Rural Missouri - February 2013 - (Page 4)

C O M M E N T S “Devoted to the rural way of life” February 2013 Volume 65 / Number 2 Jim McCarty, editor jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop Jason Jenkins, managing editor jjenkins@ruralmissouri.coop Heather Berry, associate editor hberry@ruralmissouri.coop Kyle Spradley, field editor kspradley@ruralmissouri.coop Megan Schibi, editorial assistant mschibi@ruralmissouri.coop Mary Davis, production manager mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop Angie Jones Dusty Weter Co-op page designers USPS 473-000 ISSN 0164-8578 Copyright 2013, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Call for reprint rights. photo by Jim McCarty The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives will be better prepared to help its member systems recover from disasters once this generator installation is complete. The generator will provide back-up power should the association lose power in a storm. Preparing for storms Mutual aid program moves ahead with new generator H ardly a year goes by that does not see one of Missouri’s electric cooperatives battered by Mother Nature’s wrath. When that happens, help is just a phone call to the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives away. Soon the statewide association will have a new tool to help assist those electric cooperatives that find themselves in harm’s way. In January, workers set in place a diesel-powered generator with enough capacity to power the association’s headquarters in Jefferson City in the event the capital city is part of the area in a storm’s path. The new generator was made possible by the board of directors and Manager Chris Hamon at White River Valley Electric Cooperative based in Branson. When White River Valley built a new headquarters building starting in 2009, the emergency generator designed to power the old headquarters proved too small for the new building. Instead of selling the old power plant, the cooperative offered it to the statewide association, remembering the assistance provided to them during the ice storm of 2009 and other occasions. But what was too small for White River Valley’s headquarters was too large for the statewide association. At the suggestion of the AMEC Executive Committee, employees explored the option of selling the old generator and using the money to buy a new one that was better designed to meet the association’s needs. White River Valley was OK with this strategy, and that’s what was done. When the generator installation is complete, it will provide backup electricity to power the association’s communications systems, provide heat and other necessary resources. Missouri’s electric cooperatives have provided a coordinated mutual aid program since 1948 when the plan 4 was adopted at a board meeting of what was then called the Missouri State Rural Electrification Association. Just one month later, in January 1949, the plan was tested for the first time. Ironically, Boone Electric Cooperative, whose Manager R.J. Martin first suggested the program, was the first to call for help as freezing rain fell across the state for three days. Farmers’ Electric in Chillicothe responded with three men and one truck. These days, the emergency assistance program works like a well-oiled machine. Employees in the association’s Risk Management and Training Department watch the weather and determine which electric cooperatives could be affected by stormy weather. (See page 12 to read about a new tool that helps make this determination.) Those electric co-ops that are not affected are alerted to have crews and equipment ready. Once the damage is assessed, a call to the association puts the wheels in motion that can result in an army of assistance sent into the fray. There’s one final step that takes place after the damage has been repaired. Systems involved in the repair effort meet to discuss what took place and how the mutual assistance program can be improved. Over the years, this program has helped repair damage caused by ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods. Crews from Missouri have helped their counterparts in the Gulf States and have been the recipient of the same assistance when we were the ones needing help. They’ve also gone to the cities to help restore power. No matter what caused the damage, or how bad it is, two common denominators can be found: Electric cooperative employees will rise to the occasion and do whatever it takes to get power restored. And those electric cooperatives with damage will never be alone. WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP Rural Missouri is published monthly by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Barry Hart, executive vice president. Individual subscription rate: $10 per year or $22 for three years, taxes and postage included. Group rate for members of participating RECs $4.20, taxes and postage included. Delivery as specified by subscriber. If not specified, delivery will be by periodical class mail at subscriber’s expense. Periodical Class postage paid at Jefferson City, MO, and additional mailing offices. Rural Missouri P.O. Box 1645 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-659-3423 info@ruralmissouri.coop www.ruralmissouri.coop Find us on www.facebook.com/ruralmissouri Postmasters: Send address changes to Rural Missouri, P.O. Box 1645, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Subscribers: Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Rural Missouri. Advertising standards: Advertising published in Rural Missouri is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and sold to customers at the advertised price. Rural Missouri and Missouri’s electric cooperatives do not endorse any products or services advertised herein. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading is never knowingly accepted by this publication. Advertising information: mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop 573-659-3400 National Advertising Representative: National Country Market; 611 S. Congress St., Suite 504; Austin, TX 78704 573-659-3400 Member, Missouri Association of Publications and Missouri Press Association http://www.ruralmissouri.coop http://www.facebook.com/ruralmissouri http://www.facebook.com/ruralmissouri http://WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - February 2013

Rural Missouri - February 2013
Table of Contents
Comments
Columns
A lasting tribute
Preparing for the worst
Whittling wildlife
Outdoors
Out of the Way Eats
Our history with Missouri’s future leaders
Hearth and Home
The cowboy way of life
Co-ops care
Around Missouri
Marketplace
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - February 2013