Rodeo JUNE 2016
VOL. 17 NO. 2
High School Athletes Compete P8-9
Manager’s
Column
What’s in it for “we?” One of the most attractive features of cooperatives is that we answer the popular question, “What’s in it for me?” with “What’s in it for we!” Cooperatives are formed when the market fails to offer a good or service, with decent quality, at an affordable price. Bon Homme Yankton Electric was formed in 1945 as a result of investorMerlin Goehring owned utilities (IOUs) refusing General Manager Bon Homme Yankton Electric to offer electricity when they realized there was not enough profit to be made in the rural areas. The founding members of Bon Homme Yankton Electric went door to door to collect $5 in order to raise a portion of the original investment the co-op needed. Those “go-getters” realized the only way to get electricity for me was to get it for we, the whole rural community. Cooperative ownership is in the hands of the people who use the co-op’s goods and the services (not investors), so not only do co-ops start out answering the question of “What’s in it for we?” – they continue to answer that question for as long as they exist. After growth in the rural areas that were first rejected by other utilities, municipal utilities started annexing territories and IOUs wanted to serve more of these desirable loads. The electric cooperatives fought to hold on to every single existing and potential customer as essential to the survival of
the cooperative. This resulted in the formation of territorial agreements many years ago. These agreements would prevent wasted resources from duplicated services and prevent any utility from “cherry picking” the best loads. In 2014, South Dakota modernized the territorial map system by going with digital maps. The territory for each utility is expressly indicated on the map provided by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). As you can see on the map below, Bon Homme Yankton Electric’s territory is shown in blue, NorthWestern Energy’s territory is yellow and other utilities are green. NorthWestern’s territory started out with the towns they serve and then they only added customers in between that were close to their transmission line and Bon Homme Yankton Electric filled in the rest. If a potential customer is going to be served within a utility’s service territory and is less than 2,000 kilowatts (kw) in size, the local utility is obligated to serve the customer. There may be construction costs collected to be fair to the rest of the 2,950 members who cover all cooperative costs with their electric rates. If the proposed account is contracted to be 2,000 kw or larger, they can ask to be classified as a biddable load. This gives them the authority to ask the PUC for permission to entertain bids from more than one utility. Each utility involved proposes a cost analysis including future rates and construction costs. The PUC would then determine the best, most cost effective utility for the particular situation. The way co-ops continue to answer the question, “What’s in it for we?” is critical to their survival. It is imperative that we keep you – our members – as the primary focus. Keeping rates as low as possible is one major part of that focus, but ensuring that we provide real value as your trusted energy advisor is also extremely important. By maintaining that focus with your help and support, we will continue to be able to serve the “me” and the “we” in our community long into the future.
SD PUC Territorial Map Updated 2014 Source: puc.sd.gov 2 June 2016 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Board
report
2015 Audit Presented (USPS No. 018-973)
Bon Homme Yankton Electric Assn, Inc. PO Box 158 134 S Lidice Tabor, SD 57063 Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm
To Report an Outage Call: Local From Tabor, Tyndall and Yankton 605-463-2507 or Toll Free in South Dakota 1-800-925-2929 NOTICE: Electric bills must be paid by 10:00am on the 20th of each month to avoid a $10 late fee. Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections is published monthly by Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association, Inc., PO Box 158, 134 S. Lidice St., Tabor, SD 57063-0158 for its members. Families subscribe to Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections as part of their electric cooperative membership. Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connection’s purpose is to provide reliable, helpful information to electric cooperative members on matters pertaining to rural electrification and better rural living. Subscription information: Electric cooperative members devote $6.00 from their electric payments annually for a subscription. Nonmember subscriptions are available for $12 annually. Periodicals Postage Paid at Tabor, SD 57063 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections, Bon Homme Yankton Electric, PO Box 158, Tabor, S.D. 57063 TELEPHONE (605)463-2507: FAX (605) 463-2419. Design assistance by TDG Communications, Deadwood, S.D.
Aaron Clayton was present to review the audit report assembled by Eide Bailly LLP. There were no adjustments recommended and all financial statements were prepared according to general accounting practices as well as required by the Rural Utilities Service. The 2015 financial report will be published in the August issue of this newsmagazine and presented at the annual meeting August 16. Policy Update 70-17 Water Heater Rebates The board approved changes in the water heater rebate program. Due to changes in electric water heater standards by the Federal Government, residential bulk tank water heaters will no longer
be available. We are using a commercial version as a substitute but these come at a higher cost. In light of that, we decided to increase the amount of the water heater rebate to $6.00 per gallon for water heaters 50 gallons and larger. Contracts Approved A three year contract with the IBEW Union representing the cooperative employees was approved. The board agreed to hire Berndt Tree Service to trim trees for line clearance in 2016. Larson Digging has been approved to plow in underground cable for projects defined in the Construction Work Plan. A new irrigation contract was also approved.
Welcome new Members Avon Greg Odens Lesterville Brian & Jessica Goehring Mission Hill Karen A Huber Tabor Johnny Kerby Yankton Alisha Drury Doyle Duin Ernest R Currie Jr Linda Lewis Mark Plambeck Wayde Jensen
Download the SmartHub App for your Mobile Device Today!
Check out our website at: WWW.BYELECTRIC.COOP
statement of non-Discrimination 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 to us by mail at 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 email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Cooperative ConneCtions • June 2016 3
Safety
tips
Summer Electrical Safety Tips: Outdoor Hazards
Photo CoURtESY oF AllAmAkEE-ClAYton ElECtRiC
Summer is the time when everyone wants to play outside, so it is important that everyone knows what possible electrical safety hazards to avoid in the out-of-doors. Go around the outside of your home and through your neighborhood with your family and show them where telephone poles and electrical lines are located. Explain the following so that everyone understands the dangers associated with them: • Never play near or touch a power line with any part of your body, a toy, a stick or any other object whatsoever. Assume at all times that any power lines you see are live and dangerous. If you see a downed power line, stay well away and report it to your local utility company immediately. • Never approach an electrical substation (or downed power lines) for any reason whatsoever. Period. If a friend, family member or a pet has entered this area, do not try to rescue them yourself – call 911 immediately. • Never climb on or play around a utility pole. In fact, never post any signs or flyers on utility poles either as this can endanger you and utility workers that have to work on those poles. • Never throw shoes or articles of clothing up onto power lines and never try to retrieve any object already hanging from a power line. • To avoid getting kites, model aircraft or any other airborne toys stuck in power lines, play with these things in wide open spaces like parks or fields far away from power lines. • Kids love to climb trees in the summer, but they should never climb trees that are too close to power lines; even if the tree isn’t touching a line, the extra weight from someone climbing the tree could cause a branch to touch the line, which would be dangerous. In fact, if you feel that any trees in your yard or neighborhood are too close to power lines, talk with your local utility about having them trimmed or possibly removed. • Keep an eye on the weather. Almost 100 people die each year and another 500 are severely injured from lightning strikes. If a thunderstorm is approaching, go indoors and stay there until the danger has passed. Source: rootelectric.com 4 June 2016 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Kids’ Corner Safety Poster
“Keep extension cords out of high-traffic areas like doorways or walkways where they pose a tripping hazard.” Lyla Michalek, 7 years old Lyla is the daughter of Anthony Michalek, Okaton, S.D. He is a member of West Central Electric Cooperative, Murdo, S.D. Kids, send your drawing with an electrical safety tip to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). If your poster is published, you’ll receive a prize. All entries must include your name, age, mailing address and the names of your parents. Colored drawings are encouraged.
Reader
recipes
Dairy Delicious Becki’s Coconut Cream Cake 1 white cake mix 3 eggs 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 tsp. coconut extract 1 cup sour cream 1 (8 oz.) can coconut milk
Frosting: 3 (4 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened 1 cup powdered sugar 1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip
Combine the cake mix, oil, eggs, sour cream and coconut milk. Mix until well blended. Spread batter in greased and floured 9x13-inch pan. Bake at 350°F. for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. For frosting, mix cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip. Frost cooled cake and sprinkle with additional coconut. Becki Hauser, Tripp
elvis pie 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup sugar, divided 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups cold heavy cream, divided 1 (9 inch) graham cracker piecrust 2 large bananas, cut into 1/4-inch slices Chopped roasted peanuts
Cream together peanut butter, cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar and vanilla at medium speed. In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup heavy cream until soft peaks form. Carefully fold whipped cream into peanut butter mixture until completely combined. Scrape half the filling into the piecrust and smooth with spatula. Layer sliced bananas on top of filling. Spread remaining filling over bananas. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, at least 1 hour. To make topping, whip remaining cream and sugar together until soft peaks form. Spread over pie. Sprinkled with chopped nuts.
