2016 Washington Youth Tour delegates selected at annual banquet The 2016 Youth Tour Essay finalists were recognized at a recent banquet. Shown left to right are Jamie Martin, William Hartmann, Jessica Litloff, Adam Howe, Sarah Johnson, John Wiese, WAFB Meteorologist Jeff Morrow (keynote and DEMCO Youth Tour Alum of 2002), DEMCO Manager of Member and Public Relations David Latona, Sawyer Welborn, Grace Bordelon, Hannah Cowart, Ashley Gouedy, Kennedy Wilcher and Abigail Wootan. Along these Manager’s Report LINES By John vranic April 2016 DEMCO CEO and General Manager ALONG THESE LINES is an official publication of Dixie Electric Membership Corp. It is written for and distributed to members of the cooperative nine times each year. Dixie Electric Membership Corp. Leaders of tomorrow lauded is a non-profit rural electric cooperative providing service to 100,000 consumer-owners in seven Louisiana parishes. The Cooperative headquarters at Youth Tour banquet is located at 16262 Wax Road, Greenwell Springs, LA. All comments, suggestions and requests for ne of my favorite events to attend Louisiana’s delegation on Capitol Hill. information concerning this publication should be each spring is the annual DEMCO They have lots of time for socializing with addressed to ALONG THESE LINES, Dixie Electric Youth Tour Banquet. young people from other states and also Membership Corp., P.O. Box 15659, Baton Rouge, O LA 70895, (225) 261-1221. This is a special occasion organized receive leadership training and learn more by your local cooperative to recognize the about the country’s electric cooperative the program. DEMCO 12 finalists who have entered the Youth movement. This year’s speaker was Channel 9 BOARD OF Directors Tour Essay Contest with a chance to win It’s a tremendous experience of a life- meteorologist Jeff Morrow, who is a past ASCEnSiOn a free trip to Washington, D.C. time for the students, many of whom go Youth Tour delegate. He shared his own Clarence Brock Every year, hundreds of students from on to be high achievers in their personal Youth Tour experience and encouraged EAST Baton ROuGE throughout our seven-parish service terri- and professional development and impor- the students to always give their best ef- Steve Irving, Vice President tory put forth their best effort to compose tant contributors to our society. fort, assuring them that they are certain to Randy Lorio an essay addressing a specific topic. This The banquet is a special occasion to have the time of their lives. Ann Samuel year entering students wrote their essays meet these contest finalists and also visit When the winners are named, there EAST FELiCiAnA as a letter to a political leader of their Glenn DeLee choosing to bring attention to a need in The banquet is a special occasion to meet these Faye Morris their own communities. Livingston contest finalists and also visit with their parents, Leslie Falks Those essays are read and rated by a Dennis Lott, Sec.-Treasurer set of independent judges, and the final 12 teachers, friends, mentors and others who play a Danny Berthelot participants are invited to attend the ban- critical role in their success. ST. HELEnA quet to share a meal and present their es- Richard Sitman, President says in front of a separate panel of judges. Joe Self From that point, four finalists are with their parents, teachers, friends, men- is always a sense that very little separated TAnGipahoa chosen to join 20 other winners of similar tors and others who play a critical role in those who were chosen and those who Eugene Traylor essay contests sponsored by our fellow their success. were not. With so many talented young- WEST FELiCiAnA electric cooperatives from every region My wife and I always share great an- sters, this proves every year to be a very Freddy Metz of the state. The four finalists, sponsored ticipation as the essays are presented. It’s difficult task – and nobody wants to be in CEO & GEnERAL MAnAGER by DEMCO, join the other students on encouraging for us to hear the students so the judges’ shoes! John Vranic viCE PRESiDEnT OF the trip that is led by the Association of passionately and eloquently convey their I commend all those who entered this EnGinEERinG AnD OperatiOnS Louisiana Electric Cooperatives, and opinions on politics, current events and year’s contest and encourage those who Randy Buchanan travel to Washington in June to take part sometimes emotionally-stirring personal are eligible to enter next year’s competi- viCE PRESiDEnT OF FinAnCE in the National Youth Tour program with experiences of joy or tragedy. tion. (Acct. No. 80191520-001) Jimmie Varnado about 1,500 youth leaders from around the Another highlight of the evening It’s our honor to make this opportu- viCE PRESiDEnT OF country. comes when the judges are tallying their nity available as we strive to fulfill our HuMAn RESOuRCES The students spend a week in our final results and a featured speaker takes commitment to education and improving Esther Tapia nation’s capital