Butler Rural Electric Cooperative
Employee Newsletter
Summer 2026
Between THE LINES
WELCOME TO THE SUMMER ISSUE OF OUR EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER
We hope the newsletter keeps you informed on employee and member updates. You will receive Between the Lines every three months. Each issue will feature employee anniversaries, birthdays, upcoming meetings and events, and more.
Peak alerts information PAGE 2
Links to Community Connection Golf Outing PAGE 7
We want to hear from you
Do you have information to include in the newsletter or an idea to improve communication? Send feedback, information, and photos to Jade at jadeg@butlerrural.coop.
New event at Seven Mile Winery PAGE 8
Miami University drone project PAGE 10
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PEAK ALERTS
Peak alerts are issued when the demand for electricity is near an annual high and rising toward a new peak. They typically occur on hot summer days from approximately 1 to 8 p.m. We ask our members to reduce their energy consumption during this time to try to avoid reaching a new peak, which helps keep costs down.
If members have a radio-controlled switch on their water heater or a Cool Returns switch on their central air conditioning system, it will be activated during summer peak alerts. Members are notified by email and through social media when peak alerts are in effect.
Minimizing the impact of electric demand peak is important. Annual peaks affect future transmission and generation costs. A peak alert does not indicate a shortage of electricity – it is a way for members to help hold down electric costs.
Employee birthdays
JULY
Noah Krall
July 6
Laura Smith
July 6
Andrew Strait
July 7
Lori Maynard
July 9
Curt Loewenstine
July 11
Tom Wolfenbarger
July 22
Cody Holthaus
July 25
AUGUST
Kevin Maddock
August 14
Steve Fritzsche
August 21
Ray Brunner
August 30
Kim Phipps
August 30
SEPTEMBER
Kyle Fagin
September 2
Debbie Carley
September 9
Rhett Hughes
September 11
Employee anniversaries
Laura Smith
July 1
30 years
Julie Abbott
July 5
20 years
Josh Smock
July 12
5 years
Emily Bourne
July 18 10 years
Cheryl Mathews
July 20 11 years
Larry Hornung
July 21
16 years
Steve Fritzsche
July 23
14 years
Ryan Kerr
July 24 3 years
Evan Rauch
July 24 3 years
Andrew Strait
July 29
years
MEMBER SUMMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The HEAP Summer Crisis Program is effective July 1 through September 30. This is a one-time benefit for members and offers up to $800 to assist with electric utility bills. If you have questions about this program, please see Darlene.
SAFETY FIRST AGENDA
If inclement weather is imminent during Family Day, listen for an announcement to evacuate tents. Guests should be directed to leave immediately. For those who cannot safely evacuate the premises, temporary shelter is available in the garage.
Birthday Breakfast
AUGUST 5 • 7:30 TO 8 A.M.
If your birthday is in July, August, or September, join other employees in the Community Room for the third quarter birthday breakfast!
Upcoming events
JULY
Family Day
Friday, July 10
Nominating Committee Meeting
Monday, July 13
Butler County Fair Cookout
Saturday, July 25
Board Meeting
Wednesday, July 29
Preble County Fair Picnic
Friday, July 31
AUGUST
August is Community Connection Month
3rd Quarter Birthday Breakfast
Wednesday, August 5
Links to Community Connection Golf Outing
Friday, August 14
Safety Committee Meeting
Friday, August 21
Board Meeting
Wednesday, August 26
SEPTEMBER
Office Closed for Labor Day
Monday, September 7
Community Connection Board Meeting
Tuesday, September 9
Nominating Committee Meeting
Monday, September 14
Bingo Night at Seven Mile Winery
Thursday, September 24
Board Meeting
Wednesday, September 30
FAMILY DAY
Friday, July 10 • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New time!
Knob Creek Coffee is a Family Day vendor. You will have a chance to submit drink and breakfast orders before the event begins.
HAZARDS IN THE FIELD > WHAT TO LOOK FOR
It's important to report hazards in the field if you see something that looks off when you're outside the office, like when you're on your way home after work.
If you see something that could be dangerous, report it to Denis. One of our employees will inspect the problem and fix it if needed.
Report these problems even if you're unsure it's impacting an electric line or if you don't know if the electric line is in our territory. Doing so will keep our employees and the public safe.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Shown here is a padmount transformer that has been knocked from its base. If you see this in our area, report it to Denis.
Happy Labor Day!
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s office is closed Monday, September 7 for Labor Day. Have a safe and happy holiday!
Follow us on LinkedIn! Stay connected – follow Butler Rural Electric Cooperative on LinkedIn for updates, employee highlights, and cooperative news!
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative
GOLF OUTING FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
Indian Ridge Golf Club • 8 a.m. Texas Roadhouse lunch
Fill out the form in the break room or see Andy to sign up to play before August 7!
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative earns two national communication awards
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative was recently recognized for outstanding communication excellence, earning two Spotlight on Excellence awards. The cooperative received a gold award for its mail delay strategic communication campaign and a silver award for its member value strategic communication campaign.
The mail delay strategic communication campaign helped members navigate challenges related to mail delivery disruptions by providing clear updates and alternative payment options. The campaign ensured members had the information they needed to avoid service interruptions and manage their accounts with confidence.
