Watt's Up Summer 2018

WATT’S UP SUWANNEE VALLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE NEWSLETTER | SUMMER 2018

from the ceo Make sure to live out our core values While we’ve had fun the last few weeks playing SMORE bingo to focus attention on our core values, as an organization, we’re serious about our commitment to live out those values every day. That’s why it’s important for each of us to fully understand and remember what the acronym stands for. By doing so, we can be more unified and effective in our efforts to: • Provide a safe working environment for all employees — Safety.

• Exceed the expectations of our members by continually working to make it easier for them to do business with their cooperative — Member experience.

• Strive to educate and inform members of the direction and activities of the cooperative ­— Outreach to community.

• Provide our members with reliable electric service — Reliability.

• Operate under a board-approved financial management plan and maintain the co-op’s financial strength by controlling costs and adopting technologies that increase efficiency — Economic viability.

See CEO, Page 4

SMORE SAFETY

Safety rule Proper face or proper eye and face protection must be worn for the following jobs: 1. Using handheld power tools.

2. Using a handheld, bench-mounted grinder or wire brush.

3. While under a vehicle where debris may fall into your eyes.

4. Using compressed air for cleaning or blowing.

5. Striking objects with a hammer.

6. Any time that you are within range of flying particles caused by others, or any time dust or flying particles could cause eye injury.

7. Any time you are using a flame to weld, solder, heat or cut metal, a shaded face shield or shaded goggles must be worn.

8. During electric arc welding and gas welding, employees must wear the proper, approved helmet and the correct tint lens to provide protection from the arc.* 9. When using a sandblaster. * Use of both eye and face protection is required.

Safety Member Experience Outreach to Community Reliability Economic Viability

“It’s Not Just About Me” A video by Tony Crow Many people utilize safety equipment and safe practices on the job — but fail to give equal attention off the job. Blinded in a hunting accident, Tony Crow’s message emphasizes that accidents impact not only the people involved, but also their family and friends.

I Watch video MEMBER EXPERIENCE

The Member Service Department is pursuing some great initiatives to help make doing business with the co-op more convenient.

For example, members may now conduct online chats with our member service representatives via our website.

Continued on next page

The plan is to extend the live chat function to our Facebook page.

Also, as part of our continuing effort to promote the SmartHub account management tool, member service reps are available via phone, live chat and in the office to help members sign up for SmartHub and learn how to use the mobile app.

Lastly, members can now use the kiosk in our outer drive-thru lane to pay their bills at any time of day or night, without leaving their cars.

Being Enthusiastic Is Magical!

By John Formica Are you an enthusiastic person? Do you come to work each day bringing your enthusiasm to the workplace, team or most importantly your customers?

Enthusiasm is simply having excitement for or interest in what you are doing. It is just human nature that people respond in kind. If you are enthusiastic about something, it is likely that those people around you will become enthusiastic too.

We generally find enthusiastic people are more likable, which is why enthusiasm is so important in making the customer experience magical. People like to do business and work in a business with people they like. Businesses whose employees are enthusiastic about their products, service or company are usually more successful and have a greater loyal following of repeat customers.

The question I sometimes get from my coaching clients is, “How do I become enthusiastic about a company, product or service that does not excite me? I mean my company is not exactly Disney World!”

When I present training programs or coach teams, I share with them that the fastest way to become enthusiastic is to learn to appreciate the things about your company, product, service or career that excite you. I teach them how to train themselves to look for and find the positives in every situation and focus on those rather than the negatives. It helps change their attitudes and their teammates and customers certainly respond accordingly. Trust me it works!

However, if there is absolutely nothing

about your situation that you can be enthusiastic about, (I find that hard to believe), then I suggest you find something else to do. Customers, managers and peers can tell when you lack enthusiasm.

In most cases, with my clients, their situation is not so dire and all they need to do is think differently. Sometimes, I even help them to fake it until they make it by helping them demonstrate the enthusiastic attitude we want them to create. In other words, they must remember that it is all part of the show and “on stage” presence that must be performed each day in front of their customers and peers.

There really isn’t any choice if you want to provide a great customer experience but to choose to be positive.

When you act enthusiastic, you become enthusiastic. If you do it long enough, subconsciously those actions eventually define who and what you become as a person and a business. It is what you and your business will become known for and help differentiate your business and staff from your competition. It is the secret to delivering a Magical Customer Experience.

—John Formica, the “Ex-Disney Guy”, is a highly sought after internationally known speaker, business and team trainer, and small business consultant. Prior to speaking, John acquired over 25 years of experience in top management positions with service industry leaders, including 10 years with Walt Disney World Resorts. John has shown audiences around the world how to create a Disney-like culture and transform any existing service level into a magical customer experience.

OUTREACH TO COMMUNITY

Join in the Pregnancy Care Center 5K

This year’s Pregnancy Care Center 5K run/walk will be the morning of Satur2

day, Sept. 29. SVEC is putting a team together and will pay the $25 entry fee for any employee who wants to participate.

Please let Jon Little know if you’d like to take part in this important fundraising event for the Pregnancy Care Center.

