April 2020 Vol
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Lake Region Electric April 2020 Vol. 20 No. 12 Cybersecurity and You Page 8 Flood Preparedness Page 12 MANAGER’S COLUMN Election to Be Held for Two Director Seats Democratic Member Control is one of the 7 Cooperative Princi- ples guiding Lake Region Electric Planning for Our Future Association, Inc. (LREA). Coop- eratives, like LREA, are demo- The Lake Region Electric board of directors and management started the year off by participating in cratic organizations, controlled and completing a Strategic Planning Session. The purpose of a Strategic Planning Session is to take by our members who actively an overall look at where LREA is today and where we want to go in the future; all the while consid- participate in setting policies and ering the future financial health of your electric cooperative. making decisions. Lake Region Electric Association is governed Lindy LaChance and Darrin Lynch from Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) facilitated the by a democratically elected two-day planning session. CFC is a nonprofit finance cooperative that provides expertise and Board of Directors; these elected financing to electric cooperatives. CFC hosts these planning sessions to help cooperative manage- representatives are accountable ment and staff understand the direction that the board of directors want the cooperative to go and to the membership. The Board of to help set achievable goals. Directors of Lake Region Electric The entire board of directors, along with LREA Attorney Smeins and the management staff, Association, Inc. consists of seven Tim McIntyre attended this two-day meeting. We spent time identifying the key issues facing LREA. The next members. Board members are step in the Strategic Planning Session was to prioritize. One question that we needed to answer was, elected to three-year terms at the General Manager “Where should our primary focus be?” The board members and managers then needed to come annual meeting. [email protected] together to discuss what is best for the member-owners we serve. Being fiscally responsible is always Two Director seats will be up a priority for the leadership at Lake Region Electric Association. When planning for our future for election at the LREA Annual we must ask ourselves, “What will the proposed changes cost and how do those costs impact our Meeting to be held in Langford on member’s electric rates?” Conversely, we must consider the risk to the quality of service and product June 4, 2020, at 7 p.m. The seats that we deliver if we fail to plan ahead and make necessary changes. up for election are District 2 and Following completion of the session, the planning group achieved consensus on the following District 4. Individuals who wish strategic goals: to run for the board must file a petition signed by fifteen (15) One question Safety: Continue to enhance and emphasize the culture of safety for the employees and general fellow members 45 days prior that we needed public. to the annual meeting. Potential to answer was, Line Replacement: Develop and deliver a plan to replace the aging assets of the coopera- Director candidates must be an tive, focusing on line replacement, underground conversion and Grenville substation reliability active member of LREA and “Where should upgrades. agree to attend all meetings. Nominations can be accepted our primary Financial Health: Maintain the financial strength of the cooperative with a continued focus on from the floor during the annual focus be?” the existing equity management plan and capital credit retirement practices while investigating meeting. Candidates will be time-of-use and demand rates. published in the “Annual Meeting Member Communications: Enhance communication and member engagement by focusing Notice to Members.” on expanding the use of digital marketing techniques while strengthening the cooperative’s Serving on the Board of Directors SAVE THE status as the go-to expert relative to renewables, standby generation and distributed generation. is a commitment that requires Technology: Develop a technology plan with emphasis placed upon cybersecurity while also representatives to attend local DATE addressing the cooperative’s need to implement next-generation metering technology and to meetings on a monthly basis capture and best utilize data for the benefit of the cooperative and its members. as well as state and national meetings. Board members attend Lake Region Electric Employees: Create an employee workforce plan to address succession planning, ongoing trainings and pursue educational Association employee training and education and enhancements to internal communication. opportunities so that they are Just like any successful democracy, we want to be extremely transparent on our decision-making well informed on regulations and Annual process here at LREA. We strive to keep our member-owners informed about the financial condition industry trends in order to best Meeting of your cooperative. We want you to be aware of anything that may affect your bill or services that serve the members of Lake Region LREA provides. We also want to keep our members well informed by providing information and Electric Association. 