visiting monuments and the stage, often a public servant, local the quality of life for those we serve. Con- viCE PRESiDEnT OF memorials and meeting with members of celebrity or even a previous participant in gratulations to this year’s winners. MARKETinG & MEMBER SERviCES Brent Bradley ALONG THESE LINES (USPS 004-089) is published monthly except bi-monthly Jan/ Feb, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec, by the Assn. of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives Inc. (ALEC), 10725 Airline Highway, B.R., LA 70816-4299 MAnAGER OF MEMBER AnD PuBLiC relatiOnS David Latona ASSOCiate EDitor Billy Gibson Advertising is accepted and published in ALONG THESE LINES on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and sold to customers at the advertised price. DEMCO and ALEC do not endorse any products or ser- vices advertised herein. Address inquiries to: ALEC, 10725 Airline Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Phone (225) 293-3450, 1-800-355-3450. Annual subscription $1.70 Members; $5 non-Members Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to: 10725 Airline High- way, Baton Rouge, LA 70816-4299. Periodicals Post- age paid at Baton Rouge, LA. DEMCO Big Buck Contest - Shown from left to right at DEMCO’s Annual Big Buck Contest were Andy Hall, William Reily, Jerry Tanner, Justin Milton (first place), Aaron Reily (first place, youth On THE COvER - 2016 Washing- division), David Fournet and Helen Ballard. Top 10 finishers in the Rifle Division were: 1. Justin ton Youth Tour winners Jessica Litloff, Milton, 2. Clint Rushing, 3. Toma Holland, 4. Jerry Tanner, 5. Andy Hall, 6. William Reily, 7. Rob- Kennedy Wilcher, John Wiese, Sawyer ert Paxton, 8. Toma Holland, 9. Helen Ballard and 10. Helen Ballard. Finishing first in the Muzzle Welborn and first alternate William Loader Division was Toma Holland, and claiming the Youth Rifle Division was Robert Paxton. All Hartmann were among the 12 finalists food left over after the event was delivered to individuals in need, thanks to David Fournet. recognized at the annual banquet. For more on this story, see page 4. Page 2 • ALONG THESE LINES • April 2016 DEMCO hosts electric co-op underground training program More than 40 electric cooperative linemen from across the state converged on DEMCO’s state-of-the-art training facility on Wax Road for an underground training program in March. The program was part of the Loui- siana Lineman Training Program that equips electric cooperative linemen across that state with the skills required to build, maintain and trouble-shoot the segments of their electric delivery sys- tems that are buried beneath the ground. DEMCO’s power delivery system stretches for more than 9,000 miles, according to DEMCO Training Coordi- nator Shane Pendarvis. Much of that sys- tem is underground and requires routine maintenance to keep power flowing to more than 106,000 meters across seven parishes. “We work hard to make sure our members have the power they need construction, becoming familiar with take longer to detect and repair when ity,” Bergeaux said. “All of our coopera- when they need it, at all hours of the underground facilities is an important they do occur, Pendarvis explained. tives work together both in normal times night and day,” Pendarvis said. “Provid- part of a lineman’s skill set and ability to Mike Bergeaux and Aarron Graham and in emergencies because we know ing our linemen with the knowledge and work safely, Pendarvis said. of the Association of Louisiana Electric we’re stronger when we all pool our skill they need to excel at their jobs is Studies indicate that roughly half of Cooperatives in Baton Rouge were also resources together and collaborate with paramount in our ability to deliver the the new electric utility distribution con- involved in the week-long training pro- one another, whether it’s safety, train- quality of service our members expect structed in the U.S. is underground. gram. ing, education, communications or in the and deserve.” Underground infrastructure has been “DEMCO is a real leader in the state political arena as well.” While DEMCO’s training facility is shown to be more reliable than overhead in everything they do, and I just want to Representatives from V-Tech, Inc., also equipped to provide practical field poles and lines, but it is more expensive thank them for welcoming all of our co- and Ellis Electric Company were also on experience for working with overhead to build in the initial stages and outages ops to this top-of-the-line training facil- hand to assist in the training. April 2016 • ALONG THESE LINES • Page 3 Youth Tour Contest finalists honored at banquet Local students Jessica Litloff of Holden High School, Kennedy Wilcher of Zachary High School, John Wiese of Runnels High School and Sawyer Wel- born of Central High School each won an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., this June as the 2016 winners of DEMCO’s Rural Electric Co-op Youth Tour Essay Contest.