Use Portable Generators Safely PAGE 25 Community Walks for a Cure PAGE 28

COVER STORY:

68th Annual MeetingGlades Electric Cooperative CEO Jeff Brewington visits with member Evelyn Creel during the March 16 gathering. See the story on page 4.

Glades Electric Cooperative

M AY 2013

Glades ElectricNeighbors Working for Neighbors

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Side Roads 10In the Kitchen 16Florida Gardener 18

Travel Journal 19Festival Roundup 22Outdoor Pursuits 24

Inside

Your utility pages: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32

Also In This Issue

May 2013Vol. 2, No. 7

A Forever Home 12Thanks to Patti Ragan, rescued and retired orangutans and chimpanzees have a permanent sanctuary at Center for Great Apes, where they live with dignity.

Fans Cut Bills, Improve ComfortRunning a ceiling fan along with your air con-ditioner in the summer can cool you down enough you can inch your thermostat up a bit—and save money on hot-weather energy bills. Here are four ways to get the most out of your ceiling fans:

• Most ceiling fans have a switch that lets you change the direction of the blades so they rotate clockwise (spinning to the right) or counter-clockwise (spinning to the left). Some manufacturers label this “forward” and “reverse.” Homeowners used to be advised to set their fan blades to spin counter-clockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter. That often is still true, but not for all brands. The better way to determine what direction to set your fan blades is to turn the fan on and stand under it. If you feel a cool breeze on your skin, you have chosen the “summer” setting. If you don’t, reverse the direction of the blades.

• Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms. The downward-flowing breeze will make you feel more comfortable, but won’t change the room temperature. If nobody is in the room to enjoy it, turn the fan off and save on the cost of energy.

• If installing new ceiling fans, check with your local government. Some cities and towns require an inspection to ensure the installer has used an appropriate, UL-listed metal

electrical box designed for use with ceiling fans and that the fan—which can weigh up to 50 pounds—is mounted securely into a joist so it won’t fall off the ceiling.

• When you add or replace a ceiling fan, choose an Energy Star model, which is up to nine times more efficient at moving air than others.

M AY 2013 3

GEC’s 68th Annual MeetingThank you, members, for making the event a success

Glades Electric Cooperative’s 68th annual meeting was held under crystal clear skies in Lake Placid on March 16. Members gathered at Lake Placid Middle School to elect trustees, vote on a proposed bylaw change and hear reports from the board president, CEO and a U.S. congressman.

All this was followed by a drawing for some great prizes, including the grand prize: a 2003 Ford F150 extended cab 4x4 truck.

One of the many benefits of being a cooperative member is exercising democratic control of the orga-nization. Election of the trustees—from the member-ship, by the membership—is one of the principles that set cooperatives apart from investor-owned utili-ties. Each year, one-third of the board of trustees are elected, or re-elected, to serve three-year terms.

Trustee candidates are nominated by commit-tee or petition from the membership, and are voted on at the annual meeting. It is the board of trustees that establishes the policies by which the cooperative conducts business.

Re-elected this year were Donnie Lundy, incum-bent, District 1 (Moore Haven); Russell Henderson, incumbent and secretary/treasurer, District 3 (Ortona/Palmdale); and Shannon Hall, incumbent, District 4 (Lakeport/Brighton).

These trustees are experienced and dedicated individuals who understand the wants and needs of members and make decisions accordingly.

Members also voted in favor of a change to the

cooperative’s bylaws. The change allows the coopera-tive to apply any capital credits that may have been earned by a terminated account against uncollect-able debts owed by the account.

This will reduce the cooperative’s uncollectable debt, increasing the equity and patronage of current members. A further benefit will be eliminating 20 years of recordkeeping on these delinquent accounts.

In addition to the election, members were treated to doughnuts, beverages and musical entertainment provided by Marti Capodiferro.

Members perused educational displays, such as Safety Manager Christy Caputo’s Safety City. There also were display booths for Seacoast Bank, MeterTreater (meter-based surge protection), Glades Electric Charitable Trust (the organization that dis-tributes funds raised through Operation Round Up), Seminole Electric (GEC’s power provider) and Friends of Lake Istokpoga.

CEO Jeff Brewington kicked off the meeting by welcoming members. He then introduced the trust-ees and recognized representatives from Seminole Electric, the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. and area officials.GEC Safety Manager Christy Caputo provides a Safety City demonstration for a member.