7 p.m. June 4 educational opportunities through this magazine, our website and our social media pages. Our service area is divided into Langford, S.D. You can trust that we have a plan for the future of your electric cooperative. Providing reliable 7 districts, as shown on the Lake power at competitive rates while creating a culture of safety are our top priorities! If you have any Region electric Director Map, with questions as to where your electric cooperative is going and why, please don’t hesitate to call! You each district being represented are a member-owner of Lake Region Electric Association and we are here to serve you. by an elected official. This year District 2 and District 4 are up for Have a great month and God Bless, election. District 2, highlighted Tim McIntyre in blue, includes the townships of 2 Cooperative Connections | April 2020 Dayton, Newark, White, Victor, Stena, Miller, Pleasant Valley, Nordland & Wismer. District 4 townships, highlighted in purple, include Eden, Liberty, Raritan, Grenville, Nutley, Buffalo & CO-OP NEWS ttached: Lake Region Save the Date Graphic (pg. 2, or wherever there’s room) Adult Basin Tour Article and Application (pg. 14) Electric Youth Excursion (Pg. 15) *I think this will take up the entire page Join the fun! #YE2020 so we will take the REC program out. Ripples I am attaching a small graphic for REC to put somewhere if we have room. (USPS 018-904) *Lineworker Appreciation article will be sent today or tomorrow Board of Directors morning. The article and family photos will take both pages Kermit Pearson, President 10-11. Rodney Tobin, Vice President Thomas Steiner, Secretary Here is my plan with the core pages: Roger Kulesa, Treasurer July 27-30, 2020 Andrea Kilker Page 2: Managers Column (+ Save the Date Annual Meeting, small ad) Amy Kuecker South Dakota Rural Electric Mark Wismer Page 3: Keep Crews Safe Danny Smeins, LREA Attorney YOUTH EXCURSION Page 6-7: will change out for Director Seats up for Election with Bylaws for Nominating & Qualifications General Manager: Tim McIntyre Page 10-11: Line Worker Appreciation: Family Perspective Staff Page 14-15: Change out for: Pg. 14: Adult Basin tour article & Donna Sattler, Director of application Pg. 15: Youth Excursion (½ pg.) & REC Program (½ Finance/Office Services Manager Page) Jim Grimes, Manager of Operations The Youth Excursion Tour will be held July 27-30, 2020, and is headquartered in Bismarck, N.D. Brett Kwasniewski, All area high school freshmen, sophomores and Manager of Member Services For More juniors whose parents or guardians are members of Information Lake Region Electric Association, Inc., are eligible to apply. Tim Gaikowski, Contact: Teens attending this event will: Manager of Technology Services Have the opportunity to sightsee and to meet new friends from Laura London other participating cooperatives. [email protected] Learn about “The Story Behind the Switch” and see where South Lake Region Electric Association, Inc., Dakota’s electricity generates. PO Box 341 Tour the Great Plains Synfuel Plant, Freedom Coal Mine and Antelope 1212 Main St. Valley Station Power Plant. Webster, SD 57274 605-345-3379 Spend their evenings swimming, shopping and cruising on the Lewis lakeregion.coop and Clark Riverboat. facebook.com/Lake-Region-Electric-Association-Inc Lake Region Electric Association, Inc., will provide for transportation, lodging, Application Deadline: April 1, 2020 meals, entertainment and sightseeing events. Students are required to supply their own personal/shopping money. Lake Region Electric Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 2020 Youth Excursion Application Student’s Name: ______________________________________________________ G Like us on Facebook: Lake Region Electric Association Inc. Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________ LAKE REGION RIPPLES COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS is the Telephone: ________________ E-mail Address: ____________________________ monthly publication for the members of Lake Region Electric Association, Inc., PO Box 341, 1212 N Main St., Webster, Parent/Guardian’s Name: ______________________________________________ SD 57274. Lake Region Electric Cooperative Connections’ purpose is to provide reliable, helpful information to Mailing Address (if different from above): ______________________________