The Transformer OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF CANOOCHEE ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
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October 2026
Your Co-op. Your Voice. Your Meeting. Join Us!
t’s Annual Meeting time! Canoochee EMC is thrilled as we approach the 2026 Annual Meeting of Members. As a valued member of Canoochee EMC, your presence is essential.
Why Attend?
• Connect with your co-op. Meet our team and directors, as well as fellow Canoochee EMC members. Remember: This is your opportunity to connect, ask questions and share your voice. • Learn about the future. Explore innovative technologies shaping our energy future. • Enjoy the event: Relax, enjoy refreshments and experience a special performance by Heartfelt, as we celebrate the strong sense of community, the heart of Canoochee EMC.
What to Bring? All Canoochee EMC members were mailed a postcard with their invitation, which includes information that helps with registration. Bring the postcard with you to the Annual Meeting, as this will be the “ticket” for your entry.
We’re Here to Serve You Community is at the heart of everything we do at Canoochee EMC. We’re more than a transactional service; we’re your neighbors, friends and members of the comCanoochee EMC Newsletter
munity that make up our electric cooperative. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to meet you all, hear your stories, answer your questions and build relationships. Our team is always ready to connect, and we
are happy to answer questions about energy efficiency, electric vehicles, your electric service and more. We are grateful for you—our members—who make up the communities we call home!
Mark Your Calendar We look forward to seeing you there on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Registration begins at 12 p.m. and our business meeting begins at 2 p.m. Tattnall Campground 3769 Campground Road Claxton, GA 30417
A Touchstone Energy® Cooperative
www.canoocheeemc.com
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Meet the Voices Behind the Calls
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his month, we’re shining a spotlight on the dedicated members of our customer service representatives, or CSRs. As one of the first points of contact for our members, our customer service team plays an important role in making sure every member feels welcomed, heard and taken care of. Whether they’re answering questions about a bill, discussing payment options, assisting with capital credits, creating work orders or welcoming new members to Canoochee EMC, they are always ready to assist with care. Our CSRs work hard to meet the needs of our members with patience, professionalism
and smiles. From the moment our offices open until the workday comes to an end, they are committed to providing the personal service our members have come to expect from their cooperative. We are proud of the care and dedication this team brings to Canoochee EMC and to the members we serve. Thank you to our customer service team members for all you do to keep our cooperative connected to the people and communities we call home. Thank you for making Canoochee EMC a great place to be!
Shawna Hall, CSR, Reidsville
Renee Jennings, CSR, Reidsville
Chely Flores, CSR, Reidsville
Ann Dasher, Cashier, Reidsville
Jeremy Halligan, Lead CSR, Reidsville
Mike Rager, Office Services Manager, Reidsville
Jessica Bacon, CSR, Hinesville
Theresa Gosart, CSR, Hinesville
Liza Nicola, Senior CSR, Hinesville
Idamaris Pagan, Senior CSR, Hinesville
James Anthony, Branch Supervisor, Hinesville
Kim Newton, CSR, Pembroke
Diane Foreman, Senior CSR, Pembroke
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Georgia Magazine
October 2026
A Touchstone Energy® Cooperative
Canoochee EMC Newsletter
Local Couple Attends Annual Georgia Cooperative Council’s Couples Conference
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erald Reese and Participants also visited the Suzanne Hart of Sumter EMC headquarters in Collins were selected by Americus, where they toured Canoochee EMC to represent the facilities and learned firstthe cooperative at the annual hand how a local EMC operates Georgia Cooperative Counto serve its members efficiently cil’s Couples Conference. and effectively. They also had the This three-day event gives opportunity to visit three busicouples from across Georgia nesses, Leatherbrook Holsteins, an opportunity to explore the Café Campesino and 13th Colony cooperative business model Distillery, all of which are coopand its positive impact at eratives. the local, state and national Couples returned home levels. inspired to deepen their involve“As a cooperative, our ment with their local cooperamission goes beyond delivertives and to play active roles as ing reliable electricity. We’re community leaders. committed to investing in “I believe every cooperative future leaders and strengthemployee should attend this ening our communities,” says conference because it provides Joe Sikes with Canoochee Gerald Reese (left) and Suzanne Hart represent Canoochee EMC. valuable insight into the cooperaEMC. “Supporting the Geortive industry and the important • Voluntary and Open Membership gia Cooperative Council’s Couples Conrole we each play,” Hart says. “It was • Democratic Member Control ference each year is one of the many eye-opening to learn about the many • Members’ Economic Participation ways we fulfill that commitment.” types of cooperatives and their contribu• Autonomy and Independence This year’s conference was held tions to the state of Georgia. The experi• Education, Training and InformaAug. 21-23 at the Historic Windsor ence helped me see how our individual tion Hotel in Americus. Couples enjoyed a responsibilities connect to a larger mis• Cooperation Among Cooperatives weekend of fellowship, education and sion. My husband and I also enjoyed • Concern for Community networking in a setting that blended learning and fellowshipping with likehistoric charm with modern insight into minded people who are passionate The sessions highlighted how cooperative leadership. about making a positive difference in cooperatives differ from traditional Throughout the weekend, couples our communities.” participated in interactive and informa- businesses and how these differences The 2026 Georgia Cooperative benefit communities across Georgia. tive sessions hosted by Georgia EMC, Council’s Couples Conference was made Pineland Telephone and AgSouth Farm Small-group settings encouraged possible through the generous support thoughtful conversation and peer-toCredit. These sessions focused on the of Georgia’s electric cooperatives and peer learning among attendees. seven Cooperative Principles: the Georgia Cooperative Council.