1 (14 oz.) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk, divided Non-stick cooking spray 1 cup Post Grape-Nuts® or similar cereal 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Pinch ground cloves 1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen strawberries, about 2-1/2 cups 3 cups fat-free strawberry yogurt
Measure 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk; set aside. Line 8x8-inch baking pan with foil; spray with non-stick cooking spray. In medium bowl, combine cereal, cinnamon, cloves and remainder of sweetened condensed milk. Spread cereal mixture evenly on bottom of pan, place in freezer. Place strawberries and yogurt in a blender; cover and blend. Add 1 cup sweetened condensed milk; blend until smooth. Pour mixture over cereal, smoothing to edges of pan. Cover with foil (or plastic wrap) and freeze 8 hours or until firm. Use edges of foil to loosen and remove from pan; let recipe thaw for 5 to 10 minutes. Cut into squares and serve. Squares may be individually wrapped and stored in freezer for single servings. Makes 9 servings. Nutritional Facts Per Serving: Calories 200, Total Fat 0g, Sat Fat 0g, Cholesterol 5mg, Sodium 150mg, Total Carbohydrates 42g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Protein 7g, Calcium 20% Daily Value Pictured, Cooperative Connections
Johnny Cake 1/2 cup butter 3 eggs, beaten 1 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. soda 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 cup flour 1 cup corn meal
Combine all ingredients. Pour into a 9x9-inch or 9x13-inch pan. Bake at 400°F. for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Judy Jensen, Langford
potato salad Dressing
Lynn Holzerland, Waubay
French vanilla Coffee Mix 1/3 cup instant coffee 1 cup instant powdered milk 1/2 cup nondairy creamer
strawberry Frozen Yogurt squares
1/3 cup sugar 1/4 cup French Vanilla instant pudding mix
1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 1/4 cup vinegar 3 T. butter
1 tsp. mustard Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup mayonnaise
Combine all ingredients; store in a glass jar. For each serving, put 3/4 cup boiling water in mug. Add 2 heaping tsps. of mix; stir well.
In a saucepan, mix together sugar, eggs, vinegar, butter, mustard, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; boil until thick. Cool. Add mayonnaise; stirring well. Toss with your favorite potato salad ingredients
Mary Jessen, Holabird
Mary Alice Bartel, Wolsey
Please send your favorite dessert, salad and garden produce recipes to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). Each recipe printed will be entered into a drawing for a prize in December 2016. All entries must include your name, mailing address, telephone number and cooperative name.
Cooperative ConneCtions • June 2016 5
Co-op
news
We Are Prepared For Summer Storms-Are You? Summer is here, school is out and families are gearing up for a few months of fun and relaxation. While summer brings much fun in the sun, it can also bring the occasional severe storm. In the event of a power outage, you can trust that Bon Homme Yankton Electric is ready to respond. The major cause of most power outages comes from damage to power lines is due to falling trees and branches. We work year round – through right-of-way clearing – to ensure power lines in our service territory stand little risk of being damaged by trees, branches or other types of vegetation. 2007: Strong winds and tornados hit the area. Despite our best efforts, damage can occur to transmission lines, substations and local power lines. When this happens, our first priority is to safely restore power to as many members as possible in the shortest amount of time. We start by mobilizing our line crews and other critical staff. Every phone line available is utilized to take your outage report calls. The big problems are handled first – like damage to transmission lines owned by our power supplier, East River Electric Power Cooperative (East River), which serve thousands of people. These problems must be corrected before we can focus on other areas where more localized damage may have occurred. Bon Homme Yankton Electric’s line crews may assist East River with inspecting the transmission lines and substations to determine if the problem starts there, or if there could be an issue down the line. If the root of the problem is at the substation, power can be restored to thousands of members at once. The line crew relies on reports from members to determine the location of the outage or how widespread it may be. Whenever possible, the main lines will be restored first as to get as many members back online as possible. It may be possible to switch members to another line to bypass damage that will take longer to fix. Feel free to check back in with the office if you have been off for a while as we may not know that your power is still out after restoration efforts. We will do our best to avoid power outages, but sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. 2010: Lightning damages three phase power pole.