Glades ElectricNeighbors Working for Neighbors

Congressman Tom Rooney addresses the membership as Glades Electric Cooperative CEO Jeff Brewington looks on.

4 m ay 2013

Above, a GEC member receives an entry for a prize drawing by the Friends of Istokpoga Lake Association Inc.

Left, a World War II vet reviews the annual report. Brewington recognized and thanked veterans in attendance.

GEC’s favorite folks to recognize are the veterans. Jeff invited veterans of Iraq/Afghanistan, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Vietnam, Korea and World War II to stand and be recognized. These men and women received a grateful and generous ovation.

Following the introductions, U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney addressed members and reinforced his sup-port of rural Florida. He expressed concern for over-regulation and the negative impact that can have on costs, which would be borne by the cooperative’s members.

Congressman Rooney has been a friend and sup-porter of the area and members of Glades Electric.

Jack Coxe, president of the board, presented his report to members. His message focused on the cooperative’s strengthening of financials and “remarkable advances toward the future we envision for our cooperative.”

Coxe highlighted a few of the substantial opera-tional changes made, including the closure of Glades Utility Services—a GEC subsidiary.

He reported the Glades Electric Educational Foundation Inc. has prospered through the contri-bution of unclaimed capital credits—so well, in fact, the organization decided to increase the amount awarded to each of the counties served by GEC to

two $4,000 scholarships. Formerly, one $4,000 and one $2,000 scholarship were given. The scholarships are available to high school seniors whose home is served by Glades Electric.

Finally, Coxe paid tribute to Andy Jackson, GEC’s attorney of 36 years, who passed away in January.

“He was a humble gentleman and will be dearly missed by all of us,” Coxe said.

Continues on page 6

m ay 2013 5

Brewington retook the stage and delivered his message to the membership. He provided additional details about closing of the subsidiary and the recent arrest of an ex-cooperative employee, a salesman and business owner from the west coast of Florida. He discussed his biggest concern: government regu-lations and the effect they have on the electric util-ity industry and the increase in costs members can expect to see on their power bills.

Like last year, the cooperative cut costs by using a streamlined registration process,. In the past, GEC mailed a packet with a registration card, candidate bios and a sample ballot to every member—a major expense, considering printing costs, postal rates and that only a portion of the membership actually attends the annual meeting, resulting in many packets not being used.

The solution to hold down costs, yet provide members with the needed information, was to use Florida Currents magazine to distribute candidate bios and a sample ballot, and using portable tab-lets for signing in. Members presented identifica-tion at the registration table, where the tablets were preloaded with a searchable database. As members checked in, they were handed a ballot and issued a raffle ticket for the prize drawing.

It was a fast, efficient and cost-effective process.Glades Electric always searches for ways to pro-

vide more efficient service to members.The day was capped off with a drawing for more

than 70 door prizes, including TVs, DVD players, digital cameras, plants and much more. All mem-bers present—including GEC employees who are members—were eligible for a chance at a prize.

When the time came to draw for the grand prize, the Ford pickup, you could hear a pin drop as the numbers were called out, followed by the cheers of the lucky recipient, Carmen Santana Garcia, and the groans of those who just missed. Carmen, a member of GEC since 1988, said she needed another vehicle so she can transport kids in the neighborhood back and forth to church.

It is our sincere hope members enjoyed attending the annual meeting as much as the trustees, man-agement and employees enjoyed hosting the event.

It is truly our honor to be “Neighbors Working for Neighbors.” n

Meter Specialist Supervisor Donnie Murphy helps a member enter her raffle ticket for the prize drawing as she receives a gift for attending the meeting.

Carmen Santana Garcia accepts the keys to the 68th annual meeting grand prize—a 2003 Ford F150 pickup—from Glades Electric Cooperative Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Manning.

Continues from page 5

GEC’s 68th Annual Meeting

6 m ay 2013

Now you can afford to relax and enjoy the summer toy you’ve always wanted.

New or used boat rate is a low 4.99% APR*

*ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE **FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE NCUA OFFER IS SUBJECT TO BEING REMOVED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. SUBJECT TO CREDIT APPROVAL

FLORIDA RURAL ELECTRIC CREDIT UNION

By Magen Howard

Summer vacation can be a recipe for high electric bills if kids are home all day and a swimming pool is in use.

