Cooperative Living October 2020 - 6

TrainingTracks
'A Whole Different World'
About three years ago, Andy Haynes was operating and
maintaining an electrical system at a company in Statesville,
N.C. But he always had an eye on the electric cooperative
network - his brothers-in-law have been part of the
cooperative network. When the opportunity came to join
Southside Electric Cooperative, he jumped on it.
Becoming a lineworker: It's a wonderful opportunity and they take
care of their people. The members are the priority. It's a whole
different world from anything outside of cooperatives.
What he likes best about his job: It's being in the first place that
actually keeps the lights on for our members. All the equipment -
it starts with substations. The technology is always changing and
it's a learning process almost daily.
Our Training Tracks feature spotlights a trainee
from an electric cooperative. Training is conducted
at the Electric Cooperative Training Center in Palmyra,
Va. The state-of-the-art facility is an ideal learning
environment to serve the needs of lineworkers,
system operators, substation operators and other
co-op representatives.
MailBag
KEEP 'EM COMING!
I just wanted to drop a line to say
how much I enjoy Cooperative Living
magazine. It is entertaining and
informative and I appreciate that you
allow us to receive it for free. Thanks,
and keep those stories coming. It gives
readers an uplifting moment in an
otherwise crazy world full of stress.
- Laura Cline, Ridgely, Md.
A LITTLE ADVENTURE
I often enjoy reading the Rural
Living column. But I am disappointed
in the approach to the topic of
adventure in the September 2020
issue. The article elaborated on Margo
Oxendine's negative and narrowfocused
take on exotic vacations
found in travel magazines for which
she admittedly has a " penchant. " I
was especially shocked given she has
shared mini-adventures of her own
over the years. Readers live vicariously
4 | Cooperative Living | October 2020
Andy Haynes
* Substation apparatus technician
* Southside Electric Cooperative
* Resides in Amelia, Va.
* Enjoys hunting and fishing
What he's learning: I can take a lot of it back and utilize
doing my substation checks and maintaining the
substation. We're training on batteries and just how
important it is to maintain them and keep them clean.
We're understanding how important it is to have the
backup power, and open up our relays and controls
that are in the substation.
About the training center: This is amazing. The first class
that I was in here was in the [since-abandoned] trailers.
This is wonderful, just with the updated technologies -
it makes learning a little more enjoyable and easier
for us. 
Read about the training center at vmdaec.com/center.
through her, I'm sure, and it is a
reason we enjoy her articles.
COVID-19 has indeed limited our
ability to get out, learn new things
and expand our horizons in traditional
ways. I get a plethora of delightful
feelings imagining what it must be like
to see a sleek jaguar in the wild, to
taste native foods from places like
Uzbekistan or Mongolia, or disconnect
from electronics to immerse in the
matchless nature of the Galapagos.
Or maybe a baby step toward a little
adventure is needed to build up our
confidence before tackling a trip to
Kyrgyzstan. Sleep in a tent at a local
state park. Get carryout from an ethnic
restaurant. Be willing to let your
vacation ideas get a little out of control,
and maybe pursue some of them.
- Rhonda Hughes, Brandy Station, Va.
'A GEM OF LOCAL INFO'
I don't usually write letters to
publications, but I felt compelled to let
you know how much joy your magazine
brings to me. I have been a resident of
the Shenandoah Valley for 15 years and
have always enjoyed Cooperative Living
because it gave me insight into what is
going on in my community.
I have cut and saved many articles as
well as recipes, and visited several of the
places and restaurants featured. The Iris
Inn has become a favorite place to get
away from it all and I have suggested it
to many folks.
- Wendy Pieper, Strasburg, Va.
Correction: Alert reader David Holloway
notes that the Ford Thunderbird referred
to in the August Rural Living column was
a 1956 model, not a 1967 model.
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Cooperative Living October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living October 2020
