Currents-April 2023

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE:

MEET THE TEAM

Learn more about member services, champions of the member experience.

ELECTRIC HIGHWAY SVEC has tools to help you decide if an electric vehicle is right for you.

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

Get ready for the sixth annual Suwannee Valley Cornhole Tournament.

CURRENTS

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

Friendly faces

It takes a lot of people to keep an electric cooperative running. There are engineers to map out where the system is going, warehouse staff to make sure we have the equipment to get there and line crews who raise the poles and put everything back together after a storm hits.

Then you have the board of trustees making the big decisions about what should come next for Suwannee Valley Electric, our leadership team that figures out how we get there and the financial team that makes sure we have the money to do it. Not to mention dispatchers, mechanics and so many others who do their parts to bring our consumer-members the safe, affordable and reliable electric service they count on.

But for all the work that goes on, there are many people who will see very little of it. Plenty of consumer-members won’t need to talk to an engineer or get into the details of revenue and losses with our accountants. In fact, for most people the face of the cooperative comes down to just one group — member services.

That’s a lot of responsibility for our member service representatives and cashiers to carry. But I think anyone who has ever done business with them will agree they take that

challenge on with skill and grace. They take pride in representing the cooperative to the public and working each day to help our consumer-members answer whatever questions they might have so they can get on with their lives.

So this month, we’d like to take a moment to put the spotlight on everyone on the member services team. You can read more about them and their work to make doing business with SVEC easy and enjoyable. I’d like to thank all of them for being such wonderful representatives of our cooperative.

You can also learn more about the Shoe and Clothing Drive SVEC held in March and all the good those donations will do for the homeless population right here in our area. We’re also excited to announce the return of a local favorite, The Suwannee Valley Cornhole Tournament.

The competition is back for its sixth year and we cannot wait to host all of you, whether you want to come play for fun or fight it out for first place. As usual, all proceeds will go to support United Way of Suwannee Valley, so we look forward to surpassing our donation from last year.

It’s just another way we give back to the community we serve. We were built by the people who call the Suwannee Valley home, and we continue to be owned and run by the them. It is our privilege to serve this community every day, and we will never take it for granted. 

WE BELONG TO THOSE WE SERVE

Business Office: 800-447-4509

11340 100th St. Live Oak, FL 32060

Lobby Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday

Drive-thru Kiosk Open 24 Hours

24/7 Power Outage Reporting

800-752-0025

svec-coop.com

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@SVEC_COOP_FL

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SVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

On the cover:

For many consumermembers, the member services team is the face of the cooperative. See story, Page 3.

Is an electric vehicle right for you?

Seeing an electric vehicle on the road used to be a rarity. But today manufacturers are producing more affordable models than ever before, and interest in energy-efficient vehicles is at an all-time high.

It has never been easier to find the right EV for you. If you’re considering buying a new EV, be sure to check out the Electric Vehicle section of SVEC’s website to learn about:

• The benefits of EVs, such as lower costs, improved efficiency and a quieter ride.

• How to purchase an EV and get rebates, tax incentives and discounts to save more.

• Which EV model is the right fit for you.

• How much you could save with our EV Savings Calculator.

• Where the closest charging stations are in your area. Just visit svec-coop.com and click on “Electric Vehicles” under the “Efficiency & Solar Energy” tab to find answers to your biggest EV questions.

Pay your way with MyChoice

Getting a monthly electric bill doesn’t have to cause you stress. With the MyChoice pay-as-you-go plan, you can say goodbye to the monthly bill and pay for electricity when you use it.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

• Get rid of the monthly power bill.

• Pay for electricity you use when you use it.

• Never pay a late charge or disconnect fee.

• Track your energy usage last week, last month or last year in the SmartHub app.

• Save money learning about your energy habits.

When you switch to MyChoice, your existing security deposit will even be put toward paying for your electricity usage. Start saving today by visiting svecmychoice.com or calling our Member Service Department at 800-447-4509 .

Adobe Stock Illustration by fad82, MarySan

member services Meet the

For many consumer-members, our member service representatives and cashiers are the face of the cooperative. Please get to know a little more about the team.

Member Engagement Team Leader, 15 years

What does it mean to you to be one of the “faces of the cooperative” for members?

We are the first contact that most members have with SVEC, and I take pride in making it a good one. However, everyone here is a face of the cooperative and we work hard to ensure that our members are appreciated.

What is the biggest challenge you face on the job?

I think the biggest challenge we face in our positions is the ever-changing technology and ensuring our consumer-members are not left behind. It has come so far from when I first started with the cooperative.

KELLI MCKINLEY Member Accounts Team Leader, eight years

What is the biggest challenge you face on the job?

There are so many different topics we handle. We are a

fairly small cooperative, and we cross train to cover different areas. Each of our member service reps can handle that, and it makes you proud to be able to wear many hats. But it can be a lot of information to retain.

