Light Reading - November 2019

Inland Power is my cooperative!

N ove m b e r 2 0 1 9

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SAFETY Are space heaters safe?

COMMUNITY Inland Power attends Touch-a-Truck event.

Touch-a-Truck

Engaging kids and showcasing the big rigs of Spokane

P

olice cars, fire trucks, garbage trucks, transit buses and utility trucks were all part of the backdrop of the ninth annual Junior League of Spokane’s Touch-a-Truck event.

Families of all ages and sizes converged on the campus of Spokane Community College Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 to get a hands-on experience with the vehicles that support, protect and provide for our community.

Inland Power and Light has proudly been part of the event since its inception and showcased two trucks with their buckets lifted to the sky. Kids got to climb in the trucks to see how big they really are. In addition to the trucks, kids were able to see and feel the various tools and safety devices lineworkers use on the job.

Inland Power’s Kyle Hasenoehrl, Eric Fletcher and Connie Nelson attended the event and showcased the equipment to the kids.

“I enjoy working at Touch-a-Truck because I enjoy seeing the happiness in the kids’ faces,” Fletcher said. “I think it is important for Inland Power to participate in these events because it reinforces the

ENERGY SERVICES Middle school cashes in on energy savings.

good relationships that we have with our members.”

The event is an opportunity for kids to meet the people behind the wheels of the vehicles. From police officers to disposal workers, kids get the chance to learn about how different workers function.

“This event is great to get the community together to see who and what equipment make our communities function,” said Lindsey Hobbs, who brought her son Jackson to the event. “We get to say “hi,” shake hands and have the opportunity to say “thank you for your service.” It’s also pretty fantastic for kids to meet their heroes and to dream about who they want to grow up to be.”

Along with the excitement of big trucks, sirens and horns, kids participated in face-painting, coloring stations and other hands-on learning booths.

Inland Power has proudly sponsored Touch-a-Truck for many years and looks forward to a long partnership with the event to promote the utility industry and inspire the next generation of Inland Power’s workforce.

Guide the future of your co-op I

nland Power’s annual meeting is a time for members to join together to learn about the current happenings in your cooperative as well as elect your board of trustees. Next year’s annual meeting will be held Thursday, March 19, 2020 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Northern Quest Casino.

specific geographical district and two represent the cooperative at large.

As a member of Inland Power, you own your cooperative. That ownership comes with benefits including local control and accountability, meaning your choice of co-op leaders.

Trustees are asked to attend monthly board meetings and must learn about complicated issues in the energy business and foresee challenges in providing affordable and reliable power. They forge a long-term plan for the sustainability of the cooperative. Trustees are stewards of

Inland’s board is comprised of nine trustees, seven of which represent a

Inland Power trustees serve three-year terms and are typically elected on a rotating basis at each annual meeting held in March.

Responsibilities

the cooperative and strive to make every decision, big or small, with our membership in mind.

Open Districts If this sounds like a position for you, Inland Power’s nominating committee is accepting applications for board positions in District 4, District 7 and At-Large Position B. District 4: Includes all the area served

by Inland Power south of a line along Highway 206 from Highway 395 and then following a line south of Highway 206 until such highway ends at the entrance to Mt. Spokane Park and then south of a line proceeding due east from Continued inside

“OUR mission

members.”

IS OUR

Continued from front

the end of Highway 206, also including the area east of Highway 395 from its point of intersection with Highway 2 north of Spokane and continuing south through Spokane to where Highway 395 meets Highway 195 and north of a line proceeding east from Highway 195 along the Spokane-Whitman County line.

application process to Jennifer Lutz at jenniferl@inlandpower.com or by phone at (509) 789-4273. Prospective candidates will be required to submit a candidate certificate of eligibility, complete an application and provide a photo by Friday, Dec. 13, 2019.

The nominating committee will meet in mid-December to review all applications received and make nominations based on applicant qualifications. Additionally, co-op members may be nominated by petition along with the prerequisite applicant documents.

District 7: Includes all the area served by Inland Power south of a line along Highway 26 from Washtucna to its junction with Highway 195, then along Highway 195 to its junction with Highway 270, then along Highway 270 to its end.

