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www.mckenzieelectric.com

3817 23rd Ave. NE Watford City, ND | Outpost - Killdeer, ND | 701-444-9288 | 800-584-9239

NOVEMBER 2017

Member rebatesMcKenzie Electric dedicated to saving you money

If you have purchased new appliances or a household heating and cooling system in 2017 or plan to make those purchases in the future, give us a call! You may be eligible for cash back! For specifi cation requirements and

additional details, please visit our website at www.mckenzieelectric.com or call 701-444-9288.

We are honored to off er this program to our members and look forward to saving our members money! n

www.mckenzieelectric.com McKENZIE ELECTRIC NEWS , NOVEMBER 2017 C1

First grade career day held!

One of the biggest pleasures McKenzie Electric Cooperative has is giving back to our community and surrounding areas. Nick Shattuck, line foreman, and Chantel Lane, member service coordinator, took the opportunity to show approximately 150 Watford City first-graders how a lineworker impacts our lives and, most importantly, how to be safe around electricity. n

C2 NOVEMBER 2017 , McKENZIE ELECTRIC NEWS www.mckenzieelectric.com

CHECK OUT THE ESSAY-CONTEST GUIDELINES AT

www.ndyouthtour.com

JUNE 9-15, 2018

TOP 3 REASONS TO ENTER THE ESSAY-WRITING CONTEST

1. All-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., compliments of McKenzie Electric Cooperative.2. A whole week to visit unforgettable historic monuments, museums and the U.S. Capitol.3. A learning experience you’ll never forget.

• To enter the essay-writing contest, you must be a sophomore or junior in high school.

• You and your parents or guardian must be served by McKenzie Electric Cooperative.

• If you have a question, contact Chantel Lane, McKenzie Electric, at the address listed below, or call 701-444-9288 during regular business hours.

• The deadline is Jan. 31, 2018. Emailed entries should be directed to [email protected], and hard-copy entries mailed to: Youth Tour Essay Contest, McKenzie Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 649, Watford City, ND 58854-0649.

WRITE A WINNING ESSAY

and win a trip of a lifetime!AN ALL-EXPENSE-PAID TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

North Dakota Electric Cooperative

HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES & JUNIORS

ESSAY QUESTION:There are approximately 20 million military veterans in the United States today. How shall fellow U.S. citizens

honor and look after these veterans, who have served and sacrifi ced on our behalf? Describe any special connection you may have to a veteran or active-duty member of the military.


McKenzie Electric Cooperative (MEC) has participated in Watford City High School’s Cooperative Work Experience (CWE),

traditionally called the VOE and co-op program, for more than 35 years. In doing so, it has helped shape some of today’s leaders and business owners. Being a CWE student employer has been more to the cooperative than keeping students busy. It has been an opportunity and an investment.

The term VOE stood for Vocational Office Experience and has included all business work experience programs. Co-op is short for Cooperative Work Experience, and has traditionally been the work experience program for all agricultural experiences. These programs started at Watford City High School in the 1960s, according to Scott Wisness, who currently supervises the students involved in these programs.

Wisness states that the VOE and co-op programs have always been two separate programs until this year, when they were combined to form the Cooperative Work Experience program.

“It has been recommended to us to move away from the term vocational, and refer to our programs as career and technical education, as vocational is an outdated term,” Wisness stats. “Ultimately, through the CWE program, we hope to develop options that students can take in high school to prepare them for a specific career path.”

The goal of CWE program is to provide students with real-life work experience in a real-world setting. This is accomplished because of the great connection between Watford City High School and local businesses – a connection that has been strengthened through the VOE and co-op programs.

“These programs have always been important for our school, businesses and local community,” Wisness states. “Students benefit by learning what it is like to have a job, and being able to gain technical skills they wouldn’t be able to learn in school.”

To participate, Wisness says the students must be seniors and have enough credits to be in the CWE program and still graduate. However, when the students are juniors, they may complete an application for the CWE program, and attend a career fair at the high school. All local businesses that participate in the program are invited to attend and visit with those interested.

Students are encouraged to put together a resume, and then must apply at the businesses where they would like to work. Ultimately, CWE teachers work with employers to place students with the best fit possible.

Many of McKenzie Electric Cooperative’s former VOE students have gone on to lead successful lives, both locally and elsewhere. They have graduated from college, opened businesses, and become leaders. A few have come back to work and started careers with McKenzie Electric Cooperative.

Hayes Feilmeier and Nolan Kalberer are two who started out as VOE students and now work for McKenzie Electric as journeymen lineworkers. After graduating from high school, Feilmeier attended lineworkers school and returned to begin apprenticeship training at MEC. Kalberer attended line school after graduation, then returned to work for McKenzie Electric. One of MEC’s first VOE students, Kent Johnsrud, worked 32 years for the cooperative until the time came for him to retire in 2013. And a more recent student, Brea Jore, came back to work this past summer while on break from college.