The member value strategic communication campaign highlighted the many benefits of cooperative membership, including reliability, local service, and the cooperative principle of putting members first. The campaign helped strengthen member understanding of the value they receive beyond electric service and led to the cooperative
receiving its highest member satisfaction score.
The recognition reflects Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s ongoing dedication to excellence and its focus on delivering meaningful value to every member.
Jade Guthrie MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING
The awards were presented to Jade Guthrie, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s manager of communications and marketing. The awards reflect the cooperative’s commitment to keeping members informed and engaged through effective, timely communication.
Monday, November 2
Save the Date
New and upcoming events this fall
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AT SHARED HARVEST
FOODBANK
October 6 & 13 • 1 to 3 p.m.
Employees can use up to eight hours each year to participate in community service efforts. These hours can be used during our annual Community Service Day in October at Shared Harvest Foodbank. Employees can volunteer October 6 or October 13. You can also use this time to volunteer at an organization of your choice. Speak with your supervisor to schedule community service time.
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE BREAKFAST
Friday, October 16 • 9 to 11 a.m.
Members who contribute to our political action committee, or PAC, and local elected officials are invited to join us for breakfast at our office to learn more about the important role advocacy plays in supporting electric cooperatives. Guests will hear updates on legislative issues affecting our industry, discover how PAC contributions help strengthen the cooperative voice at the local, state, and federal levels, and have the opportunity to connect with cooperative leaders and elected officials while discussing issues that impact the members and communities we serve.
FIRST RESPONDER SAFETY DEMONSTRATION
Thursday, October 29 • 9 to 11 a.m.
First responders are invited to our office for a safety demonstration focused on responding to incidents involving electricity. Participants will learn about electric hazards, proper emergency response procedures, and best practices for working safely around energized equipment. Cooperative staff will provide practical guidance, answer questions, and demonstrate how first responders and utility personnel can work together to protect lives safely during emergencies.
EMPLOYEE TRAINING WITH RODD WELKER
Friday, November 6
All employees are invited to participate in a team-building and professional development training session with Rodd Welker Friday, November 6. This interactive program will focus on strengthening communication, collaboration, and leadership skills while fostering a positive and productive workplace culture. The training is designed to help employees build stronger working relationships, enhance teamwork across departments, and develop practical strategies they can apply in their daily roles. Additional details, including schedules, will be shared as the event approaches.
MIAMI UNIVERSITY DRONE PROJECT
We recently partnered with Miami University's Geographic Information System (GIS) program to give students hands-on experience using drone technology and GIS mapping to inspect utility infrastructure. Throughout the semester, student teams worked alongside our engineering department to map outage-prone areas, assess utility poles and rights-of-way, and develop interactive mapping applications to support future operations. The project provided students with valuable real-world experience in fieldwork, data analysis, teamwork, and client communication while allowing the cooperative to evaluate drone-assisted inspections as a potential in-house tool for monitoring utility assets. Thanks to our engineering department for facilitating this valuable partnership!
BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTION
Members elected Steve Grote, Michael Tilton, and John Broering Sr. during our 2026 election. These members were elected to our board of trustees following the retirement of Ron Kolb and Bob Spaeth, along with redistricting that went into effect following our annual meeting in April.
In May, board members elected David Evans as president, Jim Meador as vice president, and Michael Tilton as secretary and treasurer of the board of trustees.
The 2027 board of trustees election is underway. Three board seats are up for election – District
ELECTION RESULTS
1 (Oxford and Reily townships), District 2 (Milford Township), and District 5 (Madison and Wayne townships). David Evans holds the seat for District 1, Jim Meador holds the seat for District 2, and Vickie Jo Barger holds the seat for District 5. These board members can run for re-election if they choose. Members living in Madison, Milford, Oxford, Reily, and Wayne townships can run for and be elected to serve on the board of trustees. Board members help make decisions on the members’ behalf and ensure the co-op always operates in the best interest of its members.
John Broering Sr.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING
Butler Rural Community Connection provides grants to local non-profit groups, schools, and organizations in Butler, Preble, Hamilton, and Montgomery counties. Funds for the program come from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative members and employees who voluntarily contribute to Community Connection. Some members choose to allow their monthly electric bills to be rounded to the next dollar amount and the extra change is allocated to Community Connection. Other members and employees choose to donate a specific amount each month or give a one-time donation. Thank you to the 23 employees who contribute to Community Connection!
Past grants funded:
• School sensory paths
• Playgrounds for parks
• Food shelters
• Animal rehab shelters
• AEDs for community locations
• Teacher classroom materials
• Accessible wheelchair swings
• Senior citizen home repair costs
Consider signing up to donate to Community Connection or increasing your level of giving during open enrollment in November.
Christmas Celebration
Saturday, December 5
Do you have information to include in the employee newsletter or an idea to improve communication? Send feedback, information, and photos to Jade at jadeg@butlerrural.coop.
Our mission
To be a dynamic, progressive organization guided by cooperative principles and to provide energy and other value-added services to its members. The cooperative will participate in its communities, providing leadership and support to improve the quality of life for all of its citizens.
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC