ince 1937, Satilla REMC has been dedicated to improv-ing the quality of life in South Georgia. Satilla does

this not only by providing affordable electric service to our Members, but also by being an active supporter and cham-pion of the educational institutions in our communities. This was demonstrated once again when the Satilla Rural Electric Membership Corporation Foundation recent-ly made $15,000 in donations to the technical colleges in the cooperative’s service territory. These gifts are intend-ed to benefit the students, residents and communities of Southeast Georgia. The funds will be used to support stu-dent and program success at Wiregrass Technical College (WTC) and Coastal Pines Technical College (CPTC) through scholarships, program equipment, capital proj-ects and other worthy investments that promote a highly skilled workforce. At WTC’s Douglas Campus, Jim Tucker, Chairman of the Satilla REMC Foundation, and Romeo Reyes, President/CEO of Satilla REMC, presented WTC President Tina K. Anderson with a $5,000 check to benefit students. Later that week, Coastal Pines Technical College President Glenn Deibert accepted a $10,000 check at the

Satilla REMC Foundation’s Generous Donations to Benefit Coastal Pines and Wiregrass Technical Students and Programs

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Satilla REMC Newsletter

March 2020

Satilla REMC office in Alma. “Generous donations to the CPTC Foundation by our local community partners like Satilla REMC benefit our students and also benefit our local employers in need of a skilled workforce. Satilla REMC is a longtime supporter of our local technical colleges, and we appreciate their con-tinued support.” says Deibert. Since it was established in 1999, the Satilla REMC Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in schol-arships and grants intended to enhance the educational opportunities in our service area. Funding for these awards is made possible through voluntary contributions of Satilla REMC Members, who round up their monthly electric bills to the next dollar in a program called Smart Change. Members who aren’t participating but would like to start should call 1 (888) 738-6926 to sign up.

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Jim Tucker, left, Chairman of the Satilla REMC Foundation, and Presi-dent/CEO Romeo Reyes, holding other end of check, make a $5,000 presentation to Wiregrass Technical College officials including, from left, Mona Paulk, Executive Director of Advancement; Tina K. Ander-son, President; Chrissy Staley, Executive Director of Fundraising; and Shawn Utley, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

From left, representing Coastal Pines Technical College, President Glenn Deibert and Stephanie Roberts, Director of Institutional Advancement, accept a $10,000 donation from the Satilla REMC Foun-dation, presented by Secretary Matt Parker and Chairman Jim Tucker.

Satilla Employees Retire with 135 Years of Combined Service

he Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines cooperative as a “willingness and ability to work with others.”

The cooperative concept has been instrumental to the suc-cess of Satilla REMC through the years, and the employees of Satilla REMC are a crucial component of this coopera-tive spirit as they strive to provide safe, reliable service to our Members.

T

“Satilla is an excellent organization that has always been like a family to me”

Last year marked the final phase for four Satilla REMC employees with a combined 135 years of service. These employees devoted their entire careers to demonstrating the cooperative spirit through service to our Members. Their dedication and loyalty to the mission of Satilla has inspired us all.

1982Ricky Ursrey

icky Ursrey is the most recent retiree at Satilla REMC. Like many other employees, Ricky started his career

at the co-op as a dispatcher in the Control Center. Ricky worked under Bobby Darwin during this time. He also worked as a warehouseman in Alma before becoming the Control Room Supervisor and later the Warehouse Supervisor. In 1991, Ricky became District Manager of the Hazlehurst office, and he has called Hazlehurst home ever since. In 2008, Ricky was promoted to Assistant Director

R of Customer Services, a role he filled until retirement. He always remained active in the community and served on the board or as an officer for several professional, civic and charitable organizations. Ricky’s plans for retirement include traveling, driving his RV and spending as much time as possible with his children and grandchildren.

“I’m just going to relax and spend time with my family and friends.”

1983Chet Conley

hen Chet Conley made his retirement official in June 2019, all his fellow employees were sorry

to see him go. Chet joined Satilla REMC in 1983 in the Maintenance Department at the Hazlehurst District Office, working under Don Knorzer and later for Steve Copeland. Early in his career, Chet did everything from meter read-ing to construction. He says Satilla didn’t even own a bucket truck back then. As Satilla grew, Chet took on additional responsibil-

W ities and eventually became a Line Crew Foreman in the Hazlehurst district. Chet fin-ished his career in that posi-tion and mentored many young linemen along the way. His years of experience and knowledge will be sore-ly missed. Chet owns an archery shop in Hazlehurst and spends much of his free time working there.

Satilla Employees Retire with 135 Years of Combined Service

“I always enjoyed meeting and assisting the Members of Satilla REMC.”

1978Tip Lee

ast year marked the final year of employment for Tip Lee. In 1978, L.W. Taylor hired Tip on a construction

crew in Alma. Construction employees Jim Wheeler and Otis Robinson took Tip under their wing and taught him the value of working for a cooperative. Tip spent about a year in Construction and Maintenance before transferring to the Engineering Department, where he would spend the next 40 years. He worked as a Staking Technician under Bobby Darwin and Robert Holton. Although he considered himself shy

L in the beginning, working as a Staking Tech brought Tip out of his shell. According to Tip, one of the most satisfying aspects of his job was the opportunity to meet and assist thousands of Satilla’s Members from all walks of life. Now that he’s retired, Tip plans to travel with his wife, Karen, and take care of his horses.

