News for members of Dixie Electric Power Association
Drivers can do more to make 4 Mississippi roadways safer
9 Outdoors Today: Back to Africa
Periodical postage (ISSN 1052 2433)
with fresh 14 Cooking Gulf Coast seafood
MHP Capt. John Poulos
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Dixie Electric is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
Youth Tour reflections
The road to self discovery For many teens, the Rural Electric Youth Tour is full of Randy Smith “firsts.” It may be General Manager the first time they left the state, flew on a plane, visited the nation’s capital or have been away from their family for an extended period of time. Even more are seeing and experiencing the larger world through their own eyes, rather than through their parents’ perspective. That’s the most important first, as it’s truly a “leap” to their next phase and where their journey to adulthood begins. In preparation for Youth Tour, teens learn about electric cooperatives, our history and grassroots advocacy. Youth Tour sprang from a suggestion of then
Sen. Lyndon Johnson to a national gathering of co-ops. Johnson felt youth from rural areas would benefit by visiting Washington to see first-hand how government works and gain a wider perspective through the experience. It was from this idea that Youth Tour evolved. High school juniors selected by their electric co-ops participate in a week-long trip to the nation’s capital in June. The program has grown exponentially since its inception, and this year we will see more than 1,800 high school juniors participate from co-ops in 44 states. Our state typically sends a delegation of 76 students.
ENERGY FAIR
Clean slate The week is interspersed with visits to many D.C. monuments and sites,
including Capitol Hill. A highlight of Youth Tour is a meeting with our congressional delegation. Teens learn first-hand that their elected officials work for their hometown community. Students often have the opportunity to discuss issues with legislators, and our chaperones are always impressed with the interactions and questions asked by our students. I can say that nearly all teens who have participated in our Youth Tour program look back with fond memories of an educational, interesting and eventful week. Many make lifelong friends. For a few, Youth Tour is a transformational experience. Parents, me being one of them, remark how their child returned noticeably different— more mature, more confident with
bigger goals and aspirations; they have a sense of purpose. Take the leap Youth Tour is one of the most important programs that Dixie Electric provides for the community. I am constantly impressed by the caliber of students that our co-op sponsors. As it is so often said, our teens are our future, and I think it’s vital that we do everything we can to help prepare them. I hope you will consider urging your teen to “take the leap” and join our next Youth Tour delegation. For more information about the Youth Tour program, visit dixieepa.com or contact your school’s guidance counselor just after school starts in the fall.
Join us for Dixie Electric’s
Helping our community save energy Tuesday, July 24
in Waynesboro at Gatlin’s Building Supply
Thursday, July 26
FtRheEpuEblic
to
at the Petal Lowe’s
Friday, July 27 at the Laurel Lowe’s
All locations: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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Joe McMichael retires and reflects on changes at Dixie Electric Since 1999, District Supervisor Joe McMichael has been the face of Dixie Electric in Wayne County. McMichael’s career began in 1973 as a serviceman trainee. He later became a serviceman, and ultimately the district supervisor, the position he held until his retirement in February 2018. “I have worked with some of the greatest people that anyone would have ever worked with and have made many lifelong friends. The people of Wayne County will always be special to me. I have so many good memories that I will always treasure,” McMichael said as he reflected on his years with Dixie Electric. McMichael has seen numerous changes over the past 45 years. “At the time (I began), we did not have the equipment that is available today. We climbed (poles) on every outage,” he explained. “Also, cards were mailed to members to read their own meters; however, some would not send these back, and we would have to go read them. Now we have computers to read the meters. We’ve come a long way since then.” McMichael shared that Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was, unfortunately, his most memorable moment because “the damage to our service area was devastating. Every member was out of power. We all worked many days and nights for many weeks, restoring power to our members.”
Dixie Electric employees, retirees and directors celebrated McMichael’s service to the cooperative on April 26, at a luncheon held in his honor. Working on the farm and with cattle is his hobby, so his retirement luncheon was decorated in a country theme complete with hay and small tractors. After retirement, McMichael plans to spend more time with his wife and family, working on his family farm. He and his wife, Janis, have two children and two grandchildren. They are members of Liberty Baptist Church in Waynesboro. “I have so many good memories that I will always treasure. I owe everything to the Lord for all He’s done. He has watched over me and protected me every single day I worked at Dixie Electric,” McMichael said.
