February 2005 Articles

Empowering the members that own us
By Robert Kolling
President & CEO

We are in a period of history during which the way we do business is being redefined. But what we are going through is not just about doing business. It’s also about why we are in business.

The lives of more than 100 million Americans are improved by more than 48,000 cooperative private businesses that generate more than $100 billion in annual economic activity. Cooperatives enrich our communities, large and small. Through cooperatives, those who work together to build a business can attain all its benefits and those who need service can get it on their own terms.

The unsurpassed ability of cooperatives to give people economic opportunity and freedom of choice must be guarded for the enduring good they create for our nation. As one of the nation’s largest cooperative enterprises, we would be irresponsible if we did not vigorously defend our right to provide our consumer-members any service or product they demand of us. We would not be serving our membership well if we could not explain and demonstrate that the only reason our customers demand more from us is because they believe they can do it better and/or cheaper themselves.

Cooperative businesses are created through the self-reliance of Americans who come together to meet their common economic, social, and cultural aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. The benefits that cooperative businesses create have long been recognized and their role in our society has been confirmed year after year. Today, cooperative businesses are an irreplaceable part of our economy.

We have a historic opportunity now to reach out to all Americans and help them understand how they can become more self-reliant during these uncertain times. We are already doing a lot. Through Touchstone Energy’s aggressive marketing programs, we are telling America why we are unique and why we are the best hope for consumers. But, to be most effective, we cannot rely upon advertising and special events alone. We must hammer the message home in all that we say and do, and we need to stay “on message” because we cannot be sending the public mixed messages at this critical time.

To be understood, our message about why we are in business must be clear and uncomplicated. I would suggest that nothing could be more compelling than to simply remind Americans that electric cooperatives have been serving their communities for more than 60 years.

We were formed and guided by our members. We are privately owned businesses that empower the members that own us. It is in everything that we do each and every day.

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Meet Your Employees: Brenda Myslinski, Billing Clerk
By Jaci Teune
Marketing Manager

While there once was a time when everyone knew who their co-op employees were and we knew most of you, our membership and employees have changed. We’ve come to realize that it’s time to reacquaint ourselves with you. So, as a new feature of Currents, each month there will be a “Meet Your Employees” section. You might recognize some of the faces from the shopping center, bank, rec field, or deli.

Hired in May 1995 as a Temporary Customer Service Representative, Brenda Myslinski has also worked as a Meter Reader before coming back inside to the position of Billing Clerk. Prior to her co-op employment, Brenda worked at the A&P for 6 years doing bookkeeping and in various positions at the National Bank of Sussex County for 6 years.

“I really enjoy finding a bill that seems out of sorts and getting to the bottom of the problem,” commented Brenda. “Recently, a bill popped up in the variance report that was more than double what it should’ve been. I called the member to give them a heads up and to see if they had any idea what would cause this. We discovered that he was using two electric baseboard heaters in his basement.”

A native of Sussex County, Brenda grew up in Beemerville and is a graduate of High Point Regional High School. She and her husband, Tom, reside in Vernon and have three children: Ryan, Melissa and Jenna. She also has a Yorkiepoo named Bo and a really big cat named Mac. Let’s not forget her grandpets: Ruby and Buster!

When she’s not calculating bills, you can find Brenda at the flea market or antiquing. A good garage sale usually doesn’t get past by either. She claims it’s Tom who likes John Deere tractors, but I think she’s hooked too. Brenda also creates beautiful counted cross-stitch pieces.

Asked about her most interesting co-op experience, Brenda says it goes back to her days meter reading. “I was reading meters in Lake Wanda, when a dog came out of no where in front of me. The next thing I knew, there was one in back of me...both were growling! I remembered some training we had and I yelled “NO.” Fortunately, the owner of the dog behind me came out, got her dog and the other ran away!”

Brenda strives to make sure that everyone’s bills are accurate. While her goal is to do a good job for all of our members, the most difficult part of her position is working with disconnects. “You don’t know what the situation is when someone falls behind,” Brenda commented.

After 10 years at the co-op, Brenda still enjoys the people - employees, members and visitors. She is one of the people you can count on.

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Wanted: E-bill Members!
By Gail Hensal
Marketing Assistant

Yes, you too can be a part of the e-bill crowd. It’s an easy and simple way to streamline your bill paying process. You know, that “domestic evil” that you know you have to do but after it’s all done, it comes back. Kind of like food shopping, you accomplish the task of getting your refrigerator filled and prepped for the family for the week and violà! The food is gone. Where did it go?

Well, if you’re anything like me, as we get older the time is going oh so quickly and we would rather spend time with our families and friends than be sitting at a desk writing out checks, placing the bill in the mail, and then the whole process starts all over again. To make your life easier, why don’t you try signing up for Sussex Rural’s E-bill system? Our E-bill system was launched in March of 2003 and has been increasing rapidly. It’s an easy process so long as you have access to a computer and the Internet.

Our e-bill program allows you to view and pay your bill all on-line. The hardest part, and believe me it is not hard at all, is setting up your account. This requires your Sussex Rural Electric bill account number, your address, bank information (account # and routing #), creation of a password and username, and answering two easy questions. Once it is set up, it’s a piece of cake!

We’ll even send you an e-mail, if you request it, to let you know when your new monthly bill is ready to view and pay on-line. When you receive our e-mail alert, you can go right to our website, www.sussexrec.com, and after a few clicks of the mouse, it’s done. You can make it really easy and set your account for automatic bank draft. Automatic bank draft allows us to automatically deduct your bill from your bank account on the date it is due. No checks, no writing, no stamps.... Just make sure you remember to record it in your register. You can sign up for bank draft on-line or make a quick phone call to us (973-875-5101) and we will send you the form to get the process rolling.

If you have any questions about the process, just contact us and we will be happy to go through the process with you. And, yes it is VeriSign(r) secured for your protection. So join now and make your life easier!

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Cooperative Principles: #2 Democratic Control
By Jaci Teune
Marketing Manager

Who would ever think of their electric utility as a democratically run organization? They’re supposed to have a board of directors selected from prominent industry executives or individuals who possess great wealth. Their CEO is usually someone who started near the top and has never looked down. Being “elected” to the board normally signifies that you own a tremendous amount of stock in the company.

Then along came the novel idea of an electric cooperative - A different kind of business, with a very unusual set of rules - The 7 Cooperative Principles.

Prior to 1935, just 10% of our nation’s countryside had electricity in the home. Most companies providing electricity then were for-profit investor-owned utilities. Those companies chose not to serve rural America because they could not make a profit. As a result, rural Americans were in the dark.

President Franklin Roosevelt’s executive order in 1936 established the Rural Electrification Administration (renamed Rural Utilities Service in October 1994). With the help of REA financial and engineering resources, rural Americans formed member-owned electric utility systems as cooperative businesses.

In rural Sussex County, members like Lester Lanz, Frank Arnold, Judson Vaughan, Barret Dalrymple, Frank Stoll, Andrew Storms, William Klimas, Charles Gillikin, and Joseph Little, among many others, worked hard to bring the benefits of electricity to themselves and their neighbors. In all the hustle and bustle that ensued, they never forgot the democratic process. At their very first meeting, April 12, 1937, they held elections for the board of directors.

Member control is a distinguishing characteristic of cooperatives. As democratically governed organizations, co-ops are led by the voices of their members. Co-op members influence the way in which a cooperative is governed and operated by electing a board of directors to act on their behalf. This is a one member; one vote process and only co-op members are eligible to serve as co-op directors.

The co-op board of directors sets the overall direction for the cooperative. The co-op’s employees are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the co-op. The views of the membership are communicated to the co-op employees through its duly elected board.

Having your voice heard means attending and actively participating your co-op’s annual meeting. It means voting for board members, bylaw amendments, and other items of concern. It’s you who have the opportunity to elect today’s pioneers in the electric utility business - members like Jack Haggerty, Tom Webb, Ray Cordts, Jim Henderson, Charlie Lust, Art Smith, Bill Kovach, Tom Madsen, and Steve Zsenia, who represent your best interests and views.

The Seven Cooperative Principles

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News & Events

This section will be new for our monthly newsletter “Currents.” We will be listing upcoming activities and interests for local clubs, schools and organizations. If you would like to list your clubs and/or organization event you can call, stop by or even e-mail us with the information. Currents is published monthly, all submissions must be to SREC by the 10th of the prior month of the event. E-mail to: info@sussexrec.com, we reserve the right to edit or refuse any requests.

WANTAGE:
High Point Soccer Club Soccer - In Person Registration for the Spring 2005 Season - February 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Sussex Fire House. First time players must provide a COPY of their birth certificate with registration form.

To participate, a child must be five (5) years of age by April 15 for the Spring season and cannot play on any traveling team during the season.

Registration fees are: $40 first child, $30 second and third child, $25 fourth child. Note: Coaches are needed in all divisions.

Florida Bus Trip - Feb. 12-20 to Key West and Miami. Sponsored by the Over 50 Club. Cost is $585 per person. For more information or reservations please call Gina at 875-8154.

Sussex Elks - Flea Market - Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elks Lodge. Space rental is $10 for one day, $15 for both days.

Friday Night Dinner Program - to benefit local families in the Sussex-Wantage area will be held Fridays at the Sussex Elks Lodge from 6 to 8 p.m.

PASS IT ALONG - Sussex County is in desperate need of canned goods and non-perishable food for the local food pantries. Pass It Along is asking groups of all ages to hold a food drive. Whether you are in a youth group, Boy Scout troop, church, or place of business, please consider collecting food for Sussex County’s families in need. Call 973-726-9777, or e-mail volunteer@passitalong.org. Thank you to those groups who have already donated, and to the groups who will be donating; your help is much appreciated!

High Point Harmonizers - Attention gentlemen of all ages and experience! If you love to sing, or just want to sit and enjoy the music, join us at the Sussex Elks lodge on Wednesday evenings from 8 to 10 p.m.

Kindergarten Registration - Kindergarten Registration for the 2005-06 school year is scheduled to be held the week of January 31-Feb 4.

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Youth Tour 2005: Do you have what it takes?

The planning stages of the 2005 Youth Tour are about to get underway. Since 1986, your co-op has selected three high school juniors to travel to Washington, DC, where they meet students from across the country and have a great time. Just trying out for Sussex REC's Youth Tour is a learning experience.

The student must be in their junior (11th grade) year of high school and their parent(s) or guardian must receive their electric service from the co-op. You are required to answer a series of questions asked by a group of judges and to submit a typewritten essay. Winners are then selected by their ability to correctly answer questions, the content of their essay, and the way in which they present themselves during the interview.

One lucky student is selected to continue representing the co-op and New Jersey on a national level as part of the Youth Leadership Counsel. This student is also invited to attend the Youth Leadership Seminar in July. Once a student becomes involved with the program, they want the adventure to continue.

Sound like fun? Want to try out? Contact your guidance department or Sussex REC, 973.875.5103 ext. 117, for further information. This year's tour will be held the week of June 19-24, 2005. The cut-off for tryouts is March 8.