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How Pocket Change Can Change the Community (and the Co-op)

Cooperatives are special because they are owned by the consumers they serve and guided by a set of seven principles that reflect the best interest of those consumers. Two of those principles are having concern for the community and education, training and information. Mountain Electric Cooperative is exemplifying both principles through their Operation Pocket Change (OPC) program.

OPC is a voluntary round-up program that helps local organizations and members during difficult times through the generosity of the co-op. Members can choose to round up their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar amount. The extra pocket change flows into a special fund that is managed by a board of volunteer members who have a desire to help the service area. To date, more than $2 million has been provided to the community as a result. A quarter of those contributions are designated for scholarships. This fall MEC awarded 43 $1,000 scholarships and one of the recipients is currently attending lineman school.

Another way MEC serves the youth in the community is through their annual career day.

“The high school students take a field trip to our facilities where they climb poles, take bucket truck rides, operate equipment and talk to our employees about what an average day at MEC is like,” said Sally Snyder, MEC’s director of member services.

Logan Barnett received the OPC scholarship, attended the annual career day and is now in MEC’s apprenticeship program.

“Operation Pocket Change helped me get to the dream job I have today,” Barnett said. “I don’t know if I’d been able to do it without it!”

Over the years, more than ten of MEC’s current employees received this scholarship or attended the cooperative’s annual career day.

“It has been amazing to see the amount of employees we have now that attended as a high school student,” Snyder said. “I absolutely love this program and how much it has changed our communities with just a small amount of pocket change.”

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Meeting Tennessee’s Lawmakers and Youth Where They Are

A grand champion ham, Trace Adkins and the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association all played a role in supporting the future of agriculture at the Tennessee State Fair this year. More than 1,200 people were in attendance and helped raise $221,100 for the youth organization at the 9th Annual Tennessee State Fair FFA Ham Breakfast. TECA was a proud blue-ribbon sponsor of the event and was able to meet both lawmakers and youth where they were.

“The Tennessee FFA Ham Breakfast has been a transformational event since it began,” said Ryan King, TECA’s vice president of government affairs. “TECA on behalf of its members is a proud supporter of the event, but more than that, we believe it is important to demonstrate our support for Tennessee FFA, Tennessee 4-H and Tennessee lawmakers through year-round engagement. We believe there is no better way to invest in Tennessee’s rural communities.”

The Tennessee Grand Champion Country Ham was sold during a live auction and went for $25,000. Farm equipment dealer, H&R Agri-Power, seed company, Beck’s and Catesa Farms in Riddleton, served by Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, teamed up to make the winning bid. A Packer Style Ham was also auctioned off and sold for $18,500. The Tennessee Farm Bureau, the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, CPC Commodities and ProTrition made that purchase together. Both hams have been donated back to the FFA to be sold during a private event at a later time.

An exciting twist this year was keynote speaker and country music artist, Trace Adkins. Adkins was the president of his FFA chapter in Sarepta, La. and lost his blue corduroy jacket in a house fire years ago. With the help of the National FFA organization and his wife though, he received a replacement jacket, which he wore during the FFA Ham Breakfast.

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Hale to Succeed Thompson as Tri-County Electric CEO

The Tri-County Electric Cooperative board of directors has selected Glenn Hale to succeed Paul Thompson as CEO of the cooperative. Hale, who has served the co-op as Director of Finance and Administration since September 2001, will assume the role of CEO on Sept. 1, 2024.

“I am thankful for the opportunity the board of directors is giving me to lead Tri-County Electric. I look forward to working with the board and our employees as we strive to provide affordable and reliable electric and broadband services to the member-owners we serve,” said Hale. “I want to thank Paul for his dedication and service to Tri-County Electric for the last 26 years, 23 as the Chief Executive Officer. On a personal note, I thank Paul for giving me the opportunity 23 years ago to join the Tri-County Electric family. Being able to work close to home for a wonderful organization has been a huge blessing to me and my family. I appreciate Paul’s support and guidance that I believe has helped prepare me for this new challenge. Most importantly, I thank him for his friendship!”

Thompson will serve as executive consultant and focus on a smooth CEO transition and broadband deployment in Kentucky until his official retirement in March 2025. “The board of directors and I look forward to supporting Glenn’s leadership as we build upon our strong history of delivering value to our employees and member-owners of Tri-County Electric,” he said.

Board President Mark Linkous added, “We are confident that under Glenn’s guidance, Tri-County Electric will continue to deliver safe, reliable electricity and broadband services to our member-owners at the lowest possible cost.”

