May 2024 Co-op Comments

C o-op Co-op C omments Comments

REC donates money to rural fire departments to assist with needs

In REC’s service area, there are 24 rural fire departments with over 370 men and women volunteering their time to help protect their families, neighbors and friends. Not only do these individuals fight fires, but they also help construct buildings to house equipment, perform maintenance and work fundraisers to have the necessary money to purchase fuel and equipment to protect homes and properties in their area. These services survive because of the dedication of volunteer firefighters.

For 34 years, firefighters in REC’s service area have gathered for recognition for their efforts in protecting lives and property.

This year 15 fire departments were in at-

tendance at the banquet and REC presented each department with a check to assist in purchasing equipment and supplies. REC’s grant program awarded $18,350 to the area departments bringing the program’s total donated funds to $462,350.

“It is important to support our local rural fire departments as they are first responders protecting our lives, businesses and property,” CEO, Dusty Ricks said. “REC’s grant program is designed to assist these departments in being better equipped to handle fires in our rural areas. The service rural fire departments provide is invaluable and we cannot thank them enough for the work they do every day.”

REC recognizes the importance of the tasks these men and women perform and the obstacles they must overcome to do their jobs.

Departments receiving grants include: Acme, Alex, Bailey, Bradley, Bray, Cox City, Dibble, Doyle, Elmore City, Farwell, Katie, Lindsay, Maysville, Naples, Ninnekah, Paoli, Payne, Pernell, Purcell, Rush Creek, Rush Springs, Washington, Wayne and Wynnewood.

Collectively, the 24 departments have 379 firefighters trained to fight wildfires as well as structure fires. During 2023, the departments went on 2,575 runs.

REC's Fire Department Appreciation Banquet had 15 departments represented. Picture from left to right, bottom row: Brian Simmons, Paoli; Representative Cindy Roe; Clyde Harms, Bray; Troy Patterson, Cox City; Tanner Roberson, Lindsay; Richard McCarty, Rush Creek. Middle row: Rocky Claunch, Purcell; Jordan Powell, Payne; Senator Jessica Garvin; Jeff Adamson, Rush Springs; James Anderson, Pernell and Will McLin, Elmore City. Top row: Billy Simpson, Washington; Jeremy Caldwell, Maysville; Jesse Bearce, Bailey; Allan Hensley, Katie and Justin Pittman, Wynnewood.

Grow your energy savings this summer

One of my favorite things about summer is the opportunity for fresh, homegrown food. It is amazing how just a few seeds, some fertilizer and water can turn into a bounty of food.

When I think about energy efficiency, I think about that bounty of food, and how with just a few simple actions, you can use less electricity and reap the rewards of energy savings.

You do not need to be a farmer or botanist to know plants need water – just like you do not have to be a lineworker or engineer to know adjusting the thermostat or turning off lights can reduce your monthly electric bill. In fact, if you read Rural Electric’s publications regularly and follow us on Facebook, you know there are several things you can do at home to save electricity and money.

Summer months bring some of the highest energy bills of the year. But why? Cooling your home accounts for a large portion of your monthly energy use, and the hotter it gets, the harder (and longer) your air conditioner works to keep you cool.

But I would also like to share a few ways we are here to help you save – not only during the dog days of summer but throughout the year.

One of the great things about being part of REC is we are locally owned by you, our members. So instead of making profits, we can focus on helping our community.

Save money with these easy incentives:

• Rebates – REC offers ways to give you money back for efficient equipment you purchase, like heat pumps and programmable thermostats. Many of our rebates can be claimed by simply filling out a form. Find a list of all our rebates at www.recok. coop. 289900

• Recycle – If you have an old, working refrigerator or freezer not being used much, it is costing you.

• Energy Audits – Our Member Services Representatives can provide suggestions to help with the overall efficiency of your home.

• Take Control of Your Use – Use SmartHub to track your energy use. You will be able to see your usage broke down into 15 minute intervals to help you see when your usage is the highest and if you are able to change your daily routine to reduce your usage.