Right-of-way clearing projects underway Dixie Electric Power Association clears trees, limbs and underbrush from the area around and below the power lines, called the right-of-way. Right-of-way clearing decreases the number of outages and reduces the risk of someone coming in contact with the power lines. Here are the substations and surrounding communities that are either currently being cleared or will be cleared soon: • South Waynesboro substation – Winchester,
Denham-Progress, Sunlight, Big Rock and the Central School area • Glade substation – Glade, Antioch and Powers communities • Indian Springs substation – Sunrise and Petal Spraying the underbrush will begin in May and continue through the summer for the communities surrounding following substations: • Diamond substation – Holly Bush Church Road, Highway 84 East of Waynesboro, MathersvilleDiamond Road, Boice, Cypress Creek, Chaparral, Highway 45 North and Shubuta • West Richton substation – Runnelstown, Ovett,
Top left: General Manager Randy Smith presents Joe McMichael with a plaque honoring him for his 45 years of service. Above: McMichael’s granddaughters assisted him in opening his gifts at his retirement luncheon. Left: McMichael was the district supervisor in Waynesboro. He worked alongside Nancy Loper, Dan Wooten, Julie McKee and Margaret Little.
Goodhope, Buck Creek, McSwain, Clay Hill, Whitfield, Pumping Station, Corinth Church, New Augusta and Mahnad community • Macedonia substation – Macedonia, Leeville, Union, Corinth Church and Ovett Oilfields • Cleo substation – Poole Creek, Highway 84 East of Laurel to Wayne County line, Magnolia Road, Mill Creek Road, Beaver Dam, Sandersville-Eucutta Road, Freedom Road and Walters Loop Clearing the right-of-way protects individuals from the hazards of electricity and makes power restoration quicker and safer for both Dixie Electric’s members and personnel.
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“Why do I Relay?”
June 2018
Answering the Question,
By Lydia Walters “Why do I participate in Relay,” is a question that Dixie Electric’s employees respond to both as a group and as individuals. Unfortunately, the answer is often because so many have been touched by cancer in their lives. This year, before the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, employees were asked to provide the reasons they participate in Relay each year. The answers quickly confirm why the employees annually participation in Relay For Life. “I participate in Relay For Life for myself. My name is Mark Manning, and I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2011 after a Healthy You appointment. I had surgery to remove a mass in my colon and then started chemotherapy four weeks later. I am now five years cancer free. I encourage anyone who has never attended the Jones County Relay For Life to go and experience it. As a cancer survivor, it is truly humbling to see the outpouring of
Petal employees get ready for the company lap.
love and support from our community. I Relay and give to the American Cancer Society to just simply give back a portion of what was given to me and pay it forward. I am why I Relay.” Mark Manning is a Journeyman Lineman with more than 25 years of experience at Dixie Electric. “My name is Ann Polen and I participate in Relay For Life for my husband, Ron Polen. After a Healthy You check-up, Ron was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July 2011. Ron underwent a brachytherapy procedure at New York’s Mt. Sinai Medical Center in November 2011, as well as radiation after. He is now a cancer survivor! To the world he may be one person, but to me, he is my world. I give to the American Cancer Society and Relay for the survivors like my husband, but also for the ones who were not as fortunate as him. Ron is why I Relay.” Billing Supervisor Ann Polen has worked with Dixie Electric for nearly 20 years.
These are just a few of the stories that were shared by our employees and the reason that our Laurel and Waynesboro offices raised $10,610 for the Jones County event and the Petal office employees raised $4,421 for the event there. The Relay For Life theme for 2018 was superheroes Dixie Electric chose to honor its own linemen as superheroes. The slogan was “lighting a way to a cure. At the Jones County event, Dixie Electric was recognized for the Top Money Raised by a business, Best Campsite, Best T-shirt and Best Baton. The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Each year the American Cancer Society hosts Relay For Life in many different commu nities.
Laurel employees and family volunteer and participate at Re
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Employees enjoy the fellowship at Relay for Life.
s. �
Above and right: Luminary bags, lanterns and torches are sold in memory of or in honor of someone who has battled cancer. Below: Board members Allen Sledge and Robert Smith annually support Relay For Life in Petal.
-
u-
elay For Life.
