COOPERATIVECONNECTION Valley Guest Column Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. Electricity transforms VALLEY REC lives By Liza Parks, Intern One of 14 electric cooperatives HI, FOLKS. My name is Liza Parks and not want to bother with the rural farms serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey I am a senior at the Indiana University of and homes because they were so scattered Pennsylvania, as well as a part-time intern across the countryside — and because at Valley Rural Electric Cooperative. these families were not considered to Recently, I was given the opportunity have potential as profitable customers. Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. to assist the co-op in digitizing member My grandmother remembers the time 10700 Fairgrounds Road information by scanning files into the the ordinary folks — farmers, mechanics, P.O. Box 477 Huntingdon, PA 16652-0477 computer system. My fellow student in- laborers and housewives — decided they 814-643-2650 terns and I worked together in an effort were not willing to be left in the dark as 1-800-432-0680 to “clean house” in the co-op’s life-size the rest of society grew, so they established www.valleyrec.com filing cabinets that were filled to the the co-op. brim with decades-old paperwork. She described her gratitude for those Employees need to be able to access who participated in achieving a new BOARD OF DIRECTORS member information quickly and effi- quality of life for rural families every- James Stauffer ciently, which is why the efforts of the where. This year — 2016 — marks the Chairman scanners are appreciated. Through this 57th year that my family has enjoyed the Kevin States process and my day-to-day mingling with benefits of being a member of the co-op. Vice Chairman the Valley REC team, I became educated Because of Valley REC’s services, my on the services that the co-op provides grandparents were able to improve their Cindy Bigelow Secretary and what the employees stand for. The country lifestyle, maintain it and are now co-op is an incredibly family-oriented able to pass it down to their children, Robert Holmes organization, truly living up to the title grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Treasurer of being a cooperative. This word means After learning how much of a role Leroy Barnes much more to me than ever before. Valley Rural has played in my roots, I PREA Director Now that you know who I am, I want recognize how much I take electricity for James Stauffer to give my personal testimony of how granted. It is a necessity in everyday life, Allegheny Director much Valley REC has impacted my own which just goes to show how important family. I am a central Pennsylvania native, the company’s services are. I feel fortunate Mervin Brumbaugh Gregory Henry raised on Parks Fruit Orchard in Juniata to have worked with a team of folks who Linda McMath Township, Huntingdon County. Juniata care about the importance and affordability Joanne Whitsel Township is one of 70 municipalities that of providing this basic need to their mem- has enjoyed electricity because of Valley bers. I had the opportunity to read over Corporate Office Hours Monday - Thursday Rural in the past 78 years of expand- a personal letter from a member of the 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ing services. My grandmother, Donna co-op, Marjorie Flynn, regarding the an- (Strait) Parks, told me that Valley Rural nual capital credits refund. She exclaimed, Huntingdon/Martinsburg/Shade Gap Office Hours brought power to her family farm in the “Every year, I’ve gotten this delicious Monday - Thursday late 1950s, and it completely transformed shock over an unexpected gift! Large or 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. her family’s lifestyle. small, doesn’t matter, somebody cared!” Outages & Emergencies Before Valley Rural strung lines to the Valley Rural Electric Cooperative’s 1-800-432-0680 farmhouse, her family relied solely on motives always have and always will be oil lamps. Private power companies did driven by family and cooperation. l | FEBRUARY 2016 14a VALLEY RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC Community enjoys new fitness center thanks to ... By Doug Roles Manager of Member Services “FROM a business perspective, this is a terrible decision,” says Bill Capouillez as he looks around the conference room at the heart of a sprawling new recreation facility in Mifflin County. “No one would dump millions of dol- lars into a fitness center in a rural area,” says the Valley REC member who has a love of youth sports, the outdoors, people and life in general. “No one would do that,” he says. Yet Bill, his wife, Tracy, and the board A promise members of their McVeytown Local Mission Service Foundation are