What is the one thing you wish all SVEC members knew?

That we truly do have their best interests in mind. Unfortunately, electricity isn’t free. But I do believe we try to keep our rates competitive, show up and support our community, have reliable service and help members who are struggling find solutions.

ALICIA ELMORE Member Service Representative, 31 years

How did you come to work for the cooperative?

I started part time during my senior year at Suwannee High School through its on-the-job training program that allowed me to work during some of my school hours.

What does it mean to you to be one of the “faces of the cooperative” for members?

I’m very thankful to be an employee of SVEC. As a

member service representative, we are the first person you see when coming into the office or the voice you hear when calling in.

KIMBERLY PLUMMER Member Service Representative, eight years

What does it mean to you to be one of the “faces of the cooperative” for members?

Providing great customer service and simply showing people that I, and SVEC, care.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I enjoy working with the public. I come across people who just need a kind word or a smile to help them through their day. Being the face of SVEC gives me the opportunity to encounter people from all walks of life.

ASHLEY JOHNSON Member Service Representative, five years

What is the biggest challenge you face on the job?

Being so driven to keep members happy it is hard to say no when necessary. We want to help,

DENNY TOMPKINS

services team

but there are times we simply cannot do what a member wants. At the end of the day, it is more important to keep members safe.

What is the one thing you wish all SVEC members knew?

How much SVEC truly cares for their members and employees. I feel proud to work for a company that gives back to all the communities we serve.

What is your favorite part of the job?

My favorite parts of the job are my amazing co-workers and being able to help members daily. We all want to do what is best for our members.

What is the biggest challenge you face on the job?

friendly mood, and it makes the workday more pleasant.

What is the one thing you wish all SVEC members knew?

That we are a not-for-profit company. It’s frustrating when bills go up, but that money isn’t going into employees’ pockets. We really care about our members and always want to provide the best possible service at the most affordable rates.

What does it mean to you to be one of the “faces of the cooperative” for members?

It is a great honor to be the first impression that our members receive.

What is your favorite part of the job?

Seeing a member happy that we’re able to help them out and working with great co-workers.

The job itself has so many different scenarios that can go with one account. You learn something new every day in this position, and never know what is going to walk through the door.

How did you come to work for the cooperative?

I was interested in a part-time job after working for many years for a local doctor until he retired in 2021. I haven’t worked for SVEC long, but I love it here and the kindness everyone has shown me.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is the daily interactions I have with members who I see on a regular basis. Everybody is always in a

What does it mean to you to be one of the “faces of the cooperative” for members?

I am very proud to be one of the faces of the cooperative and proudly tell others I work for a wonderful cooperative. 

MARIA SUAREZ Member Service Representative, five years

MACI HODGES Member Service Representative, two years

BRITTANY TOWNSEND Cashier, two years

KELLIE COLVIN Cashier, one year

Baked ham sandwiches

8 slices bread

2 tablespoons butter, softened

4 slices ham

4 slices sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1 teaspoon grated onion

2 cups evaporated milk or whole milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Dash of Worcestershire sauce

Dash of cayenne pepper

Trim crusts from bread, and butter both sides well. Place 4 slices of bread in a buttered baking dish. Place a piece of ham on each piece and cover with cheese, then top with remaining bread slices.

Combine remaining ingredients and pour over bread. Refrigerate all day or overnight. When ready to bake, spoon sauce over bread again and bake at 300 F,

bright ideas

When you save energy, you save money. Check back here each month for new ways to make your home or business more energy-efficient.

For more energy saving tips, the latest cooperative news and more, follow SVEC at:

uncovered, until sandwiches are bubbly and golden brown on top, about 1 hour. Makes 4 servings.

Note: These sandwiches are best made early in the morning or the day before to give time for the “custard” to soak into the bread. For a heartier sandwich, slices of tomato, avocado or bacon may be layered between the ham and cheese. 

From lighting and appliances to insulation and pipes, there are dozens of ways to save energy and money around your home. But with so many options, finding the next area to focus on can be a challenge.

Fortunately, a home energy audit can take a close look at your energy profile and provide efficiency suggestions tailored just for you. The Home Energy Saver tool on SVEC’s website can give you a detailed look at your energy usage, help you compare your energy spending to others in your area and suggest upgrades that will have the most impact on your efficiency and your wallet.

To get started, visit svec-coop.com, choose “Save Energy at Home” from the “Energy Efficiency” tab and scroll down to the “Online Home Energy Audit.” 

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A guide to the Great Florida Birding Trail

By Kevin Mims, Visit Florida

WEST FLORIDA SECTION

Eagles, water birds and common songbirds make the Crystal River Archaeological State Park a nice starter site for beginners. It is a small park with good facilities and easy, paved trails through hardwoods attractive to songbirds in migration.

rated one of Florida’s most beautiful beaches, but what all the beachgoers don’t realize is that it’s spectacular for bird-watching, too. Bonaparte’s gulls are reliable in winter and spring, snowy plovers and American oystercatchers nest here, and gull-billed terns cruise the beach in summer.

Florida’s mild climate and diverse habitats attract hundreds of bird species, including such sought-after finds as the rare Florida burrowing owl, the snail kite and a wealth of wading birds. The Great Florida Birding Trail leads local and visiting birders to many of these hidden jewels over its 2,000mile driving tour that includes almost 500 old and new birding locations.

Here’s a sampling of the best each of the trail’s four sections has to offer, as well as some advice on the glorious adventures waiting to be discovered.

EAST FLORIDA SECTION

Start at Fort Clinch State Park in Fernandina Beach, a great introduction to Florida’s species and habitats. Check the entrance road’s hammock and marsh for warblers, waders, wrens and sparrows. Watch for painted buntings in spring and summer, and peruse the pier for seabirds and purple sandpipers and gannets in winter.

The grounds at Bok Tower Gardens are carpeted in cultivated gardens along with the native landscape. Here you can find kestrels, nighthawks, pileated woodpeckers and loggerhead shrikes. Look for hummingbirds in spring and summer, and enjoy the sounds of migratory songbirds in April and September through October.

The oak hammock at Caladesi Island State Park reveals songbird migrants, and the shore shelters wintering shorebirds like red knots and piping plovers, as well as breeders like American oystercatchers.

Shired Island Beach access at the north end of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge offers trails through the coastal hammock past mudflats and open beach. You’ll see everything from wintering shorebirds to shorebird migrants making landfall in spring.

PANHANDLE SECTION

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge is an extremely rustic refuge, “underbirded” in large part because it takes some effort to access it. Cross Indian Pass via the private ferry or in your own canoe. This barrier island is very large; prepare to hike the extensive sand roads or bring a bike.

Upon entering Ochlockonee River State Park in Sopchoppy, ask at the gate for the locations of active red cockaded woodpecker cavities or recent sightings. Drive or walk the scenic drive road, watching for these pinewoods specialists, as well as pine warblers, eastern towhees and common yellowthroats.

St. George Island State Park is regularly

SOUTH FLORIDA SECTION

At Bahia Honda State Park, explore mangrove swamps, hardwood hammocks, a salt marsh and sandy beaches, either on foot, on a bicycle or by boat. Bahia Honda is home to the gray kingbird, a large-billed songbird found along the Florida coast between March and October.

The Big Cypress National Preserve is one of the last refuges of the Florida panther. This is rough country, but you can bird by car. Keep an eye out for the snail kite, an endangered species that feeds exclusively on the apple snail.

Everglades National Park is home to dozens of endangered and threatened species. Hopefully you will see a 6-inch songbird, the black-whiskered vireo, a common visitor during the summer months. 

Florida is the only place where painted buntings breed and winter. You can spot the male’s vibrant plumage or the female in green.

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED BY GREAT FLORIDA BIRDING TRAIL

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED BY VISIT FLORIDA

First quarter Operation Round Up® report

Thanks to the generosity of SVEC members, the Operation Round Up board was pleased to approve 59 grants from January to March. With individual donations averaging 50 cents per month, this year we have been able to grant more than $25,000 for materials that will be used by teachers to enhance the education of local kids.

YEAR TO DATE

Funds collected: $26,974

Grants awarded: 59, worth $30,182

LIFE OF PROGRAM

Funds collected: $448,309

Grants awarded: 871, worth $446,511

Don’t miss the sixth annual Suwannee Valley Cornhole Tournament!

SVEC is excited to invite players of all skill levels to the Suwannee Valley Cornhole Tournament. All proceeds for the event support United Way of Suwannee Valley. Last year’s event raised more than $5,000, and we look for-ward to surpassing that amount this year.

WHERE?

Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative

11340 100th St.

Live Oak, FL 32060

WHEN?

Saturday, May 13

Registration/Check-in: 9-9:45 a.m.

Games start: 10 a.m.

Sign up today at suwanneecornhole.com!

SVEC donates shoes and clothing

The cooperative’s Shoe and Clothing Drive collected 15 bags of much-needed clothing for the homeless right here in our area. SVEC’s Christy Tuckey sent the donations last month to the United Way of Suwannee Valley, where they were accepted with open arms.

We hope the people who receive them feel a renewed sense of dignity, hope and the support of their community.

©Adobe Stock / kaktus2536

©Adobe Stock / swanyland

SVEC’s Communication and Public Relations Specialist Christy Tuckey shows the bags of clothing collected for local people in need.