A newsletter for and about Electric Cooperatives

Vol. LXIII, No. 7 June 28, 2013

Inside RuralKansas youth tour studentsPower visit legislators on Capitol Hill 2 | Calendar Kansas electric some of the finest youth cooperatives sent 35 in our nation, refining 2 | KEC announces youth from across and honing their leader- Summer Board the state on the 53rd ship skills to produce Meeting program annual Youth Tour to tomorrow’s leaders.” Washington, D.C. The Thomas continued, 3 |LJEC hosts rural tour, which was held “I was humbled and Zimbabwean June 13-20, taught honored to witness the delegation youth about electric spark in our delegates 4 |Wheatland employee co-ops and helped stu- as each one discovered uses BBQ skills to aid dents develop leader- that they are important tornado victims ship skills. and that they have the The group learned ability to make a differ- about the U.S. govern- Senator visits with the Kansas youth tour ence. It was inspiring to ment through visits delegates at the U.S. Capitol on June 18. see what takes some a with Senators and Pat Roberts, lifetime be achieved in a one-week period.” Congressmen and Mike Many of the students expressed how this trip Pompeo and Congresswoman . The has changed their view on the world, and also students learned about cooperatives through their view on themselves. a visit to Kaw Valley. They toured many sites “With a grateful heart, I am so apprecia- in Washington, D.C., including museums, the tive to all those who made Youth Tour possible,” Capitol and Arlington National Cemetery. said Catie Crosley, a youth delegate sponsored However, the tour is more than a history by Pioneer. “It is the co-ops’ investment in this lesson – there are remarkable stories of leader- program that has changed, and will continue to ship and personal development that come from change, the lives of those who participated. This the week together. program exposed us to witnessing the American “As the Youth Tour coordinator for Ark government system in action, as well as experi- Valley, I had seen enough to know that this trip encing the history our forefathers left behind.” was important. Now having experienced it first- Crosley was chosen to be the 2013 Youth hand, I have an overwhelming passion for this Leadership Council representative for Kansas, program,” said Ark Valley’s Melinda Thomas and will participate in NRECA’s 2014 annual who chaperoned the trip. “Youth Tour brings in meeting in Nashville.

PO Box 4267 Topeka, KS 66604-0267 www.kec.org The students hosted a breakfast for the Kansas Congressional delegation. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (left photo, center), Congressman Tim Huelskamp (center photo) and Congressman (right photo) took the time to Join Kansas Electric Cooperatives visit with the youth tour delegates and to pose for photos. More photos are available at www.youthtour.coop. Facebook page

June 28, 2013 Rural Power 1 co-opcalendar inbrief JULY Co-ops alarmed by 4-5 Independence Day Holiday and floating holiday, KEC office closed President’s proposal that will 9 lane-Scott Annual Meeting, dinner at 6:30 p.m., meeting at 7:30 p.m., Lane County Fairgrounds, Dighton increase electric bills 13-19 Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp, Steamboat Springs, CO Jo Ann Emerson, NRECA’s CEO, made 17-18 KEPCo Board of Trustees Meeting, KEPCo Headquarters, Topeka the following statement in response to the 19 sunflower Board of Directors Meeting, Sunflower Headquarters, Hays 31 MDM Meeting, KEC Headquarters, Topeka, 10 a.m. President’s proposal that will raise electric utility bills for millions of Americans: “Electric cooperatives oppose Presi- Former KC Chiefs player, NRECA staff among KEC dent Obama’s proposal to use the Clean Air Act to reduce carbon dioxide emissions Summer Board Meeting speakers from power plants. America’s rural com- Final touches are being applied to review current issues in co-op policies. munities depend on coal-fired generation the 2013 KEC Summer Board Meeting. Federated’s Phil Irwin will explain how for affordable electric power and would The event will be held August 5 at the safety does pay at the co-op. KEPCo’s Overland Park Marriott. Charles Terrill and Sunflower’s Stuart be disproportionately penalized by this Speakers for this year’s meeting Lowry will give an update on Kansas scheme. Folks in rural communities and include several NRECA staff. Kirk power supply. Finally, KEC’s Larry those with low or fixed incomes already Johnson, NRECA’s Senior Vice Presi- Freeze will explain how Kansas Country spend more of their household budget on dent of Government Relations, will give Living is built each month. energy; this proposal would increase their an update on the activities in Washing- In addition, there will also be a burden. The President’s proposal would be, ton, D.C. Peter Baxter, NRECA Senior meeting of the Kansas NRECA mem- in effect, a regressive new climate tax on Vice President of Insurance & Finan- bership on Monday to hold elections for America’s most economically vulnerable cial Services, will give a primer on the the NRECA Director. NRECA Pension Plan. Megan McKoy- The KEC Auxiliary Program will citizens. Noe, NRECA’s Member & Commu- also be held on Monday. Speakers for NRECA and America’s electric nity Engagement Representative, will this program include Caney Valley’s cooperatives will fight this proposal at the highlight ways co-ops engage members Betsy Zadorozny who will share her agency level and in the courts if necessary. through new technologies. “Experiments with the Electric Grand- If the President doesn’t recognize the Monday’s luncheon will feature mother”. Kansas Youth Tour alumni need to keep electric bills affordable, we Kevin Lockett, Kansas City Chiefs Chantz and Amber Martin will share promise to bring it to his attention.” Ambassador, former player and K-State their memories. There will also be a star. Other speakers include Wallace performance by the 89th Street Blue- NRECA – 6/25/13 Barron, Barron & Associates, who will grass Band.