6 June 2016 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Co-op
news
High School Seniors Sydney Gall and Talitha Greaver Honored at Scholar of the Year Banquet Some of the area’s most impressive young people were honored Saturday, April 30, during the Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives Scholar of the Year banquet held on the campus of Lake Area Technical Institute (LATI) in Watertown. The 35 students from eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota were chosen throughout the school year as the Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week. For the 14th year, the Scholar of the Week program recognizes students for academic achievement, co-curricular involvement and community service. After they’re selected the students are featured in weekly segments which air Mondays on KSFY Television and each student receives a $100 scholarship from their local Touchstone Energy Cooperative for being chosen as the Scholar of the Week. Sydney Bormann, a senior at Parkston High School was the winner of a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Touchstone
Energy Cooperatives. Caleb Whitmyre, a senior at Webster Area High School, won a $500 scholarship. A second $500 scholarship went to Sydney Gall from Scotland High School. Sydney Gall and Talitha Greaver were selected as Scholars of the Week earlier in the school year and received $100 from Bon Homme Yankton Electric, a local Touchstone Energy Cooperative. Former WNBA star Olympia Scott served as the keynote speaker during the event. Scott is a Stanford University graduate and member of the Stanford Hall of Fame who went on to play 10 seasons in the WNBA, winning two world championships. KSFY News anchor Courtney Collen served as the master of ceremonies. Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota are part of a network of consumer-owned utilities which provide safe and reliable electricity to more than 115,000 homes and businesses.
The cooperatives have sponsored the Scholar of the Week program since 2002. In that time Touchstone Energy Cooperatives have awarded over $75,000 in scholarships to high school seniors as part of the Scholar of the Week program.
Keynote Speaker Olympia Scott (l) congratulates Syndey Gall (r) on her scholarship win.
Pictured: From left, Back Row: Tristan Hayes, Thomas Trautman, Caleb Whitmyre, Olympia Scott, Ryder Grantham, Austin Arends, Jared Hueser, Isaac Groft; Middle Row: Kendra Pikarski, Tasha Determan, Sydney Gall, Sydney Bormann, Morgan Carmody, Allyson Monson, Rebecca Burrows, Nicole Thomes, Hannah Noonan, Margaret Thares, Kristen Hoffman; Front Row: Madalyne Schuldt, Allison Tschetter, Jenna Erickson, Georgialee Quail, Abby Hora, Katherine Brockevelt, Allison Bich, Talitha Greaver, Sophie Beers, Nicolette Kneeland Cooperative ConneCtions • June 2016 7
Competing with Heart S.D. High School Rodeo Athletes Hit the Arena
W
By Brenda Kleinjan
On the cover: Siarra Johnson of Castlewood was the Barrel Racing Champion with 76.0 points. Below: Jeremiah Johnson of Huron competes in steer wrestling. He placed 15th overall in the 2015 finals.
for South Dakota High School Rodeo Association, high school rodeo is at the heart of keeping the spirit of the West going. “It’s a good event and keeps the western heritage alive in South Dakota is what we stress with the athletes,” said Rutten. He notes that you’ll find the state’s high school rodeo athletes competing in school events throughout the year from football and volleyball to basketball and wresting and golf and track. “The kids are involved in other sports in their school, too, but the high school rodeo is something the whole family travels together. It’s more of a family sport,” said Rutten. Rutten estimates that 300 contestants will qualify for the state finals. And, in the stands will be hundreds of family members and friends. “It’s a great fun family event, fun to compete in and fun to watch,” said Rutten. South Dakota’s Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives have been supporters of high school rodeo
©CowboyImages.net
Photos Courtesy CowboyImages.net
hile many of the area’s high school athletes will have put their sports gear away for the summer having competed in their sport’s state event, the South Dakota’s high school rodeo athletes are just hitting their stride. For high school rodeo athletes, June is their month. South Dakota regional rodeos are set for the first two weekends in June with Buffalo, Wall, Highmore and Huron hosting events June 3-5 while arenas in Dupree, Sturgis, Fort Pierre and Watertown will welcome athletes June 10-12. In Minnesota, regional rodeos are scheduled for weekends in May at Verndale, Long Prairie and Fergus Falls and June 4-5 in St. Peter with the state finals held June 10-12 in Hugo. No matter where they compete, the approximately 450 members of the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association will have their sights set on Belle Fourche, host of the 2016 South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals June 14-18. For Digger Rutten, public relations chairman
8 June 2016 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
for several years. The cooperative brand adorns barrels used in regional and state competitions in the Rushmore State. And, athletes who earn short go shirts through their performances will carry a bit of co-op pride with them whenever they wear their shirt. As the short go shirt sponsors, the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives logo is stitched onto the shirt. Nearly 120 such shirts were awarded after the 2015 finals. According to Rutten, athletes qualify for the state final’s short go by combing the scores earned at the regional rodeos with the results of the first two go’s at the state rodeo. The top four point getters in each event qualify for the national team while the 11 other athletes are recognized for making the short go. In South Dakota, rodeo athletes compete in bareback riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, bull riding, boys’ cutting, girls’ cutting, goat tying, pole bending, reined cow horse, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, team roping and tiedown. There is also a queen competition and shooting events. “High school kids