• Ways to Pay – If you are having a difficult time paying the higher bills associated with summer, contact us to learn about our budget billing.

Most people do not know everything about electricity, and this is why we are here to help you. There are no investors making profits here. Just knowledgeable people with local jobs, working for our neighbors to ensure there is electricity available when you need it. Contact us, and we can work with you to find more ways to save energy – and money.

May 2024

Co-op Comments

Official publication of Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. CO-OP COMMENTS is owned, controlled and directed by Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. It is printed monthly and mailed to members in Garvin, McClain, Comanche, Stephens, Grady and Carter counties in Oklahoma.

Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. 13942 Highway 76 • P.O. Box 609 Lindsay, OK 73052 405-756-3104 • 800-259-3504

Outage Number: 855-399-2683

www.recok.coop

Board of Trustees

Gary Jones, President, District 1

Scott Christian, Vice President, District 1

Brent Bacon, Sec./Treasurer, District 1

Larry Anderson, District 2

Johnny Harrel, District 2

Terri Hays, District 2

Mark Finch, District 3

Randy Griswold, District 3

Sonny Harrison, District 3

Lisa Whitman, Attorney

Management and Staff

Dusty Ricks, Manager/CEO

Linda Ray, CFO

Kelli Lindsey, Administrative Assistant and Staff Coordinator

Elaine Gilreath, Manager of Customer Service and Data Processing

Jon Jones, Manager of Engineering

Mitch Gilreath, Manager of Information Technology Services

Megan Lawrence, Manager of Member Services and Marketing

Casey Henson, Manager of Safety and Loss Control/Facilities

David Crull, System Superintendent

Jason Mays, Operations Superintendent

REC's youth program winners

Rural Electric Cooperative recently awarded and recognized 24 area students with trips and scholarships. Ten high school seniors shared $16,000 in scholarships assisting with their college expenses. Six high school juniors received all-expense paid trips this summer- three won trips to Washington D.C. for Youth Tour and three won trips to Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. While eight eighth graders won a trip to Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperative’s Energy Camp at Canyon Camp near Hinton, Oklahoma.

Both the Youth Tour and Energy Camp competitions were open to REC’s membership and all students attending a school within REC’s service area. Whereas, only high school seniors whose parents or legal guardians are members of REC were eligible to apply for the ten scholarships available.

To compete in the scholarship contest, students were required to complete an application, and from all applicants, the Youth Committee selected 10 finalists to interview. All finalists were selected as winners. Two students received $2,000 scholarships and eight received $1,500 each. Winners of the $2,000 scholarships were Gracie Pruitt of Purcell and Lauren Earp of Elmore City-Pernell. Scholarships of $1,500 each went to: Kaylei Clanton of Dibble; Brinley

Hines and Kynlee Patterson of Elmore CityPernell; Sidney Brooks, Shane Jones, Aleah Scruggs and Gage Kleinsasser of Lindsay and Karlee Tolle of Purcell.

High school juniors competing in the Youth Tour contest wrote an essay as the first step of the competition. Judges selected the top six essays as finalists. The finalists competed in a speech contest to determine the trip winners. Judges selected Abby Pettijohn of Alex; Cale Hines and Dalton Parker of Lindsay as winners for Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. These students will travel to Washington, D.C. with approximately 70 other juniors from across Oklahoma to tour our nation’s capitol.

The three runners-up won a trip near Steamboat Springs, Colorado for the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp hosted by the Colorado Electric Cooperatives. Local winners will join students from Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming for the week-long camp. REC’s winners include Tessa Inman and Halli Harris of Lindsay and Travis Sullivan of Ninnekah.

REC’s winners to Energy Camp were selected from a large group of essays submitted by eighth graders from several area schools. The group will attend the camp with 80 other eighth graders across Oklahoma. Winners include: Kara Pettijohn and Kyleigh Waters of Alex; Marlee Inman,

Alexis Gregg, Brooklynn Perry, Abriel Dodson and Cade Williams of Lindsay and Madison Moreno of Wayne.