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http://www.friendsofpcc.com

Health Benefits of Volunteering From an article at createthegood.org Volunteering makes an immeasurable difference in the lives of others. But did you know how much you help yourself by giving back? From lowering stress to boosting self-confidence, volunteering offers many health benefits.

Just search the web — there are over 19 million hits for articles on how doing good helps people lead better, healthier lives. By volunteering, you can reap these mental and physical health benefits: • Decrease your risk of depression.

Volunteering with and for others increases social interaction and helps build a support system based on common commitment and interests — both of which have been shown to decrease depression.

• Enjoy a sense of purpose and fulfillment — and increase your self-confidence while you’re at it!

• Stay physically and mentally active.

A study released by Johns Hopkins University in 2009 revealed that volunteers increased their brain functioning.

Volunteer activities get you moving and thinking at the same time.

• Reduce stress levels. By savoring your time spent in service to others, you’ll feel a sense of meaning and appreciation — both given and received — which can be calming.

• Experience “The Happiness Effect.” You know that feel-good sense you get after a vigorous workout? It comes from a release of dopamine in the brain. Helping others has that exact same effect — so the more you volunteer, the happier you become!

RELIABILITY

From ice storms to thunderstorms, it’s been a tough year.

Through June, our system experienced 25 percent more outages than in the first half of 2017, and 19 percent more than the average for the last eight years. It’s no surprise then that SAIFI, which represents how many times the average consumer experienced a power interruption, and SAIDI, which represents the amount of time that the average consumer was without power, increased from last year.

On the positive side, CAIDI, which represents the average amount of time that consumers who actually experienced an outage were without power, was considerably lower. Two key drivers of that improvement have been our adoption of automated switching equipment and the regular assignment of a line crew to work from 12:30-9 p.m.

Jan-June 2018

Lineman works to replace damaged crossarm before line is reenergized.

you imperil their success and unfairly increase their burden. »» Be honest. We also offer opinions to others, and if they contain untruths, people will not trust us. Deceiving others is not simply a matter of lying. Anything that leads people to believe something that isn’t true is dishonest. »» Be punctual. If you tell someone you’ll meet them at a certain time, you have made a promise. Being on time shows others that you are a person of your word. »» Don’t let circumstances dictate your behavior. Your values, ethics, morals, purpose, and so on should not be contingent on circumstances. »» Don’t collapse in emergencies. Your reliability will be tested most during a crisis. The reliable person practices and prepares for emergencies so he knows just what to do in a crisis. »» Show up. A big part of life is simply making the effort to show up. Show up to work on time, and be there every day, consistently. Show up at the party you promised to attend.

Show up to your friend’s play, even if she only has a bit part.

Reliability means being a good friend.

Jan-June 2017

OUTAGES

1,683

1,347

SAIFI

1.6 interruptions

1.2 interruptions

SAIDI

108.8 minutes

104.7 minutes

CAIDI

129.7 minutes

177.5 minutes

How to be a reliable person From an article at heartspiritmind.com Being reliable is an important building block in the foundation of your life. A reliable person forges deeper relationships, receives greater opportunities, has more freedom and lives with confidence, integrity and a clear conscience.

ECONOMIC VIABILITY

Controlling costs and keeping rates affordable are important goals related to SVEC’s fifth core value — Economic Viability.

Unfortunately, unintended consequences of last year’s tax reform legislation could make achieving those goals more challenging.

A provision of the new law classifies all government grants as income for tax purposes. The purpose was to address the issue of communities providing grants of land to attract businesses.

Unfortunately, the language was written so broadly the NRECA is concerned that the provision could jeopardize a co-op’s not-for-profit tax status. The impact on a co-op would result from any grants it might receive for rural development or even FEMA assistance. To maintain its tax-exempt status, a co-op may get no more than 15 percent of its income from sources other than members. A loss of that status and the resulting tax payments would increase the co-op’s expenses and potentially force it to raise its rates.

The NRECA is discussing this issue with legislators and is following up with the Treasury Department/IRS to find out how they interpret the provision.

So how do you become a reliable person? »» Keep your promises. Being a person of your word is the cornerstone of reliability. »» Don’t leave other people hanging. If you make a promise that you can’t meet because of truly unforeseen circumstances, let the person know as soon as possible. »» Whatever you do, do it well. The maxim: “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well,” has been around for a couple of centuries, and is just as true today as it has ever been. Do your best work without regard to whether or not the job is interesting or rewarding. »» Consistency is a huge part of reliability. People who lack consistency fail to gain the trust of others. »» Finish what you start. Carefully decide what projects you will begin — do not rush into things in the heat of enthusiasm — and then see it through to the end. »» Pull your weight and shoulder your own responsibilities.

When you’re on a team or working on a group project, other people are counting on you. When you don’t fulfill your part, 3

CEO, continued from front

With that in mind, I challenge each and every one of you to take a few minutes and think creatively about how you can directly and indirectly advance our core values while doing your job. But don’t stop there. As you read the articles in this edition of Watt’s Up, try to catch a glimpse of how these values can also be relevant to your personal life.