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Knotts addresses TVA board

Florence, AL – Today the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors held a public listening session at the Marriott Shoals Hotel Conference Center. Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, addressed the board during the listening session, and a readout of his comments is below.

Marriott Shoals Hotel Conference Center | Florence, AL | 2:00 p.m. CST

 

Good afternoon. My name is Mike Knotts, and I serve as the CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association.

I appear here today on behalf of TECA’s 25 member local power companies who collectively serve consumers in 6 of the 7 states TVA calls home. Cooperatives are private sector, not for profit companies and TECA’s members own and operate over $6B worth of assets. Their power bills comprise over 25% of TVA’s revenues – nearly $3 billion. In most cases, that wholesale power bill constitutes between 70-80% of the cooperative’s total revenue.

In your role as a fiduciary for TVA, I’d like to ask you to think through that last statistic with me. Right now, in your mind, imagine for yourself if three-quarters of TVA’s costs were spent on just one thing?

How much attention would you devote to understanding that single cost driver? How much would you task TVA’s management to become subject matter experts and obsess over that one expenditure? I imagine it might be the first item on your agenda, every meeting.

Given that short exercise, I think you can better understand that for TVA’s local power company customers, it’s not just good business to fully understand TVA’s operations, finances, and governance processes. It is essential for our survival.

I think you can better understand why organizations like TECA and TVPPA spend so much time and effort seeking to understand your vision.

And I think you can better understand why the decisions you make about wholesale electric rates aren’t just about seeing a spreadsheet balance or satisfying bond covenants. It’s about real impact on our local communities.

So I urge you to engage directly with your customers, hear our questions, and heed our counsel.

You know, Just like TVA, local power companies are built on the hard work, sweat, and determination of some wonderful people. In fact, even though our business is so capital intensive, employing people is one of the biggest expenses an electric co-op undertakes.

So as I conclude, I’d like to ask you to join me in acknowledging the sacrifices paid by group of people who have earned one of the most prestigious titles in our industry. “Lineworkers.”

Despite extensive training and well-designed precautions, line work is dangerous and sometimes the worst can happen. Just one month ago in Bean Station, Tenn., a fine man named Nate left his home to provide electricity to his community – just as he has done for years.

Nathan Potter suffered an accident that day that took his life. He leaves behind an inspiring legacy of faith and dedication to his family and friends. He also leaves behind a grieving wife, three young daughters, and a devastated community of fellow lineworkers.

On behalf of Appalachian Electric Cooperative and all of TECA’s members, please join me in a dedicating a moment of your time and your prayers to honoring these brave men and women who serve us so honorably.

Thank you.

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Chicks, Learning, & Robots: An Adopt-A-School Story

Applications are set to open soon for Meriwether Lewis’ Adopt-A-School program. Each year, MLEC awards $15,000 in classroom grants evenly distributed among the five school districts served by the co-op. Applications are considered by Meriwether Lewis employees, and three projects from each county receives $1,000 grants.

Last year, Erin Elementary School teachers Jamie Scism and Kelley Jones were two Houston County winners.

Scism used her grant to raise chickens in the classroom and teach students about the life cycle of animals. Through an egg incubator and local egg donations, 10 chicks hatched and were raised until they returned to their home farm.

Jones added a new way for her classroom to learn basic computer coding at a young age. She purchased five robots that students control through coding games and learn critical thinking skills to solve problems.

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Fayetteville Public Utilities’ Student Utility Board celebrates Awards Day

Fayetteville Public Utilities’ (FPU) Student Utility Board (SUB) celebrated their last meeting with an Awards Day on May 2. Students, parents and FPU employees gathered in FPU’s conference and community room to share a meal and to honor the student board.

FPU CEO/General Manager Britt Dye commended the students for their participation and dedication. He recognized the members of the student board with appreciation of service plaques. Appreciation awards were presented to India Bryson, Javon Fox and Eli Layne of Fayetteville High School and Saira Martinez, Avery Raby and Hayden Swinford of Lincoln County High School. Case Creson of Riverside Christian Academy was unable to attend the event.

Following the award presentations, Dye presented the FPU Student Utility Board Scholarship. The scholarship was awarded based on application and essay submissions as well as points earned throughout the year. This year’s scholarship recipient was Saira Martinez who plans to enroll at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Pulaski to earn her Dental Assistant certificate.

