WATT’S UP SUWANNEE VALLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE NEWSLETTER | SUMMER 2020
from the CEO Great job during challenging times I can’t believe it’s already August. Maybe it’s because of all the changes that have occurred in the world and our country during the last few months, but time seems to have flown by. It will probably continue to do so as we are faced with new developments and challenges related to COVID-19. And, while much of our focus will continue to be on staying well during the pandemic, it’s vital that we also continue to follow our established practices that keep us safe on the job. As I write this, we’ve worked 235 consecutive days without a lost-time injury. Well done, everyone! We've got a long way to go to reach our record of 1,306 days but with everyone's continued commitment to working safely, we can do it.
SMORE
Safety Member Experience Outreach to Community Reliability Economic Viability
VALUE PER POINT
POINTS AVAILABLE
SMORE TRACKER
POINTS ACHIEVED
$70
10.00
QUARTERLY YTD
6.67
SAFETY
SAFER Driver Program According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, employers pay, on average, more than: • $24K per noninjury crash • $128K per injury crash • $3.8 million per fatality • 20% of costs whether the collision occurred on the job or not
In another aspect of safety, we're not doing so well. We've already been responsible for four liability claims, and our annual goal is five or less. We're also on pace to come up short on six more of our SMORE targets and miss out on $233 at the end of the year. See CEO, Page 6
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Traffic safety courses save money by reducing accident risks through driver education. In June, SVEC employees completed the National Traffic Safety Institute’s SAFER Driver Program. This fourhour defensive driving course was taught by Nature Coast Driver Improvement and covered a variety of information to help ensure the safety of all employees when driving. Efficacy studies from independent researchers indicate that, on average, completion of NTSI’s program reduces accident rates by 21% and traffic violations by 63%.
it difficult to even know where to begin planning your next move. With so much uncertainty, an ideal starting point is your customer. Your customer is at the center of any business, and the COVID-19 shutdown is a perfect time to reimagine the ways you serve your customers. I always recommend the FUN approach to my coaching clients when doing this exercise. Get your entire team together for a remote brainstorming session around the ideal magical customer experience. In other words, if you didn’t have to worry about previous rules, policies, costs, logistics, staffing or any other pesky constraints, what would a magical customer experience look like? What would you need to deliver an experience that would wow your customers so much they’d never even consider one of your competitors in the future? Think of experiences so memorable they become the subject of coffee conversations and social media sites.
COVID-19 precautions continue SVEC remains diligent through the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to social distancing, employees are subject to temperature checks twice daily and nonessential visitors are not permitted behind controlled access areas. Essential business partners may visit campus but must check in and complete a screening process.
Start by looking at every and all customer “touch points.” These may include the experience a customer has when they call your business. Or the experience of walking into your business for the first time. Maybe it’s the experience of opening your product after receiving it in the mail, or the time your new client gets their first invoice. One at a time, put each touch point under the microscope to examine how it can be upgraded into a magical customer experience.
MEMBER EXPERIENCE
Create a Better Customer Experience After the Pandemic
Here are four questions to get the conversation started with your team:
by John Formica With hope that our business economy will reopen in the coming months, it’s time to start thinking about your business in a post-pandemic environment. How will the world change? How will your industry be different? How will your business be different? How will your customers shop, buy and visit? How will you and your business adapt to some of the new circumstances that we all may be facing? The sheer volume of unknowns can feel overwhelming, making
1. At each completion of a specific touch point, what do you want your customers to say about you and their experience? In other words, what would they think, know, do and feel? 2. Since humans have five senses, is there anything you could add to elevate their sensory experience? 3. Looking outside your business and industry, what ideas could you “borrow” that would be groundbreaking and a “wow” factor in your own business? 4. When leaving Gerald’s Tire and Brakes car service centers, the fresh rose they give you is that surprise and delight that you didn’t expect. Are there any other unexpected little extras of value you could surprise your customer with to make their experience unique and special? The COVID-19 pandemic and sheltering in place stink, but they do allow you more time than usual to think about the future. Taking this opportunity to reimagine how you can wow your customers with a better experience is an exercise that could pay dividends for years to come. Imagine a magical customer experience as the best vaccine to attract more customers, beat out your competition, build customer loyalty for life and reinvent your business. 2
RELIABILITY
OUTREACH TO COMMUNITY United Way COVID-19 Relief Fund
Everyone in our community has been affected in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative joined United Way of Suwannee Valley as a sponsor of its COVID-19 Relief Fund. In addition, SVEC employees contributed $1,000 of their own money through the Benevolence Fund. The relief fund directly supports community resources in Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee and Lafayette counties. Donations are used to help out-of-work families, ensure that children who rely on free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch at school don’t go hungry, and much more. If you would like to make an additional contribution, visit unitedwsv.org/covid-19disaster-recovery.
