BIG CHANGE
Operation Round Up® adds up to classroom improvements
SCHOOL SPIRIT
Explore the sights, sounds and history of FAMU
JANUARY CELEBRATIONS
SVEC employees join in Martin Luther King Jr. and Arbor Day festivities
Michael S. McWaters Executive VP/CEO
Being part of a cooperative family has lots of benefits. Our consumer-members get to enjoy the safe, reliable and affordable electricity everyone at SVEC works hard to provide every day, while also sharing in the ownership of the co-op. If the money we bring in for that power is more than we need to keep the system working and growing, we don’t pocket it or send it to shareholders. Instead, we allocate it to our members and use it as operating capital for the co-op. Over time, these allocations are returned to members in the form of retired capital credits. Also, each of you has a voice in how our cooperative runs when you cast your vote for the trustee who represents you.
These are things that make a cooperative profoundly different from any other type of electric utility. But they wouldn't count for much if we weren’t also actively invested in the communities we call home. No one at SVEC wants to simply go through the motions before heading home at the end of the day. As a team, we want to make our local community a better place for everyone to live, whether they’re on the grid or off.
That was the thinking when we first started Operation Round Up® in 2019. Over the last five years, those of you who participate have been rounding up your bills to the next dollar to be set aside for our local schools. Each participating account contributes an average of 49 cents a month, which adds up to less than $6 each year. But by adding all those small donations, we’ve been able to award more than $500,000 in grants to help students in our area.
In the years since the first grant was awarded, we’ve been able to pay for much-needed classroom items such as books, lab equipment and online learning tools for both public schools and accredited private or independent schools in our community. Because of the generosity of our consumermembers, SVEC has been able to create new learning opportunities for these students.
This month you’ll be able to read more about some of the newest ways Operation Round Up® is supporting local classrooms. From giving kindergartners more chances for hands-on learning to helping chemistry students discover science in action, you’ll see just how much these improvements impact our kids.
In recent days, I’ve also fielded questions from some of our consumer-members about the new Idalia Recovery Charge. No one ever likes to see a new charge, but I want to assure you that we wouldn’t have implemented it if it wasn't necessary for our cooperative to recover from last year’s hurricane and stay financially strong
We know there are a lot of questions about the recovery charge, and in just one of the ways we've tried to be transparent with our members, answers to some of the most frequently asked questions have been provided on Page 3.
It’s the least we can do for the people who built this cooperative and make it possible for us to give back to this area. You can bet we’ll continue working hard each day to bring you the high quality of service you deserve.
With extensive repairs needed after Hurricane Idalia battered our system last year, SVEC has added a recovery charge to consumer-members’ bills to help cover the cost of the damage. We know many of you have questions, so we have included the answers to some of the most common concerns below.
Q. HAS THE CO-OP ALREADY RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FROM FEMA?
A. No. It will be an extended period of time before the co-op receives any funds from FEMA. Furthermore, based on the experience of other entities impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Michael, it will likely take years to receive all reimbursements ultimately approved by FEMA. In any case, FEMA does not reimburse the entire cost of a storm. Meanwhile, the co-op is paying invoices for materials and services used to recover from Hurricane Idalia.
Q. DOESN’T THE CO-OP HAVE INSURANCE AGAINST DAMAGE CAUSED BY STORMS?
A. Our insurance company, which insures 91% of the electric cooperative market, does not provide this type of coverage. Present coverage is in line with other utilities that do not insure distribution infrastructure such as poles and wires. We review all our insurance coverage every year as part of our risk management efforts. Furthermore, if such insurance was available, it would make a utility ineligible for any FEMA reimbursement. In addition, the ongoing premiums would be high and increase the co-op’s operating costs, resulting in higher rates and bills for members.
Q. WHY DOESN’T THE CO-OP DRAW FROM PROFITS TO PAY FOR STORM RECOVERY?
A. As a not-for-profit cooperative, SVEC operates at cost, collecting
enough money to run and expand its electric grid as needed. That money is used to cover expenses like lineworkers, materials, equipment, etc. In years when revenues exceed expenses, the difference, or margin, is allocated to members and used as operating capital by the co-op. Over time, the allocations are returned to members in the form of retired capital credits. Approximately $18 million has been returned to members over the life of the co-op.