“It is an honor to get to share our knowledge and skills with the student board each year,” said Dye. “This year’s group participated and showed great interest in what we do at FPU. Not only did they learn from us, but we benefited from their innovative ideas and knowledge as well. As our student board nears graduation, it is an opportune time to remind them that success requires hard work, responsibility and accountability. No matter where they go in life, those three characteristics will serve them well. We wish the Student Utility Board and all 2024 graduates the best of luck in future endeavors.”

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Making Each Meeting Better Than the Last

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or some might say – especially in the cooperative world – the most tiring time of the year. Summer has come to an end, school is back in session, holidays are right around the corner and to top it off, it is annual meeting time. A time where local cooperatives come together to meet with members, handle official business, celebrate the year and what’s to come.

We spoke with annual meeting planners from a few Tennessee co-ops to learn about their planning process, the new things they are trying out and how they are working to best engage their members at this year’s event.

Caney Fork Electric Cooperative

Caney Fork Electric Cooperative has a little bit of time left to plan for their annual meeting. Each year the event is held on the Saturday before the third Sunday in October, which falls on October 19. This year members will vote on a couple of bylaw changes and one area has a contested election.

Of course, there is fun to be had at the meeting, too. The cooperative will have its normal BBQ lunch and entertainment. This year it will be a fan favorite band that is local to the area who has a following with both the younger and older members.

“We are striving to get our younger members to attend to better understand the importance of the cooperative and the value it brings to the rural communities in which they live,” John Chisam, Caney Fork Electric Cooperative’s director of member services, said.

Chickasaw Electric Cooperative

In the southwest corner of the Volunteer State, Chickasaw Electric Cooperative is gearing up for its annual meeting next month. Their team’s methods may be a bit different from most because its meeting is held virtually. The annual meeting is in the form of a video. It will be posted on the co-op’s YouTube channel on September 1 and be live for two weeks until September 15. Members from across the cooperative participate to make it a huge success, even with a silly blooper video to follow. Viewers can text a specific code to be entered to win a door prize.

“We started this in 2021, and it has been a huge hit with our membership,” Andrea Kee, Chickasaw Electric Cooperative’s communication specialist, said. “Our views grow each year.”

Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation

Moving one cooperative north, Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation is even closer to its annual meeting, which will be Friday, August 9. The co-op always has its yearly event on the second Friday of August, but planning, like many others, begins at the beginning of the year.

“We have a meeting with our department, executive staff and a couple others that are a huge help to start brainstorming ideas,” Kenley Mitchell, Southwest Tennessee Electric’s community relations specialist, said.

The planning includes the gift (this year, a cast iron skillet with the STEMC logo on the back), entertainment, door prizes and what they can do differently to better engage members. They have been actively engaging with members by explaining what and when the annual meeting is on social media, through The Tennessee Magazine, on their website and monthly bills. The cooperative works hard too to make sure the engagement is worth it by keeping the event fun for all ages through live music, free food and children’s activities.

“The annual meeting at STEMC is the marketing department’s most important task throughout the year. This is nearly a year-long, tiring project, but it is so rewarding to see the smiles on our members’ faces at the event,” Mitchell said. “Like most co-op’s, our numbers have dwindled since Covid. We do our best to make each meeting better than the last, and we are looking forward to seeing what this year brings.”

Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative

Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative is making the final planning touches on their annual meeting as it takes place on Thursday, August 8. They are celebrating their 85 anniversary, and as a commemoration of the co-op’s connection efforts over the years, they have created a show poster highlighting the beauty of the counties they serve.

SVEC is working with local industry Lodge Manufacturing to create custom skillets for their members. They are bringing in a local band to entertain guests at dinner, and they will have an ice cream truck on site to serve everyone’s favorite sweet treat. Most importantly, SVEC takes the busy season as a time to step back and reflect on the previous year.

“It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and not look at the monumental accomplishments that we in the electric utility industry make to ensure our members don’t have to worry when they flip the switch,” Kari Crouse, SVEC’s vice president of communications and business strategy, said.

This year the event will focus on the theme “There wouldn’t be an us without you”, which will be debuted at the meeting, in their annual report and echoed throughout all speeches.

“It’s not just the big moments that make up a legacy, it is powering Friday night lights so communities can come together to support their favorite team. It is the look on a child’s face when they learn the power behind the switch. It’s customizing community training to ensure our friends and family serving as first responders come home safe each day to their families,” Mike Partin, SVEC’s President and CEO, said. “It’s knowing that when you flip the switch we are there, because we know that there wouldn’t be us without a you.”

