Membership Has Its Privileges

Membership has its South Alabama Electric Monthly privileges Operating Report I’m often asked why we call what your co-op has accom- those who purchase electricity plished. We are an economic KWH Sold...... 28,497,473 from South Alabama Electric driver in the communities we Avg . Utility Bill. . . . $233 .45 “members” and not “custom- serve. A 2009 study funded by ers.” The answer is simple. the U.S. Department of Agri- Average Use...... 1,742 Some of my friends are culture found electric co-ops Total Accounts members of Rotary and Ki- across the U.S. employ 130,000 Billed ...... 16,359 wanis clubs. Many of you have Americans, both directly and children who are members of a indirectly, with revenues top- Total Miles of Line. . . . .2,598 club at their high school. And ping out at $45 billion. you’re a member of South Ala- Best of all, every co-op oper- Consumers per bama Electric. ates on a not-for-profit basis. mile of line...... 6 .3 Service clubs have a common We don’t offer profits to inves- mission – together the club tors – we return money over Information from August 2009 accomplishes more than an in- and above operating costs to dividual could. The same holds you, our members, based on true for high school clubs; electricity consumption. Annu- they pool resources and work ally, electric co-ops nationwide South Alabama together to help each member return $545 million to members Electric Cooperative succeed. through this “capital credits re- Membership at SAEC offers tirement” process; last year our many of the same benefits as members received $250,000. clubs do, but with a big extra. Electric co-op membership Board of Trustees You and the rest of our 16,359 remains as important today Bill Hixon ...... District 1 members own the co-op! This as it was in the late 1930s. James Shaver. . . . . District 2 structure harkens back to our Working together through ef- Leo Williams. . . . . District 3 origins. forts like the Our Energy, Our Ben Norman. . . . . District 4 SAEC was organized by farm- Future™ grassroots awareness DeLaney Kervin . . . . District 5 ers and rural residents from campaign, we’re keeping our Norman D . Green. . . District 6 this area in 1937, with support needs at the top of Congress’s Glenn Reeder. . . . . District 7 from the federal Rural Electrifi- agenda. We’re part of some- James May...... At Large cation Administration (REA). At thing special – a nationwide that time, investor-owned utili- network owned and controlled Use Our ties said there wasn’t enough by people like you and me. profit to be made to warrant That’s why membership mat- TOLL-FREE the expense of building power ters. Outage Hotline lines into the countryside. REA offered low-cost loans 1-800-556-2060 for bringing electricity to un- served homes and farms. So folks began forming electric cooperatives to meet the need. Max Davis is A fee of $5 was collected from General Manager each family – making them co- of South Alabama op members and owners – to Electric generate capital for borrowing. Cooperative Visit our web site at The rest is history. You should be proud of www .southaec .com

4 | NOVEMBER 2009 | Alabama Living Humane Society Needs Your Help

In 2008, the Humane Society of Pike County 200, more than 600 animals were spayed/neutered). (HSPC) received a donation of 12 acres from land The HPSC also provides educational programs for Delores Hutter, willed to the Humane Society Wild- Pike County and Troy City schools, feral cat pro- life Land Trust. This property included: a house, gram, adoption, emergency veterinary assistance, barn and metal building that need to be renovated and other services for abandoned and neglected into kennels for the animals. With renovations in animals. mind, the Humane Society board devised a unique To learn more about the humane society, or to fundrasier to reach their goal. download a calendar order form, visit them on the “We need your help,” June Arn, board member of web at www.pikehumane.org. the Humane Society of Pike County, said. “We began Won’t you please help YOUR humane society the calendar program last year and it was a very suc- today? cessful fundraiser for our organization. When you purchase a calendar, make a donation, or become a member it goes towards making the HSPC a stron- ger, more viable alternative to pet control and rescue in our area today.” The calendar features local pets and makes a great addition to any home or office. They can be pur- chased for $12from the following locations: • On the Square Antiques, Troy • Jones Animal Clinic, Brundidge • Troy Animal Clinic, Troy • First National Bank of Brundidge and Troy • Jinrights Hillside Antiques, Troy • Troy Bank and Trust - Troy, Brundidge, Goshen • Bows and Bubbles Pet Grooming, Troy • Regions Bank, Troy • Guynn’s Tax Service, Troy • Sisters Restaurant, Troy • any of the Pike County Humane Society board members The HSPC is a 501(C)(3) organization and is tax deductible to individuals giving support to the shel- ter. The HSPC provides a spay/neuter program (in

Alabama Living | NOVEMBER 2009 | 5 Troy University Chancellor Dr . Jack Hawkins Jr ., right, visits with Alabama Development Office Director Neal Wade, left, and Dr .Yan Guohua, Director and Consul of Education from the People’s Republic of China’s Consulate General’s Office in Houston, Texas, prior to a ceremonial groundbreaking at Bibb Graves Hall on the Troy Campus on Sept . 19 . Bibb Graves Hall, the oldest structure on campus, is undergoing a complete renovation and the addition of some 42,000 square feet to house the Center for International Business and Eco- nomic Development and the Confucius Institute at Troy University . Troy thinks globally, acts locally