aren’t running for money. They rodeo for the points and prizes,” said Rutten, noting some differences between high school rodeo and pro rodeo. “It’s more the competition to see how good you can be versus going for some money,” he said. Additionally, high school rodeo has events that one doesn’t see in some other levels of rodeo. “Pole bending is something you see in high school and 4-H rodeo, but not at some of the other levels,” Rutten said. “We have goat tying which you don’t see in the pros and cutting and reined cow horse is a new event for us.” Behind the scenes at the rodeos are Rachael dozens of volunteers who work to keep McCoy (top) and Lathen the sport going for the teens. Stevens (below) were Each one of the committees that hosts among recipients of a regional rodeo has a committee of volthe South Dakota High unteers that puts on the regional rodeos. School Rodeo Association’s A state level board of directors helps short go shirts. McCoy oversee things statewide, but regional earned her shirt in the pole bending event while committees and the state finals host Stevens competed in the committee are crucial to the program’s saddle bronc event. They success. were among nearly 120 “The regional meets are designed so SDHSRA athletes receiving that they don’t have to travel more than short go shirts in 2015. 200 miles to compete,” said Rutten. For more on Minnesota High School rodeo, visit http:// www.mnhsrodeo.com/. For more information on South Dakota High School Rodeo, go to http://www.sdhsra.com/
Huron to Host National Junior High Finals Rodeo The South Dakota State Fairgrounds in Huron, S.D., has been selected to host the 2018 and 2019 National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) by the National High School Rodeo Association. The NJHFR is the second largest rodeo in the world with approximately 1,000 contestants and over 1,500 entries. During these events, three countries are represented including 42 U.S. states, five Canadian Provinces and the country of Australia. While the official rodeo performances take place over the course of seven days, the entire event encompasses a total of 15 days from set-up to tear-down. Along with the rodeo, comes one of the largest western trade shows in the nation. There are also a myriad of other contestant recreational and sporting activities including one of the fastest growing shooting competitions in the U.S. Officials estimate the event will have an economic impact of over $9.2 million for Huron and the surrounding area. “This is going to be a great undertaking for Huron and the SD State Fairgrounds,” stated Peggy Besch, SD State Fair manager, “but, we are up for the task! This will clearly be a partnership between the State Fair, the City of Huron, Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau, Beadle County, businesses and organizations in the Huron area, and many volunteers.” “Not only is this event great for Huron and the SD State Fairgrounds, but it is great for the entire state,” said Laurie Shelton, president and CEO of the Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau. “All of these people will be traveling through South Dakota. They will be stopping for fuel, food, lodging and visiting the many tourist attractions along the way.” The NJHFR is scheduled for June 24-30, 2018, and June 23-29, 2019, in Huron, S.D. Created in 2004, the NHSRA Junior High Division was established to bring the excitement of the sport to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders and to serve as a feeder system into the high school ranks of the Association. Today, all 48 states and provinces that belong to the NHSRA also produce a Junior High Division as well, with over 2,500 members in total now competing. Junior High Division students compete in a variety of events, including Barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, chute dogging, team roping, ribbon roping, junior bull riding, bareback steer riding and saddle bronc steer riding. Gallup, N.M., hosted the NJHFR from 2005 through 2013. The rodeo moved to Des Moines, Iowa, for 2014-15 and the 2016 NJHFR is set for June 19-25 in Lebanon, Tenn., which will also host the 2017 finals. South Dakota’s state junior high finals were held May 13-15, 2016, in Rapid City. COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • June 2016 9
Co-op
news
Jill Bertus Wins DC Trip Jill Bertus was selected to participate in the annual Washington, DC Youth Tour. Jill is a junior at Avon High School. She has been active at school participating in basketball, FCA, football statistics, A Club and Honor Roll. Jill hopes to get an associates degree in surgical technology after high school. Jill is the daughter of Loren and Rachel Bertus of Avon. Classifieds July Issue Deadline: June 1, 2016. Email your classified ad to: by@byelectric.com. Members can post one free ad per year. Repeats or longer ads are $1/column inch. FOR RENT: 1 bedroom apartment. Tabor Manor. Contact John at 605-463-2478 or Gary at 605-463-2209.r Thinking about building a home? Don’t pick a floor plan or a builder until you’ve talked with the area’s ONLY Certified Aging-in-Place specialist, Certified Green Professional Builder and ENERGY STAR Partner Builder. Call 4 Life Homes today. 605-661-4488.r Beseda Hall, Tabor, SD for rent for any special occasion such as weddings, anniversaries, graduation or birthdays! For more information contact Linda Bares at 605-661-6220 or snlbares@gmail.com.r FOR RENT: Tabor Self Storage. Call 605660-0247 or 605-660-3497.r
1 0 June 2016 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Directorship Petition Deadline June 16 Bon Homme Yankton Electric is making plans for its annual meeting. The meeting will be held August 16, 2016 in the Beseda Hall in Tabor. The director positions with three year terms expiring this year are districts two and seven. Any person wishing to run for a directorship of Bon Homme Yankton Electric will need to file a nominating petition. The petition must have at least 15 signatures of district members of Bon Homme Yankton Electric. Petitioners must reside in the district and have an active membership in the cooperative. The petitions are available now and must be filed at the Bon Homme Yankton Electric office by 4:30 p.m. June 16, 2016.