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Duck River Resumes Monthly Editions of The Tennessee Magazine

After sending the magazine to members quarterly for a few years, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation resumed monthly distribution of The Tennessee Magazine in August.

“For decades, Duck River Electric members have enjoyed receiving The Tennessee Magazine delivered to their mailboxes,” Anthony Kimbrough, DREMC board chairman, said. “And because many had expressed their fondness for reading the magazine on a more regular basis, the DREMC Board of Directors decided that the cooperative would again send monthly issues of the publication to members.”

A large part of that decision is because DREMC sees the magazine as one of the most effective communication pieces they have. 64,414 copies of the magazine went out across the Duck River Electric service area this month. When DREMC switched to only doing quarterly publications of the magazine, the timeliness of communicating with members was hindered.

 “The Tennessee Magazine is a critical communication and public relations tool from DREMC to our members as well as a fun and informative read,” Kimbrough adds.

DREMC members have much to look forward to with the August edition of the magazine and the co-op’s senior manager of administrative services, Kayla Young, couldn’t agree more.

“From the statewide feature stories to the recipes to searching for the hidden Tennessee flag and everything in between, The Tennessee Magazine includes something for every reader,” Young said. “We are always pleased when an article in the magazine spotlights someone, a business, or a location in the communities that DREMC serves. Along those lines, we hope that readers will enjoy learning about Davis Branch Blueticks located in Bedford County and its connection to the University of Tennessee’s mascot, “Smokey,” which is featured in the August 2024 issue.”

The Tennessee Magazine celebrates Tennessee’s remarkable people, places, food and events. This goal would not be achieved without the support of the 23 cooperatives that TECA serves in Tennessee. August was a great month for magazine circulation, with more than 775,000 copies published.

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Working Hand in Hand with TML

The Tennessee Municipal League held its 84th Annual Conference and Expo in Knoxville July 20–23. TECA joined TML as a platinum sustaining member sponsor in 2022.

TML is a non-profit association established by cities and towns within the Volunteer State. It serves as the voice of and advocate for 345 towns and cities. The main purpose of the organization is to help local officials create better cities, towns, laws and government for all Tennessee citizens.

“Relationships with local officials from throughout Tennessee are extremely important to electric cooperatives,” Ryan King, TECA’s vice president of government affairs and TECA’s representative at this year’s conference, said. “We work hand-in-hand to make sure essential needs of their citizens and our members are met.”

Sessions during this year’s conference focused on networking, economic development and streamlined operations. TVA CEO Jeff Lyash spoke in the second general session on the future of energy and energy generation.

 

A TML official introduces TVA’s Jeff Lyash during TML’s recent meeting in Knoxville.

“We work closely with one another to bring prosperity to our communities through economic development projects,” King said. “We value our relationship with all of Tennessee’s local officials and with our friends at the Tennessee Municipal League.”

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What to Know About NRECA’s Commitment to Zero Contacts Phase 2

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association has released a second phase to the Commitment to Zero Contacts initiative. In April 2018, NRECA, Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange and electric cooperative statewide safety leaders introduced the initiative to provide co-op leaders with ideas and resources to reduce serious injuries and fatalities due to electrical contact. Though accident numbers have improved, they still occur regularly. Phase 2 takes a more hands-on approach to reduce these numbers.

“Phase 2 is a deeper dive into the real day-to-day conditions within the cooperatives, workforce and process,” Michael Simmons, Director of the Tennessee Job Training and Safety program, said. “The initiative will take a hard, personal look at the true practice while the work is being done, rather than what the ideal or highest standard is.”

Phase 2 allows operational department leaders and their frontline teams to work together to assess the best safety practices. This will include input from employees, facilitation and a two-way discussion. The approach also includes a 13-question survey, facilitated planning session, summary report, plan implementation, monitoring and follow up.

“The benefit for the cooperative is the opportunity to determine what’s really going on and to make meaningful changes, if needed, so that we can literally get to zero accidents,” Simmons said.

Commitment to Zero Contacts Phase 2 is currently being piloted at co-ops across the nation. If you are interested in learning more or participating, visit cooperative.com.

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Tennessee’s electric co-ops, 4H sponsor STEM camp

KNOXVILLE – More than 150 sixth and seventh graders from across the state learned about energy, science and engineering during the 2024 4-H Electric Camp. The annual event was held on the campus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville on Tuesday, June 25 through Friday, June 28.

During the event, students rotated through STEM (science, technology engineering and math) earning centers that taught them to program robotics, wire an extension cord, fly a drone and design a model electric grid. Participants also learned about electrical safety and climbed inside an electric vehicle.

Electric camp is a partnership between 4-H, Tennessee’s cooperative and municipal electric utilities, the University of Tennessee, Tennessee State University, TVA and Tennessee Valley Robotics.

“STEM education is vital in preparing the next generation of innovators and problem solvers,” said Todd Blocker, vice president of member services for TECA and co-op representative on the planning committee. “The students who participated in this year’s 4-H Electric Camp demonstrated remarkable curiosity, creativity, and a strong commitment to learning. Their enthusiasm was inspiring and gives us great hope for the future.”

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Electric co-ops take Tennessee students to Washington, D.C.

Nashville – 139 high school juniors had the opportunity of a lifetime to spend a week in our nation’s capital as delegates of the 2024 Washington Youth Tour, a weeklong trip that began on Friday, June 14.

This annual event is sponsored by Tennessee’s electric cooperatives and the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. The students were selected for the trip by writing a short story titled “Co-ops Connect” that explains how co-ops connect Tennessee communities with energy, education, broadband, economic development and more.

“It’s so rewarding to see these students experience the nation’s capital and witness their growth throughout the week,” said Rachel Human, a chaperone from Plateau Electric Cooperative. “The Washington Youth Tour is not just a trip; it’s an investment in the future leaders of our communities.”

The Washington Youth Tour’s nonstop, seven-day itinerary is jam-packed with places to visit and experiences to give the Youth Tour delegates a trip that they will never forget. Highlights include a guided memorials tour around the city, visiting museums at the Smithsonian Institute, touring Washington’s Mount Vernon and Jefferson’s Monticello and taking a trip to Arlington National Cemetery. Delegates also got to see Washington, D.C., staples like the White House, U.S. Capitol and the Washington National Cathedral.

“The Washington Youth Tour is more than a trip,” said Todd Blocker, vice president of member services for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and tour director. “Transformative. Unforgettable. Life-changing. Whether the trip cultivates a love for history, leadership or active citizenship, we are empowering young minds to shape the future. Seeing the impact the trip has had on many over the years is awe-inspiring.”

While in D.C., winners were announced in the statewide competition for the Robert McCarty Memorial Scholarships. Charlsie Strech from Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative, Elijah Jones from Appalachian Electric Cooperative and Ayden Anderson from Gibson Electric Membership Corporation were awarded $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 Robert McCarty Memorial Scholarships for having the first, second and third place papers of the thousands of papers submitted across the state for this year’s contest. The scholarships are named in memory of Robert McCarty, an employee of Volunteer Energy Cooperative and longtime chaperone on the annual Youth Tour.

Yuridia Garcia, a senior from Appalachian Electric Cooperative, was awarded a $10,000 Cooperative Youth Ambassador Scholarship. Garcia was a 2023 delegate on the Washington Youth Tour. Delegates who remain engaged with their sponsoring cooperative during their senior year and complete certain community service requirements are eligible for the scholarship. Garcia’s name was randomly selected among the delegates from across the state who completed the requirements.

“An investment in the Washington Youth Tour delegates today is also an investment in the future of co-op communities across Tennessee,” said Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “The future is bright for this group of Youth Tour delegates. We are honored to be a part of supporting their academic journeys and look forward to seeing what the future has in store for them and the impact they will have on their communities.”

The Washington Youth Tour was inspired by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1957 when he encouraged electric cooperatives to send young people to the nation’s capital. Since then, more than 6,000 young Tennesseans have participated in the Washington Youth Tour as delegates.

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$16,000 in scholarships awarded to Tennessee students in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight Tennessee’s electric cooperatives awarded $16,000 in scholarships to Washington Youth Tour delegates in Washington, D.C.

Yuridia Garcia, a senior from Appalachian Electric Cooperative was awarded a $10,000 Cooperative Youth Ambassador Scholarship. Garcia was a 2023 delegate on the Washington Youth Tour. Delegates who remain engaged with their sponsoring cooperative during their Senior year and complete certain community service requirements are eligible for the scholarship. Garcia’s name was randomly selected from among the delegates from across the state who completed the requirements.

Charlsie Strech from Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative, Elijah Jones from Appalachian Electric Cooperative and Ayden Anderson from Gibson Electric Membership Corporation were awarded $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 Robert McCarty Memorial Scholarships for having the first, second and third place papers of the thousands of papers submitted across the state for this year’s contest. McCarty was an employee of Volunteer Energy Cooperative and long-time chaperone on the annual youth tour. McCarty lost a battle with cancer in 2015, and sponsoring cooperatives renamed the scholarship in honor of his love for young people.

Allison Hoesel, a delegate from Middle Tennessee Electric, was selected as Tennessee’s representative on NRECA’s Youth Leadership Council. Hosel will attend NRECA’s 2025 PowerXchange meeting in Atlanta, Georgia..

One hundred and thirty-nine high school Juniors from across the state are in the nation’s capital this week for the 2024 Washington Youth Tour. The annual event teaches students about public policy, history, leadership and electric cooperatives. The tour is coordinated by local electric cooperatives, the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

“Embracing the potential of these young individuals not only nurtures their growth but also secures the future of rural and suburban Tennessee,” expressed Todd Blocker, tour director and vice president of member services for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Envisioning the positive influence these talented youth will bring to their communities is truly exciting, and electric cooperatives take pride in supporting their educational pursuits.”

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2024 Washington Youth Tour Heads to Nation’s Capital

Nashville, TN – This morning, 185 high school juniors, teachers and co-op chaperones from across Tennessee left for the nation’s capital as part of the 2024 Washington Youth Tour. Sponsored by Tennessee’s consumer-owned electric cooperatives and the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, these students will spend the week learning about the nation’s government, history and public policy.

“We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for Tennessee’s young leaders,” said Todd Blocker, tour director and vice president of member services for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “The Washington Youth Tour is a life-changing experience that empowers students with knowledge about our government and inspires them to be active, informed citizens. Our electric co-ops are proud to support the growth and development of these exceptional young individuals.”

One of the participating students, Blake Goodman from DeKalb County High School and delegate from Caney Fork Electric Cooperative, shared her excitement about the trip. “I am excited to have this opportunity!” she said. “I’ve already made great friends, and I am super excited to learn more about our country’s history.”

The chaperones, who are employees of electric cooperatives across the state, play a crucial role in guiding and mentoring the students throughout the tour. Rachel Human, a chaperone from Plateau Electric Cooperative, expressed her enthusiasm for the program. “It’s so rewarding to see these students experience the nation’s capital and witness their growth throughout the week,” she said. “The Washington Youth Tour is not just a trip; it’s an investment in the future leaders of our communities.”

The Washington Youth Tour began over 50 years ago and demonstrates electric cooperative commitment to fostering leadership and education among young people. By providing this unique learning experience, Tennessee’s electric co-ops are helping to shape the next generation of informed, engaged citizens.

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Union University honors Matthew Keen with $10,000 Washington Youth Tour scholarship

JACKSON – Union University is pleased to announce that Matthew Keen of Halls, Tennessee, is the recipient of the school’s first $10,000 Washington Youth Tour Creative Writing Competition scholarship. Keen plans to attend Union University this fall.

“Matthew is an exceptionally bright young man, academically gifted and musically talented,” said Robbie Graves, Assistant Vice-President for Undergraduate Admissions at Union University. “We believe that he will thrive here and are so excited to keep this family’s Union legacy alive.”

Keen, a student from the Forked Deer Electric Cooperative service territory, had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. as a part of the 2023 Washington Youth Tour to learn more about leadership, history and public policy.

“Forked Deer Electric is proud and honored to have a local student receive such an award,” said Jeff Newman, general manager of Forked Deer Electric Cooperative. “Mathew is an exceptional student with so much potential. Forked Deer Electric will continue to support our community and encourage others to follow Mathew’s example of what is possible.”

Keen, along with 6,000 other high school students from across the state, have participated in the Electric Cooperative Creative Writing and Scholarship Competition since its start in the 1960s.

“This scholarship means a lot to me as it allows me to attend college at an affordable cost,” said Matthew Keen, scholarship winner. “The Washington Youth Tour was an eye-opening experience that changed the way I view our country. I believe that every American should visit Washington at least once, and the depth that we were allowed to go on with the tour was a big bonus. It truly gave me memories that will last a lifetime.”

The scholarship is part of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s partnership with both Carson Newman and Union University. Union University will also award 24 $4,000 per year scholarships for other delegates who plan to enroll at the school for the fall semester immediately after high school graduation.

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TECA welcomes Amber Weaver as new feature writer and content creator

Amber Weaver

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association is pleased to announce the addition of Amber Weaver to its communications team as a feature writer and content creator. With a strong background in storytelling and content creation, Amber brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience to the association. 

