Currents-August 2020

AUGUST 2020

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE: THE MODERN JOB HUNT Navigating the online job market AROUND THE COMMUNITY How SVEC powers students, the economy and more FLORIDA HISTORY Explore the Civil Rights Trail in Florida

CEO’S MESSAGE

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS August 2020

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

Suwannee Valley Currents is a monthly newsletter published by Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, © 2020. It is distributed without charge to all consumermembers of the cooperative.

Working for you If there is one thing I’ve learned about the Suwannee Valley, it’s that the people we serve aren’t afraid of hard work. When Mother Nature strikes, our consumermembers know how to dig in and rebuild. Many of you are farmers, doing backbreaking work day in and day out to feed the people of this country.

That spirit has been a part of Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative from day one. When major power companies didn’t see a chance to profit in running electric lines to the more rural areas of this state, the people here didn’t sit on their hands and wait for them to change their mind. They decided to create their own electric system, built with their own hands and supported by their neighbors.

It’s a legacy that means a lot to those of us entrusted to operate this cooperative today. It is always front of mind for our employees as they continue bringing crucial electric service to our consumer-members.

That hard-working spirit has made recent months even more difficult for many people. As the coronavirus pandemic has continued to have economic consequences throughout our state, some of the hardest-working members of our community have found themselves suddenly out of work. For many, it may be the first time they have been unemployed in quite awhile, making the modern job market difficult to navigate.

That’s why this month’s newsletter contains a guide to job hunting in the digital age. While some parts of landing a new job will never change, others have evolved a great deal, including writing a resume that stands out from the pack and finding the right position. We hope these guidelines will help any of our consumer-members who have found themselves out of work find new opportunities.

Of course, as a cooperative, SVEC is always looking for new ways to give back to our community. When organizations that benefit our community need help, our employees are ready to volunteer their time and money. We are privileged to be able to open new doors for our local students through scholarships, the Youth Tour and Operation Round Up. And SVEC also supports the local economy financially each year in the form of jobs, income and taxes that go straight back into this community.

You can learn about those contributions and more in this newsletter. They are just some of the ways we’re working to help our community through this challenging time. But the work won’t stop when this moment has passed. After all, with the work ethic of our consumer-members setting such a high bar, we could hardly do anything but work hard every day to better serve you. 

HAVE YOU TRIED SMARTHUB? The SmartHub app makes it easier than ever to track your usage and see everything you need to know about your electric account at a glance.

Features like viewing your bill, paying your bill, monitoring your usage, and contacting SVEC are available at the tap of a button.

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 facebook.com/sveccoop @SVEC_COOP_FL Instagram.com/sveccoop SVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

On the cover: Destiny Douglas, an AP chemistry student at Suwannee High School, uses lab equipment purchased with Operation Round Up funds. See story, Page 8.

Visit svecsmarthub.com today to sign up and check out the SmartHub app!

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Suwannee Valley Currents

National Voter Registration Day To vote in the general election on Nov. 3, you must register with the state by Oct. 5.

You may register or update your voter registration information online at registertovoteflorida.gov.

But if you don’t have access to the internet or you would like assistance registering to vote, visit SVEC’s office at 11340 100th St. in Live Oak on Tuesday, Sept. 22, which is National Voter Registration Day. We will be helping with voter registration from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

National Voter Registration Day

SEPT. 22

Happy Labor Day! SVEC’s office will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day. Our 24-hour outage reporting system is always available. Our drive-thru payment kiosk and our night depository will also be available. We’ll have standby crews ready to restore power if needed.

You may have unclaimed capital credits Find out today on our website SVEC is a not-for-profit business that operates at cost. Revenues above the cost of doing business, known as margins, are allocated to our consumermembers annually in the form of capital credits. If the financial condition of the co-op will not be impaired, the SVEC board of trustees can elect to retire, or return, capital credits to members. Over the life of the co-op, $15.9 million of capital credits has been returned to members.

Sometimes members don’t receive their capital credit checks because of an incorrect or out-of-date address. If you think this might have happened to you, please visit https://svec-coop.com/unclaimed-capital-credits. Here you can search a database for your name or address. If you see yourself in the search results list, simply fill out the online inquiry form.

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Savings on the air As a service to our consumer-members, SVEC is excited to bring the “Drop Your Energy Bill” show to local radio. The nationally syndicated show dedicated to energy efficiency airs live every Saturday, 10-11 a.m., on WJZS 106.1 FM, WQHL 1250 AM, WDSR 1340 AM and 95.9 FM. Tune in every Saturday and learn how to make your home more energy efficient!

STAY IN THE KNOW WHEN A HURRICANE STRIKES! @SVEC_COOP_FL facebook.com/sveccoop @sveccoop SVEC’s Storm Center svec-coop.com/storm-center

WQHL – 98.1 FM Tune in from 8-9 a.m. and 5-6 p.m.

August 2020 | 3

Finding a job in the modern age From submitting your resume to interviewing, it’s an online world

If you haven’t navigated the job market in recent years, you will find a whole new world. In most cases, long gone are the days of walking in to speak with the manager, making a good impression with a firm handshake and sliding your resume into his or her hand. No more do we simply search the newspaper want ads for job listings, and rarely do we sit down with a pen to fill out a paper application.

Almost everything is online now — from finding the job to applying and submitting your resume. Even the first round of interviewing is often through online videoconferencing.

If job hunting in an increasingly wired world is a new experience for you, consider this guide for navigating the job market and landing your dream job.

JOB BOARDS

These days, most job opportunities are found through online sources, such as job boards where employers post openings and describe the position, job duties and ideal candidate.

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Some of the most popular job boards include Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder and Glassdoor, but services like Employ Florida can also be great resources for finding and applying for local jobs. These sites will allow you to post your resume for employers to review. They will also let you search for openings based on location, career field or keyword.

Don’t overlook specialized job boards that cater to employees with specific qualifications or those seeking positions within a specific area. For example, some job boards cater to nonprofit companies, while others focus on candidates looking for jobs in specialized fields such as nursing, law or finance. Others emphasize students right out of school or military veterans.

While they may have some differences, most job boards have the same basic features. They allow you to search for jobs you may qualify for, and often they let you apply directly from the site. Others may link you to the employer’s site to submit your resume and fill out an application.

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RESUME

One thing that has not changed is the importance of a well-written resume. According to Jessica Higginbotham, executive assistant at CareerSource North Florida, the average recruiter will spend 7.4 seconds skimming your resume before deciding whether to consider you for the position.

“In those seven seconds, it’s important that all of the things you really want to highlight are front and center,” she says.

“The key here is to quantify your value to the hiring manager.

Sure, you increased sales, but what if you increased sales by 273% in a year? Ideally, your resume should paint a picture of you and what you can bring to a new organization.”

There are multiple resume styles, but according to Indeed. com, a leading online job source, your resume should reflect your unique education, experience and relevant skills. You might consider having multiple versions of your resume tailored to the jobs for which you’re applying.

Below are a few tips that will help you organize and design your resume. For more feedback, CareerSource North Florida offers a free, hands-on resource to help you create the perfect resume over the phone or via video chat.

• Keywords — Look for keywords in a job posting that describe what the employer is looking for, and use those words in your resume.

• Font — Always use a basic, clean font like Arial or Times New Roman. Keep your font size between 10 and 12 points. Selecting a clear, readable font will help make your resume appear more professional.

• Information — While you might have extensive work or educational experience, it’s important to keep your resume as brief as possible without leaving out key information.

Hiring managers typically don’t spend much time looking at a resume. Only including relevant information increases your chances that employers will be drawn in by the information in the resume that mirrors what they are looking for in a candidate.

• Active voice — Your resume should be written using active language, without extraneous words. You should preferably use strong, active verbs such as “achieved,” “earned,” “completed” or “accomplished.”

• Organization — Whether you’re using a resume template or creating your own, you may find there are some sections you do not need. For example, if you are just graduating from college or high school and have not yet held a professional position, omit the “work history” section.

Instead, you might replace it with an “experience” section, listing relevant coursework, academic achievements, internships and extracurricular projects.

• Design — Make sure your resume is clear and easy to read, with defined sections and appropriate margins.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Networking is the new king of modern job hunting. That’s why some social media sites like LinkedIn have become go-to sources for employers and job seekers alike. According to The Muse, an online source for job seekers, 92% of employers are using social media to fill their ranks.

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LinkedIn is probably the most popular social media site for job hunters. It is an excellent source to find job postings as well as to network with others within your field. But LinkedIn isn’t the only social media site companies are using.

According to The Muse, 93% of employers use LinkedIn to find candidates. About 66% use Facebook, and 54% use Twitter.