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Co-ops Vote
Co-ops Launch Non-Partisan Voter Engagement Program
A
merica’s electric cooperatives have launched
By Justin LaBerge
a non-partisan, nationwide effort to promote civic engagement and voter participation in the communities they serve. Jeffrey Connor, interim CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, unveiled the Co-ops Vote program in time for the 2016 election
cycle. “Through Co-ops Vote, we want to help our members know when elections are, what’s at stake and how to make their voices heard,” Connor said. “Who folks vote for isn’t really as important as the fact that they do vote.” The Co-ops Vote initiative focuses on eight
VISIT VOTE.COOP TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME A CO-OP VOTER. 12 June 2016 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
issues that are important to health and prosperity of communities served by electric cooperatives: Rural Broadband Access Hiring and Honoring Veterans Low-Income Energy Assistance Cybersecurity Water Regulation Rural Health Care Access Affordable and Reliable Energy Renewable Energy “Electric cooperatives are perfectly designed to help address these important issues,” Connor said. “We can make politics ‘local’ again because civic engagement is part of our DNA.” A new website, vote.coop, offers co-op members information on the voter registration process in their state, dates of elections, information on the candidates running in those elections, and explanations of the eight key issues the campaign aims to address. In keeping with its non-partisan goals, the initiative will not be endorsing specific candidates for office. Mel Coleman, president of NRECA and CEO of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative said the program would help ensure the voices of rural Americans are heard. “We want to make sure our government knows that rural America matters,” Coleman said. “This campaign isn’t about divisive, partisan issues. It’s about real people in real places facing real challenges. It’s about our co-ops living out the principles of our movement: Concern for community and democratic control.” Connor cited partisan gridlock in Washington, the explosive growth of money in politics and the effects of gerrymandering as important reasons for launching the program. In 2014, 318 of 1 2
435 House races had a margin of victory of 20 points or more1, and 30 House candidates – 16 Democrats and 14 Republicans representing 11 states – didn’t even face an opponent in the general election2. “Elections aren’t won and lost in November anymore,” Connor said. “They’re really decided in primaries months sooner, when fewer voters recognize the opportunity to vote, fewer participate and only a handful of issues are up for debate.” This results in a Congress where more members represent the extremes of each political party and are less inclined to seek compromise and bipartisan solutions to problems. “The electric cooperative movement has always been non-partisan, and our communities are facing too many challenges to have a government crippled by bickering,” Coleman said. “When our parents and grandparents set out to electrify rural America, they didn’t have time to ask the person next to them about their views on economic or social policy. Their economic policy was ‘we need to save this community’ and their social policy was ‘let’s do it together.’ I hope the Co-ops Vote program can help rekindle that spirit of cooperation.” For more information about Co-ops Vote and the impact of these eight key issues on the people of South Dakota, western Minnesota and north central Nebraska, contact your local electric cooperative or visit vote.coop.
Pledge to be a co-op voter Find key election information Learn about the issues Register to vote
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Commit today to make your voice heard on Election Day! Get reminders about the upcoming election. Recruit your friends, family, and co-workers to become co-op voters today.
