Georgia Magazine - April 2014 - (Page 5)

GEORGIA Magazine, the largest-circulation monthly magazine in the state, is published by Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (GEMC), the trade association for Georgia's 41 consumer-owned electric utilities. On average, more than 510,000 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 SEnIOR aSSOCIaTE EDITOR Victoria Scharf DeCastro PRODuCTIOn COORDInaTOR Gayle Hartman aSSOCIaTE EDITOR Kevin Braun, CCC aSSISTanT EDITOR Jim Jess EDITORIal InTERnS Jesus Diaz, Clara St. Urbain COnTRIbuTIng WRITERS Stephanie Green, Jackie Kennedy, Rebecca Lang, Peggy Lloyd Lee, Amber Lanier Nagle, Ruth Birch Sykes, Mandy Wilson COnTRIbuTIng PhOTOgRaPhERS Audrey Lanier Andersen, Savannah Andersen, Bentley Carter, Bill Durden, Sheila Goble, Keith Hickman, Jackie Kennedy, Torrance Kilpatrick, Diane Kirkland, Jennie Lacey, Rebecca Lang, Richard Lubrant, Jason B. Smith, Gregg Willett, Tim Williams Laurel George, (404) 541-0628; Laine Kirby Wood, (770) 289-5700 aDvERTISIng REPRESEnTaTIvES naTIOnal aDvERTISIng REPRESEnTaTIvE National Country Market, (800) 626-1181 DESIgnERS Trudie Thibodeaux, Kerstin Weis SubSCRIPTIOnS (770) 270-6500 Mark Bolton, Raphael Brumbeloe, Chris Dillard, Linda Erbele, Jim Hunter, Amy Lott, Byron McCombs, Marty Myers, Nan Ritchie Philpot, Lee Reeves, Lewis Sheffield, Reggie Stowers, Karen Sumner, Ruby Woods 2014 aDvISORy bOaRD gEORgIa EMC OffICERS: ChaIRMan G. Anthony Shoals EMC Norton, Snapping vICE ChaIRMan Phil Ham, Central Georgia EMC SEC.-TREaSuRER Randy Crenshaw, Irwin EMC PRESIDEnT/CEO, gEMC A. Paul Wood 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 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. April 2014 Long overdue 'thank you' By Paul Wood President/CEO, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation T hey used to be called "secretaries," a word that never accurately described the enormous demands of their job. And now there aren't any secretaries. With the advent of computers, the women (and most secretaries were women) have disappeared. Their job has been taken over by executive assistants who perform all former secretarial tasks- and more, much more. Today's executive assistant has many responsibilities that are critical to supporting the boss, among them: to clarify, anticipate, direct and coordinate-everything. When others can't read your writing or don't understand your directions, your executive assistant is often the only one who can clarify the meaning of your hieroglyphics. A really good executive assistant has been known to read the boss' mind. Often, they slip into the most important part of your brain and memory, and help fill in details you have forgotten. "Didn't you tell John that you would call him this week?" They anticipate your needs. "Your driver's license expires this month. Stop by the DMV tomorrow!" They are better than any GPS unit in providing directions to your next appointment, in coordinating your schedule with others whose schedules are just as crowded, and making reservations when the hotel is booked or the theater is sold out. I've been thinking about the evolution from "office secretary" to "executive assistant" since Janet Wright, my own executive assistant, retired at the end of last year. Janet worked for Georgia EMC for 29 years, the last 16 of those were dedicated to my success. She was an "essential assistant" for all those years. Everyone knew Janet, and more important, she More online at www.georgiamagazine.org Janet Wright and Paul Wood RichaRd LubRant www.georgiamagazine.org (800) 544-4362, in Georgia; (770) 270-6500 knew everyone involved in Georgia's electric cooperatives and many at cooperatives around the nation. She was deservedly praised when she retired, and we miss her. Of such people are long-term relationships built and valued by every organization. Little wonder that the Janet Wrights of this world often seem more like family than employees. Before I moved to Georgia, Sandy Stockwell was my assistant back in Louisiana. She worked with me for 25 years. She's retiring this year, I understand, and although I haven't seen Sandy in years, she still feels like a sister to me. When life was slower-before computers and cellphones and "clouds"-secretaries knew they would be successful if they could take shorthand accurately from dictation, type correspondence with no errors, answer the phone and take messages. Today's executive assistants describe those days as the Dark Ages. Their jobs have evolved dramatically. Much more is expected, but one quality has remained the same: intense loyalty and dedication to the organization. If it were left to me, there would be a special award to recognize all the talented individuals who dedicate their careers to the success of their company or association. And I find them at every level of the organization. Through their tireless efforts, the company succeeds, and miraculously, the boss is made to look good. For that, I will always be grateful. Thank you, Sandy, and a special thank you to our Janet Wright. 5 http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiaemc.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - April 2014

Georgia Magazine - April 2014
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Liberty Notes
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar of Events
Festival Guide
Georgia's Energy Outlook
Currents
Falling in love with Georgia
More on GPB and Georgia Grown
Organ donations: The gift of self
More on organ donation
A wee, whimsical place
Catch spring fever!
More on travel across the Southeast
Visiting covered bridges
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Second helping: More Vidalia recipes
Snapshot!
More Snapshot photos
Plant of the month
April’s online trivia contest
Georgia Grown spotlight

Georgia Magazine - April 2014