What do Troy University and Touchstone Energy economic development. The Center’s mission is two- have in common? Both share a common interest in fold: to help Alabama communities take advantage the development of the local communities they serve. of opportunities presented by an international mar- That’s why Touchstone Energy cooperatives join ketplace and to offer academic programs in econom- together from time to time to support special activi- ic development that have a real-world component. ties sponsored by Troy University. “So many communities in our state have a longing For decades, Troy University has placed high prior- to be engaged in the global economy, said Dr. Jack ity on its role as an economic engine for southeast Hawkins Jr., Chancellor. “We believe we can help Alabama. One way the university helps with econom- people in those communities not only identify op- ic development is through the Center for Internation- portunities but also identify methods by which those al Business and Economic Development (CIBED) as a opportunities can be accessed.” unit of the Sorrell College of Business. Troy University relies on its global presence – the Since its establishment in 2007, the CIBED has University maintains locations in 12 nations out- led the University into a new era of involvement in side the United States and it attracts more than 800

6 | NOVEMBER 2009 | Alabama Living students from other nations to operative are among the Center’s Lee Lawson, Economic Devel- its Troy campus – to help CIBED most valuable partners, according opment Representative for Power- build the network of relationships to Dr. Judson Edwards, CIBED South Energy, said the survey in- that will ultimately lead to inter- Director. cluded a wide range of questions national economic success for “We knew from the beginning on topics ranging from workforce Alabama companies. The Center that the electric cooperatives, issues to quality of education to maintains staff and provides ser- with their history of leadership service provided by utilities. vices in Dothan, Montgomery and in economic development, would “This initiative started in Janu- Phenix City – where the Univer- be important partners for us,” ary during the hardest crunch of sity also operates campuses – to Dr. Edwards said. “In fact, when the economic downturn and it enhance its service to the region. we developed an advisory board was a huge project with plenty The Center also offers busi- for the Center, Horace Horn of of moving parts,” Lawson said. ness degrees with an economic PowerSouth was among the first “Troy University students (work- development concentration. The people that we asked to serve.” ing through the Center) played a master’s degree program re- PowerSouth Energy Cooperative substantial role in the success of quires all graduates to complete sells wholesale electricity to the the survey. an internship outside the United electric cooperatives of south Ala- The Center for International States. This prepares the gradu- bama and northwest Florida. Business and Economic Develop- ates of this program to compete One of the major initiatives for ment (CIBED) is just one of the in the global economy and to CIBED has been participation many examples of cooperation understand different cultures. in an existing industry survey of between Troy University and While the Center is thinking Alabama businesses in partner- Touchstone Energy Electric Coop- globally, it’s acting locally; and re- ship with the Alabama Develop- eratives in working together for gional electric cooperatives such ment Office, PowerSouth Energy the betterment of the communi- as Pea River Electric Cooperative, Cooperative, Alabama Power and ties they serve. South Alabama Electric Coopera- the Economic Development Part- The University also continues tive and Wiregrass Electric Co- nership of Alabama. long-standing projects of the University’s old Small Business Development Center, which operates as a division of the CIBED by continuing to offer monthly small- business counseling services at various sites across southeast Alabama. One other way Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are working with the University is by spon- soring a “Salute to Armed Forces Day” at the Nov. 21 football game against Florida Atlantic. Active and retired military personnel will attend the game as guests of the University and will be honored with a special salute during half- time festivities. Many co-op employees have received their professional degrees from Troy University. These employees can be proud of the Andy Kimbro, South Alabama Electric Cooperative, and Laura Thornton, Pea River Electric fact that their alma mater is busy Cooperative, give out t-shirts to members of the Armed Forces at the “Salute to Armed Forces Day” in 2008 . The Cooperatives will sponsor the Armed Forces game this year on giving back to the local communi- November 21 . ties where they live and work. d

Alabama Living | NOVEMBER 2009 | 7 Adding insulation can reduce energy costs

One of simplest ways to reduce your home’s Heat flow resistance is measured or rated in heating and cooling costs – and improve com- terms of its R-value. The higher the R-value, the fort – involves installing proper insulation. Doing greater the insulation’s effectiveness. so provides resistance to heat flow. The more When calculating the R-value of a multilayered heat flow resistance your insulation provides, the installation, add R-values of individual layers. lower your heating and cooling costs. Installing more insulation in your home increases Heat flows naturally from a warmer to a cooler the R-value. space. In winter, heat moves directly from heated Insulation effectiveness also depends on how living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, and where it’s installed. For example, insulation basements, and even outdoors. It can also travel that gets compressed will not provide its full indirectly through interior ceilings, walls, and rated R-value. The overall R-value of a wall or floors — wherever there is a difference in tem- ceiling will be somewhat different from the R- perature. value of the insulation because some heat flows During the summer cooling season, the reverse around the insulation through studs and joists. takes place. Heat flows from the outdoors to the Therefore, it’s important to properly install your interior of a house. insulation to achieve the maximum R-value. To maintain comfort, heat lost in the winter For more information, visit http://www.eere. must be replaced by your heating system. In energy.gov summer, heat gained must be removed by your cooling system. Proper insulation, though, de- creases heat flow.