November's 2005 Articles

Commentary By the CEO: Human Nature at its Best

By Robert Kolling
President & CEO

As we enter the season of Thanksgiving and other holiday celebrations, our electric cooperative colleagues in the South are still figuring the toll of Hurricanes Katrina & Rita’s devastating blow to the Gulf Coast. During that horrendous time, we witnessed Mother Nature at its worst-and human nature at its best.

Nowhere was the spirit of giving, sacrifice and cooperation more evident than in the community of electric cooperatives that responded to virtually unprecedented destruction.

They demonstrated what cooperatives are capable of doing during times of great need-offering assistance where it is needed, not only near their own communities but also to communities hundreds of miles away. Co-op crews were on the ground in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama in only the time it took to drive there, bringing food, water, equipment and hope. Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative participated in the relief effort twice, sending a line crew to Mississippi and two line crews to Louisiana.

Never mind that diesel prices skyrocketed in the days following the hurricane or that the crews headed into unfamiliar territory with few available hotel rooms, no phones and short supplies of food, fuel and fresh water. Our line crews have stayed in abandoned Girl Scout camps, Army style tents and other less desirable locations. This is after working 14-16 hours per day.

This wasn’t the first time electric co-ops rose to the occasion in a time of great need. Through floods, tornadoes, wildfires and ice storms, we’ve demonstrated time and time again that we have more resources than even the biggest power companies when it comes to recovering from disasters. We are one giant extended family, who has brothers and sisters throughout the United States.

Electric cooperatives’ standard engineering design plays an important role in recovery efforts, but our greatest resource is the dedicated people who trudge through waste-deep, snake filled water to repair the lines or prepare meals for days on end, and those who keep the office going, often in the midst of great personal loss.

Our cooperative mission energizes us during trying times. We show that the cooperative spirit cannot be dimmed; it shines brightly even in the face of darkness and despair, and for that, we are truly thankful.

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Storm Watch: How to prepare for severe weather (pdf - 320k)

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Seasonal Safety Reminders

The change of seasons is an ideal time to use your cool weather electrical safety checklist to avoid potentially lethal electrical hazards, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, which offers the following safety tips:

Outdoor tools and appliances
•Safely store warm weather tools like lawn mowers and trimmers. Check cold weather tools, such as leaf and snow blowers, along with their power cords, for unusual wear and tear. Repair or replace worn tools or parts right away.

•Use only weatherproof electrical devices for outside activities.

•Keep dry leaves swept away from outdoor lighting, outlets and power cords.

Holiday decorations
•Ensure all holiday lighting and extension cords are in good repair, with no fraying, cracking or cuts, and are certified by an independent testing lab such as UL, CSA or ETL.

•Never connect more than three strands of decorative lights together. Make sure all connections are tight and protected from inclement weather, including the outlet. Unplug the lights from the outlet when not in use.

•Keep power and extension cords out of pathways.

•Do not coil power cords or extension cords while in use. Do not tuck them under rugs, carpets or curtains. They may overheat, causing a fire hazard.

For these and other related safety tips, visit the ESFI website at www.electrical-safety.org.

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News & Events

SUSSEX / WANTAGE:

. Sussex Wantage Library - Preschool Storyhour: Wednesdays – November 16, 23, 30 and December 7. For children ages three to five. Each program lasts 45-60 minutes and features stories, rhymes, and a craft. Registration is ongoing. Time: 10 a.m. OR 1 p.m. (Children may only attend the session they are signed up for).

Apples to Oregon Wednesday, November 9 at 4 p.m. A tale about the story of how Oregon's first apple orchard arrived by covered wagon. This program includes other apple-related activities and a craft. For children in kindergarten and up.

• The Sussex Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary Annual Tricky Tray - November 7. Doors open at 6:30 PM, drawing at 8 PM. Must be 18 years old to attend. Fifty cent admission, Specials, Super Specials & numerous trays with a value of $25 or higher.

• Firemen's Bingo - Bingo will be played every Sunday evening at the Beemerville Fire Hall. Doors open at 5 p.m. Bingo starts at 6:15. Refreshments available. For more information please call 875-2972.

• Field #3 at Woodbourne Park is Closed. By request of the High Point Soccer Club, Field #3 at Woodbourne Park is closed for the fall sports season. This will provide Wantage Township with the opportunity to re-seed the goal areas, which have become bare from field use over time. Field 3 will be available for use in the Spring of 2006. The area around each goal will be closed off with temporary fencing while the new grass seed is growing. Please cooperate with our efforts to rehabilitate this field by staying off the remainder of the field during the fall sports season.

• Sussex Kiwanis - Sussex Kiwanis meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Bella Vita Restaurant located on Route 23 & Libertyville Rd., Wantage. For information please contact Tom Madsen at 973-875-9716.

• Food Drive 9-2 p.m. Sat. Nov. 19. Troop 404 will be running a food drive, to benefit the local food pantries at both the Vernon A&P as well as the Sussex A&P any donations of non-perishable foods would be greatly appreciated.

• Senior meetings at the Vernon Senior Center, Church Street:
Leisure Club – 3rd Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm.
Women’s Club – 4th Thursday of each month at 8:00 p.m.
Historic Society – 3rd Thursday of each month from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

• Bingo Monday’s - 6:00pm Monday. Games begin at 7:15pm Vernon VFW, Route 94, Vernon call 973-764-9380

• Blood Pressure Screening - The Vernon Township Health Department conducts a free blood pressure screening every month from 10-11am on the first and third Tuesdays. The screening is open to all Vernon residents. No appointment is necessary.

• Vernon Kiwanis - Meets at 7:30am on the second, third and fourth Tuesdays of every month at Vernon High School. Call 973-827-1188.

• Vernon Township Women’s Club - The GFWC, Vernon Township Woman’s Club meets every 4th Thursday of the month at 7:30p.m. at the Vernon Senior Center, Church Street, Vernon, NJ.

. Meals on Wheels - Is in great need of volunteers to deliver a mid-day meal to homebound seniors in Sussex County. High gas prices are placing a great strain on this viable service to needed Senior Citizens. It would just take an hour of your time one day a week. Call 973-383-3123.

• Veterans’ Transportation - Free door-to-door bus service is provided to Lyons and East Orange VA Medical Facilities for Sussex County veterans. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Service to the Castle Point VA Health Center near Beacon, NY is provided once per month. For specific service days call 973-579-0480 and press 1 from the menu.

• 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 Email: volunteer@passitalong.org

• Daytimers Retirees’ Group - Make some new friends by joining this very interactive retirees’ group where they exchange ideas and share experiences, hobbies and plans for the future. Free. To register, call 800-336-5273 or visit www.saintclares.org and register online.

POSTING OF ANNOUNCEMENTS:
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.

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