Inland Power is my cooperative!

– M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T

Each active membership is entitled to one vote for each district up for election either by mail, electronically or in person at the annual meeting. Look for voting ballots and materials to be mailed our in mid-February.

Election results will be announced at Inland Power’s annual meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2020 and online.

At-Large Position B: Candidates for at-large positions can be from any district, but both at-large trustees cannot be from the same district. Currently, the At-Large Position A trustee resides within District 4. Therefore, no members from District 4 will be eligible to run for this trustee seat.

Qualifications To represent your cooperative, a trustee must be a member in good standing for a minimum of one year, have a primary/ permanent residence in the district from which the trustee is elected and use, receive or purchase energy from Inland Power.

Lakeside Middle School cashes in

Space heater safety

A

Stay safe while keeping warm

n education is vital for a child’s success. Making sure that each school provides the right environment that encourages learning is paramount and includes many factors. Inland Power and Light is committed to helping our young members achieve the best educational experience possible.

Lakeside Middle School in Nine Mile Falls struggled with being able to provide the right learning environment for its students due in large part to an outdated Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system.

“We have had teachers express concerns about having cold and hot spots depending on where the sun is located,” said Keith Browning who is the principal at Lakeside Middle School. “Kids were either getting too warm or too cold depending on where they were in the classroom.”

The school district ran a capital levy to raise funds to replace the school’s roof and HVAC system. They also worked with McKinstry–a Spokane-based design and construction company.

“They were great to work with,” said Jeff Baerwald who is the assistant superintendent of Nine Mile Falls School District. “They were willing to talk us

Process & Timing If you are interested in one of these positions, please send your request for the Candidate Packet outlining candidate qualifications, responsibilities and the

through any potential problems that they foresaw. They also were able to save us money from the initial bid price, which allowed us to do other upgrades we were not originally able to do.”

Since the project has completed, both Baerwald and Browning said they have seen major improvements in the school’s environment.

“Both the teachers and the students are so much happier now,” Browning said. “The benefits are two-fold. We are receiving the energy savings, while also allowing teachers and students to be more comfortable in their classrooms.”

Aside from the energy savings the district is experiencing, the school also received a rebate check from Inland Power and Light.

Space heaters are a great way to warm specific rooms in your home without having to crank up the thermostat, but using space heaters doesn’t come without risk! Use the tips below to keep your home safe.

DOs: Plug your heater directly into the • wall outlet. your space heater in low-moisture • Keep rooms and out of bathrooms. your space heater at a safe • Keep distance (at least three feet) from kids, pets and flammable items.

“It is always great to work with our schools,” said Inland Power’s Lindsey Hobbs. “Energy savings is always the goal, but it’s even better when we can help out our youngest members of Inland Power.”

follow the directions and take • Always a broken space heater to a qualified

“We are here to teach kids, and so we want to remove any barriers to that,” Baerwald said. “Temperature is a barrier to that and so we want to make sure they are in an environment where they are comfortable and safe.”

Don’t use an extension cord to plug in • any space heater. It can cause the

appliance service center.

DON’Ts:

heater to overheat and can be a tripping hazard. leave your space heater • Don’t unattended. Always unplug it before you leave the house or go to bed. place your space heater near • Don’t curtains, clothing, furniture or bedding. try to repair any broken space • Don’t heater yourself.

Your Co-op Connection | Getting to know who works for you

J

enny VanBuskirk has been with Inland Power since 1999. Before her current role as operations assistant, Jenny worked in the member services department at Inland. Prior to joining Inland she worked in both the shipping and television industries.

“I love our members,” Jenny said. “Working the front counter gave me the opportunity to interact personally with our wonderful members. I have also formed very valuable friendships with my co-workers over the years.”

Outside of work, Jenny enjoys hiking, riding four-wheelers, shooting guns and spending quality time with her friends and family, including her four dogs.

Jenny VanBuskirk - Operations Assistant

Inland Power’s Lindsey Hobbs, right, presents a rebate check for $27,966.10 to Lakeside Middle School principal, Keith Browning, center, and Nine Mile Falls assistant superintendent, Jeff Baerwald.

VISIT INLANDPOWER.COM FOR MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS