August Empowered Newsletter

Empowered is a monthly newsletter for members of

82ND ANNUAL MEETING IS OCT. 7 Central Rural Electric Cooperative's drive-thru Annual Meeting is returning to a community near you! Last year's Annual Meeting set record attendance, so we're bringing back the format again this year.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 7 for Central's 82nd Annual Meeting.

This year's locations are: § Noble County Fairgrounds, 1 Ivanhoe St., Perry § Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 15th & Rozell Ave., Chandler § Payne County Expo Center, 4518 Expo Cir E, Stillwater § Logan County Fairgrounds, 215 Fairgrounds Rd, Guthrie You will have the opportunity to drive-thru the annual meeting to vote on proposed bylaw amendments, receive your atten-

dance gift, visit with Central employees and board members, and be entered for prize drawings. Drive-thru the meeting anytime between 3 and 7 p.m.

Attendees will receive a $10 bill credit on their December bills and a $20 restaurant gift card.

Attendees will also receive a travel-sized first aid kit! Prize winners and voting results will be announced on Central’s website and social media on Friday, Oct. 8.

Watch for additional information in next month’s edition of Empowered and your official notice in the mail later in September. We are looking forward to seeing you at this year’s Annual Meeting!

UPDATE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

AFFORDABILITY IS KEY

AUGUST 2021 Central Board of Trustees: Carol Dvorak, President (District 3) Stu Preston, Vice President (District 2) Bill Davis, Secretary/Treasurer (District 7) Gary McCune (District 1) Len Tontz (District 4) Mark Pittman (District 5) James Wells (District 6) Hunter Robinson - Chief Executive Officer Empowered Editors: Jillianne Tebow - Vice President of Business Development and Marketing Larry Mattox - Director of Communications Kory Frazier - Marketing and Communications Specialist

www.MyCentral.coop facebook.com/MyCentralCoop twitter.com/MyCentralCoop

Central prides itself on providing safe, reliable and affordable power to our membership. These three attributes have been a focus of the cooperative since it was formed in 1938. At an average cost of about $3 per day, it is easy to take electricity for granted. That $3 keeps our homes comfortable, our food cold, our clothes washed and dried, and provides power to the many devices that entertain us – all for about the price of a fancy coffee from your favorite coffee shop. It’s no wonder that households are using more electricity.

Typically when demand goes up, so too does the price, as is the case with most goods or services, like cable or even your favorite specialty coffee. However, that’s not true with electricity. Let’s take a look at how the value of electricity compares to other common expenses.

Carol Dvorak,

Over the last five years, the cost of rent increased 3.4%; medical care increased 2.8%; and education increased 2.2%. But the cost of electricity only increased 1%.

Considering all the ways we depend on electricity, it still remains a great value.

District 3 Trustee The Energy Information Agency (EIA.gov) expects The next time you’re enjoying the household demand for electricity your favorite podcast, TV series to grow by 2.3% in 2021. One reason or movie, consider how electricity for that growth is the number of enhances your quality of life. internet-connected devices, which is now at 10 or more devices in the We care about you, the members we average home. With the recent launch serve, and understand that electricity of Centranet fiber, it is great to be is more than a commodity – it’s a involved in industries that provide necessity. That’s why Central will such an increase in quality of life to continue working hard to power your our membership. life, safely, reliably and affordably.

instagram.com/MyCentralCoop

Average Annual Price Increase FROM 2015 TO 2020 IN PERCENTAGE Contact Us: editor@MyCentral.coop 405-372-2884 | 800-375-2884 3305 S. Boomer Rd. | P.O. Box 1809 Stillwater, OK 74076

4.0 3.5

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index

3.4% 2.8%

3.0

2.2%

2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0

Central Rural Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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0.5 0

1.0% Rent

Medical Care

Education

Electricity

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK SCHOOL SAFETY Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is extremely important they take proper safety precautions. Here are some tips to make sure your child safely travels to school:

During the next few months, Central will be sponsoring a survey that is conducted every three years to measure the quality of service provided to you, our member-owner.

This survey will ask several questions about your satisfaction with the cooperative and energy usage.

