November 2014 PowerLines

FEATURED ARTICLES INSIDE:Honoring Employees on Veterans Day Page 3 REC Leads the Way Page 5 REC’s Sports Fans Page 9

A N E W S L E T T E R F O R R E C E M P L O Y E E S November 2014

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(Continued on page 4)

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) employees are dedicated to giving back to the communities they serve.

Involvement with local United Way chapters throughout the 22-county service territory allows employees to do just that. “Participation in the United Way’s Day of Caring allows employees to join together to help organizations within our

local communities,” said Tim Martin (FB), board member for the Rappahannock United Way. “This form of community support is reflective of our Cooperative’s core values of caring, service, integrity and respect.” (continued on page 4)

Chad Frazier (CU) and Travis McCourt (CU) work to replace deck boarding during Day of Caring at Community Touch in Fauquier County.

november service AnniversAriesJoan Banks 39

Tim Hart 38

Kent Farmer 35

Debbie Stanley 34

Donald Mocarski 29

Jackie Wright (LMIT) 28

Wayne Rouse 26

Corey Wright 26

Wesley Dobbs 25

Butch Williamson 16

Susan Franklin 14

Ted Webster 14

Kotonya Rollins 13

Trey Mitchell 10

Brandon Pickeral 8

Curtis Gregory 8

Rich Mialki 6

Steve Ryder 6

Todd McCall 5

Daryl Perdue 4

Curtis Cloude 4

Josh Rutherford 4

Cindy Musick 2

Dillon Sheads 2

2 PowerLines November 2014

REC Urges Safe Hunting

With hunting season in Virginia underway, we urge all hunters to take all necessary safety precautions.

Safety Tip:

Never leave cooking equipment unattended, and always remember to turn off burners if you have to leave the room.

Safety – Teach It, Preach It & Live It!

MAXIESAYS:

Cooking Safety

“Safety is our top priority, and not just for our employees, but for our members, too,” said Maxie Rozell (FB). “We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable time this year throughout hunting season, so we are offering these tips for sportsmen and women to keep in mind.” 1. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. 2. Control the direction of your muzzle, only pointing at what you intend to shoot. 3. Before shooting, clearly identify your game and what is beyond. 4. Wear Blaze Orange to Be Safe, Be Seen! Blaze orange is not just for hunters. If you are a landowner, jogger, hiker, or walk your dog on woodland trails, it is wise to wear a blaze orange hat, vest, or coat so you can be clearly seen by hunters. 5. For more hunting safety tips, visit http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/safety/ n

Source: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

SAFETYIS OUR

TOPPRIORITY

U.S. Air ForceWes Dobbs (BR)Tom Handley (FB)Andrew Joos (FB)Todd Jordan (FB)David Smith (CU)Mark Stuckey (BR)

U.S. ArmyMike Collins (BG)Shawn Dixon (BG)Harry Guy (BG)Craig Lewis (FB)Reuben Rock (FB)Steve Scepankoski (FB)Kent Stanley (FB)Jeff Sylvia (FB)Jimmy Tyler (CU)Dwain Williams (FB)

U.S. Army National GuardPhil Aylor (CU)Butch Williamson (FB)

U.S. MarinesJoe Gilkerson (FB)Butch Hargrove (FB)Tom Hostetter (CU) Adam Lentz (FB)Ronnie Rutherford (BR)James Setliff (BG)Terry Zamski (BG)

U.S. NavyDennis Buchanan (FB)Brad Good (BR)Bill Grace (LMIT)Chris Hart (FB)John Hubbard (FB)Art Lial (BR)Harvey Shipp (FB)Amy Sullivan (FB)

U.S. Coast GuardDavid Thornton (LMIT)

N o v E M b E r 1 1

Veterans DayHonoring All Who Served

WE hoNor ANd rECoGNIzE thESE EMployEES Who ArE AlSo vEtErANS oF thE UN I tEd S tAtES M I l I tAry:

novemberb irTHDAYs

PowerLines November 2014 3

Chad Foster 1Keith Chinault 2Wesley Dobbs 5Randolph Beazley 6David Annalora 6Rodney Latney 7Jeff Colvin 7Angela S-Walker 7James Epley (LMIT) 8Steve Scepankoski 9Eddie Cullop 11Drew Leake 11Jodi Petitt 12Greg Hollins 12Jeffrey Powell 12Pam Johnson 12Adam Funai 13Charles Williams 14Garry McGhee 17Ken Rutherford 19Martin Perkins 19Dwayne Davis 20Addison Spicer 20Robert Rook 20Josh Bonner 22Ricky Apel 25Amanda Breeden 26John Flanagan 27Janice Dodd 27Karen Smirco 29

Online Tip:

Thank You!

