Georgia Magazine - January 2013 - (Page 5)

BY PAUL WOOD President/CEO, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation www.georgiamagazine.org (800) 544-4362, in Georgia; (770) 270-6500 GEORGIA Magazine, the largest-circulation monthly magazine in the state, is published by Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (GEMC), the trade association for Georgia’s 42 consumer-owned electric utilities. On average, more than 500,000 members welcome the magazine into their homes each month. Georgia’s not-for-proﬁt electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to more than 73 percent of the state’s land area serving 4.5 million residents. For more information, visit www.georgiaemc.com. EDITOR Ann Orowski, CCC MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Hewett, CCC ASSOCIATE EDITOR Victoria Scharf DeCastro ASSISTANT EDITOR Kevin Braun ASSISTANT EDITOR Jim Jess EDITORIAL INTERN Vanessa Schill CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Schreer Davis, Tricia Despres, Jane F. Garvey, Pamela Keene, Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Anne Marie Kyzer CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane F. Garvey, Steve Hostetler, Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Ashley Kramer, Anne Marie Kyzer, Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn, Tim McClain, Patrick McComas, Byron McCombs, Peter McIntosh, Kurtis Miller, Stephen Shepherd, Reid Traylor, Jessica Wardwell ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES The new normal I Laurel George, (404) 541-0628; Laine Kirby Wood, (770) 2895700 National Country Market, (800) 626-1181 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE DESIGNERS Trudie Thibodeaux, Kerstin Weis Mary Wellman, (770) 270-6981 SUBSCRIPTIONS GEORGIA EMC OFFICERS CHAIRMAN Alice Mallory, Coweta-Fayette EMC VICE CHAIRMAN G. Anthony Norton, Snapping Shoals EMC SEC.-TREASURER Randy Crenshaw, Irwin PRESIDENT/CEO, GEMC A. Paul Wood EMC GEORGIA Magazine (USPS-473120, ISSN 10615822) is published monthly by Georgia Electric Membership Corp., P.O. Box 1707, 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA 30085. Periodicals postage paid at Thomaston, GA, and additional mailing ofﬁces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GEORGIA Magazine, P.O. Box 1707, Tucker, GA 30085. Printed in Georgia by Quad/ Graphics. Acceptance of advertising by GEORGIA Magazine does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Georgia’s electric membership corporations of the product or services advertised. GEORGIA Magazine’s LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN, OR OMISSIONS OF, ADVERTISEMENTS, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES TO THE ADVERTISER’S BUSINESS, SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF CHARGES FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT WAS OMITTED OR IN WHICH THE ERROR OCCURRED. n our cafeteria, I heard a visitor say, “As soon as the recovery is complete, we’ll get back to normal.” I had to smile. Most of us prefer a “normal” state because it means life has become predictable again. A couple of years ago, an economist coined the phrase, “the new normal,” to describe new measurements of economic activity he believes will be considered “normal” in the future. His phrase caught on and even spawned a new television sitcom that purports to reﬂect American life in a “new normal” world. But it doesn’t appear we are in for “normal” anytime soon. We have seen what happens to our ﬁnancial markets when the economy of a smaller nation hiccups. We can have the most robust business news in the morning, but if Greece doesn’t meet a payment on its debt by afternoon, our markets may take a nosedive. Is market instability “the new normal”? In October, Hurricane Sandy, 1,000 miles wide, hit the East Coast with a devastating impact, producing record ﬂooding along the shore and blizzard conditions in the mountains. Are extremes in weather “the new normal”? Is unemployment destined to remain above 7 percent indeﬁnitely? Is the price of gasoline soon to average around $4 a gallon? Will the country remain politically polarized far into the future? I don’t know the answers. I only know these questions will be answered—and whatever the answers may be, we will meet them, for that is the way we make the unknown “normal.” It’s what we do, isn’t it? We don’t let the answers or the questions throw us for a loop. We take a new set of circumstances, and we make (Contined from front them work for us, for the good of all. Why am I so conﬁdent we will meet these uncertainties successfully? Because electric cooperatives (EMCs) live with these kinds of challenges every day. We are prepared for the curve Mother Nature throws at us regularly and the occasional curve our regulators throw. The unsettled and sometimes downright dangerous circumstances are “normal” for EMCs. This so-called “new normal” is hardly more than the regular beat of time marching on. No need to despair when others bemoan unwanted change and tell you they wish the country could return to “the good old days.” “Normal” for electric utilities has always meant being prepared for the unexpected. The hurricane that turned west rather than east, the ice storm that wasn’t supposed to happen, the extreme heat that caused a power line to sag, touching the ground and causing a major blackout—such is the state of “normal” in the world of electric utilities. What’s “normal” more