Q. ISN’T THE STORM RECOVERY CHARGE BARRED BY IN THE CO-OP’S BYLAWS – SPECIFICALLY ARTICLE II, SECTION 2?
A. No. Article II, Section 2 prohibits taking a member's property (i.e., his or her house or other assets) to pay for co-op debts, and members are not personally liable for any co-op debt or liability. In short, contractors cannot sue individual members for co-op debts owed to them. On the other hand,
members are collectively responsible for the costs of operating the co-op, including those related to Hurricane Idalia. Accordingly, passing on these costs to all members via a charge on their monthly bill is permissible under Article II, Section 2.
Q. HOW LONG WILL THE RECOVERY CHARGE BE ON MEMBERS’ BILLS?
A. There is not an exact time frame for the charge. Our commitment to consumer-members is to remove this charge as quickly as non-FEMA reimbursable costs have been paid.
Q. IS SVEC THE ONLY UTILITY WITH A STORM RECOVERY CHARGE?
A. No. According to the Florida Public Service Commission, several utilities in the state, including FPL and Duke Energy, are currently charging a storm recovery fee.
Each month, thousands of Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative members voluntarily allow their bill to be rounded to the next dollar so the difference can be given to local classrooms. Last year, Operation Round Up® passed a major milestone, reaching $500,000 in grants awarded to help our students get the quality education they deserve. Here are just a few examples of the classrooms that your contributions have helped in the last year.
The 2024 school year has brought new students and new subjects for Lyndsey Browning. This year, she started teaching science and math in addition to reading and social studies. That meant she needed to find funding for new teaching materials like rocks and gemstones for her geology unit, large play money and place value charts for math and a model of the human body for anatomy.
“It’s kind of hard for the little kids if they can’t experience something firsthand,” Browning says. “So, having it right in front of them and being able to hold and move it around helps a lot.”
A class favorite this year was a collection of geode crystals students were able to break open themselves. Her students also love the sticker station, which serves as a small reward when they finish their required work for the week.
“They pick a sticker, and we have sticker books I got with a previous grant,” she says. “It’s a great
hands-on thing that doesn’t just say ‘good job.’ It’s something they can collect and work toward.”
Browning has applied for an Operation Round Up® grant every semester she’s had the opportunity and encourages the other teachers on her team to do the same. For her, it’s a way to give her students access to the kinds of learning tools they might not have otherwise.
“It’s difficult out here for a teacher, and every year is different,” she says. “I have a lot of great parents who donate things, but hands-on materials are kind of expensive. For SVEC to be able to do this for us is great. I can get materials I probably couldn’t afford on my own.”
Carla Jones continually looks for ways to hook students into the subject they’re learning about. It could be using hydrogen peroxide to make foamy elephant toothpaste as a demonstration of chemical reactions or showing how chemicals burn in different colors to explore the science behind fireworks. But as a teacher in a small district, finding those ideas can be a challenge.
“I am the only eighth grade science teacher in the county,” she says. “So, it’s not like I can call a colleague and ask them, ‘What do you do for this lesson?’”
Fortunately, when she does find that engaging lesson plan, Jones can count on Operation Round Up® to help her get the supplies she needs. One example is a gravity and magnetism lab she used to demonstrate the forces that govern the solar system.
“It’s pretty cool for the kids to be able to tangibly experience something that is happening in space but on a much larger scale,” Jones says. “It gives them the application they need to understand what is going on.”
She has even noticed better scores on performance evaluations and statewide benchmark assessments in the years since Operation Round Up® grants have been available. But the real thrill is seeing the looks on her students’ faces when they’re eager to start working on a lab.
“The kids love experiments,” she says. “So, any time I have things on my desk when they’re coming in, they’re like, ‘Oh! What are we doing
today?’ and it makes them excited about class.”
Jennifer Bonds first learned about Operation Round Up® from one of her fellow kindergarten teachers. She had been teaching second grade and didn’t have many materials for younger kids. But with a little extra funding from Operation Round Up® , she was able to get the tools her students needed.
This year, it was items like a felt storyboard kids use to retell stories they’ve read in class, alphabet letters they can match to pictures and words with the right beginning sound and toy cows used to match a tail with a number of dots to the head with the corresponding numeral.
“They plead to do their favorite activity,” Bonds says. “People ask, ‘Where did you get that from?’ and I say, ‘Suwannee Valley. You should apply for a grant!’”
The felt storyboard, in particular, is a tool she’s not sure she could have afforded for her current class without Operation Round Up®. But it’s been extremely helpful for her students to learn to retell stories in their own words and share them with each other. It even helps students whose native language isn’t English. They can practice their English when retelling a story to classmates.