Touchstone Energy Senior Citizen of the Month Congratulations to Tim Miracle of Reidsville for being selected as the October 2026 Touchstone Energy Senior Citizen of the Month.
Canoochee EMC Newsletter
A Touchstone Energy® Cooperative
www.canoocheeemc.com 14C
The Transformer
This Fall, Refresh Your Cybersecurity Habits
Official Publication of Canoochee EMC P.O. Box 487 Reidsville, GA 30453 (800) 342-0134 Joseph A. Sikes, Editor BOARD OF DIRECTORS Connie Thrift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 3 President Bob Floyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 4 Vice President Kim Blocker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 9 Treasurer LaNell M. Oliver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 6 Secretary Ed Bradley Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 5 Robert Dasher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 8 Kenneth L. Durrence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 7 Lavanda Lynn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 2 Bernard Purvis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . District 1 Michael Wasson, Chief Executive Officer Andy Whiten, Chief Operations Officer Mat Olson, Chief Financial Officer Patrick Burkhalter, Chief Administration Officer Kyle E. Durrence, Member Services Manager WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR POWER IS OFF . . . 1. Check your fuses or breakers. 2. Check with your neighbors. 3. Call (800) 342-0134 or (912) 557-4391. There is a dispatcher on call 24 hours a day for your convenience. OFFICE HOURS Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays Branch offices Highway 196 West Hinesville, GA 31313
Highway 280 East Pembroke, GA 31321
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Georgia Magazine
October 2026
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s the leaves begin to change and we settle into the routines of fall, it’s a good time to take stock of a few things around the house, preparing for cooler weather, checking our heating systems and getting ready for the months ahead. It’s also a good time to refresh our cybersecurity habits. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but protecting your personal information is something that deserves attention all year long. At Canoochee EMC, cybersecurity is a critical part of providing safe, reliable electric service. While much of our focus is on protecting the physical systems that operate the electric grid, we also work to protect the systems and information that help us serve you, including online accounts, payment systems, member portals and outage communications. Unfortunately, scammers are becoming more sophisticated, too. Artificial intelligence (AI) is making it easier for cyber criminals to create convincing emails, text messages, websites and even voice messages that can look and sound legitimate. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned that generative AI can make fraudulent schemes more believable by eliminating many of the errors that once helped us identify a scam. That matters when it comes to utility scams. A scammer may impersonate Canoochee EMC and claim your account is past due, your service is about to be disconnected or you need to make an immediate payment. The message might even include our logo, use professional-looking language or direct you to a website that
appears legitimate. With AI helping scammers create more convincing communications, simply looking for spelling mistakes or other obvious warning signs may no longer be enough. And these scams are not a small problem. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, making these types of scams the most commonly reported type of fraud. Nearly one in three fraud reports involved an imposter scam. So, what should you do if you receive an unexpected message claiming to be Canoochee EMC? If a message creates a sense of urgency or threatens immediate disconnection, take a moment to verify it. Don’t click the link or call the phone number provided in the message. Instead, contact us directly using our trusted methods. You can reach us by phone at (800) 342-0134 or through our website chat at www.canoocheeemc.com. You can also take steps to protect your online accounts before a scam occurs. Start with your password. Longer is generally better than simply adding more special characters. Choose a long, unique passphrase that is difficult for others to guess, and don’t reuse the same password across multiple accounts. Canoochee EMC is committed to protecting the systems that help us deliver your electricity and serve our members. You can help by protecting your own account, slowing down when something seems urgent and contacting us directly when you’re unsure.
A Touchstone Energy® Cooperative
Canoochee EMC Newsletter