Relief fund for co-op Directors training offered at members in Black Forest fire KEC’s Summer Board Meeting insympathy More than 500 electric co-op Raymond “Bud” Brown members had their homes and businesses KEC’s Summer Board Meeting will be held and Veta Reece Flint Hills Manager Bob Reece’s destroyed in the June Black Forest Fire at the Overland Park Marriott. father-in-law died on June 19 and northeast of Colorado Springs. On Sat., Aug. 3, Wallace Barron will facili- tate the CCD Course 2610 Understanding the Reece’s mother died on June 21. The Colorado Rural Electric Associa- Services for Bud Brown were held tion has established a relief fund to be Electric Business and Jody Severson will facili- at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in donated to charitable organizations assist- tate the Board Leadership Course 913 Coopera- Emporia on June 23. Memorials may be ing those within that area. tive Foundations: Co-op Legacy, Principles and made to Sacred Heart Catholic School Mail a check or money order made Impact on Communities. or Emporia Friends of the Zoo, and sent payable to CEEI/Black Forest Fire Fund to: On Sun., Aug. 4, Wallace Barron will also in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P. O. Box 175, Emporia, KS CREA/Black Forest Fire Fund, 5400 Wash- faciliate the Board Leadership Course 955 66801. ington St., Denver, CO 80216. Include your Your Board’s Culture: Its Impact on Effective- ness. KEC’s Carrie Kimberlin will offer BoardPaq Services for Veta Reece were held name, address, email and phone number. at the Funeral Home First Christian Please note if you need a receipt. instruction that afternoon. Church in Emporia on June 26. Memo- The KEC Summer Board Meeting agenda Colorado rural electric rials may be made to First Christian association – 6/20/13 will follow on Mon., Aug 5. Registration materi- Church, 202 E. 12th Avenue, Emporia, als have already been sent to each cooperative. KS 66801.

2 Rural Power June 28, 2013 Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. • PO Box 4267, Topeka, KS, 66604-0267 Co-ops successfully appeal Leavenworth-Jefferson hosts rural Zimbabwean delegation A del- cooperatives. property valuations egation of “They Several Kansas electric cooperatives rural district were in recently learned that their 2013 tax bills will council men Kansas City, not be as high as previously anticipated. and women so we were from Zimba- asked to Eleven co-ops and Southern Pioneer bwe toured give them a each requested an informal conference Leavenworth- tour,” Foss to appeal their state-appraised valuations Jefferson said. “We before the Kansas Division of Property Electric recently Valuation (PVD). Owners of state-appraised Co-op installed property have an opportunity to present (LJEC) on Steve Foss, LJEC; Dave Holthaus, KEC; and Jennifer Fisher, LJEC; a standby evidence to the appraisers supporting their June 25. met with members of the Zimbabwe rural economic develop- generator at ment delegation and gave them a tour of LJEC’s facilities. case that the value is overstated. This must The our substa- co-op visit was part of the group’s rural tion, and they were very interested in be done before the final values are certified economic development tour. that part of the facility.” to the local taxing districts. “They want to see how rural electric Holthaus added, “They wanted Of the 12 appeals, all but three valua- utility projects provide reliable, afford- more information on how to start an tions were decreased. Of the five coopera- able electricity to rural areas,” said electric co-op, and they were interested tives represented by KEC’s Doug Shepherd, Susan Peoples, Program Associate of in NRECA’s international programs.” one was unchanged and the other four the Kansas City International Visitors KCIV hosts Department of State received reductions ranging from two Council (KCIV). sponsored delegations from around percent to 16 percent for an estimated KEC was contacted by KCIV, and the world. These groups come to the Bruce Graham organized the tour. U.S. typically on three-week programs, 2013 tax savings of $127,000. These co-ops LJEC’s General Manager, Steve spending a few days in Kansas. include Bluestem, DS&O, Nemaha-Marshall, Foss, members of his staff, and KEC’s The group toured industries with Sedgwick County and Twin Valley. Vice President of Government Rela- programs designed to improve the KEPCo’s Colleen Wells was also suc- tions, Dave Holthaus, met the group of economic stability of rural communi- cessful in securing an 11 percent reduction eight delegates at LJEC’s substation near ties, businesses, residents, and farmers, for KEPCo which will result in tax savings of Tonganoxie that recently had a standby including Growing Grocers food coop- $402,000 for 2013. Four others received an generator installed. They returned to erative, the Olathe Chamber of Com- average reduction of 4.4 percent. the co-op’s headquarters where Foss and merce, and K-State’s Johnson County Holthaus gave presentations on electric Extension Office. Kansas Electric Cooperatives supports Kansas FFA Organization State Degree winners Kansas received their As the membership of the Kansas Electric chapter FFA FFA organization grows, the partici- Coopera- Degree and pation grows as well. This year, 236 tives, Inc., been an FFA Kansas FFA members earned their State sponsored the member and Degree. Carrie Kimberlin, Communica- State Degrees agricultural tions Specialist, represented KEC and at the 85th education presented those members their gold Kansas FFA student for charms. Convention at least two “It’s always great to be a part of the in Manhattan years. They degree ceremony to congratulate FFA on May 31. Kevin Lewis, Kanyon Kelly, and Marissa Bland are former must have members individually on receiving their KEC Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp attendees and FFA earned at state degree,” Kimberlin said. sponsors the members. Kelly was among the 236 students who received least $2,000 During the convention and at the State FFA their FFA State Degree charm from KEC’s Carrie Kimberlin. or worked Blue and Gold Celebration, KEC was Degree each year. The State Degree is 600 hours in their Supervised Agricul- recognized as a Four Star Partner of the the highest honor the Kansas FFA Asso- tural Experience program. Kansas FFA Foundation. ciation can bestow upon its members. The recipient must also give a six- “We are proud to recognize KEC for The degree is presented to members minute speech about agriculture or FFA its continued support,” Kerry Wefald, who have met the qualifications of this and participate in eight different leader- Executive Director of the Kansas FFA degree. ship activities. The student needs to earn Foundation, said. “The future of agricul- In order to achieve this award, a “C” average or better in high school ture is bright for Kansas, the community members must meet seven require- while showing a record of outstanding is embracing agriculture programs and ments. First, the member must have leadership and community involvement. it is great to see business involved.”

Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. • PO Box 4267, Topeka, KS, 66604-0267 June 28, 2013 Rural Power 3 Right on “Q”: Wheatland employee uses BBQ skills to aid tornado victims in Oklahoma After a devastating EF5 tornado ripped cooking and catering BBQ meals. The concept 1,000 pounds of brisket donated by Cargill, Inc. through Moore, OK, on May 20, many people is simple – take advantage of the network of The team used the donated funds to buy more wondered what they could do to help. Few competition BBQ teams and mobilize them meat and additional supplies. had the opportunity like Wheatland employee quickly. Less than 24 hours after the Moore Once in Moore, the Scott City team Bryan Mulligan. tornado, Mulligan’s team, along joined another 15 to 20 BBQ teams who also Mulligan, an with another local barbecue responded. The teams would fire up the avid BBQ’er and team member, assembled to smokers at 6 a.m. to warm the meat that had member of the head to Moore. been cooked the day before. They packaged competition BBQ “When we learned that meals and smoked more meat for the next team C-Mor- Brian had the opportunity to day. Volunteers delivered the boxed lunches Butz, got a call help out with Operation BBQ to families whose homes had been destroyed, from fellow team Relief, we wanted to do all people in shelters, and other volunteers. member on May Bryan Mulligan and fellow BBQer ‘Doc’ we could to support him and From May 22 to May 29, operation BBQ 22. Operation BBQ Kenneson cook for the victims and volun- the relief efforts,” said Bruce Relief delivered over 143,000 meals. Relief was looking teers following the Moore, OK, tornado. Mueller, Wheatland’s General Mulligan said there were lots of people for volunteers to assist the relief efforts from Manager. “Wheatland donated some funds, a who expressed gratitude to Operation BBQ the devastation of the Moore tornado, and the pallet of bottled water and Brian’s paid time Relief. One individual who had lost everything team wanted to help out. while he was volunteering. We are proud of the to the tornado’s destruction tried to make a Operation BBQ Relief is a non-profit relief work Brian and his team did in Moore and are donation back to the relief organization as a organization founded by the collaboration of glad to have been a part of it.” token of his appreciation. Though the donation three competition BBQ teams in the wake of The team left Scott City stocked with was politely refused, the significance of the the aftermath of the 2011 tornado that struck over 3,000 pounds of meat donated from local gesture was not lost on Mulligan. Joplin, MO. Its mission is to help those whose feedyards, as well as $5,000 that had been Mulligan says, “It was pretty obvious that lives have been affected by the devastation donated from local community members. The we were making an impact and people were of natural disasters through their expertise in team stopped in Dodge City to pick up another very appreciative of our efforts.”

RuralKansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.  PowerPO Box 4267  Topeka, KS 66604-0267

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