The U.S. Department of Energy esti-mates 9 percent of Americans’ household energy costs are dedicated to air condi-tioning alone, so try these tips to keep costs down when the temperature rises.

Avoid Phantom LoadGet your family in the habit of turning electronics on and off via power strips as they move from one activity to the next.

As electronics and appliances become more technologically savvy, they draw power even while turned off—what is known as phantom load. Check the device for a light that stays on all the time. That is a sign the device is still drawing power.

Phantom load adds a few watt-hours to energy consumption. With many devices, that adds up. To avoid this silent power draw, unplug devices or invest in a “smart” power strip that allows some electronics—such as a cable box, which takes time to reboot after it has been unplugged—to continue using electricity, while others can be shut down.

Air-Conditioning UnitsMore people in the house plus doors hanging open from the last trip to play outside plus high temperatures equals an air-conditioning unit that has to work harder to keep the house cool.

Adjust settings to maximize efficiency, such as using the “auto” function instead of keeping the fan running all the time.

Regular maintenance to keep your air conditioner or heat pump in good work-ing order is a good idea, as is checking and changing the air filter every few months or if it is dirty.

Set your thermostat as high as you can, while maintaining your comfort level. The smaller the difference between indoor air and the great outdoors, the lower your cooling costs. Rearrange your furniture so appliances that put out a lot of heat are not near the thermostat.

Keep the Pool CoveredAbout 70 percent of the heat lost from swimming pools results from evapora-tion, caused by both wind and water. That means tap water goes to refilling the pool, which means higher electric bills to reheat the water.

To save energy, cover the pool when it

is not in use. Pool size and shape factor into choosing the right cover.

The most expensive pool covers are incorporated into the pool structure and come with an automatic retraction and storage system. Manual covers may be cheaper, but removing them can be a dirty job. You also can choose solar cov-ers resembling bubble wrap.

For more information on energy effi-ciency, visit www.TogetherWeSave.com and find out how little measures around the house add up to big energy savings.

Magen Howard writes on consumer affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Michael Kahn contributed to this story.

Glades ElectricNeighbors Working for Neighbors

Stop Summer Energy Drains

Regular maintenance for your heat pump or air con-ditioner can help it run more efficiently when the temperature spikes and summer vacation arrives.

M AY 2013 7

Church of the MonthEastside Christian Church101 Peace Ave.Lake Placid, FL 33852

$25Credit

Winners

More than 72 percent of Glades Electric Cooperative members participate in Operation Round Up.

This worthwhile program helps people in GEC’s service area who have exhausted normal avenues of financial assistance.

Sign up today, and your electric bill will be rounded to the nearest dollar. The extra is placed in the fund for deserving individuals and organizations.

As of April 8, your Charitable Trust Board of Directors has approved $762,980.98 in disburse-ments. These funds have provided assistance with food, emergency lodging, disaster relief and specific

emergency needs for 511 individuals and/or families and 103 community organizations.

The trust does not fund utility bills (electric, phone, water and gas) or budgets of organizations. Organizations in our service counties may apply for funding for a specific need or project.

The board of directors meets monthly to review applications for funding. If you know of people who need and deserve assistance and live within our service area, please encourage or help them complete an application. Applications can be picked up at each of our three offices: Moore Haven, Lake Placid and Okeechobee. Applications are considered once a month.

Operation Round Up Monthly Report

Charitable Trust Board of DirectorsBarbara Hughes District 1 Moore Haven

Beverly Eaves District 2 Hendry County

Kelly Brantley District 3 Ortona/Palmdale

Dori Evans District 4 Lakeport

To be announced District 5 Venus/Hicora

Lee Andrus District 6 Highlands Park

Jane Stokes District 7 Lorida

David McCadam District 8 Lake Josephine

Angela Hodges District 9 Okeechobee

The next meeting of the Charitable Trust Board of Directors is May 30 in the Lake Placid o� ce.

Glades ElectricNeighbors Working for Neighbors

Robert E. Quilliam No. 6348-001Susan P. Randolph No. 110813-001

Winners should call (800) 226-4024 or sign their name on this page and mail it to:

Florida Currents $25 CreditGlades Electric CooperativeP.O. Box 519Moore Haven, FL 33471

Tap Into Savings With the Co-op Connections CardOne of the ways Glades Electric Cooperative looks out for you is with the Co-op Connections Card. The nationwide membership program is designed to save you money on everything from prescriptions and home goods to restaurant dining and hotel rooms. The card does not cost you anything.It is a bene� t of GEC’s partnership with Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. To browse national and local o� ers, incentives and discounts that come with using the Co-op Connections Card, visit www.connections.coop. A search feature allows you to locate goods and services by zip code. Please support the local merchants who participate in the program.