New Outage Map SVEC has revamped the outage map viewer. The new map combines new and previous map information into an updated and visually appealing format. Some of the new features for the map viewer include 48-hour outage history and details for our service territory, togglable map views and localized weather. Additionally, members with a Facebook or Google account may now use the map to report outages.
Blood Drive The LifeSouth bloodmobile made its quarterly visit in June, and there was great participation from SVEC employees. A big thank you to Daniel Carver, Jodi Hughes, Christine Moor, Joe Barclay, Annette Bonds, Mike Guillery, Brad Boswell, Paige Peacock, Cathy Erixton, Maria Suarez and Kirk Head for your lifesaving donations! The next SVEC blood drive will be held August 19 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Click image to watch video.
Nursing Home Parades
Hurricane Forecasters Continue to Predict Above-Average Storm Season
The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired many creative ways of sharing smiles while staying apart. In May, SVEC happily participated in drive-thru parades for the residents of Surrey Place and Rising Oaks in Live Oak.
By Derrill Holly, cooperative.com Hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University continue to anticipate an above-average storm season for the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico this year. The July 7 forecast from the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University updates its original April predictions. Researchers now predict 20 named storms for the season, up from its April total of 16 storms for the year. Nine of those storms could reach hurricane strength with sustained winds topping 74 mph, up from an earlier projection of eight. Four of those could pack sustained winds of 111 to 156 mph, attaining major hurricane status. 3
ECONOMIC VIABILITY
NRECA Discounts Program Through its National Discounts Program (NDP), NRECA leverages the collective buying power of co-ops to obtain discounts from a variety of national suppliers, including Ford, Generac and Universal Orlando. NDP discounts are available to SVEC employees for business and some personal purchases. Browse the selection at cooperative. com/discounts.
This Time It’s Different? By Richard Schooley
We hear “this time it’s different” with most current events. When it comes to investing, extraordinary events such as COVID-19, government shutdowns and elections can be concerning. Focusing on asset allocation is a useful tool to help preserve your portfolio against such unforeseen events.
“The probability of U.S. major hurricane landfall is estimated to be about 135% of the long-period average,” wrote university forecasters, citing a review of 38 years of data.
What portfolio is right for you? Your reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic is a good indicator of proper allocation. If you think the market will come back and it is a good time to buy, you are likely allocated properly. If you’ve said, “Get me out, I cannot stand to watch my account go down,” you may need to revisit your tolerance for risk and get more conservative.
The preseason forecast released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in May predicted six to 10 hurricanes among 13 to 19 named weather systems. Government climatologists projected that three to six of those storms could achieve major hurricane status. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through Nov. 30, but storm activity often is reported in May. Before the official season began, Hurricane Arthur skirted the North Carolina coast and Hurricane Bertha brought rainfall and gusty winds to the Carolinas before heading inland into Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The key is to find the right portfolio for you, your family and your goals. Once you dial in that allocation, you should stay the course. Making short-term emotional decisions often leads to poor long-term returns. For example, if you sold on March 23 of this year as the sky appeared to be falling, you would have missed the incredible market rebound.
Tropical Storm Cristobal rumbled inland near Grand Isle, Louisiana, east of New Orleans, on June 7. Its sustained winds of 50 mph and heavy rains caused some coastal flooding in southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi.
Get with Rich when he visits SVEC, and find the allocation that is right for you. Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed. — Proverbs 15:22
The storm designated Dolly attained tropical storm strength June 23 before being downgraded to subtropical status east of Newfoundland the following day. Tropical Storm Edouard formed in the north-central Atlantic July 4, before moving northeastward over open water. Tropical Storm Fay formed off the North Carolina coast July 9, becoming the earliest sixthnamed storm on record. The updated midseason forecast from NOAA’s National Climate Prediction Center will be released Aug. 6. CSU’s next update is tentatively scheduled for early September. In 2019, CSU meteorologists predicted 13 named storms and two major hurricanes in their April forecast, which was less than the actual 18 named storms and three major hurricanes.
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ADMIN/CYBERSAFETY
While it’s still important to maintain social distancing over the summer, the good news is that you’re no longer confined to home. You have parks, beaches and the great outdoors available as your fitness arena. The bad news is that the coronavirus has not gone away, so visiting your favorite outdoor spots may come with some limitations.