Left: Mark Manning is honored by participating in the survivor lap.
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Today in Mississippi I June 2018
Bylaws govern Dixie Electric’s board elections Section 4.03. Tenure & Qualifications. (a) At each annual meeting of the members, approximately onethird (1/3) of the total number of directors shall be elected by ballot, by and from the members, to serve for a term of three (3) years as provided by law. If the election of directors shall not be held at the annual meeting or if such annual meeting is not held, each director shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been qualified and elected. If there is no individual who has been duly nominated and qualified as set forth in Section 4.04, the director shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been qualified and elected. The Association will make reasonable attempts to qualify candidates and hold the election for the successor as set forth in Section 4.04 as soon as practicable. (b) At any meeting, ballots shall not be necessary in the event the number of persons nominated for directors does not exceed the number of directors to be elected, but in such case if there be no objection, the directors may be elected in any other proper manner. Drawing by lot shall resolve, where necessary, any tie votes. (c) No person shall be eligible to become or remain a director or to hold any position of trust in the Association who is not an active member in good standing of the Association, has not been a bona fide resident of the district from which they are to be elected for one year immediately preceding the nomination to directorship, or who is in any way employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise. (d) No person shall be eligible to become or remain a director who has been finally convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. (e) In order to be eligible to become or remain a director of the Association, a person must be a member of the Association and receiving service therefrom at his or
her primary residential abode, and not be a close relative as defined in Section 4.08 of an employee, incumbent director, or the director being replaced. When a membership is held jointly by a married couple, either one but not both may be elected a director; provided, however that neither one shall be eligible to become or remain a director or to hold a position of trust in the Association unless both shall meet the qualifications hereinabove set forth. No person shall take or hold office as director who is the incumbent of or a candidate for any elective county, beat, district, school district, municipal or state public office for which a salary is paid. (f) In order to be eligible to become or remain a director of the Association, a person must have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract. (g) In order to be eligible to become or remain a director of the Association, a person must not have been an employee of the Association for at least three (3) years and must not be a close relative, as defined in Section 4.08, to a current employee of the Association. (h) Upon establishment of the fact that a nominee for director lacks eligibility under this Section or as may be provided elsewhere in these bylaws, it shall be the duty of the chair presiding at the meeting at which such nominee would be otherwise voted upon to disqualify such nominee. Upon establishment of the fact that any person being considered for, or already holding, a directorship or other position of trust in the Association lacks eligibility under this Section, it shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to withhold such positions from such persons, or to cause them to be removed therefrom, as the case may be. (i) Nothing in this section contained shall, or shall be construed to, affect in any manner whatsoever, the validity of any action taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, unless such action is taken with
respect to a matter which is affected by the provisions of this section and in which one or more of the directors have an intent adverse to that of the Association. Section 4.04. Nominations by Petition and Credentials and Election Committee. (a) Nominations by Petition. Except for Association employees or their spouses, twenty-five (25) members acting together, may nominate by petition a candidate for Director by submitting a petition for nomination between June 1 and 5 p.m. on the last business day in July of that year. Any petition for nomination shall contain the name and address of the nominee and be submitted on a form designated and provided by the Association. Each member signing such petition shall place thereon the date of signing, printed name, address, account number, telephone number and service location of the member. For a nomination by petition to be placed on the notice of the members’ meeting, it shall be received at the Association’s headquarters no later than 5 p.m. on the last business day in July of that year and be approved by the Credentials and Election Committee. No member may submit more than one petition for nomination and no member may nominate more than one candidate. Petitions by joint members will only be counted as one petition and in the event a married couple attempts to nominate two different people, only the first received petition will be accepted. The Secretary must mail with the notice of the meeting or separately a statement of the number of Board members to be elected and the names of the candidates nominated by petition. (b) Credentials and Election Committee. In order to carry out its duty to approve eligibility for membership on the Board of Directors, and to review the Director election process, the Board of Directors may appoint a Credentials and Election Committee consisting of not less than five (5) nor more than seven (7) members
who shall be selected from different Districts so as to ensure equitable geographic representation. Members of the Credentials and Election Committee may serve for a three (3) year term with an initial term to be set so that approximately a third (1/3) of the Committee will be appointed each year. Members of the Credentials and Election Committee may serve a second consecutive three (3) year term if so appointed. Individuals who have already served two (2) consecutive terms on the Credentials and Election Committee are not eligible to serve again until they have been off of the Committee for at least one (1) three (3) year term. Said appointment shall be made during the month of May or June. No existing Association employees, agents, officers, Directors or known candidates for Director, and close relatives (as hereinafter defined) or members of the same household of existing Association employees, agents, officers, Directors or known candidates for Director may serve on such committee. In the event of the
Notice of Dixie Electric’s Director Qualification Period Candidates seeking election to represent Districts 3, 4, or 6 on the board of directors for Dixie Electric must visit Dixie Electric’s headquarters office at 1863 Highway 184, Laurel, Miss., and obtain a Director Qualification Packet during business hours between June 1 and July 31. The forms and petitions in the packet must be completed and returned by close of business on
Tuesday, July 31, 2018.
