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SECONEWS DUNCAN’S DIGEST Jim Duncan, CEO Dear Members, I would like to extend a personal invitation to join us for our 81st Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 23. Gates and registration open at 8 a.m. and the business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. SECO’s ever-hospitable, friendly employees are excited to host members and guests on Annual Meeting day. 034706 RSVP online if you plan to attend. The online RSVP is for breakfast and gift headcount only. You will still need to register upon arrival. To RSVP visit SECOEnergy.com > Your Co-op > Annual Member Meeting or click on the RSVP home page banner. You’ll be entered in a $300 bill credit prize drawing and must be present at the meeting to win. The theme of this year’s meeting is also a mission: “Feeding the Cooperative Spirit.” Many local food pantries are experiencing critical food shortages that compromise their ability to support area residents. Join SECO, the United Way and your fellow members to help restock local food dispensaries in the
counties we serve. Consider donating healthy options including meats and vegetables; grains (oatmeal, rice, pasta); baby food and canned meals (soups, stews). United Way and local food pantry volunteers will be on-hand to collect your donated items at food drop-offs located near the big American flags in the parking areas. 680601 Speaking of food, we are serving the now-famous “big breakfast biscuit” (sausage, egg and cheese – one per person please). You’ll also find cookies, doughnuts, coffee and sodas. Limited picnic and high top tables are available on the south side of the Annual Meeting Pavilion. You are welcome to bring your own picnic blankets, folding/ camp chairs or grab a seat under the Pavilion. Continued on page 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE • SECO Champions • Annual Meeting: Grand Prizes • Annual Meeting: Door Prizes • Florida Fauna & Flora MARCH 2019 | SECO NEWS
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SECO’S 400+ EMPLOYEES are dedicated to providing exceptional service to members, co-workers and communities.
400+ SECO EMPLOYEES Thousands of members and guests join SECO Energy and its 400+ employees at our Annual Meetings. Members are surveyed about their Annual Meeting experience after the event, and they are not shy about sharing their feedback. Members enjoy the cooperative update, the breakfast biscuits and snacks, the live entertainment and learning about energy efficiency ideas at our Energy Showcase. But hands-down, the highest-rated Annual Meeting experience is our members’ interactions with, and the hospitality provided by, our 400+ SECO Champion employees. Our group of hard working, local folks provide top-notch customer service to our members. Whether on the front lines or behind the scenes, SECO is proud of each employee and his/her work that helps pen our cooperative’s success stories – the stories of SECO Energy Champions. Join us at our 81st Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 23, to interact with our employees and enjoy SECO hospitality at its finest. See you there!
Continued from page 1 To register, bring a copy of your bill. A photo ID is required. At registration, pick up a ticket set for breakfast, gifts and door prizes. Immediately after registration, you’ll drop your door prize ticket in the prize barrel at Station 1 and proceed to Station 2 to pick up your SECO gift bag. Inside you’ll find Voting Packets for the Boardrecommended Articles of Incorporation amendment and the corresponding Bylaws revision. You’ll also find a copy of our 2018 Annual Report. Scout a good seat early. Visit our Energy Showcase before the business meeting begins to learn more about energy efficiency, visit with our partners and pick up a free LED provided by our wholesale power provider Seminole Electric Cooperative. Tap your toes, sing along or dance to live music provided by member-favorite Margo Rochelle & Rodeo Drive Band.
Take a stroll and locate a member of our Facebook Help Squad. Snap a selfie or pose for a picture with a SECO photo frame. Members who “like” SECO’s Facebook page and post a photo or comment during the Annual Meeting on our page are entered into a drawing for a $300 bill credit. 272403 The Articles of Incorporation amendment and Bylaws revision votes take place before the business meeting adjourns. Prize drawings begin directly after the business meeting. Grand prizes include a refurbished 2009 Ford SuperCab 4X4, a golf cart and cash prizes. The door prize list also includes gift cards and high-tech items. Turn to page 4 for a sneak peek of the complete door prize list! You must be present to win, so I hope to see you there!
JIM DUNCAN, Chief Executive Officer
“HIDDEN” ACCOUNT NUMBERS Don’t forget to look for the last six digits of your account number in this month’s SECO News. You can email us at customerservice@secoenergy. com or call if your number appears. Six winners will be drawn at random from all submissions. Winners receive a $25 restaurant gift card.
ANNUAL MEETING
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PRIZES 2009 FORD RANGER SUPERCAB 4X4
2016 GOLF CART 046301
$1,500 MARCH 2019 | SECO NEWS
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FLORIDA THE 27TH STATE
ANNUAL MEETING 2019 DOOR PRIZES
fauna & flora
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panish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon landed near St. Augustine in Spring 1513. Amidst the blooming flowers, Ponce de Leon named the newly-discovered land “La Pascua Florida” or Festival of Flowers.
• $1,000 • (2) $500 • Masterbuilt Smokers • Shark Robotic Vacuum • Nest Learning Thermostats • Apple TVs • Wood-Burning Fire Pit • DEWALT Cordless Drills
Florida became the 27th state on March 3, 1845. Long before Florida grew into a tourism hub, early industries included logging, fishing, cattle ranching, farming and citrus growing. These industries continue today. In the 1920s, the railroad spurred the land boom bringing business and residents to Florida’s southern tip. Florida became a popular spring break destination for college students starting in the early 1930s.
300012 The state’s first theme parks were Cypress Gardens and Marineland. Tourism took off in Florida in 1971 when the Magic Kingdom opened in Orlando. Today, millions visit Universal Studios, Epcot, LEGOLAND, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens every year. Florida visitors enjoy the state’s multi-faceted entertainment options. Flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Florida is a beachlover’s dream. Crystal-clear natural springs, National Parks and Forests, unique wildlife and copious sunshine brand Florida a national treasure.
• Power Air Fryers • Foodsaver Vacuum Sealing Systems • Ring Video Doorbells • Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablets • Victrola 6-in-1 Entertainment Centers • Fire TV Cube • Black & Decker Cordless Combos • Amazon Fire TVs
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• Nix Digital Photo Frame
• Nostalgia Vintage Ice Cream Makers • JBL Portable Bluetooth Speakers • Kobalt 227-piece Mechanic’s Tool Set • Fitbit Activity Trackers • Kobalt 22-piece Household Tool Set • Stanley Shop Vacs • $50 Visa Gift Cards
BOARD OF TRUSTEES & T RU ST E E ME E T ING DAT E S
Jerry D. Hatfield
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, March 25, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. in the Corporate Offices at 330 South US HWY 301 in Sumterville. A Trustees’ meeting will also be held on Monday, April 22, 2019. 24/7 Job Hotline: (855) 483-2673 secoenergyjobs.com Report an Outage: (800) 732-6141 stormcenter.secoenergy.com
Richard J. Belles
President District 9
District 3
Richard Dennison
Ray Vick
Vice President District 4
District 5
Bill James Secretary-Treasurer District 8
Scott D. Boyatt District 1
Dillard B. Boyatt District 2
SECO Energy.com SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Earl Muffett District 6
Joseph Kusiak District 7