April 2017 - Vol 12 Issue 2

Front porch HOME ENERGY USE
thinking!
Home energy use is different for everyone and hinges
Bryan K. Mathews I remember growing up in the big on several factors, including size of home, members
General Manager town of Cross Plains, and tagging in your household, your location and preferences.
along with my Dad as we would Knowing how your energy spend is divided will help

go visiting. We would walk to Reuben Runner’s front porch you prioritize your energy saving habits.
located in the middle of Cross Plains. This is about a quarter of Pick up a copy of 101 EASY WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY
a mile from where my parents still live.
Cross Plains, as I remember then, had two feed mills, two AND MONEY at either of our office locations, or
garage stations, 3 stores, post office, and neighbors who you download a pdf copy from our website at www.
knew on a first name basis. I even remember getting scolded a
time or two by our neighbors because of something I should not seiremc.com.
be doing. Of course it was never my fault!
Now, I can’t remember the old-time stories that were told at
that point in my life, but I do remember wishing that we would
move on or go back home. No disrespect to the generation,
but at that time I was a kid … wanting to play; to do something
more exciting than setting on the front porch listening to
another story. However, it taught me patience and respect.
Fast forward to today. I would love to have front porch
conversations with members of Southeastern REMC. What
stories do you have to tell? Why do you live where you live?
How can we do better in serving you, our Member?
We sent out a survey back in October 2016, asking your opinion
about the future. We even had some examples of what other
electric co-ops across the country have been involved with or
will begin in the near future. We received 22 responses, with the
majority listing broadband/high-speed internet. I thank each of
you who responded, but I need more front porch thinking.
I reminisce about the old days, where we sat on the front porch
to share life experiences, and sweat because no one had air
conditioning. Where no one I knew had a color television
set. Where everyone worked hard and still did not have a lot
compared to today's standards. A time when no matter how
busy you were, you still took time to help a neighbor.
Now, I know most of us don’t take time just to set on the front
porch, if you have a porch at all, but I do need your help. Help
us to look to the future by embracing the past.
What is the next best thing for Southeastern Indiana REMC?
Something the future generations will look back at and say, I
wish we could have some front porch thinking!

Page 2 - Co-op Hotline, April 2017

CO-OP HOTLINE

Co-op Hotline is published bimonthly
by Southeastern Indiana REMC's
Communication Department for members,
employees and retirees of Southeastern
Indiana REMC.

ON THE COVER

Members had the opportunity
to see the Energy Wall at the 78th
Annual Meeting of Southeastern
Indiana REMC. Other areas of
interest were the Live Line Demo,
Demand Side Management
Display, Health Fair and the
Director Elections. There were
857 members in attendance.

CO-OP HOTLINE EDITORIAL STAFF

B.J. Myers SEND COMMENTS TO
Communications Specialist
e-mail: [email protected] Co-op Hotline Editor
Southeastern IN REMC
Jarred Meinders P.O. Box 196
CSR/Marketing Osgood, IN 47037
e-mail: [email protected]
BACK ISSUES
Barry Lauber
Director of Office Services To read back issues, log on to
e-mail: [email protected] Southeastern IN REMC's website
at https://seiremc.com/content/
Keith Mathews newsletters.
General Manager
e-mail: [email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Statement of Nondiscrimination

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil Rights
program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint
Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA
office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of
the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter by mail
to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or e-mail at program.
[email protected].

© Copyright 2017 Southeastern IN REMC

Co-op Hotline, April 2017 - Page 3

"The opportunity to participate on a project
like this was an experience that no words
could describe."