Co-op Connections Card. The nationwide membership program is designed

8 M AY 2013

Use Portable Generators SafelyWhen Superstorm Sandy knocked out power to millions on the East Coast last fall, many of those affected turned to portable standby generators to help keep food safe, lights on, and safety and medi-cal equipment operating.

The growing popularity of emergency generators has resulted in several million being placed in homes and small businesses across the nation. However, only a small percentage are hooked up or used correctly.

SafeElectricity.org—an outreach program of the Energy Education Council—urges consumers to understand proper generator safety steps. The non-profit organization has more than 400 electric coop-erative members and many others who share the mission of teaching the public about electrical safety and energy efficiency.

“Generators can be a lifesaver for some and can improve the quality of life after a natural disas-ter such as a hurricane, tornado or earthquake,” explains Molly Hall, executive director of the Safe Electricity program. “However, it’s critical that proper safety precautions be taken to prevent acci-dents that could affect you, a family member, neigh-bor or utility lineworker.”

Generators can be temporarily or permanently installed. A permanent generator is wired into a house by a qualified electrician using a transfer switch. This protects you, your neighbors and repair crews from electricity backfeeding onto power lines. This can seriously injure anyone near those lines, especially co-op crews working to restore power. A temporary generator fired by gasoline or die-sel fuel should not be attached to a circuit breaker, fuse or outlet.

The improper use of a standby generator can lead to injury or death. When using a generator, follow these tips to keep you and your family safe:•  Read and follow all manufacturer’s operating instructions

to properly ground the generator. Be sure you understand them before starting it up.•  Standby generators should have a transfer safety switch

installed by a professional. Portable generators should never be plugged directly into a home outlet or electrical system. Use an extension cord to plug appliances into an outlet on the generator. •  Never operate a generator in a confined area, such as a

garage. Generators produce gases, including deadly carbon monoxide. They require proper ventilation.•  Remember, when venturing outside after a severe storm,

stay away from downed power lines and be alert to the possibil-ity tree limbs or debris may hide an electrical hazard. Assume any dangling wires you encounter are electrical, and treat all downed or hanging power lines as if they are energized. Warn others to stay away and contact your electric utility. •  Generators pose electrical risks, especially when operated

in wet conditions. Use a generator only when necessary if the weather creates wet or moist conditions. Protect the generator by operating it under an open, canopy-like structure on a dry sur-face where water cannot form puddles or drain under it. Always ensure your hands are dry before touching the generator.•  When you refuel the generator, make sure the engine is

cool to prevent a fire, should the tank overflow.•  There should be nothing plugged into the generator when

you turn it on. This prevents a surge from damaging your gen-erator and appliances.•  Keep children and pets away from the generator, which

could burn them. nFor more safety information on the use of portable and standby generators and safety after a storm, go to www.SafeElectricity.org.

Keep this in your home’s emergency kit or with your generator.

Never connect a standby generator into your home’s electrical system. There are only two safe ways to connect a standby generator to your equipment:

Stationary Generator:

Generate Safely Safe Generator Operation

An approved generator transfer switch, which keeps your house circuits separate from the electric co-op, should be installed by a professional.

Portable Generator:

Plug appliances directly into the outlet provided on the generator.

Set up and run your generator in a well-ventilated area outside the home. Make sure it is out and away from your garage, doors, windows and vents. The carbon monoxide generated is DEADLY.

Developed jointly by the Energy Education Council & Rural Electricity Resource Council

Source: SafeElectricity.org

Start the generator BEFOREconnecting appliances.

Use a heavy-duty extension cord to connect electric appliances to the outlet on the generator.

Glades ElectricNeighbors Working for Neighbors

m ay 2013 25

26 m ay 2013

Community Walks for a CureThe community of Lake Placid joined together Saturday, April 6, to help the American Cancer Society in the fight against cancer as part of Relay For Life.

About 300 registered participants walked on the field, while family and friends from the community provided support throughout the day.