Finally, I want to welcome Adam Ford, Ashley Johnson, Clay Stratton and James Williams to our team, and I hope everyone will take an opportunity to get to know them. You can start by

reading some of the things they’ve shared about themselves below. Also, be sure to read about Debbie Edwards’ trip to Alaska. She’s certainly starting off her retirement in an exciting way.

Thank you for all you do to stay safe, serve our members, and responsibly manage our material and financial resources.

Best wishes, Mike

Welcome to...

Apprentice Lineman Adam Ford comes to SVEC after having worked 10 years for right-of-way contractors. Adam is married to Khristian, and the couple has a 10-year-old boy, Adam Jr., and a 6-year-old girl, Genesis. Adam and his family like to spend time together at the river.

Apprentice Lineman Clay Stratton joins us from Nutrien, formerly PotashCorp, where he worked as an electrician. Clay is an avid outdoorsman who loves to hunt and fish. He and his wife, Jenna, have a 16-monthold daughter, Sawyer, and a son who’s on the way.

New Member Service Representative Ashley Johnson has 13 years of experience in the banking industry, and she was most recently the branch manager of Lafayette State Bank in Live Oak. Ashley was born and raised in Live Oak. She and her husband, Thomas, have two children, Clay and Chloe.

Apprentice Lineman James Williams is excited to have a place on the SVEC team. James grew up in Live Oak and enjoys hunting and fishing. He comes from contractor IVH Smith, where he worked for two years.

Farewell to…

Janice Goodman retired on July 9 after a 45-year career at SVEC. Janice will be greatly missed by her co-workers and the many members who came to know her over the years. It was great to have so many of Janice’s friends, family members and fellow retirees at the luncheon in her honor on June 28.

Congratulations …

Family News …

Kelli McKinley is a new mama.

She and her husband, Cy, are the proud parents of Miles Drake McKinley, born on July 2 weighing 4.4 pounds.

Christy Tuckey and her husband, Jeremy, are expecting their first child. Baby Tuckey is due on Jan. 12. Christy is the daughter-in-law of former SVEC Community Relations Manager Tom Tuckey and his wife, Debbie.

Christy Tuckey graduated on June 23 from St. Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR 401(K)

By Richard Schooley

How much do I need to retire?

We get this question all the time, and the answer is always “it depends.”

Most employees seem to think $1 million is the magic mark, but there is no rule of thumb that works for all. I will ask you how much income you need monthly. Once we know your needs, we can estimate the probability of hitting those income goals. We look at income from all sources, starting with Social Security. Then, we add any pension income you might have and any other sources, like rental or side-business income. Most likely there will be a shortfall, and we look to make it up from retirement accounts. If we are short $24,000 per year, we need approximately $600,000 in retirement accounts. There are so many variables that we recommend doing a financial plan to find your unique number.

We are happy to do a complimentary plan for any employee.

Why is my account flat year to date?

When an investor creates a portfolio targeting a certain return, we need to be prepared to watch it fluctuate. A 7 percent target does not mean that you will get 3.5 percent in 6 months. It means that is the goal, and over time you can be pretty confident that the portfolio will average that return. We need to celebrate the volatility, the ups and downs, because without it we would not have the opportunity to get high rates of return. The only way to remove flat or down periods is to invest in something very conservative, which usually generates a very low average return.

Investors are rewarded for taking some risk over time, so try to look at down times as buying opportunities.

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Your voice matters To vote in the general election on Nov. 6, you must be registered with the state

by Oct. 9.

You can register or update your voter registration information online at registertovoteflorida.gov/en.

From our retirees…

North to Alaska Catching up with Debbie Edwards

When Debbie Edwards retired on May 18, she said she was going to do some traveling. She wasn’t kidding. Following a trip with her family to Hilton Head, Debbie; her sister, Doreen; and Doreen’s dog, Goofy, set off for Alaska in their 28-foot RV. They arrived in the 49th state via Canada, after a leisurely 17-day journey.

Every day has been filled with adventure, glimpses of wildlife and glorious scenery. Debbie says her favorite thing so far was the side trip they made on a float plane. The plane took them to a fishing spot they shared with bears and eagles, and both Debbie and Doreen caught their limit of sockeye salmon. “Best of all,” says Debbie, “was the scenery on the return flight. The pilot took us over a large icefield, which was the most amazing thing I have ever seen!” Several days later, at Ninilchik on Cook

Inlet, Debbie and her sister went fishing again. This time, they both caught their limit of Halibut, and Doreen’s 64.4-pounder was tops on the boat.

As for the weather, Debbie says that most afternoons have been in the 60s, and she has most often dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. However, a few days have been warm enough for shorts, and she keeps a light jacket on hand because the weather can change in an instant.

Debbie’s trip is far from over. On August 22, she and her traveling companions will take a ferry to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and then drive to Arizona by way of Washington, Oregon and California. When she gets to Yuma, Arizona, Debbie will visit with her daughter and son-in-law, who is in the Marine Corps.

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