Justin LaBerge writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-forprofit electric cooperatives.
https://ballotpedia.org/Margin_of_victory_analysis_for_the_2014_congressional_elections http://atr.rollcall.com/elections-2014-running-unopposed-congress/
VOTE.COOP COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • June 2016 13
NRECA Legislative Conference
Brings Electric Co-op Messages to D.C. L
By Steven Johnson and Michael W. Kahn ECT Staff Writers
ongtime nReCa geneRal manageR Clyde t. Ellis put it best, electric cooperative officials said at the kickoff of the association’s 2016 Legislative Conference: “We support our friends and stand by them. If they’re not our friends, we will make them our friends.” That was the message delivered to 1,500 co-op directors, managers and staffers at the annual NRECA Legislative Conference – use their roles as community leaders to sway support for co-op priorities on Capitol Hill. “Time, money and gridlock are all working overtime against us,” said NRECA interim CEO Jeffrey Connor, who referred to Ellis during his May 2 remarks. “What cuts through the noise is what you have – influence, involvement, engagement and trust.” The three-day conference at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington included briefings by NRECA lobbyists on issues for co-op leaders to raise in face-to-face meetings with senators, congressmen and their staffs.
14 June 2016 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
Also part of the conference was a series of forums on hot topics in Co-op Nation and addresses by regulatory and political experts. Connor noted that co-op issues have changed in the 80 years since the dawn of rural electrification. Then, it was a matter of stringing wires and mounting poles to bring power to unserved parts of the country – the so-called “last mile.” Now, the role of co-ops in the communities means expanding the availability of broadband, building economic opportunities and helping communities prosper. “We’re going to conquer the next mile because we are electric cooperatives and that’s what we do,” Connor said. The 114th Congress was not in session during this year’s conference. But Kirk Johnson, NRECA senior vice president of government relations, said buttonholing congressional staffers can be as important as sitting down with elected officials. That’s because high stakes legislation and regulation in Washington could affect co-ops’ ability to
Key ‘Asks’ at 2016 NRECA Legislative Conference By Steven Johnson | ECT Staff Writer
Some 1,500 electric cooperative leaders advanced key co-op issues to members of Congress and their staffs at Capitol Hill meetings during the 2016 NRECA Legislative Conference, held May 1-3 in Washington, D.C. Here’s a rundown of the key “asks” for co-ops: provide reliable, affordable electricity “We need to be the ones looking out for our cooperative members’ destinies because if we don’t do that for ourselves, someone else will do it to us,” he said. Travis Kavulla of Montana, president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, said co-ops provide local leadership that’s an antidote for increasingly centralized decision-making in energy policy. “It’s important for all of you to stay engaged,” he said.
Making the Case for Co-op Drones When it comes to drones and electric cooperatives, “we probably have one of the best uses for this technology in the country,” Keith Dennis said. That’s at the heart of NRECA’s efforts to make it easier for co-ops to fly drones. “We have power lines that cover three-quarters of the nation’s land mass,” said Dennis, NRECA senior principal, end use solutions and standards. “It’s a natural fit for us.” Speaking at a May 2 NRECA Legislative Conference forum on drones, Dennis updated co-op leaders on the association’s efforts to change the status quo. Currently, when co-ops want to fly a drone it’s considered commercial use, so a Section 333 Exemption has to be obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration. Among the many requirements is a pilot’s license. “We’re really looking at finding a streamlined process for how we can operate this technology in a cost-effective way,” said Dennis. A bill passed by the Senate in April would ease restrictions. It directs the FAA to provide guidelines for the safe operation of drones used to protect and maintain critical infrastructure. “The FAA’s top priority is safety of the airspace,” Dennis said, so NRECA is stressing safety. “We’re in very safe areas. We don’t have a high density population. We’re not trying to fly over cities,” Dennis said. “We’re trying to fly over rural areas, in rights of way that we already have access to and that people don’t generally go in.” There are amazing things that co-ops could be doing with drones, if allowed. The list includes safely surveying damage after emergencies. “Having critical infrastructure that needs to be repaired when power goes out, in a fast way, to keep the power running – that’s actually a health, safety and welfare issue. So we have a really good case for being part of this discussion,” said Dennis. “We really need to have some certainty on how we can go forward.” Left: South Dakota co-op leaders met with members of Sen. John Thune andn Mike Rounds’ staff (pictured) as well as a member of Rep. Kristi Noem’s staff. Left: Travis Kavulla of Montana, president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, addressed the gathering.
