REGISTER TO WIN A NEW EVOLUTION GOLF CART

2023 Annual Meeting

Saturday, Sept. 23, at 10:30 AM

Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation Headquarters 795 Ocean Highway West Supply, NC

Members may submit questions or concerns to annual.meeting@bemc.org by Thursday, Sept. 21, 5:00 PM

Annual Meeting Agenda

• Establishment of a Quorum, Response to Notice of Meeting, and Waiver of Minute(s) Reading;

• BEMC Reports;

• Announcement of Director Elections;

• Additional Business;

• Management response to submitted member questions.

2023 District Elections

District 3 - Moses Herring, Incumbent

District 4 - Glenn Humbert, Incumbent

District 5 - Larry Fowler, Incumbent

District 6 - David Gore, Incumbent

In non-contested districts, the registration of a member at the annual meeting shall constitute an affirmative vote in favor of the person(s) identified in the Nominating Committee report unless a negative vote is submitted in writing to BEMC headquarters at least seven days prior to the annual meeting.

See detailed information, rules, terms, and conditions by visiting bemc.org/annualmeeting.

REGISTER & VOTE

Aug. 21 - Sept. 21

Registrations and votes will be counted securely and electronically through SmartHub. SmartHub is available 24/7 via bemc.org, downloadable on mobile devices from the Apple App Store or Google Play or, with personal assistance, during regular business hours at any BEMC location.

Prize Drawings

2023 Golf Cart & Cash Prizes

All members who register for the Annual Meeting will be entered into a drawing to win a 2023 Evolution golf cart and cash prizes. Prize winners will be announced on Sept. 22.

For many patients with macular degeneration and other visionrelated conditions, the loss of central visual detail also signals the end to one of the last bastions of independence - driving. A Wilmington optometrist, Dr. Edward Paul, is using miniaturized telescopes which are mounted in glasses to help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration and other eye conditions.

“Some of my patients consider me the last stop for people who have vision loss” said Dr. Paul, one of only a few doctors in telescopes to help those who have lost vision due to macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other debilitating eye diseases.

Imagine a pair of glasses that can improve your vision enough to change your life. If you’re a low vision patient, you’ve probably not only imagined them, but have been searching for them. Bioptic telescopes may be the breakthrough in optical technology that will give you the independence you’ve been looking for. Patients with vision in the 20/200 range can many times be improved to 20/50.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and vision loss in people over 50. Despite this, most adults are not familiar with the condition. As many as 25% of those over the age of 50 have some degree of macular degeneration. The macula is only one small part of the retina, however it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp central vision. When it degenerates, macular degeneration leaves a blind spot right in the center of to recognize faces, read a book, or pass the driver’s vision test.

Nine out of 10 people who have macular degeneration have the dry form. New research suggests vitamins can help. The British medical journal BMC Ophthalmology recently reported that possible to keep a person functioning” says Dr. Paul. Even if it’s driving.

Doreen Jenkins, 72, of Pocahontas, friend. She wanted to keep her Iowa drivers license and was prescribed bioptic tele- lights farther away. Dr. Paul also prescribed microscope glasses for reading newspapers and menus in restaurants.

As Doreen puts it, “my regular glasses didn’t help too much- it was like looking through a fog. These new telescopic glasses not only allow me to read signs from a farther distance, but makes driving much easier. I’ve also used them to watch television so I don’t have to sit so close. I don’t know why I waited three years to do this; I should have come sooner.”

“Bioptic telescopes can cost over $2,000,” says Dr. Paul, “especially if we build them with an automatic sunglass.”scope is that the lens automatically focuses on whatever you’re looking at,” said Dr. Paul. “It’s like an self-focusing camera, but much more precise.” risk factor for developing the disease, heredity, smoking, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure have also degeneration accounts for 90% of new legal blindness in the US. While there is currently no cure, promising research is being done on many fronts. “My job

56% of patients treated with a high-dose combination of vitamins experienced improved vision after six months.

TOZAL Comprehensive Eye Health Formula is now available by prescription from eye doctors.

To learn more about bioptic telescopes or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Paul, give us a call at 1-910-208-9011. You can also visit our website at:

3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Scott Gates, CCC Editor

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Kristie Aldridge, CCC Vice President

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each member-owned, notfor-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership.

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