busy growing the organization’s newest ministry, a fitness center five miles east kept of McVeytown. The foundation opened Body & Soul Community Center in FUN AND FITNESS: Bill Capouillez and his son, beyond. As the sports November, after nearly a year of reno- Brock, put up a volleyball net in the gymnasium seasons passed and of Body & Soul Community Center in Mifflin vating the former Strodes Mills Middle County. A foundation started by Bill and his wife, work on the soccer and School. Tracy, turned the former Strodes Mills Middle football fields progressed The center boasts the most square School into the largest fitness center in the area. (adjacent the existing footage of any gym in the region and McVeytown playground features weight rooms, a basketball court the agency’s Bureau of Wildlife Man- baseball fields), the and a golf simulator. There’s a lot for agement. As they worked their day jobs, foundation was looking members to do. But those involved with they served as deacons in their church at its next step. the foundation see the center as more and were active in youth sports. Bill, “We wanted to build than a place to bench press 500 pounds a licensed geologist, had also started a a community center,” or put miles on a treadmill. They hope consulting business, setting up natural gas Bill recalls. the center will become part of the fabric leases for property owners in northern The foundation held of the community. tier counties. As he began the venture, he a public outreach meet- The center’s story follows a wind- vowed that if it were successful, he would ing in the McVeytown ing path. Tracy and Bill moved to the use his gains toward ministry. fire hall to ask residents McVeytown area (and onto Valley REC “I promised God,” Bill says. what they would like to lines) 21 years ago from Blair County And then the Marcellus Shale play see in a facility. A pool and fitness equip- (Tracy is from Tyrone and Bill is from took off. Bill says he “hit the bubble ment were some of the top responses. Bellwood). As they learned their way perfectly.” Originally the plan was to build the around their new community, they saw a “I caught that wave,” he says. “That’s community center on the same acreage need for youth activities. what made the foundation.” as the new sports fields along Route “There was a lot of need in the com- The couple established their non-profit 22/522. But a moratorium on new munity for mission work,” Bill says. “We organization in 2010 to foster Chris- sewage connections and an extensive saw that a lot of the youth didn’t have tian outreach and youth athletics. The state permitting process caused delays. a place to go, not where they could be organization has been able to support Ultimately, the foundation would spend productive. The youth needed a place to a new youth team within the Juniata $60,000 on architectural design work for go, to congregate in a positive way. There Valley Football League. The kids picked a building that never came to fruition. were no football fields or soccer fields.” the name McVeytown Knights and the “I was extremely frustrated,” Bill recalls. Tracy worked in business management coaches adopted an approach of involving Then something unexpected hap- in State College and Bill worked in Har- all the players, particularly those who had pened. Bill saw a small sign along the risburg for the Pennsylvania Game Com- challenges that would keep them from highway in Strodes Mills, a notice that mission, eventually retiring as director of competing at the high school level and the Mifflin County School District 14b | FEBRUARY 2016 VALLEY RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC would be auctioning off the vacant mid- 18 years, points out that dle school there. the foundation’s board “This happened about three days be- members are all parents fore the cutoff for bids,” he says. “It was who know the importance horrid, how bad the building was.” of youngsters having safe, But the structure had potential. Bill productive activities. went ahead with the capital outlay — the “The center was needed purchase of the building and the renova- in the community for tion work — in the hopes that the rest health and fitness,” she says. would all work out. Body & Soul has about “It was far bigger than what Tracy and 300 members so far. The I would be able to build," he notes. "It center offers Zumba classes also had a gymnasium, not to mention an and boasts new locker ABOVE: Cale Matthews of Strodes Mills tries to return the ball existing sewer/water system.” rooms, a cafeteria and to Shannon Kauffman of Lewistown. BELOW: McVeytown Local The foundation board did not want to commercial kitchen, as well Mission Service Foundation members include: Eric Dunmire, compete with other area fitness centers.