The Muse also warns candidates to review and clean up their social media sites, because the majority of employers review a candidate’s social media posts for questionable content.

Remember, a job search is a two-way street. Just like employers are evaluating you to determine if you are a good fit for their team, you should be evaluating them to determine if they would be a good fit for you.

Good luck in your search. 

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS

If you’re looking to further your career or start a new one, there are plenty of local resources that can help get you started. Reach out to one of the organizations below to set a path to your future.

CareerSource North Florida careersourcenorthflorida.com 850-973-9675 RIVEROAK Technical College rtc.suwannee.k12.fl.us 386-647-4200 North Florida College nfc.edu 850-973-2288 Florida Gateway College fgc.edu 386-752-1822 Interested in working at SVEC? Be sure to check out our careers page at svec-coop.com/about/careers.

August 2020 | 5

Outta the woods

It’s easier than ever to report your deer harvest

By Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Those planning to deer hunt this year are reminded about the deer harvest reporting requirements that began last year. All hunters, including those exempt from hunting license/permit requirements, must log and report their harvested deer.

Beginning this year, hunters have new user-friendly reporting options.

The Fish|Hunt FL app many hunters and anglers already rely on to buy and store their licenses now includes an easy-to-use option for hunters to log and report harvested deer. Even if you’re in an area without cell service, you’ll still be able to log and report. Once you regain cell service, open the Fish|Hunt FL app and your harvest report will be automatically submitted, and you’ll receive your confirmation number.

Where it’s possible to connect to the internet, you can log and report and receive your confirmation number at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com by logging into or creating a customer account.

You also can log your deer harvest using a paper harvest log and report it within 24 hours online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, through the Fish|Hunt FL app or by calling toll-free 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (888486-8356). Those using the automated telephone reporting system can receive their confirmation number via email if they have a valid email address on file.

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Don’t forget, you must log your harvested deer prior to moving it from the point of harvest, which is that point where the hunter located the harvested deer. Then you are required to report harvested deer either: within 24 hours of harvest; prior to final processing of the deer; before the deer or any parts of the deer are transferred to a meat processor or taxidermist; or prior to the deer leaving the state, whichever occurs first.

Please note that after a deer has been logged and prior to reporting it, you may field dress your deer and begin processing the meat while afield or at camp. However, if a commercial meat processor is used, the harvested deer must be reported before transferring the deer or parts of the deer to a commercial processor. Learn more about how to log and report by reviewing FAQs about harvest reporting requirements.

Also, we want to thank everyone who reported their harvest last year. This information provides another valuable source of deer harvest data that, along with the annual hunter phone survey conducted after the season, helps inform white-tailed deer management in Florida. Visit MyFWC.com/ Deer for more information about deer management in Florida. 

Hoss’ pork & beans 1 (28-ounce) can of baked beans (your favorite) 2 tablespoons Karo syrup Salt and pepper, to taste 1 Vidalia or other sweet onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup) 6 tablespoons mustard 6-7 tablespoons ketchup 10 pieces of maple-smoked bacon, chopped 2 tablespoons bacon grease 1 green pepper, chopped 1 cup pulled pork

Dash of cayenne pepper, to taste (optional)

Combine all ingredients, mixing thoroughly, and place in a greased baking dish. Bake, covered, for 45 minutes to an hour in a 300 F oven. 

Do you have a great recipe?

Email a copy of a recipe you’d like to share to communications@svec-coop.com.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Explore the Civil Rights Trail in Florida

By Andrew Meacham, Visit Florida

Five Florida landmarks got a major boost in 2018 by being listed on the United States Civil Rights Trail, which connects more than 100 sites in 15 Southeastern states.

The trail project, launched in January 2018 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, covers historically significant schools, churches, courthouses and museums.

BAY COUNTY COURTHOUSE — PANAMA CITY

Gideon v. Wainwright began here as a penny-ante burglary trial. The case wound up in the Supreme Court on the strength of a handwritten appeal by a drifter with an eighth-grade education, establishing the right to counsel for all defendants who request it.

The classical revival courthouse dates to 1915 and stands in a manicured park in the city’s historic district, bordering Massalina Bayou. You can choose from numerous boat tours while in town, including dolphin watching, or check out the Center for the Arts. A quarter-mile from the courthouse, the Martin Theatre constructed in 1936 puts on both plays and movies.