EXTEND GEOTHERMAL CREDIT Tax credits for highly efficient geothermal heat pumps expire at the end of 2016. Co-ops help their members save energy and money by promoting geothermal heat pumps. Co-ops asked lawmakers to extend the geothermal tax credit. SUPPORT COAL ASH LEGISLATION A bill introduced by Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from reversing course on its coal ash regulations and require states to implement the EPA rule through a permitting program. Co-ops sought more Senate sponsors for S. 2446. SUPPORT FEMA REAUTHORIZATION Co-op leaders sought Senate support for H.R. 1471, a bill passed by the House that cuts red tape. Without FEMA, many electric cooperative consumers living in disasterstricken areas could face significantly higher electric rates. BETTER LAND MANAGEMENT Federal land management policies complicate co-op efforts to ensure reliable service by maintaining rights of way on or near federal property. H.R. 2358, introduced by Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., and Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., passed the House in December and would streamline the process. Co-op leaders asked senators to support the bill, the Electricity Reliability and Protection Act, as part of a final energy bill. OPPOSE POLE ATTACHMENT LEGISLATION Discussion draft legislation before the House Energy and Commerce Committee would extend federal regulation of attachments to electric co-op power poles. Co-op leaders asked their officials to maintain the federal pole attachment exemption for electric cooperatives and remove language that would increase regulation. JOIN NEW CAUCUSES Legislative Conference participants asked representatives to join two new House caucuses to help promote co-op priorities. The Rural Broadband Caucus will focus on bridging the digital divide while the Co-op Business Caucus will focus on promoting the co-op business model. COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • June 2016 15
regional Dateline
Events of Special Note
May 20-22 South Dakota Birding Festival Pickstown, SD, 605-487-7603
June 1-2 Governor’s Ag Summit Brookings, SD, 605-773-5711 June 1-4 South Dakota Senior Games Rapid City, SD, Contact Kristi Lintz at 605-394-4168 June 2-5 RibFest, W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, Sioux Falls, SD 605-367-7288 June 3-4 The Original SD BBQ Championships, Huron, SD 605-353-7340 June 3-4 South Dakota Senior Games Sioux Falls, SD, Contact Scott Juhnke at 605-367-8222 June 3-5 Wheel Jam, Huron, SD 605-353-7354 June 3-5 Black Hills Quilters Guild Quilt Show and Sale Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Rapid City, SD info@bhquilters.org www.bhquilters.org
Photo CoURtESY oF ChAD CoPPESS, S.D. toURISM
May 27-October 10 Legends in Light® Laser Light Show, Nightly, Crazy Horse Memorial, Crazy Horse, SD
June 3-5 Fort Sisseton Historical Festival, Lake City, SD 605-448-5474 June 16-19 Tabor Czech Days, Tabor, SD www.TaborCzechDays.com taborczechdays@yahoo.com
To have your event listed on this page, send complete information, including date, event, place and contact to your local electric cooperative. Include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Information must be submitted at least eight weeks prior to your event. Please call ahead to confirm date, time and location of event.
June 4 Casey Tibbs Match of Champions, Stanley County Fairgrounds, Fort Pierre, SD 605-494-1094
June 11 Art and Wine Festival Rapid City, SD, 605-716-7979
July 7 Naja Shrine Circus Fairgrounds, 6 p.m. Faith, SD, 605-342-3402
June 4-5 Spring Volksmarch at Crazy Horse Memorial Crazy Horse, SD, 605-673-4681
June 11 Blue Star Fundraiser Quilt Show/Garden Tour, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Buses running from Beresford Library, Rural Beresford, SD, 605-661-9151
June 9-12 South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, Prentis Park Vermillion, SD, 605-622-0423
June 11-12 Siouxland Renaissance Festival, Sioux Falls, SD 866-489-9241
June 10-11 Two Rivers Exposition Expo Center, Fort Pierre, SD 605-224-8686
June 14 Seventh Annual Ag Women’s Day, First Lutheran Church Activity Center, Brookings, SD 605-692-8003 Ext. 2
July 9 Dare to Dream Conference Convention Center Watertown, SD, 605-361-3171 or 800-640-4553 www.sdparent.org
June 17-19 Crazy Horse Stampede Rodeo and Gift from Mother Earth Crazy Horse, SD
July 10 Naja Shrine Circus, Rodeo Grounds, 2 p.m., Philip, SD 605-342-3402
June 10-11 South Dakota Senior Games Spearfish, SD, Contact Kris Harwood at 605-722-1430 June 10-12 Trail Days, Ipswich, SD 605-426-6155
July 8 Naja Shrine Circus Fairgrounds, 6 p.m. Hettinger, ND, 605-342-3402 July 9 Naja Shrine Circus, Rodeo Grounds, 2 and 7 p.m. Deadwood, SD, 605-342-3402