June 2018
failure of the Board to appoint said Credentials and Election committee, then the President or his or her designee may appoint said committee in the month of July or at such appropriate time. It is the responsibility of the Credentials and Election Committee to appoint a chair for the Committee. The Credentials and Election Committee shall meet at a time and place to be determined by the majority of the members of the Committee. It may be the responsibility of the Committee to pass upon all questions that may arise with respect to the registration and qualifications of members in person or by proxy, the regularity of all petitions for nominations of Directors, the qualifications of all nominees for
directors, to count all ballots cast in any election or other ballot vote taken, and to rule upon the effect of any ballots irregularly marked. In the exercise of its responsibility, the Credentials and Election Committee may have available to it the advice of counsel provided by the Association. In the] event a written protest or objection is filed concerning any election, such protest or objection shall be filed during, or within three (3) business days following the adjournment of the meeting in which the voting is conducted. The Credentials and Election Committee shall thereupon be reconvened, upon notice from its chair, not less than seven (7) business days after such protest or objection is filed. The Committee shall hear such evi-
dence as is presented by the protestor(s) or objector(s), who may be heard in person, by counsel, or both, and shall hear any opposing evidence; and the Credentials and Election Committee, by a vote of a majority of those present and voting, shall, within a reasonable time, but not later than thirty (30) calendar days after such hearing, render its decision, the result of which may be to affirm the election, to change in part the outcome thereof, or to set it aside entirely. The Credentials and Election Committee decision (as reflected by a majority of those actually present and voting) on all matters covered by this Section shall be final. (c) In the event of any meeting of the members at which directors
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Start thinking now about the supplies you will need to make it through an extended power outage. No doubt there are numerous other items necessary to meet the specific needs of your family. And don’t forget about pets. • Blankets/pillows, etc. • Clothing – seasonal, rain gear, sturdy shoes • Toiletries • Full tanks of gas in vehicles • First aid kit complete with prescription drugs • Flashlight/batteries • Radio – Battery operated NOAA weather radio • Cash – Banks and ATMs may
not be open after a storm • Important documents – including insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security cards, etc. Make sure these items are stored in a water proof container.
BE PREPARED WITH OUR CRISIS MANAGEMENT WEBSITE Visit Dixie Electric’s crisis management website, prepared.dixieepa.com, for up-todate outage information. · The site is smartphone friendly, so members can get information during a power outage. · The site features a real-time outage map that allows members to know where outages are located. The outages are shown on the map as a general location; as a safety precaution, specific structures and road names are not visible. · The site also provides tips on preparing for storms, contact information for reporting outages and safety information in the aftermath of severe weather or an outage.
prepared.dixieepa.com
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shall not be elected, the Board of Directors may nevertheless appoint a Credentials Committee with authority to pass upon all applicable matters herein provided as well as any other matters or questions which may be referred to it by the Chair of the meeting or by the Board of Directors. The President of the Board, or the President’s designee, shall preside at and conduct all meetings of the Members with full authority to act or refer any questions deem appropriate to the aforesaid Committee for decision. (d) Notwithstanding anything in this section contained, failure to comply with any of the provisions of this section shall not affect in any manner whatsoever the validity of any election of directors.
Hurricane Season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30 • Water – at least one gallon daily per person for 3-7 days • Non-perishable packaged or canned food and juices – enough for each person for 3-7 days • Special food for infants or the elderly • Non-electric can opener • Cooking tools/fuel • Paper plates/plastic utensils
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