May 2010 - Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative

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Pickens
P.O. Box 277
734 West Main St.
Pickens, SC 29671
Steps toward greater
efficiency and cost-savings
of important issues
currently swirling around the electricpower industry. To a large degree, each
one of these is shrouded in uncertainty.
Some of these issues would include the
following:
There’s a mul
mulTiTude
f
federal carbon-emissions legislation
f
cost and availability of future powergeneration facilities
Oconee
P.O. Box 329
2328 Sandifer Blvd.
Highway 123
Westminster, SC 29693
u
u
Anderson
1212 North Fant St.
Anderson, SC 29622
Greenville
3751 Highway 11
Travelers Rest, SC 29690
Mission Statement
Blue Ridge will be a competitive,
quality provider of energy and
other services, maintaining
its history of integrity and
adapting to the challenges
of a changing world. While
exercising leadership in the
community, the organization’s
focus will be on exceeding
customer expectations.
Board of Directors
Jimmy Lee Dodgens, Chairman
Franklin M. Looper, Jr.,
Vice Chairman
Kenneth G. Southerlin, Secretary
J. Mendel Stone, Treasurer
J. Bill Barker
Ben G. Bolt
Joel R. Davis
William G. Elrod
4
u
f
massive expansion of the
nation’s transmission-line
grid
mandates for using
renewable generation
resources
additional taxes on
electricity production
Environmental Protection Agency
regulations
Here at Blue Ridge Electric
Cooperative, we haven’t just now
awakened to the potential impact any
and all of these factors might have on
our cost of operation. Several years
ago, we recognized that—any one of
these could have a significant effect on
our members’ electricity prices.
As a consequence, the cooperative
embarked in 2007 on an in-house
effort to reduce expenses. We
understood there was little we could
do to control added costs that might
be imposed upon Blue Ridge through
SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | may 2010 | SCLIVING.COOp
government actions. Therefore, we
decided to concentrate on those
matters over which we did have some
control.
Each and every department at
the cooperative has taken steps to
cut costs and to introduce even more
efficiency to our work. I want to
emphasize the word more because
efficiency is a guiding principle at
Blue Ridge. The cooperative serves a
primarily rural territory that is also
storm-prone and largely wooded and
mountainous. With all the challenges
these realities present to our supplying
quality service, we have to be very
efficient. I’m pleased to report that the
measures undertaken at Blue Ridge
to enhance efficiency and reduce
expenses have paid off.
I’d call your attention to the
information in this month’s magazine
about our annual meeting. You’ll
also find plenty of informative facts
concerning our Blue Ridge Fest
charity fund-raiser set for May 14-15.
It would give me great pleasure to
extend the hand of welcome and
friendship to you at both of these
occasions.
Charles E. Dalton
President and CEO
Blue Ridge Fest promises
great times for great causes
Cruise-In in the
Upstate promises
to provide
entertainment
for everyone.
Saturday’s
Charity
Motorcycle Ride
will start at the Pickens equipment
facility. Bikers will leave from there on
a 100-mile run that will conclude at
Timms Harley-Davidson
in Anderson.
Blue Ridge employees
host Blue Ridge Fest each
year to raise money for a
number of local charities.
This year, the proceeds
will be distributed to
Foothills Alliance, Golden
Corner Food Bank, Haven
Presenting Sponsorship ($10,000)
Allied Tree Service, Inc.
Quality Inspection Services
Sluder Urban Forestry
Premier Sponsorship ($7,500)
Martin Printing Company, Inc.
SEDC, Inc.
WYFF-TV 4
Platinum Sponsorship ($5,000)
AT & T
Chick-fil-A of Seneca
Emergency Recovery Services
Integral Solutions Group
The Cliffs Communities
Timms Harley-Davidson of Anderson
Gold Sponsorship ($3,000)
Andrew Pickens Design, LLC
Carolina Tree
CEE-US, Inc.
Coca Cola Bottling Company
Consolidated
McCulloch Utility Services
Payne, McGinn & Cummins, Inc.
Power Delivery Associates, Inc.
Sumter Utilities, Inc.
Sunset Vegetation Management, Inc.
The Peoples National Bank
Trehel Corporation
102.5 WMYI/92.5 WESC
107-3 JAMZ
Silver Sponsorship ($1,500)
Advanced Underground Specialists
American Services, Inc.
Arbor Works Tree Service, Inc.
Bargain Exchange
Bountyland Petroleum, Inc.
Davis Electrical & Plumbing, Inc.
Fairway Outdoor Advertising
Galaxy Control Systems
Frank and Nancy Looper
McCall-Thomas Engineering Co., Inc.