Weaver has years of experience in journalism and writing. She has previously worked for Tennessee Farm Bureau, Journal Communications and RFD-TV, and she has a proven track record of engaging audiences through compelling storytelling. 

“We are excited to welcome Amber to our team,” said Chris Kirk, editor of The Tennessee Magazine. “Her storytelling talent and ability to connect with readers will be tremendous assets to the association and the magazine. Her passion for highlighting the interesting stories of the Volunteer State is a perfect fit with the magazine’s mission of celebrating all that’s great in Tennessee.” 

In this role, Weaver will write feature stories for The Tennessee Magazine and develop multimedia content for the association. 

“I am honored to join the TECA team as a writer for The Tennessee Magazine and the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association,” said Weaver. “Writing and the rural way of life have always been passions of mine, and I am excited to continue working in both of those areas with an organization that has such a great impact on the state I love.” 

Amber holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture communications from the University of Tennessee at Martin. She and her family live in Dickson County.

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Plateau Electric Cooperative Welcomes Proffitt as New CEO

ONIEDA – Plateau Electric Cooperative recently appointed John Proffitt to lead the utility as its new Chief Executive Officer. Proffitt, who joins PEC from Duke Energy, will officially assume the role on May 15, 2024.

With more than two decades of experience in the electric utility industry, including his most recent role as Director of Area Operations, Proffitt brings a wealth of expertise to his new position.

His proficiency in government oversight, environmental management, and operations, with a particular emphasis on safety, positions him to lead PEC into the future.

Proffitt shared, “I am extremely excited and blessed to partner with the employees and members of Plateau Electrical Cooperative as CEO, and look forward to leading PEC into a bright and thriving future. My family and I are eager to integrate into the community and make eastern Tennessee our home.”

PEC Board Chair Tim Freels stated, “I believe in John’s ability to drive the internal culture at PEC, ensuring that the entire team experiences a strong sense of appreciation and inclusion. I am confident in his ability to fully understand the needs of our members and our community and to train, cultivate, and mentor our staff to meet and exceed those needs.”

Proffitt’s selection as the new CEO of PEC resulted from a nationwide search facilitated by TVPPA. His qualifications, including a BS in Applied Management and an MBA from Franklin University, underscore his suitability for the role.

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Knotts addresses TVA board

NASHVILLE – Today the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors held a public listening session at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, addressed the board during the listening session, and a readout of his comments is below.

Lipscomb University Shinn Center | Nashville, TN | 2:00 p.m. CST

 

Good afternoon. My name is Mike Knotts, and I serve as the CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association.  I appear here today on behalf of 25 local power companies who collectively serve consumers in six of the seven states TVA calls home. TECA’s members own and operate over $6 billion in distribution assets, and their wholesale power bills comprise over 25% of TVA’s revenues.  

At previous listening sessions, I have encouraged you to focus TVA’s strategic goals on reliability and affordability, and I have also asked you to consider that while TVA’s structure and mission is certainly unique, the cooperative business model provides a closer comparison for TVA than the large investor-owned utilities. That is because the cooperative ownership structure aligns with TVA’s mission.  

Remember that President Roosevelt called for the creation of a government corporation “possessed of the flexibility and initiative of a private enterprise”? Co-ops are privately owned by their members, but they operate on a not for profit basis – similar to  the TVA Act’s requirement that for electric power to be provided at rates as low as feasible. 

TECA members accomplish this by adhering to the seven cooperative principles – which require accumulated capital remain the common property of the cooperative, and requires members to democratically control the co-op’s activities, much like this Board controls TVA. 

Here in the TVA ecosystem we tend to think of co-ops as distribution utilities, but there are 62 Generation and Transmission cooperatives across America that function much like TVA. These “G&T’s” collectively perform the same functions that TVA’s power program does and could be included as “peer utilities” in TVA’s benchmarking activities. Notably, they should serve as sources of potential new talent for TVA’s team.  

But the 49 distribution cooperatives TVA serves have a lot to offer you as well. 

Today, I would like to encourage you as Board to consider how cooperatives can help you accomplish your goals.  

The path before you is not a simple one. The demands for your attention are great, and the opinions about what decisions you should make next are many. At its core, you are charged with powering everyday life and maintaining the economic vitality of our region.  

And you are being asked to do so with no interruptions and at the speed of light. The margin for error for both TVA and electric co-ops is so slim – milliseconds can mean the difference between light and dark, and indeed life and death. 