often than not depends on how it is deﬁned. Some will describe it in terms of obstacles to be overcome; others will see opportunities to be met. The EMCs wake up prepared to meet a “new normal” every day and gladly accept its challenge to create a new opportunity to serve our member-owners. Wrap .375 Spine .8125 PAUL WOOD is the president and CEO of Georgia Electric Membership Corp., headquartere d in Tucker. Georgia EMC represents Georgia’s 42 electric membership corporations (EMCs), Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp., providing electricity to more than 4.5 million residents and businesses in Georgia. flap) Prior to his move to Georgia, Wood was executive director of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives . Today, he has become one of Georgia’s most fervent promoters through his service to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, 4-H Foundation, FDR Warm Springs Memorial Advisory Committee and KidsPeace. In 2004, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue tapped Wood to serve as co-chairman of the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, and, in 2007, Perdue also asked Wood to chair the Commission for a New Georgia Service Delivery Taskforce. Not long after Gov. Nathan Deal was inaugurated in 2011, he appointed Wood to serve on his newly formed Georgia Competitiven ess Initiative. During his nearly half-century of service to electric membership cooperatives, Wood has held many leadership positions, including president of the Rural Electric Statewide Managers’ Association. Visit www.georgiamag azine.org to order “It’s My View,” a hardbound book featuring 100 of the magazine readers’ favorite columns from past years. What readers say about “A new decade begins” was just chock-full of wisdom that many on both sides of the of our leaders aisle seem to lack. I’d like to shake your hand tell you how much I think of you.” one day and “Viewpoint,” the monthly column of Paul Wood: “Mr. Wood … is so “Paul, keep up the good work. I always —Dave K., Townsend, Ga. inspirational in his common-sense approach to everything!” —Jamie W., Richmond Hill, Ga. enjoy your articles.” —Larry W., Perry, Ga. “I am thrilled about this book. Paul Wood’s ‘Viewpoint’ is the first the magazine.” thing I read in —Anita J., West Point, Ga. “Thank you very much for the ‘Viewpoint’ article, ‘Growing older? This is a splendid article Who, me?’ on aging. We always enjoy Paul’s articles …” —Jeanette G., Cleveland, Ga. “My GEORGIA Magazine arrived yesterday. … Wood’s. His words My first article is always ring true to me. Please Paul pass along my applause.” —Angela S., Blairsville, gives us something Ga. to think about.” “Paul Wood always —Vickie H., Thomson, Ga. IT’S MY VIEW JACKET DESIGN BY TRUDIE THIBODEAUX JACKET PHOTOGRAP HY BY LOUIS TONSMEIRE PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. © 2011 GEMC GEORGIA MAGAZINE Looking for a great gift idea? What readers asked Back ' GEORGIA Magazine readers have loved Paul Wood’s monthly most 15 years; response columns for alto the magazine points of every issue. After numerous readers suggestedto this being the most-read page columns in a book, that Wood put his “Viewpoint” he did. This book is the result. It’s My View for … It’s My View It’s My View A collection of readers ’ favorite ‘Viewpoint’ columns from GEOR GIA Magazine President/CEO, Georgia Electric ' hen Paul Wood writes a in his monthly “Viewpo GEORGIA Magazine, h reflections are often laced wit lessons he learned while grow town of Natchitoches , La. One has only to read a co gain an appreciation for a life faith and education. Small towns in the 1950s The character of the town’s yo shaped by adults who accepted in life, putting every child on a and successful citizenship. It w “Remember who you are” was small-town mother, a cautionar on your best behavior when yo door to meet the world. A teena that anyone in the community c report.” W 2011 By Paul Wood Membership Corp. In Wood’s column, “Good v remember growing up when roc born, perhaps with parents who understand it. In “My mother sa raise,” you’ll discover Paul’s purp humor. In “The parade of our tim it all about,” he waxes philosoph meaning of life. In “Good friends times,” you’ll think of someone w when the going was rough. He als advice for graduates looking for a celebrating the Fourth of July and a more meaningful Christmas for There is also considerable commen officials could make government w levels. Hardly any subject escapes t opinion of Paul Wood. This collection of readers’ favo is more than a nostalgic look at the reminder that many of those learned are just as applicable early l today in mid-20th-century America. Wood every person possesses a unique gift discovered and cultivated, has the ca change the world. At the very least, t is apt to find Wood’s insights a helpf for understanding the problems that complicated world in early 21st-cent ' By Paul Wood (Con January 2013 More online at www.georgiamagazine.org 5 http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiaemc.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - January 2013

Georgia Magazine - January 2013
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Liberty Notes
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar of Events
The 2013 Readers' Choice Awards
Currents
Bird Dog Capital of the World
'A whole new stratosphere’
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - January 2013