were recognized: Yuridia Garcia, Tennessee’s Cooperative Youth Ambassador and the $10,000 scholarship winner, Charlsie Strech, the 1st place winning essay and the $3,000 scholarship winner, Eli Jones, the 2nd place winning essay and the $2,000 scholarship winner and Allison Hoesel, Tennessee’s Youth Leadership Council Representative.

“That moment truly touched my heart, hearing from the Washington Youth Tour delegates,” Toliver says. “These students are quite likely the next generation of electric cooperative members and leaders and seeing them so invested now makes me optimistic for the future.”

The future is something Rodamaker is looking forward to especially with TECA’s 84th annual meeting being held at the same location on No. 16-18, 2025.

“It has been my honor to serve the member cooperatives as the board chairman over the last year,” Rodamaker says. “I look forward to serving the members in the upcoming year with a focus on accomplishing many of our strategic plan goals and objectives.”

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