Members can sign up for REC’s new tool at MyUsage.com to understand how they are using energy. Visit www.myusage.com to begin monitoring daily energy usage today!


REC Employees: The Spirit of Volunteerism

(Continued from page 1)

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Fredericksburg

Each year, the United Way hosts Day of Caring events in the local communities it supports. REC employees volunteer with the Front Royal/Warren County United Way in the spring and then with Northern Shenandoah Valley United Way, Piedmont United Way and Rappahannock United Way in the early fall. In September, teams of REC employees spent the day in these areas completing landscaping, painting, building, gardening and other volunteer projects. For many years, REC employees have collaborated with United Way to participate in Day of Caring events. Originally, REC employees from the Fredericksburg and Bowling Green offices volunteered to support the Rappahannock United Way, while the Culpeper district supported the Piedmont United Way. After REC expanded its service territory, employees from the Blue Ridge district began supporting the United Way of Front Royal/Warren County and the United Way of Northern Shenandoah. n

BlUE RiDgE

BowliNg gREEN

BowliNg gREEN

FREDERiCksBURg

REC Leads the Way as Pacesetter

Employees from REC have set the pace for other companies to support the Rappahannock United

Way (RUW). As a Pacesetter for the RUW annual giving campaign, this year employees from Fredericksburg and Bowling Green donated over $33,000. Tiffany LaPré (FB) served as REC’s Fredericksburg United Way campaign chair and Mary Kay Beer (BG) served at the campaign chair in Bowling Green. The two coordinated annual FunFest events to kick off REC’s fundraising efforts. Employees gathered in front of the Technical Maintenance building at the Fredericksburg office for lunch and to participate in “minute to win it” contests. Employees could also purchase raffle tickets for a variety of gift baskets and prizes. In Bowling Green, they had a cash machine and door prize raffles. Tiffany said, “First, I would like to thank all of you who were able to come out and have fun with us! It was truly an awesome day. Second, I would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped work and sacrificed their time for FunFest. Thank you all.” n

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Tiffany LaPré (FB)


To thank the community for 75 years of support and impact in changing lives, the Rappahannock United Way (RUW) threw a party! On Oct. 19, REC joined

the RUW in celebration of this milestone during their Community Appreciation Day at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. This was a free event, and attendees enjoyed music, classic cars, moon bounce, monster truck rides, and much more! Visitors participated in REC’s very own FunFest games, interacted with linemen, and learned from the electric safety demo. Terri Bevers (FB) said, “The games and activities were a huge success and the day was an incredible display of community coming together in celebration.” n

Rappahannock United Way HostsCommunity Appreciation Day

ThANk yoU To REC ’ S CommUNI Ty DAy T EAm!

Ana Heflin (FB temp) Wes Barnes (FB)

Judy Gilliam (FB) Vikki Bailey (FB)

In September Kent Farmer (FB) and Ann Lewis (FB) were invited to be speakers at the “Always On: Strategic Communications Help and Deliver Real Results,” a forum at the National Rural Electric Cooperative (NRECA)

Regions 1 & 4 meeting. Kent and Ann joined other co-op leaders who are taking a 24/7 approach to communications to meet member expectations. Together these industry leaders in communication shared tips with other cooperatives. n

Darlene Carpenter Receives Distinguished Recognition


REC Shares Tips for Being “Always On”

OUTSTANDING ALUM

Chairman of the REC Board, Darlene Carpenter, was honored during

the 2014 Germanna Community College Educational Foundation Awards

reception at the Daniel Technology Center on Sept. 9.

Mrs. Carpenter was named the 2014 Germanna Community College

Education Foundation Steve B. Jones Outstanding Alum. Mrs. Carpenter

is a Germanna graduate and has had successful careers in both banking and

real estate. She spent 37 years in banking, where she retired as vice president

of the Wachovia Corporation, and currently works for Century 21.

Mrs. Carpenter has served on REC’s board of directors for the past 30 years.

“I want people to know how important Germanna is,” Carpenter said.