Santee Cooper
Solid Gold & Doris Dalton
TCI of Alabama, LLC
The Westin Poinsett, Greenville
WGOG Radio Station
Bronze Sponsorship ($1,000)
Ralph Alexander, Inc.
BMW Manufacturing Co.
CLD Services, Inc.
CWC Chemical, Inc.
Clinton Electronics Corporation
J. Davis Construction, Inc.
Durham’s Automotive
GDS Associates/Hi-Line Engineering
Marion Davis, Inc.
McKinney Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Mazda, Inc.
McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co.
Motorola/Communication Service Center
Oconee Fence
Phillips Tree Service
Pike Electric, Inc.
Richardson Plowden & Robinson, P.A.
Systems Distributors, Inc.
The Parkette
Friend Sponsorship ($500)
183 Automotive, Inc.
File
On May 14-15 make your plans to be in
Pickens for the 13th Annual Blue
Ridge Fest. This annual charity
fundraiser will bring to the stage some
of the best beach music you will find
anywhere. Beginning with the Legends
of Beach, followed by Jim Quick and
Coastline, the music will begin at 6 p.m.
Traveling here from Las Vegas, The
TEMPTATIONS with Dennis Edwards
will end the evening with such classics
as “My Girl,”
“Ain’t Too
Proud to
Beg,” and
“Since I Lost
My Baby.”
Great music
combined
with the
Largest
of Rest, Helping
Hands, Mary’s
House, Miracle
Hill, Prevent Child
Abuse, Residential
Service Parent &
Family Club, Rosa
Clark Medical
Association, Sabrina House Children’s
Charity, Samaritan Health Clinic,
Shriner’s Hospital for Children and
Tamassee DAR School.
This year, almost 100 corporate and
individual sponsors are supporting
these charities through their financial
and in-kind contributions to Blue
Ridge Fest. The success of this annual
event would not be possible without
their help. We thank each of them.
THANK YOU
Action Automotive
Adkins Truck Equipment
Altec Industries, Inc.
Antique Automobile Club of America
Bearden Landscaping
J. Bill Barker
Bill Black Electric Company, Inc.
Booth and Associates
Design South Professionals, Inc.
Foster Used Cars
Hiott Printing Company
Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet, Cadillac, Inc.
Milsoft Utility Solutions
Professional Service Industries
Rosenfeld Einstein & Associates
S&C Electric Company/Chapman Co.
Shealy Electric Wholesalers, Inc.
The Okonite Company
Terex Utilities, Inc.
Towe 24 Hour Towing and Crane Service
Uncle James Catering Services
Village Inn
Donor Sponsorship ($250)
Ace Pole Company, Inc.
Atlantic Wood Industries, Inc.
Buddy’s Chain Saw Service, Inc.
Carolina International Trucks
Global Financial Services Group, Inc.
Greenville Mechanical, LLC
Moore & Balliew Oil Co., Inc.
My Garage by Essex
Pace and Reeves BP, Inc.
Thomas & Sons Formal Wear
Co-ops once again
distributing CFLs
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative
®
File
is once again joining with the
state’s other 19 electric co-ops in
offering complimentary energyefficient compact fluorescent light
bulbs (CFLs) to its members.
Each member who attends the
co-op’s annual meeting on
May 10 will receive one free
75-watt-equivalent indoor/outdoor
CFL floodlight.
The giveaway is part of the “Do
the Light Switch” program, through
which the co-op expects to hand
out 6,000 bulbs this year. By the
end of 2010, South Carolina’s electric
cooperatives will have distributed
more than 2 million CFLs to co-op
members since 2008.
One 75-watt-equivalent CFL
will save an average of $44 over its
lifetime, and will last 6–10 times longer
than a standard incandescent bulb.
For more ways to save money, visit
TogetherWeSave.com or blueridge.
coop.
Andrew Cobb of T. L. Hanna High School
Anna Leigh Martin of Pickens High School
Washington Youth Tour
winners announced
Two local high school seniors will be
traveling to our nation’s capital this
summer as part of the Washington
Youth Tour. Representing Blue Ridge
Electric Cooperative will be Andrew
Cobb of T. L. Hanna High School,
the son of Tim and Pam Cobb and
Anna Leigh Martin of Pickens High
School, the daughter of Larry and
Susan Martin. They will join more
than 1,500 other students from across
the nation in Washington where they
will visit museums, monuments,
and memorials, gaining a personal
understanding of American history and
their roles as citizens of our country.