In this random survey of members, a mixture of online and telephone interviews will be conducted. You may be sent an email invitation to participate in the survey, or you may be sent a postcard in the mail inviting you to participate.

Emails are sent from the address cooperativesurvey@bellomymail.com with “Electric Cooperative Survey” listed as the “From” name, and “Central Rural Electric Cooperative Needs Your Feedback” as the subject

line. Postcard recipients will need to type in the web link included on the postcard as well as the passcode.

Survey links are designed to only be opened by the member so that it can be submitted only one time. Members may also be randomly selected to complete a telephone interview.

It should take approximately 12 minutes to answer all questions on the phone.

The call center conducting the survey will identify themselves as calling on behalf of the cooperative. They will be conducting calls Monday-Friday from 5-8:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No Sunday or holiday calling will be conducted.

If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, please contact us at 405-372-2884.

for sale

SERVICES

Great Plains no-till drill, 30 ft. Cat Challenger 65C track tractor. Call Charles at 405-714-3422, Perkins

Dr. Myers Chiropractic, Luther Real “Hands-on” physical adjustment $35 total office visit. Truck Driver DOT health card $75. Truck Driver DOT drug test $45.

Truck Driver DOT alcohol test $45. Truck Owner FMCSA (DOT) Compliant.

Randomized Drug Testing Program.

Call 405-277-3325

Three male Great Danes for sale. Eight weeks old, second set of shots July 10, at 6 weeks weight 13lbs. Call Karen at 405 315 8771, please leave a message.

SUBMIT YOUR AD Submit your ad by email to editor@mycentral.coop or by mail to Central Rural Electric Cooperative Classifieds, P.O. Box 1809, Stillwater, OK 74076 by the 5th of each month!

Ads will run as space is available.

Z Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; when on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.

Z Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming.

Z Make eye contact with drivers before crossing, and always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections.

Z Stay alert and avoid distracted walking or biking.

Z Ride your bicycle on the right side of the road, with traffic, and in single file.

Z Come to a complete stop before crossing the street; walk bikes across the street.

Z Make sure your child wears a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing while riding.

Z At the bus stop, children should stay six feet (or 3 giant steps) away from the curb.

Z If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, teach him or her to walk on the side of the road until they are 10 feet ahead of the bus; your child and the bus driver should always be able to see each other. https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/ seasonal-safety/back-to-school

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LANGSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES FOUNDATION GRANT The Central Community Foundation recently granted the Langston Fire Department $4,700 for updating equipment.

The department requested the funds for new hoses, nozzles, LED flashlights and gear bags.

The Langston Fire Department has 13 volunteer firefighters and assists the Coyle Fire Department and the Meridian Fire Department, also in Central’s service territory.

Pictured are Langston Fire Department Lieutenant, Morgan Smith; Janie Carey, Community Foundation Board Member; and Fire Chief, Clint Winfrey.

The Langston Fire Department will be hosting its annual cookout at Langston Lake on Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. For more information contact BJ at 405-466-2280 or langstoncityfire@gmail.com

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Grants from the Central Community Foundation are made possible by Central members who round up their monthly electric bills to the nearest dollar. These funds are put into the foundation, which distributes them to people in need throughout Central’s seven-county service area.

The foundation has five fields of interest: healthcare, education, disaster relief, personal need and community purpose. For more information and to see the impact the Central Community Foundation is making, visit MyCentral.Foundation.

HYDROPOWER WORD SCRAMBLE You know that it’s never safe to mix water and electricity. But did you know that large amounts of flowing water can be used to create electricity? It’s called hydropower, and it’s made from the movement of water.

Read the facts about hydropower below, then unscramble each bolded word. Check your work in the answer key.

1. YROHD means “water” in Greek.

2. Water flowing down a EVRRI is used to spin large turbines that help make the hydroelectricity.

3. When the turbines spin, a large TROAEGREN spins, which makes the electricity.

4. The amount of water used to generate hydropower is controlled through use of large MDAS. 5. Hydropower is a form of ELNERAEWB energy.

ANSWER KEY: 1. HYDRO

2. RIVER

3. GENERATOR

4. DAMS. 5. RENEWABLE

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