“I want them to know it has made a major impact on my life and how important

it is to the community. I want to make sure it stays strong for our young people

and for older students like me as well.” n

REC’s Blue Ridge district held its first ever safety rodeo. This event replaced their fall picnic

and the day was full of safety events, activities and good food. The morning was spent in the classroom learning in sessions devoted to topics such as chainsaw, highway, fire extinguisher and animal safety. After a BBQ lunch, prepared by REC staff, employees participated in various safety rodeo events including a distracted driving course, office safety, fork lift truck safety, a bucket truck obstacle course and pre-trip testing, along with a drunk goggles driving course. n

Culpeper District Celebrates

Employees and their families gathered just as fall peaked for their annual

district picnic. “It’s a tradition for us in Culpeper,” said Robbie Beard (CU). “Our employees enjoy being able to get together with their families for our picnic.” n

Blue Ridge Promotes Safety


Pam Johnson (FB), Michelle Linnell (FB), Jodi Petitt (FB) and Virginia Johnson (FB) participated in the American Cancer Society’s

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk as part of their department’s fourth quarter charity event. Several REC employees made donations on behalf of Pam, Michelle, Jodi and Virginia’s walk team, including Betty Pearson (FB), who raffled two of her famous cheesecakes to help raise funds. Kris Sieber (FB) also volunteered with event registration and supported the teams throughout the walk. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, they donated over $1,200 to benefit breast cancer research, awareness and treatment. n

Fredericksburg’s Customer Service Employees Give BackFredericksburg’s Customer Service Employees Give Back

SELFIES


Festival of Leaves

REC joined fellow businesses and community groups from the Front Royal and Warren County areas to participate in the Warren County Festival of Leaves in early October. REC employees

provided information about Co-op Connections and attendees were able to spin REC’s popular prize wheel for a chance to win an REC logo item or a prize from a local Co-op Connections business. Thank you to Rosa Eubank (BR), Ronald Flores (BR), Jennifer Cox (BR) and Chris Lawson (BR) for attending this event. REC was featured prominently in the event lineup and received great recognition throughout the day. n

Harvest Fest

REC Employees Educate the Community on Electric SafetyAlison Lahners (BR) and Ronald Flores (BR) provided REC’s electric safety demo to children and

adults who attended the Chester Gap Fire Department Open House in Warren County. Attendees learned how to be safe with electricity and recognize potentially dangerous situations to avoid. Those in attendance were actively engaged and learned a lot. REC joined the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Fredericksburg district for their annual safety picnic held at Cosner Park in Spotsylvania County. The event focused on road crew safety. Randy Southworth (BG) and TJ Loving (BG) presented electric safety information to over 120 VDOT employees in attendance. The VDOT Fredericksburg office covers Caroline, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties. Ben Berry (CU) and Stephanie Henshaw (CU) presented REC’s electric safety demonstration to students of Lightfoot Elementary and Locust Grove Elementary schools at the Brooks Farm in Mine Run in REC’s Culpeper district. The demonstration is designed to emphasize the importance of being aware of overhead and underground electric wires and provides several examples of accidents that can happen and how to avoid them. The students were part of a tour group organized by the Orange County 4-H. n

Staying Connected with Local Businesses

REC joined the Fredericksburg

Regional Chamber of Commerce for its 2nd Annual Business Expo. Justin Cruise (FB), Brian Wolfe (FB), and Ann Lewis (FB) attended the event and shared information about the Cooperative with other Chamber members, as well as residents who visited the Expo to learn more about the businesses in the region. REC’s photo booth was used in an effort to help us stay connected with the business community in Fredericksburg. Several people stopped by, had their photos taken and learned more about REC. The photos were made available on Instagram- @RappElecCoop. n

n Oct. 18, REC participated in the 2014 Bowling Green

Harvest Festival. REC employees provided the Cooperative’s interactive and fun photo booth as an activity

for attendees. The festival took place on Main Street in Bowling Green. Pictures from this event are available on REC’s Facebook

and Instagram pages. n

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“Everyone had a great time at the Harvest Festival, and it was so much fun being able to interact with so many in our community,” said Tammy Barlow (BG)

SELFIES


REC’s Sports FansJuSt PlAY. HAve Fun. enJoY tHe GAme.

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Wesley Barnes (FB) and gail Rinker at this past september’s NAsCAR race at Richmond.

Pam Goforth (Bg) with her grandson, Mason, at lego land in California. No it’s not a sport, but he is one of lego’s biggest fans!

James Epley (lMiT) with his wife, karen spaulding Epley, at the Tennessee versus Florida football game. James said, “it was great seeing the whole stadium decked out in the checkerboard pattern.”

David Koogler (FB) with his wife, Margie, at the NAsCAR races at Richmond international Raceway in september.

Jennifer Melerski (CU) recently went to a washington Redskins game. she had club seat tickets and took her dad, husband, daughter and son. They had a great time and can’t wait to do it again!

Missy Oesterheld (FB) and her husband, Jason, and their daughter, olivia, are three of Virginia Tech’s biggest fans. They make it to as many Virginia Tech games as possible!

Nicole Shingleton (BR) and her husband, scott, went to a steelers versus Dolphins game last December at Heinz Field.

Jeff Sylvia (FB) with Tammy Davidson at the NAsCAR race in Richmond rooting for the “Hendrick boyz.”

Brian Wolfe (FB) took a picture of his son greg taking a selfie with Barry larkin while at the little league world series this summer. greg is a huge Cincinnati Reds fan, and Barry larkin is a Hall of Fame player from the Reds who now works for EsPN covering baseball. After coverage was done this particular night, greg even has his Reds’ hat on, which he wears everywhere.

Brian Wolfe (FB) and a family selfie taken at the little league world series this summer. in this picture they are at lamade stadium for one of the world series games on opening weekend. included are Brian, ginger, Anthony, Natalie and greg hiding his face.

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Congratulations

Condolences

Alan Phelps (CU) started his REC career in 2001 and retired the first time in 2006.

He didn’t stay away long. He came back in April of 2007 as a temporary employee and offically retired again Oct. 17. During his time at REC, Alan has helped during almost every storm. He was responsible for getting the material out so the crews could get the lights back on. John McGinley (CU) said, “Alan was part of our team that moved every item in the warehouse from the old shop to our current location. He helped set up the new warehouse where we were able to get everything up and running in record time. He also trained the new storekeepers since he retired. Alan is liked by all and has interacted with all the departments in Culpeper. I consider him a friend and will miss his sense of humor. I wish him and his wife, Bea, a happy and healthy retirement.” n


STAy KEyED IN: KPI* GOALS & RESuLTS AS OF SEPTEMBER 2014 Critical Success Key performances KpI base target Stretch resultsperformance Category Factor Indicator (KpI) Weight 4X 8X 12X ytd

Safe operations Safety Lost Work Days Cases 25 3 1 0 1

Financial performance Operating Expenses Controllable Expenses 20 $339 $334 $329 $321 # of Active Services ($456) ($449) ($442)

Plant Development Cost per New Service 10 $2,546 $2,400 $2,265 $2,825 (Code 100s)

Customer Service Reliability S.A.I.D.I. 22 127 min 107 min 99 min 102.25 Routine Outages (156) (129) (117)

Member Satisfaction Annual Index Survey 23 81 82 83 **82

Amounts in bold are the yearly goals. Not Meeting base Not Meeting target Meeting target ** 2014 3rd Quarter Score *Key Performance Indicators

FamilyMatters

Goodbye – Ion Stanciu

Please keep Tom Frederick (BR) in your thoughts and prayers on the passing of his mother-in-law, Ellen Becker, on Oct. 16.

Please keep Cindy Musick (BR) and her family in your thoughts and prayers on the passing of her father-in-law, Franklin Delano Musick, on Oct. 22.

Congratulations to Shawn Blake (FB) and his wife, Samantha, on the birth of their first child, Avery Elizabeth. Avery was born on Oct. 18. Shawn, Samantha, and Avery are doing well. Proud grandparents are Carroll Blake (LMIT) and his wife, Linda.

On Sept. 16, Ion Stanciu retired from REC. He joined REC

in 2012. Sam Wilson (FB) said, “Ion was an integral part of our company for 21 months. His contributions will always be valued and remembered. His hard work, commitment, and dedication are worthy of admiration. Ion will be greatly missed. Filling his shoes will be an almost impossible task.” We congratulate and wish Ion all the best for his retirement. n

Goodbye – Alan Phelps

Ion Stanciu (retired FB)


Matters

Tips for a Beginning Runner

1. Invest in a good pair of running shoes. This is the biggest investment (other than your time!). There’s no one shoe that works for everyone so head to a specialty running store and shop for a pair that provides the support and fits your foot needs.

2. Warm-up and cool down. Easing into any activity is always prudent and helps prevent injury and burnout. warm-up and cool down by walking for at least ten minutes. This helps to ease tired muscles and speeds recovery.

3. Maintain good form. keep your head up, eyes forward and arms bent at the waist. shake it out if you need to. stay light on your feet and keep relaxed. Have fun!

4. Stretch. There’s some debate about the best way to stretch for a run. warm up before running and stretch areas of your body that “feel” the need after a run. The main thing is to start slow and listen to your body’s cues.

5. Cross-train and be sure to get rest and recovery days. The repetitiveness of running results in pounding the ankle, knee and hip joints and puts you at a higher risk for shin splints, stress fractures and overuse injuries. Rest days allow these joints to heal, plus if your only activity is running it can get boring both mentally and physically. However, it’s still important to remain active on those days. You can also look at these as cross-training days, or light workout days (you’re taking a “rest” from running). Do some swimming, stretching or yoga. if you’re really feeling sore or tired, just go for a 20 minute walk and by all means, take a day off here and there if you really need it.

6. Make sure to fuel and hydrate properly. You don’t want to feel over-stuffed or starving before a run. Eat a light meal or snack one-two hours in advance. You want healthy carbs, fat and protein. Try things like scrambled eggs with veggies and a piece of whole grain toast, whole grain toast or bagel with peanut or almond butter, whole grain cereal with berries or bananas, lean proteins like chicken and salmon or tempeh and tofu, steamed veggies, quinoa, whole grain pastas with broccoli, leafy green salads with tomatoes and lean protein. After running, you want to replenish energy stores as quickly as possible to help minimize muscle stiffness and soreness. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty before you get some water. Hydrate with water before, during and after your training.

7. Run outside. The treadmill is great for training but it’s important to get outside as much as possible. Mix up your terrain, try some hills, and even train on your upcoming race course, if possible.

8. Push yourself past your comfort zone. Running is a mental, as much as a physical, sport. it’s easy to “think” yourself out of the zone. A little trick to try is the “counting game.” when you feel like slowing down or stopping, set a number of steps to count as you keep running, usually around 50. start counting every other step in your head and cheer yourself on to help reach your goal. This allows you to push through, and before you know it the 50 steps are up and you’re on your next set of 50! Be mindful to not “push through” if you’re experiencing any pain. Always take a break if you need it.

9. Sign up for a local race. shop around online for a race in your area and give yourself at least six weeks to train for it. The date of a future race will keep you motivated and on track.

Make it a group effort and run for a cause. Ask friends, family members, coworkers or your partner to join you for accountability, camaraderie and support. Find a local or national charity to represent, or create your own. Join a running club. Being part of a group, casual or competitive, can help push you to go harder and dig deeper than you may on your own.

Walk if you need to, and remember to pamper yourself! There’s nothing wrong with taking a “walking” break. Don’t push yourself to exhaustion before taking a walking break if you need it, whether during training or during a race. Take a long soak, hit the steam room, climb in a hot tub or get a massage. Make sure you’re eating healthy, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep. n

Running can be the most exhilarating activity, but it can also feel tough or almost impossible when you’re just starting out (either as a beginning or returning runner). But with a few smart tips, you’ll be up and running in no time!

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POWERL I N E S

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P.O. Box 7388Fredericksburg, VA 22404

PowerLines is published monthly for employees, their families, board members and retirees of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.

For news or story ideas, contact:Casey Hollins ext. 5908Brian Wolfe ext. 5914Justin Cruise ext. 5905

HOLIDAY MEMORIESShare some of your favorite holiday memories and photos for the december issue of PowerLines. photos and stories can be submitted through Nov. 7. Send information to Casey Hollins at [email protected] or through interoffice mail.

Be sure to check out the Co-op Connections Cash Back Internet Mall and earn cash back

on all your online shopping.

Here’S How it workS: • Go to the Co-op Connections page at www.myrec.coop and select the Cash Back Mall link • Sign up and download your Shopping Assistant toolbar • Shop online as you usually do, at your favorite stores, using your favorite credit card, and earn cash back. It’S FrEE MoNEy – doN’t MISS oUt! Questions? Not sure how to get started?

Contact Terri Bevers at ext. 5912 or [email protected] n

Getting ready to start your holiday shopping?Get cash back this year!

November 2014 PowerLines

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