This update to classic Cowboy Beans gives them some “south of the border” seasonings. Feel free to add browned ground beef or shredded chicken for more of a main course. Swap beans at your discretion — there are no “wrong” beans. You could add cheese, sour cream and cilantro to finish, if desired.
4-6 servings
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons cumin
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
2 cups cooked pinto beans
1 cup cooked kidney beans
1 4-ounce can diced green chiles
1 teaspoon oregano
2 drops liquid smoke, optional
½ teaspoon chili powder
About ½ cup water
Electricity powers modern life, but it can be dangerous if not handled carefully. Check back here each month for new tips on how to stay safe around electric power at your home or business.
Your household probably has its own lightbulb preferences, whether you’re prioritizing cost, efficiency or aesthetics. But no matter which bulbs you choose, it’s important to make sure they have the right wattage for the fixtures you plan to use them in.
Using a high-wattage bulb with a fixture that isn’t rated for it can cause it to overheat or even lead to a fire. Always remember:
• Check the maximum recommended wattage for a fixture before installing a bulb.
• If you can’t find a bulb with the recommended wattage, use a lower-wattage bulb instead.
To learn more about building safe electric habits, click the Outages & Safety tab on the SVEC website, svec-coop.com, and follow us on social media.
To learn more about how to save energy, click on the Energy Efficiency tab on the SVEC website, svec-coop.com.
Heat a saucepan over mediumhigh heat. Add just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan, then add the onion and let brown. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds. Add cumin and carrot, cook another 30 seconds, and then add remaining ingredients. Season with salt and let heat through. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University was founded in 1887, when campus rattlesnakes were just something you put up with if you were matriculating in rural North Florida. Students and faculty were not the least bit intimidated. They took the snakes as their mascot and built FAMU into one of the most storied of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities.
In 1998, Time Magazine selected Tallahassee’s FAMU as its College of the Year. The Eternal Flame, located at The Set in the center of FAMU’s campus, commemorates the honor with an obelisk topped by a flame that burns all day, every day. It’s a symbol of the fire and spirit that lies within every Rattler.
FAMU’S Marching 100 is high atop the list of the most celebrated college bands in the musical galaxy. The 100 has strutted its stuff on the ChampsÉlysées in Paris and stolen the show from Kanye West and Jamie Foxx at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
But the best place on Earth to see these masters of the music universe
is on game days at the Rattlers’ home field. Bragg Memorial Stadium seats 25,000, but nobody’s sitting down when the band shows off its moves and musicianship. With its slow and stunning “death cadence” and the triple-time march that leaves audiences gasping, the Marching 100 knows how to win hearts and raise pulses.
Slow things down with a leisurely campus stroll and discover the adventure in architecture and design that FAMU shares every day. Of special note is the old Carnegie Library, one of many financed at the turn of the 20th century by steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
Today, it’s the home of the Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum. The Center is one of 10 Black archives in the United States and among the largest repositories of African American history and culture in the Southeast.
Lee Hall, built in 1928, is the centerpiece of FAMU’s historic district and cultural life. It holds a spot on the American Institute of Architects’
prestigious “Florida Architecture: 100 Years, 100 Places” list and houses the 1,200-seat Lee Hall Auditorium. The Essential Theatre Series appeals to the most demanding audiences, while the Morning Matinee Series is aimed at schoolchildren and is available to seniors at discounted rates.
Savor the flavor of Florida’s sweet muscadine grapes at the FAMU Center for Viticulture’s Annual Grape Harvest Festival. August is the most wonderful time of the year for oenophiles, as the Rattlers roll out the red carpet for visitors to the school’s vineyards, located off campus near Interstate 10. Pick a few grape clusters to take home, and enjoy winemaking workshops, a vineyard walk/run and grape-stomping contests, just like in the movies.
FAMU is known for its Campus Ambassadors who provide customized tours for prospective students, their families and the public. A Rattler Concierge is a walking Wikipedia of FAMU’s history, current events and traditions. Call ahead and let them help you make the most of your visit.
Thank you to everyone who joined us last month to make our Arbor Day celebration a success. Our amazing team showed up on a chilly morning to give away 125 dahoon holly trees. We can’t wait to see them growing across the Suwannee Valley in the years to come.
The SVEC mini bucket truck joined our friends at Rapid Fiber Internet to take part in the annual Suwannee County MLK Day Parade. Thank you to everyone who came out and to the Suwannee County MLK Committee for organizing this wonderful event.