HISTORIC DODGERTOWN — VERO BEACH

The only sports property on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail earned its cachet with the 1947 signing of Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers, a move that changed American sports. Today, Historic Dodgertown features plenty of historical photos and relics, including memorabilia from six championship teams between 1948 and 2008. An outdoor wall at Holman Stadium features replicas of more than 143 baseball players who passed through Dodgertown.

HARRY T. AND HARRIETTE V. MOORE MEMORIAL PARK AND MUSEUM — MIMS

History has enshrined the Moores as the first Americans to die for their civil rights activism. A museum built 10 years ago re-creates the wood frame home of the two leaders the way it was on Christmas Day 1951 before a bomb exploded beneath the house.

Historic Dodgertown

Suwannee Valley Currents

Despite that history, the center is designed to be uplifting, hosting performing arts, museum exhibits, quilting classes and a 5K run. A bus tour allows visitors to browse fruit stands along Highway 46 and the segregated La Grange Cemetery, where the Moores are buried. For local cuisine, try the soul food at Loyd Have Mercy, Southern home cooking at Honeysuckle or seafood at Dixie Crossroads.

NEWTOWN ALIVE — SARASOTA

For decades, African Americans were not permitted to visit Florida’s beaches. Through the 1950s and early 1960s, residents of Newtown tested those waters by bringing black residents to lily-white Sarasota beaches, one caravan at a time, to wade into the water and return to their cars.

Created by Newtown native Vickie Oldham, the Newtown Alive tour retraces the community’s history, from Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Act. It ends in celebration at Lido Beach, where the people who helped build this community demanded an equal space in it. That’s one block south of the upscale shops on St. Armands Circle Marketplace.

NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION DISTRICT — ST. AUGUSTINE

On June 11, 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was charged with violating Florida’s “unwanted guest law” after trying to dine at the Monson Motor Lodge Restaurant.

When Black protesters a week later crashed the hotel’s pool, manager James Brock responded by pouring muriatic acid in the water.

For more than a decade now, the public has been able to walk in the shoes of civil rights icons along the Freedom Trail, starting at the 79 Bridge St. office of Dr. Robert Hayling, the dentist who invited King to the city. The tour ends 30 stops later at the Chase Funeral Home, a place of refuge for civil rights marchers in the 1960s. 

Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park and Museum

Newtown Alive

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SVEC powers success in our community Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative’s commitment to advancing the quality of life in the Suwannee Valley extends well beyond our day-to-day electric operations.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

SVEC sponsors and participates in numerous community events and makes financial contributions to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations that serve the residents of the Suwannee Valley.

Our employees repeatedly demonstrate their concern for the welfare of the community by participating in volunteer service projects and donating money to benefit people in need.

That revenue is reinvested in strengthening our community’s schools and other essential services.

Also, SVEC engages with state and local governments, chambers of commerce and economic development organizations to help support existing businesses and attract new employers to the area. 

YOUTH SUPPORT

SVEC strives to support the development and aspirations of our area’s young people. The cooperative annually: • Awards 11 college scholarships to local high school seniors.

• Hosts high school juniors for a two-day tour of Florida’s state capital.

• Sends two juniors to the Rural Electric Youth Tour of Washington, D.C. • Sponsors numerous youth organizations and activities.

• Awards thousands of dollars in grants to schools through the Operation Round Up® program.

Linemen wear pink each October in honor and support of the 1 in 8 women who will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY

The value of SVEC’s contribution to the economy was detailed in a 2019 economic impact study by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. It found that over five years, from 2013 to 2017, SVEC contributed $239.8 million to Florida’s Gross State Product, including $209.6 million in value added to the local economies of Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee counties.

SVEC’s contribution to the economy can also be measured in jobs. From 2013 to 2017, SVEC directly provided or supported an average of 378 jobs per year and a total of $88.3 million in labor income throughout Florida, including 285 jobs annually and a total of $70.6 million in labor income in the local community. Many of the 89 full- and part-time jobs provided by SVEC are linemen, but other positions at the co-op include engineers, member service representatives and accountants. With these jobs, we’re able to serve our consumer-members.

The economic impact study also found that SVEC generated more than $61.3 million in state and local tax revenue.

SVEC employees volunteer their time and hard work to benefit local organizations such as Accipiter Enterprises Educations Birds of Prey.

In celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day, SVEC gave out free live oak and sycamore trees to SVEC members.

SVEC’s Operation Round Up® provides much-needed supplies to local schools thanks to donations from co-op members.