Rural Missouri - October 2013 - (Page 4)

C O M M E N T S “Devoted to the rural way of life” Teaching the teachers October 2013 Volume 65 / Number 10 Electric co-ops give educators a powerful lesson on energy T wo days of “power learning” taught science teacher Doug Selby a thing or two about electricity. While energy was already a favorite topic for him, “I didn’t realize what an amazing process it is,” he said. Now, he also has a better understanding of what drives cooperative decisions and how to make electricity generation relevant and memorable to students. Selby, who teaches eighth-grade to 12th-grade science at Jamestown C-1 School, was one of 16 science and agriculture teachers — two from each of the eight distribution cooperatives served by Central Electric Power Cooperative — who received a solid grounding in power production Aug. 6-7. The 15 hours of training were developed by Central and the University of Missouri-Columbia. photo by John Agliata, Co-Mo Electric The course covered energy basics, power generation and Boone Electric’s Chris Rohlfing makes a point during his part in the seminar on power transmission, energy efficiency, production. Eight central Missouri electric co-ops sponsored teachers for the event. economics and energy production. 1994, Central Electric’s member cooperatives suggested it It provided instructional materials for teachers to take with take on the challenge of safety education for area school them, including an amp meter, radiometer and sample kids, which it did by hiring its first education specialist, curriculum. The group also toured the university’s power Keith Mueller. Six years ago, Stan, another former educator generation station. Course speakers came from Associin Fayette, joined the team, focusing on energy efficiency. ated Electric Cooperative, Boone Electric Cooperative, MU About two years ago, feedback pointed to another need: Extension, the university and Ameren Missouri. both students and teachers lacked a good understanding The team worked hard to make the course relevant to of the electric industry. To remedy that, Keith tapped into students and valuable to teachers in the form of one hour his relationship with Leon Schumacher, a professor of agriof graduate credit. “No one wants to waste teacher time,” cultural systems management at MU who had worked with said Stan Varner, one of Central Electric’s education speAssociated Electric on energy-efficiency projects. cialists. Soon, a project to bring new life to the energy curSelby, who already recognized the science behind power riculum in the classroom took shape. University staff and production, said he’s now better informed and will use graduate assistants helped develop content, found a trainwhat he learned in his lessons. “I came away with a lot ing location, identified speakers and made sure the training of respect for the local co-op,” he said. “What they do is tied to state standards. not simple. There are a lot of different things they have to Mission accomplished. Evaluations showed the class was weigh. It takes good quality people who are educated in well received, and plans are in place to continue it. their respective roles to pull it off.” The pilot training is the latest in more than 15 years of — Power News outreach to public schools from Central Electric. Back in Hartwell new manager at Gascosage C Carmen Hartwell 4 armen Hartwell is the new manager of Gascosage Electric Cooperative, Dixon, the cooperative’s board recently announced. In taking the helm at the 7,355-member electric cooperative, she became the third woman to manage a Missouri electric co-op. She also is the first woman to hold a seat on the board of directors for Sho-Me Power Cooperative, Marshfield, which supplies power to Gascosage and eight other electric cooperatives in the Ozarks. Prior to her appointment as the cooperative’s manager, Carmen served as Gascosage’s office manager. Carmen replaces John Greenlee, who retired in June after a long career in rural electrification. He was the cooperative’s manager since October 1992. Missouri’s electric cooperatives congratulate Carmen on her new role and wish John all the best in his retirement. WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP Jim McCarty, editor jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop Jason Jenkins, managing editor jjenkins@ruralmissouri.coop Heather Berry, associate editor hberry@ruralmissouri.coop Megan Backes, editorial assistant mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop Mary Davis, production manager mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop Kile Brewer, intern Angie Jones-Wheeler Dusty Weter Co-op page designers USPS 473-000 ISSN 0164-8578 Copyright 2013, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Call for reprint rights. 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 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.pinterest.com/ruralmissouri http://www.youtube.com/RuralMOmag http://WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

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

Rural Missouri - October 2013
Contents
Comments
Columns
Schooled on sailing
A deer dilemma
Outdoors
Therapy for the heart & soul
Out of the Way Eats
Gone RVing
Charge of the Iron Brigade
Hearth and Home
Underwater fun
Around Missouri
Marketplace
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - October 2013