We’ve all heard the old adage, “if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.” When it comes to your responsibilities, truer words have never been spoken. That has become more relevant last week as the EPA finalized a number of new rules last week that rely upon unproven technologies based on an unachievable mandate of “regulate to innovate.” 

The highest of ideals cannot trump the realities of physics. The electric grid is carefully and wonderfully made. The complexity of the grid is both its greatest achievement and one its biggest weakness. You can be certain the electric cooperatives will be leading the charge to ensure public policy doesn’t harm the “least of these.” 

As you react to these developments in Washington, D.C., please remember that rates as low as feasible are meaningless if the lights turn off. Reliability AND affordability must be at the top of your priority list.  

And electric co-ops are ready to help you accomplish this, even if the path before us is not simple or easy. 

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Superlatives Aren’t Always Supreme

Breaking news. Red alert. Crisis status. Influencers. Clickbait. Notifications. Do any of these sound familiar to you? If you watch the news, scroll on social media or put your phone down for more than 10 minutes, you are likely to be overwhelmed with messages trying to get your attention.

While the number of organizations and apps that are competing for your time and focus continues to grow, the one thing that remains constant is that there are 86,400 seconds in every day to do anything — sleep, eat, pray, play, work or anything else. But the demand for your attention continues to grow. And how we handle that is a huge challenge.

Those who are trying to be noticed are facing more competition, so they resort to increasingly extreme language to stand out among the crowd. A simple thunderstorm might now elicit a “red alert” weather statement from the local news station, for instance. I can’t help but think about Aesop’s fairy tale, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”

Unfortunately, this trend of overemphasizing everything has extended to political candidates. Anyone running for office needs to build “name identification” because if you do not know that person’s name, you probably aren’t going to vote for them.

In the February edition of The Tennessee Magazine, I encouraged you to pay closer attention to your local political races and get involved in your own community. Your school board members, county commissioners or state representatives have a greater effect on your daily life than most people acknowledge. However, it is impossible to ignore the impact that the presidential election this fall is having on campaigns — whether in Washington, D.C., or Warren County.

Now that the major-party candidates for president are known, inevitably one or both will tell you, “This is the most important election in our lifetime,” or, “If you don’t vote for me, the country will never be the same.”

This is the politician’s version of clickbait. It is meant to evoke fear and cause you to spend a few of those precious 86,400 seconds of your day devoting your thoughts to the election. But these types of statements are not unlike salesmen offering free samples to encourage you to consider their products or the old newspaper adage, “If it bleeds, it leads.” Getting your attention is the goal.

It is true that our country has significant challenges, and our federal government is facing important policy decisions. Unfortunately, those types of superlative statements don’t always reflect reality.

However, I would argue that we have faced many, many more serious challenges and existential threats in our nation’s history. Some of those stories are detailed in a wonderful book called “The Soul of America” by our fellow Tennessean, Jon Meacham. He very eloquently shows that our nation has always won “the battle for our better angels” and surmises that we will face many more.

While I will likely share thoughts in this column throughout the rest of this year about the policy challenges that confront your local cooperative and the reliability of the electric grid, I encourage you to look past this year’s grandiose speeches and shock-value statements by presidential candidates. This election will be important, but your choice should be based on your own vision for the future, not by an attempt to manipulate your attention.

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Electric co-op leaders discuss Tennessee issues with D.C. lawmakers

Nashville – Leaders from Tennessee’s electric cooperatives traveled to Washington, D.C., on Monday and Tuesday, April 22 and 23, to advocate for policies that could impact Tennessee’s rural and suburban communities. The delegation was made up of board members, executives and other leaders from electric cooperatives across Tennessee.

In meetings with legislative staff, co-ops discussed reliability, energy policy, broadband and other issues that directly impact Tennessee’s electric co-ops and the consumers they serve. Lawmakers were also invited to visit their local co-ops to meet employees, attend annual meetings or tour co-op facilities.

“Meetings with lawmakers are important opportunities to build bridges between policymakers and the communities they represent,” says Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “These conversations are not merely exchanges of words; they truly help shape policy that impacts our communities. I’m grateful for each co-op member who took time away from work and family to serve their co-op in this way.”

In addition to visits with members of Congress, attendees also heard from industry and policy experts, including Xochitl Torres Small, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; David Turk, deputy secretary of the Department of Energy; and Bret Baier, chief political anchor for FOX News.

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