“Students do not have to be interested in a business path to get something out of working here,” states Jamie Cross, business manager for MEC. “We find that even if a student is not planning on going into business, this is still a good experience for them.”

Cross and Jim Hansen, operations manager for MEC, both manage the CWE students. Formerly Cross managed the VOE side and Hansen the co-op side. They state that CWE students are expected to treat their participation in the program like a job in the real world. They must show up on time, keep track of their hours, and be productive for the time they are there.

McKenzie Electric, in turn, must treat them like an employee, which means paying them and putting them to work. But their part also involves teaching them how to be a good employee by putting in the time to train them and trusting them with tasks that will put their training to use and elevate their skill level.

Cross and Hansen both feel the program is extremely beneficial, and agree that they have had some exceptional students working for them throughout the years.

McKenzie Electric Cooperative is proud to be one of the many Watford City CWE employers that continues to provide Watford City High School seniors with a one-of-a-kind experience in a friendly environment. And whether students go on to work for their CWE employers, or not, stay local or move elsewhere, it is never a waste to sharpen and shape tomorrow’s leaders.

“One thing we try to do is not just give them mundane tasks like filing, answering phones and scanning, though

The cooperative work experienceBY KATE RUGGLES


they are asked to do those tasks as part of their job,” Cross explains. “We try to give them specialized tasks based on their skill level and interests. One past VOE student helped with our annual meeting by taking a leading role in decorating, organizing and helping set up the event. This year’s CWE student, Brittany Sandvik, has created Excel spreadsheets for a project she was working on.”

Hansen agrees, stating, “The students who work in the warehouse are given many different tasks and exposed to multiple aspects of what it is like to work as a technician. They help in the shop, clean the warehouse, handle material and learn to operate machinery.”

Though the goal of the program is to train and teach local high school seniors, Hansen and Cross both feel the CWE program is as beneficial to McKenzie Electric as it has been to the students.

At the bare minimum, being a CWE employer has allowed McKenzie Electric Cooperative to give back to local families by giving their kids real-life work experience in an environment where it is safe for them to make mistakes.

“It is fun to see their confidence level increase from when they start to the end of their time as a CWE student,” Cross states. “The first time they use the intercom, they are hesitant, but after a while they are like, ‘ I’ve got this.’ ”

Hansen says that the same is true for the students who work in the warehouse. They start to take initiative and ownership in what they do. They work hard and as they learn and grow in confidence, they start to make the job their own.

Chantel Lane, member service coordinator for MEC, says that they are also fun to be around and wind up teaching their trainers a thing or two.

“I was talking with Brittany about a bow hunting experience I had over the weekend, and she gave me a helpful suggestion that actually improved my technique,” Lane states.

The students bring levity and light-heartedness to the MEC work environment and keep everyone up-to-date on the latest trends. In turn, employing local students gives McKenzie Electric Cooperative a chance to teach the next generation about the cooperative business model, as well as what a lineworker is and does and what goes into keeping the power running.

Cross states, “It is surprising how little our students know about linemen, or about how a cooperative business operates. Through the CWE program, we can teach them the benefits a cooperative business is to its members. And since a lot of our students’ parents are members, they can tell their parents about the cooperative business, and all that goes into keeping the power on.” n

Meet this year’s CWE students

Brittany Sandvik started working for McKenzie Electric in June. She works as a CWE student, answering phones and talking with customers. She has been involved

with the FCCLA, and has played volleyball and basketball, and when she is not working or involved with school activities, she enjoys hunting.

She has been considering a degree in elementary education, but has also thought about getting a business degree since her time with McKenzie Electric Cooperative. She says that while she is in the CWE program with McKenzie Electric Cooperative, she would like to learn what everyone there does and get their perspective on what they do.

“I never thought I would like an office job, but I have really enjoyed working here,” Brittany states.

Rylee Kobos started working for McKenzie Electric in the summer, but not as a CWE student. After being hired on at McKenzie Electric, he reached out and pursued the CWE program offered at McKenzie Electric.

Rylee works in the warehouse with different equipment and materials, as well as working with the telehandler and the Bobcat.

Rylee is planning to apply for line school in Idaho.When Rylee is not working, he enjoys working on cars, and

helping on area farms and ranches when he can.Jarek Hogue works in the shop along with Rylee. There,

he helps as much as he can, sweeping and cleaning, as well as helping to do oil changes and changing out brakes on the machinery.

When Jarek is not working at McKenzie Electric or going to school, he plays football and basketball for Watford City High School.

Being a CWE student has allowed Jarek to gain hands-on mechanical experience that he did not have before coming to work at McKenzie Electric. While in the CWE program, Jarek hopes to gain as much shop knowledge as he can.

After graduation, Jarek is planning on going into either the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Army, though he is not exactly sure what he wants to do in the military. n

Sandvik Hogue Kobos


Join McKenzie Electric Cooperative this holiday season in the fight to end hunger. The McKenzie Electric office will be collecting perishable items for our local food pantries at the McKenzie Electric office. Bring four food pantry items and receive a FREE LED light bulb.

Food pantry suggestions: canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned beans, canned soup, pasta and rice, canned meat, cereal, sugar, flour, pancake mix, any juice, hot chocolate packets and household or personal care items.

Wishing our members safe travels and a happy Thanksgiving!

McKenzie Electric Cooperative’s office will be closed Nov. 23-24 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Food drive

Honoring all who served,

we will be closed Nov. 10

For outages, dial 800-584-9239

OFFICE CLOSURES

Happy Veterans Day


The regular meeting of the McKenzie Electric Board of Directors was held at the Headquarters Building in Watford City, North Dakota. Directors present were: Clayton Monsen, Travis Thompson, Rondee Hanna, Glen Houghton, Ray Tescher, Cameron Wahlstrom, Ken Sanford, Chris Link and Tim Wasem. CEO John Skurupey, Attorney Dennis Johnson and staff personnel of McKenzie Electric were also present.

PRELIMINARIES: The agenda for the meeting, minutes of the previous board meeting and minutes of a special board meeting were approved by the Board of Directors. Expenses were also approved.

DIRECTOR DISCUSSIONS: The Board and management discussed member concerns which had arisen from their director districts.

ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS: Director Tim Wasem reported there was no North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) meeting since the last board meeting. The Board approved a donation to the Bismarck State College Foundation designated for pole replacement in their their lineman training program.

POWER SUPPLY: Director Travis Thompson reported on the recent Upper Missouri meeting. Upper Missouri is developing a new billing software to process wholesale power bills and is also refurbishing their mobile transformer. Directors Thompson, Monsen, Hanna and Tescher reported on the recent Basin Electric meeting where Director Thompson presented concerns on behalf of Upper Missouri. Director Ray Tescher reported on the recent Mid-West Electric meeting he attended.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT: Attorney Dennis Johnson gave his report relating to collection of delinquent accounts and litigation.

CEO REPORT: CEO John Skurupey reported on several items including a recent distribution cooperative meeting, an update on Tribal easements, a recent Upper

Missouri Manager’s Advisory meeting, the National Rural Electric Region 5 and 6 meeting, the RESCO Annual Meeting and a update on the Lonesome Creek Interconnection and other agreements.

HUMAN RESOURCES: The Board reviewed the written report.

OFFICE REPORT: Financial and statistical reports for August were reviewed with the Board along with a budget-to-date comparison, the capital projects report and the comparative cash report. The Board approved the retirement of special capital credits as presented. IRS Form 990 was reviewed and approved by the Board. A work order analysis depicting open work order status was reviewed by the Board.

ENGINEERING REPORT: An update was given on the progress of punch list and warranty items remaining on the headquarters building complex. The Board approved budget deviations requested for electrical infrastructure projects and a failed cable maintenance project as presented. Updates were provided on the Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO) critical infrastructure protection meeting, system outages, potential new loads, substations, SCADA, metering and reclosures.

OPERATIONS/CONTRACT MANAGEMENT REPORT: Written reports provided updates on projects currently being worked on by MEC contractors and a work order progress report. The 4 Bears Substation was de-energized to repair wire on the transmission line; the Table Butte to Berg transmission line project is complete and soon to be energized and crews have been busy working on outages, maintenance projects, work orders, meter changes, retirements, high loads and mowing substations.

SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR: An update was given on NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) compliance activities. MEC is reviewing processes to document and file test report data. The Board approved a budget deviation for

a transmission laydown yard rental agreement and authorized management to negotiate an access road easement with the new property owners located to the north of the headquarters property.

MEMBER SERVICE REPORT: MEC (lineman) provided a session on “how to be safe around electricity” to first grade students in Watford City. Several item updates were provided in the written report.

NEXT MEETING DATE: The next meeting date was set for October 25, 2017 at the Watford City Headquarters building.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Board report

Hanna

Thompson

Monsen

Houghton

BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

Wasem

3817 23rd Ave. NEWatford City, N.D. 58854

Phone: 701-444-9288Toll-free: 800-584-9239

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS:Clayton Monsen, President Director, District 2B, Arnegard .................. 586-3336Travis Thompson, V. President Director, District 1C, Charlson ................. 675-2373 Upper Missouri Power Cooperative DirectorRondee Hanna, Sec.-Treas. Director, District 2C, Watford City ......... 675-2516Glen Houghton, Director At Large Director, District 3B, Grassy Butte ........... 863-6606 Tim Wasem, Statewide Director Director, District 3C, Halliday ................... 938-4376Cameron Wahlstrom Director, District 1A, Alexander ............... 770-6631Ken Sanford Director, District 1B, Watford City .......... 842-2581Ray Tescher, Midwest Director Director, District 3A, Beach ....................... 565-2342Chris Link Director, District 2A, Alexander ............... 651-6524

Web page: http://www.mckenzieelectric.com

Email: [email protected]

Wahlstrom

Sanford

Tescher

Link

CEO:John Skurupey701-570-3542

September 27, 2017


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