Andrew and Anna are already
leaders in their schools and their
communities, and we congratulate
them on being chosen to participate
in this fun-filled, educational week
in Washington. Liza Holder of Blue
Ridge worked with the applicants
throughout the process and
commented on the judges’ selections,
“Our pool of candidates made it
difficult for our judges to choose just
two winners. Students recognize this
as a great opportunity to grow in their
knowledge of our great country and
each year our application numbers
increase. These students will certainly
serve as great ambassadors for Blue
Ridge Electric on this summer’s
Washington Youth Tour.”
Let-energy efficient landscaping save you money
designed landscape provides enough
energy savings to pay for itself in
less than eight years.
A 6-foot to 8-foot (1.8-meter to
2.4-meter) deciduous tree planted
near your home will begin shading
windows the first year. Depending
on the species and the home, the
tree will shade the roof in 5–10
years. If you have an air conditioner,
shading the unit can increase
its efficiency by as much as
10 percent.
Would you like to find out more
about saving money with landscaping? Visit energysaver.gov
for additional information.
Denise McCormick
As spring comes to the upstate of South Carolina, it’s time to
plan for additions to your lawn and garden. Let those plans
include adding energy-efficient landscaping to help you save
on cooling costs for years to come.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, carefully
positioned trees can reduce a home’s heating and cooling
needs by 25 percent. The DOE estimates three properly
placed trees can save an average household between $100
and $250 in energy costs annually.
The Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE) says incorporating shading concepts
into your landscaping design can help reduce your home’s
cooling needs by lowering the surrounding air temperature as
much as 9 degrees. Because cool air settles near the ground,
EERE says air temperatures directly beneath trees can be as
much as 25 degrees cooler. On average, EERE says a well-
scliving.coop | may 2010 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING
20C
Musicians in the making
20D
Kathy Gravely
YAM students from A.R. Lewis Elementary,
participate in YAM JAM at Hagood Mill in Pickens.
The students meet for classes in guitar, fiddle,
banjo, and mandolin twice a week — one 30minute practice session and one 45-minute lesson.
Instructors are Daniel Brazinski for guitar and
mandolin, Herman Towles for fiddle, and Steve
McGaha for banjo.
who are working hard to learn their
musical heritage. The Holly Springs
YAM students will perform several
selections at the Blue Ridge Co-op
Annual Meeting on May 10 as part
of the entertainment prior to the
business meeting.
The Young Appalachian Musician
program is made possible by
Preserving Our Southern Appalachian
Music, Inc. (POSAM), a private,
non-profit organization dedicated
to promoting and perpetuating
traditional music and dance of the
Southern Appalachian Mountains.
YAM is teaching traditional Southern
Appalachian music to children
who might not otherwise have the
opportunity to learn. To help support
SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | may 2010 | scliving.coop
JEFF CATLIN
Several schools in Pickens County are
offering a program aimed at teaching
students to play traditional string
instruments by ear. These youngsters,
called Young Appalachian Musicians
(YAM), are taught after school by
local musicians. The program was
inspired by a similar program in North
Carolina and was spearheaded by
Betty McDaniel, media coordinator,
at Holly Springs Elementary School
and has been made possible through
the cooperation of the School District
of Pickens County. What began
with 32 students at Holly Springs
Elementary School has quickly
expanded to include A.R. Lewis
Elementary, Ambler Elementary,
Hagood Elementary, Pickens
Elementary and Pickens Middle
School with more than 200 students.
Students are learning to master
skills at playing instruments such as
banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin.
Playing traditional mountain
music with string instruments,
once an integral part of Upcountry
life, began to disappear a couple of
generations ago. With families spread
far and wide, and the ever-present
Internet and iTunes, it seems life
is just too busy to enjoy the more
traditional pastimes and art forms.
But the children involved in the YAM
program are reconnecting with their
musical roots with enthusiasm. Many
of the youth enjoy playing at various
local jam sessions with other youth
and adults. The YAM kids also have
held performances at Table Rock,
Hagood Mill and North Greenville
University Theatre and hold an
annual fundraiser called Papa John
Foster Memorial Music Festival which
provides a wonderful opportunity
to hear these talented young people
Danielle Yother from Holly Springs Elementary
School competes in a talent show in Brevard, N.C.
this endeavor, POSAM is introducing
YESIYAM, a booster club dedicated
to promoting community interest
and cultivating support for the
program. Memberships are available
for individuals, families, businesses
and corporations who want to support
traditional music in Upcountry
South Carolina. All contributions to
YAM are tax deductible. Donations
may be made to POSAM, c/o Betty
McDaniel, 792 Holly Springs School
Road, Pickens, SC 29671. For further
information, call (864) 878-4257 or
e-mail POSAM_Info@yahoo.com.