• Some great safe activities include biking, hiking, gardening, trail walking, outdoor aerobics, dog walking and golf. • Avoid crowded places — keep to the 6-foot rule for anyone but household members. • Don’t share food, utensils or beverages. • Think small, “bring your own,” beverages and snacks for gettogethers. • Be aware of and try to limit touching shared surfaces — bathrooms, crosswalk buttons, gas pumps, etc. • Sanitize or wash your hands for 20 to 30 seconds, frequently!
Here are a few good practices to stay safe: • “Know before you go” — check if parks and beaches are open and if there are any restrictions. • Keep cloth face coverings, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes handy in your car or backpack.
Your online Wellness Center offers resources for exercising and fitness, eating healthy, balancing nutrition, learning how to manage stress and quitting unhealthy habits. You can also call 800-252-4555 and request one-on-one telephonic Wellness Coaching from our certified coaches!
FROM OUR EAP
Get Fit Safely in the Great Outdoors
Congratulations graduates!
TEAGAN HUMPHREY Daughter of James Humphrey Suwannee High School
GRACE BOSWELL Daughter of Brad Boswell Columbia High School
TINSLEY HARRIS Stepdaughter of Ashley Johnson Westwood Christian Academy
MATTHEW HUGHES Son of Jodi Hughes Hamilton High School
FRANKY SUAREZ Son of Maria Suarez Branford High School
TYREE TAYLOR Son of Jimmie Taylor Suwannee High School
MADYSON TOMPKINS Daughter of Denny Tompkins Suwannee High School
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CEO, continued from front
Please take a few minutes to read on and see where we need to improve in order to get the maximum $700.
work to identify ways to improve the customer/member experience.
I hope you’ll also read all of the other content in this issue of our newsletter. It includes advice from our EAP on how to get fit safely in the outdoors, an article by Richard Schooley on proper portfolio allocation and ideas from John Formica — formerly a top manager at Walt Disney Resorts and Hyatt Hotels — on how teams can
As always, this issue of the newsletter also contains news about the happy occasions, personal achievements and milestones in the lives of our fellow employees. It’s great that even during this crazy time, we have these reminders that life is good. —Mike
Family Vacations
Cathy Erixton had quite the adventure whitewater rafting with her family in the mountains of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in June.
Cecil Cheshire enjoyed some fun in the sun with his granddaughters, Paisley and Maisy, at Clearwater Beach in July.
Clent Flowers and his family enjoyed a fun trip to Big Bear Lodge in North Carolina over the Fourth of July weekend.
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Family News … Ricky and Debbie Roberson planted their first-ever sunflower patch this year, which bloomed beautifully! They hope to enlarge the patch next year.
Congratulations …
Denny Tompkins, at right, graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Welcome ... Hello Baby! Daniel Warren and his wife, Amanda, welcomed their new son, Price Daniel, on July 2. He measured 21 inches long and weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces.
JAMES LAW
Clay Stratton and his wife, Jenna, welcomed their daughter, Ellie, to the world on May 19, measuring 20.5 inches long and weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces.
In May, James Law, Andres Inchausti and Oscar Camacho joined the SVEC team as engineering interns. They will remain with us through the summer.
ANDRES INCHAUSTI
OSCAR CAMACHO
Cathy Erixton’s son, Josh Deese, and his fiancée, Sierra, tied the knot on June 28.
Ross Wood has joined the coop family as a shop mechanic. Before being hired by SVEC, he worked for Ring Power in Lake City. Ross resides in Live Oak with his wife, Taylor, and their 18-month-old daughter, Rowan. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing and restoring his 1951 tractor.
The co-op family is growing
Retiree News …
Joe Barclay will soon be a new grandpa — or Joe-pa — to two babies! His daughters, Taylor and Bailiegh, are both expecting. Bailiegh is expecting a girl this October and Taylor is due in January.
June Kirby’s grandson, Gavin Taylor, graduated from Lafayette High School. He plans to become a certified electrician.
Wedding Bells
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Submitted by Ashley Johnson
Loaded Baked Potato Casserole Ingredients 1 Small bag of petite red potatoes 1 8 oz. package cream cheese 1 8 oz. container sour cream 2 sticks butter 1 bag shredded cheddar cheese 1 package bacon (cook bacon until crispy)
Instructions Boil potatoes until tender. Add all ingredients with the potatoes and use a mixer to mix everything until it looks smooth. Place contents in a casserole dish. Crumble more bacon on top and a little cheese for decoration. Cover with tin foil and bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.
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