~Mike Wagner, Journeyman Lineman
Southeastern IN REMC

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES POWER
DEVELOPING REGION OF
GUATEMALA

Southeastern Indiana REMC lineworker empowers a
global community for a better tomorrow

Southeastern Indiana REMC linewoker, Mike Wagner, across the state to get electric to 2 villages that never had
joined a crew of 15 other Indiana electric cooperative electric in their lives; to see how the people of El Zapotillo
linemen on a trip to a developing area of Guatemala live before electricity, was an experience of a lifetime,”
in March as part of an international initiative to bring commented Wagner.
electricity to the region. This was the Indiana electric cooperatives’ third trip to
“Project Indiana: Empowering Global Communities Guatemala. In August 2012, 28 Hoosier lineworkers from
for a Better Tomorrow” electrified a part of the Central 17 of Indiana’s electric cooperatives, spent four weeks
American country where none was available. The crew working across the mountainous terrain to construct more
spent the second half of March electrifying the village than 20 miles of power lines and bring electricity to three
of El Zapotillo in Huehuetenango. The team electrified villages. In April 2015, 14 lineworkers battled extreme heat
60 homes, a school, a church and a clinic with 4 miles of and the rugged land to string 11 miles of wire to connect
primary line, 27 miles of secondary line, 36 anchors and 6 76 poles across 2,500 feet of mountains.
transformers – all by hand and without the aid of modern
conveniences, such as bucket trucks.
Wagner joined Southeastern Indiana REMC in 2002 as a
Groundman. He became a Journeyman Lineman in 2008.
“The opportunity to participate on a project like this was
an experience that no words could describe. To be able
to go to another country to work with 15 other linemen

Page 4 - Co-op Hotline, April 2017





Director Election Results Prize Winners

Congratulations to Vince Moster, Bonnie Boggs and Darrell Smith on being Grand Prize - John Deere Mower
re-elected for another three-year term on the Board of Directors. John Small

The voting results are as follows: Sharp LED TV's
District 1: Comprised of all members residing in Jackson Township in Lester New
Dearborn County; Adams Township in ripley County; and Brookville,
Butler, Highland, and Ray townships in Franklin County. Daniel McEntush
1. Vince Moster (Incumbent) - Received 303 votes $25 Cracker Barrel Gift Cards
2. Mark R. Lanning - Received 165 votes
3. Charles Ziegler - Received 113 votes Connie McClain
4. Beverly Giesting - Received 129 votes Daniel McFadden
Center Square Christian Church
District 7: Comprised of all members residing in Graham, Lancaster,
Madison, Milton, Monroe, Shelby and Smyrna townships in Jefferson Billy Romans
County; and Lovett, Marion and Montgomery townships in Jennings Food Processor
County. Laura Wiggins
1. Darrell Smith (Incumbent) - Received 590 votes
2. Steve Panken - Received 117 votes Air Fryer
Richard Smutzer
District 8: Comprised of all members residing in Sand Creek, Columbia, Dirt Devil Vaccum
Center, Campbell, Vernon and Bigger townships in Jennings County. St. Paul United Methodist Church
1. Bonnie Boggs (Incumbent) - Received 482 votes
2. Patricia Sporleder - Received 231 votes Crock Pot
Anthony Dierckman
Visit our Facebook page to see all of the pictures and a Wireless Under Cabinet Music System
recording of the live broadcast of the meeting!
Christina Pope
https://www.facebook.com/SEINREMC/ Keurig K200 Plus Coffee Maker

Ulrike Wickersham
$35 Walmart Gift Card

Vaughn Bowers
Dorene Landwehr
$25 Lowes Gift Card
Dean Allen McCloud
$25 Walmart Card

Jerry Eckerle
$25 Kroger Gift Cards

J. Calender
James Combs
Stephen Utter
William Nobbe

Ellyn Kern
Set of Glasses
James Stephen
2 Cincinnati Reds Field Box Ticket Vouchers
Don Truesdell
Jennifer Hendren
$25 Outback Steakhouse Gift Card
Roger Wagner

Paul Luke
Penny Brim
Dennis Watson

Spices
Donald Prost

Tote Bag
Rita Wilkening
$75 Bill Credit
Francis Ripperger
$50 Walmart Gift Cards
Ronald Murray
Dorothy White
William Disney
Concord Wesleyan Church Parish

Co-op Hotline, April 2017 - Page 7