Student winners, parents, school teachers and administrators were honored at a banquet hosted by REC recently at the Cooperative’s Multi Purpose Center in Lindsay.

REC has offered these programs to area students since 1989. Over the past 34 years REC has provided: 364 scholarships; sent 101 high school juniors to the Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.; sent 93 high school juniors to the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp; and sent 236 eighth grade students to Energy Camp.

REC's scholarship winners: front row (left to right): Kynlee Patterson, Kaylei Clanton, Karlee Tolle, Gage Kleinsasser and Shane Jones. Back row (left to right): Lauren Earp, Brinley Hines, Sidney Brooks, Aleah Scruggs and Gracie Pruitt.

REC's Youth Tour finalists: front row (left to right) Cale Hines, Travis Sullivan and Abby Pettijohn. Back row (left to right) Tessa Inman, Dalton Parker and Halli Harris.

REC's Energy Camp winners: front row (left to right) Marlee Inman, Abriel Dodson and Kara Pettijohn. Back row (left to right) Alexis Gregg, Madison Moreno and Brooklynn Perry. Not pictured: Kyleigh Waters and Cade Williams.

FOR SALE: Pool ladder, sand pump with filter, leaf net, vaccum hose and brush, cleaning chemicals, bag of sand and new vaccum hose, make offer.

PH: 405-207-0428.

Account number worth $10 bill credit

Locate your account number in an article of this issue; it will be good for a $10 credit on your electric bill. To claim the prize, you must locate the account number - if the number is yours, contact REC by the 10th of the month and we will credit your account. Only the member assigned that number is eligible for the prize. If you don’t know your account number, it can be located on your electric bill.

Co-op Connections

Use your Co-op Connections Card to save you money on lodging, photographs, oil changes and other items. You can also save on prescriptions, dental, vision, hearing, lab work and imaging and chiropractor services at participating locations. Your card is a discount card. If you have misplaced your card, contact REC for a replacement card and use it to save yourself some money.

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

Looking for an easy way to manage home energy use? Smart plugs are inexpensive and offer convenient solutions for scheduling and controlling your favorite electronic devices.

With smart plugs, you can easily manage your coffee maker, lighting, home office equipment, video game consoles and more. Smart plugs can help you manage devices through a smart phone app, your home assistant or voice control. By conveniently powering off or scheduling devices, you can save energy (and money). Learn more at www.energystar.gov.

REAL ESTATE

FOR SALE: 30 acres with three-bedroom, one and a half bath brick home, attached garage and an unattached additional two car garage with a loft and a fenced in backyard, $399,000. PH:405-344-7289.

Classified Ads

are FREE to REC members to post non-commercial items. Deadline for ads is the 8th of every month. Call the Member Services Dept. at 405-756-3104 ext. 238.

Local Co-op Connection Card Deals

A-U-Store It, Purcell$5 off first month rent

Backroads Boutique, Lindsay5% off everything excluding special order and sale items

Best Western, Chickasha15% Off Regular Room Rate

Blue Moose Portable and Septic Services, LLC, Elmore City5% Off Septic Tank Pumping, Tent Rental and Special Event Toilet Rentals

Chickasha Diesel Services, Chickasha$50 off any big diesel oil change

Edwards Canvas, Pauls Valley - 5% Off Jenny’s Pics Photography, Lindsay10% Off $50 or More Purchase of Pictures

Lindsay Tire and Lube, Lindsay$5 Off Any Full Service Oil Change

M & M Furniture, Chickasha10% Off Any Purchase

Mazzio’s Italian Eatery, Purcell10% Off Purchase

Photos by Ginger, Pauls Valley1 Free 8x10 Print With First Order of $25 Pharmacy Discounts -

Check out the discounts available using your Co-op Connections Card at participating pharmacies throughout our area. For a complete list of pharmacies, visit REC’s website to see if your pharmacy is offering discounts to Co-op Connections Card holders.