“I’ll miss the friendships. We are all part of one big, extended family.”

1998Debbie Williams

fter more than 20 years of devoted service, Debbie Williams retired from Satilla REMC in April 2019.

We will miss her. Debbie was hired by Terry Meeks as a Control Center Operator in 1998 and later moved into the role of Control Center Supervisor under Lonny Whitley. Debbie worked many major ice storms and hur-

A ricanes. She was also instru-mental in the implementation of Satilla’s Outage Management System and Automated Metering System. Debbie looks forward to spending her free time with her children and grandchildren.

n a day and age when employee turnover and a transient workforce are the norm, Ricky, Chet, Tip and Debbie

have been exceptional. When four employees work a total of 135 years for one company, their service is a testament to the caliber of the employees of that business.

Repeatedly, they demonstrated their diligence in per-formance of their duties while revealing their caring man-

I ner toward co-workers, Members and the cooperative. Congratulations to Ricky, Tip, Chet and Debbie as they embark on their retirement. Their dedication to the Members of Satilla EMC set a standard of service for the co-workers they are leaving behind. Ricky, Tip, Chet and Debbie will always be a part of the Satilla family. They will all be missed, and we wish them well.

• It’s affordable

• No long-term contracts

• It’s more cost-effective than owningor leasing a rooftop solar system

• There’s nothing to finance

• No shade limitations

• No holes in your roof

• Concerns about roof age andcondition are eliminated

• No need to be concerned about rooforientation to the sun

• No maintenance issues

• Neighborhood covenants do notaffect access

• Renters can participate

In partnership with:

POWER EMCGREENRENEWABLE ENERGY

greenpoweremc.com\solar

For more information, contact:

(EMC Logo Here)

Cooperative Solar Lets You

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Your ShareSun

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“A People/Power Partnership!”

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

R. L. Lewis, Jr.Chairman

Hinson MosleyVice Chairman

Jerry E. BoatrightSecretary

James W. WatersTreasurer

David H. Bennett, Jr.Hugh L. Brantley

Scott DayThomas J. Morris

Romeo ReyesPresident/Chief Executive Officer

Mark JohnsonVice President,

Corporate and System Services

Johnny AllenDirector, Line Services

Bob BennettDirector, Distribution Services

Jim TuckerDirector, Customer Services

Sue JohnsonEditor

Telephone NumbersAlma Office

(912) 632-7222Douglas Office(912) 384-1964

Hazlehurst Office(912) 375-7765

Jesup Office(912) 427-9561

Toll-Free Number (888) 738-6926

This institution is an equal opportunityprovider and employer.

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P.O. Box 906Alma, GA 31510

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• It’s affordable

• No long-term contracts

• It’s more cost-effective than owning or leasinga rooftop solar system

• There’s nothing to finance

• No shade limitations

• No holes in your roof

• Concerns about roof age and condition areeliminated

• No need to be concerned about roof orientation to the sun

• Neighborhood covenants do not affect access

• Renters can participate

Thinking of going solar but don’t want the high cost and com-plications associated with rooftop solar panels? Or maybe theresimply isn’t enough sunlight where you live. With CooperativeSolar, you now have an easy way to capture your share of thesun—and it’s available only from Satilla REMC.

For more information, please contact Satilla’s Member ServiceDepartment at (912) 632-3452.

ST_BS_0917_ST_BS_0909.qxd 8/15/17 2:38 PM Page 4

Thinking of going solar but don’t want the high cost and com-plications associated with rooftop solar panels? Or maybe there simply isn’t enough sunlight where you live. With Cooperative Solar, you now have an easy way to capture your share of the sun—and it’s available only from Satilla REMC.

• It’s affordable

• No long-term contracts

• It’s more cost-effective than owning or leasing a rooftop solar system

• There’s nothing to finance

• No shade limitations

• No holes in your roof

• Concerns about roof age and condition are eliminated

• No need to be concerned about roof orientation to the sun

• Neighborhood covenants do not affect access

• Renters can participate

For more information, please contact Satilla’s Member Service Department at (912) 632-3452.

“A People/Power Partnership!”

Board of directors

R. L. Lewis, Jr.Chairman

Thomas J. MorrisVice Chairman

Jerry E. BoatrightSecretary

James W. WatersTreasurer

David H. Bennett, Jr.Joseph M. BennettHugh L. Brantley

Scott Day

Romeo Reyes President/Chief Executive Officer

Mark JohnsonVice President,

Corporate and System Services

Johnny AllenDirector, Line Services

Bob BennettDirector, Distribution Services

Jim TuckerDirector, Customer Services

Matt ParkerEditor

Telephone NumbersAlma Office

(912) 632-7222Douglas Office(912) 384-1964

Hazlehurst Office(912) 375-7765

Jesup Office(912) 427-9561

Toll-Free Number (888) 738-6926

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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A Publication of The Satilla Rural Electric Membership Corporation

P.O. Box 906Alma, GA 31510

GA00670G

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