The event began at noon with the sur-vivor lap, which was followed by a survi-vor luncheon for those who have battled cancer and won, those who are currently battling cancer and to remember those who have died. The survivors carried their banner proudly and were cheered on by the crowds as they walked the opening lap around the track.

Team GEC Powered For A Cure raised $3,093.75. Ten cooperative employees and 12 family members and friends participated in the event.

Nearly every team mem-ber had a personal reason for signing up to join the fight, but the Glades Electric Cooperative employees as a group also had a special reason for walking at Relay For Life: Jeanie Perkins, who works in the account-ing department at the co-op’s Moore Haven office.

Recently, Jeanie was diag-nosed with stage four ovar-ian cancer. When employees learned of her diagnosis, they quickly came together to shower her with love and sup-port. They had custom brace-lets made that say “Walking By Faith With Jeanie.” The bracelets were worn through-out Relay For Life.

One of Jeanie’s co-workers reported how deeply touched Jeanie is by the thoughtfulness

of her GEC family. During a staff meeting, CEO Jeff

Brewington noted he would be think-ing of Jeanie during his laps at the event. Member Services Director Margaret Ellerbee dedicated a luminaria to Jeanie.

Luminaries lined the track at the field, each holding its own special story. As the sun set, they were lit and a touching cer-emony honored those who have battled, or are continuing to battle, the disease.

Luminarias placed in the stands spelled out the word “hope” as a reminder there is always hope in finding a cure.

Along with the emotional and sen-timental moments remembering loved ones, there was celebration among those who have won their fight against cancer.

Hearing stories from survivors tugged on the heartstrings of those in atten-dance. The celebration was full of laugh-ter and smiles, from small children to grown adults.

Throughout the day, games and activi-ties were held for all of the teams. A disc jockey played music that kept participants singing and dancing into the early hours of the morning.

During special laps throughout the night, teams dressed to gain spirit points for their team. The team with the most points wins the spirit award for the year. The winner was announced at the final committee meeting.

GEC took first place in the “Superhero Lap.” Team members dressed up as line-men holding signs that said, “Linemen Are Our Superhero’s.”

This year’s 12th Annual Relay For Life of Lake Placid’s theme was “Passport to a Cure.” Each team chose a country to represent. GEC chose El Salvador, deco-rating the team’s tent in the country’s colors and posting newspaper articles from an El Salvadorian newspaper. Team members also served traditional El Salvadorian food, Elote and Tres Leche

Decked in their hard hats, gloves and oversized shirts, 8-year-old twins Logan, left, and Lance Lowder proclaim linemen to be superheroes. The creativity earned the GEC team the spirit award. The boys are the sons of Josh Lowder, a meter technician at GEC.

Glades ElectricNeighbors Working for Neighbors

Glades Electric team raises more than $3,000, supports co-worker in cancer fight during Relay For Life

By Chelsea Levine

28 m ay 2013

cake, both of which were a hit. Other countries chosen included

China, Australia, Holland and Greece. The 18-hour-long event is meant to

symbolize the hardships those with can-cer face. At the beginning of the event, relayers are strong, full of energy and walk their laps with ease. By midnight, many had lost most of their energy and felt tired. At 5 a.m., when the final laps were being taken, those who had made it

through the event saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

“The closing ceremony is the most beautiful part of the event because you realize that you made it,” said GEC Team Captain and Member Services Manager Margaret Ellerbee. “Cancer patients, much like the relayers, start their race out strong, then as the disease begins to set in they slowly lose their willpower and ability to keep pushing forward.

“The light at the end of the tunnel for these survivors is the hope that they will endure their final lap and cross the finish line of remission. With love and sup-port from friends and family, and with the help from organizations such as the American Cancer Society, our survivors are given hope.”

The event was a rousing success. All GEC team members said they thoroughly enjoyed participating, and some already are thinking of ideas for next year’s event.

All funds raised by Relay For Life go to the American Cancer Society to help those those whose

lives have been directly affected by can-cer, providing such things as transporta-tion to treatments and cosmetics to help affected women feel more beautiful. n

If you are interested in making a donation to the fight against cancer, would like to volunteer to help those in need, or if you are a cancer survi-vor or patient needing assistance, please visit the American Cancer Society website, www.cancer.org. If you would like to be involved with Relay For Life, you can find an event near you at www.relayforlife.org.

Carlo Padilla, 10, the son of Member Service Representative Sandra Padilla, leads the GEC Power For A Cure team during the Relay For Life event in Lake Placid.

m ay 2013 29

Offices

Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday

26733 U.S. Hwy. 27 East/P.O. Box 519Moore Haven, FL 33471(800) 226-4024 or (863) 946-6200Fax: (863) 946-2150

214 SR 70 WestLake Placid, FL 33852(800) 226-4025 or (863) 531-5000

111 SW Park St.Okeechobee, FL 34974(800) 226-4023 or (863) 467-5111

POwer interruPtiOn numberMoore Haven ............................. (800) 226-4024

Phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. Please have your location or account number handy when you call.

bOard Of trusteesJohn “Jack” Coxe, President, District 8 Lake Josephine, (863) 655-3056James “Jim” Aul, Vice President, District 7 Lorida, (863) 441-0441 Russell Henderson, Sec./Treas., District 3 Ortona and Palmdale, (863) 946-0865Donnie Lundy, Trustee, District 1 Moore Haven, (863) 946-0402Barney Goodman, Trustee, District 2 Hendry County, (863) 983-7324Shannon Hall, Trustee, District 4 Lakeport and Brighton, (863) 946-3242Ladd Bass, Trustee, District 5 Venus and Hicoria, (863) 441-2227Lee Henderson, Trustee, District 6 Highlands Park, (863) 633-9281Irene Lofton, Trustee, District 9 Okeechobee, (863) 467-1219

The next meeting of the Board will be at 9 a.m. May 30 at the Moore Haven headquarters office. Any changes to this schedule will be posted in the lobby of all three district offices.

executive staffCEO Jeff Brewington CFO Jennifer ManningDir. of Business Development Paul McGeheeDir. of Employee Services Yvonne BradleyDir. of Information Technologies Bradley HillDir. of Member Services Margaret EllerbeeDir. of Operations Tracy Vaughn

FL-153

Passage of Bylaw Amendment Aids Recovery of Uncollectibles

CEO’s Message

Thank you, members, for passing the bylaw amendment at our annual meeting with an overwhelming affirmative vote of 217 in favor versus 28 opposed. Because of your actions, we will recover $223,964.64 from uncollectible accounts written off in years past. Clearing this bad debt also results in years and years and years of eliminated record keeping.

This nearly quarter-million-dollar recovery may sound like an astronomical sum, but it still leaves $743,540.03 of uncollect-ible bad debt on our books. How did we allow that, you may ask? Well, in the past, our collection policies and procedures were not as strict and we lacked the technology now available to pursue collection of bad debts. Under our old ways, we were writing off well more than $100,000 a year. With new policies, procedures and tech-nology, our annual write-off of uncollectible accounts is closer to $26,000 a year.

The new bylaw amendment should reduce that amount even more, as you have given us another tool to operate your cooperative in the most efficient manner possible.

Another valuable tool we use to keep write-offs as low as possible is our Additional Deposit program. It can be a tough program because any member affected by it is required by cooperative policy to place on deposit two times their highest monthly bill. During the last five quarters, this program has recovered $32,060.79, which otherwise would be uncollectable. The AD program is implemented when a member has hit our disconnect list for the third time. To hit the disconnect list, a member’s account remains unpaid from the previous month at the time their meter is read for the current month. This means the member is two months in arrears; thus, the reasoning behind setting the additional deposit at two times the highest monthly bill. History has shown us it is at this time that we have the most walkaways. Even with the AD program in place, we still wrote off $45,335.26 as uncollectable during the same five quarters.

Of course, we recognize extenuating circumstances can lead to member hardships, and we work with members in these cases. Many times solutions are found in use of the Glades Electric Charitable Trust or the many other programs our member service personnel are aware of. And there is redemption for a member affected by the AD program. All they must do is pay their monthly bill by the due date for 15 consecutive months and their additional deposit will be refunded against their bill.

Due dates are prominently displayed on our bills, and payments must be received at one of our offices by close of business on or before the due date. We open early, 7 a.m., and stay open late, 6 p.m., for our members’ convenience. If you see your due date approaching and you have concerns about making your payment, please call us. We want to work with you before your service is interrupted or you are affected by the cooperative’s AD program. After all, we are “Neighbors Working for Neighbors.”

Jeff Brewington

32 M AY 2013