June 2026

2026 Board Candidates

This year, RushShelby Energy has an uncontested election for the Board of Directors in Districts 1, 4, and 7. As a result, the three incumbent directors will continue serving on the RushShelby Energy Board of Directors for another three-year term.

We appreciate their continued commitment to serving our cooperative and its members, and we look forward to their leadership in the years ahead.

District 1 - Keith Theobald

District 4 - Charles Smith District 7 - Bruce Everhart

Annual Meeting Agenda

3:30 - Off-site parking opens at Manilla Volunteer Fire Department 9234 IN-44 Manilla, IN 46150

3:45 - Shuttle bus service to RSE Begins

4:00 - Doors Open - Kids' activities, food service, and live music begin

4:30 & 6:00 - Silly Safari Shows

4:30 & 6:00 - High Voltage Demonstrations

5:00 - 6:00 - Chat With the CEO

6:30 - Voting Closes

7:00 - Words from the CEO

7:15 - Prizes given away & ORU scholarships winners announced

7:30 - Meeting concludes

Operation RoundUp "Luck of the Draw" Scholarship

Looking for a simple way to help pay for college? The Operation RoundUp Luck of the Draw Scholarship might be the easiest scholarship you’ll ever apply to receive!

At the 2026 Annual Meeting, four lucky students will each receive a $2,000 scholarship — just for showing up and meeting the qualifications.

This isn’t your typical scholarship competition: no essays, no interviews, and no GPA requirements. It is truly the Luck of the Draw! Don’t miss your chance to win and help fund your future!

Who Can Enter:

• Must be an active RushShelby Energy member, or a dependent or legal ward of an active member

• Must be a graduating high school senior or a student up to 26 years old

• Must be enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in an undergraduate program at an accredited 2- or 4-year college, university or vocational-technical school this fall

Not Eligible:

• Families of RushShelby Energy employees, directors, or Operation RoundUp Trustees

• Previous winners of RushShelby Energy or Luck of the Draw Scholarships

How to Enter:

• Download and complete the application at www.rse.coop/community/scholarships.

• Bring your application and supporting documents to the 2026 Annual Meeting.

• Visit the Operation RoundUp booth before 7 PM to submit your entry.

Winners will be drawn and announced at 7:15 PM. You must be present to win.

Don't miss this opportunity - it could be the easiest $2,000 you'll earn toward your education!

Why Signs Do Not Belong on Utility Poles

As spring and summer arrive, so do garage sales, community events, fundraisers, and neighborhood activities. It’s the season for getting outdoors, cleaning out closets, and spreading the word—but before hanging a sign on a utility pole, it is important to understand why utility poles are not the place for advertisements or notices.

While yard sale signs, lost pet flyers, and event announcements may seem harmless, posting them on utility poles can create serious safety hazards and damage important infrastructure.

Our biggest concern is lineworker safety. Utility poles are regularly climbed to maintain and restore power. Nails, staples, and tacks used to hang signs can cause injuries, tear clothing, damage protective equipment, and create unexpected hazards while climbing, especially during outages when a quick response is critical. Even a tiny puncture hole in a rubber glove can expose a lineworker to high voltage electricity, causing electrocution. Metal items can also cause linemen to slip, leading to serious falls.

Attempting to nail or staple into a pole can also pose a serious risk to you. Utility poles may contain hidden cables or equipment and puncturing them can cause electrical arcing or explosions with extreme heat, potentially resulting in severe or life-altering injuries.

Posting signs can also damage the utility pole itself. Every nail and staple creates openings that allow for moisture and insects and cause detriment of the protective treatment. This leads to decay and weakens the integrity of the pole, increasing the risk of it falling. Fasteners can also pierce conduits or moldings that house cables traveling from overhead lines to underground feeds.

Signs may also cover important pole identification numbers or inspection tags, making it harder for crews to locate, inspect, and maintain equipment efficiently. In windy conditions or storms, signs can detach and become debris, increasing the risk of outages if they come into contact with power lines or equipment.

Additionally, it is unlawful. Attaching items to utility poles violates the National Electrical Safety Code and can result in fines.

Instead of posting signs on poles, consider these alternative:

• Community bulletin boards

• Libraries

• Social media groups and event pages

• Neighborhood apps

• Yard signs placed on private property with permission

Keeping utility poles clear helps protect lineworkers, preserve infrastructure, and maintain reliable electric service for everyone. This season, share your message, just keep signs off utility poles.

LIghtning Safety Word Search

Did you know June 21-27 is National Lightning Safety Awareness Week? Lightning can happen fast and be very dangerous but staying safe is very easy when you know what to do. Read the following safety tips, then find and circle the bolded words in the puzzle below.

Celebrate Safely: Firework Safety Tips

The Fourth of July is right around the corner. Summer celebrations often bring family gatherings, cookouts, and fireworks. While fireworks can be a fun way to celebrate holidays and special events, they also come with serious safety risks, especially when electricity is involved. At RushShelby Energy, safety is always our top priority, and we want to remind our members to celebrate responsibly. Each year, fireworks cause thousands of injuries and fires across the country. Taking a few simple precautions can help protect your family, your home, and your community. Below is a list of safety tips.

Leave it to the professionals. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is by attending a professional display rather than using them at home.

Keep a safe distance from power lines. Never light fireworks near utility poles, transformers, or overhead power lines. Fireworks that come into contact with electrical equipment can cause outages, fires, and serious injuries.

Check your surroundings. Only use fireworks in open areas away from homes, vehicles, dry grass, and other flammable materials.

Have water nearby. Keep a bucket of water or a hose close by in case of fire and to safely dispose of used fireworks.

Never relight a “dud.” If fireworks do not go off, do not try to relight it. Wait several minutes and soak it in water before disposing it.

Never hold a lit firework.

Supervise children closely. Sparklers may seem harmless, but they burn at extremely high temperatures and can cause serious burns. Always monitor children around fireworks.

If a firework comes into contact with power lines or electrical equipment, stay far away and call RushShelby Energy immediately. Never attempt to retrieve fireworks or remove debris from electrical equipment yourself.

In case of injury, seek medical attention immediately. For eye injuries, do not rub or flush the eye; place a paper cup over it for protection until medical attention is available. For burns, run cool, not cold water over the area, and avoid applying creams or ointments.

Do not use fireworks while impaired. Alcohol or drugs can weaken judgement.

Be aware of people around you. Keep spectators 25-150 feet away, depending on the type of firework and never point or throw fireworks at anyone.

Keep flammable materials away from fireworks.

Celebrations should be memorable for the right reasons. By keeping firework safety in mind and staying aware of electrical hazards, we can all help make this season safer for everyone. From all of us at RushShelby Energy, have a safe and happy summer!

Indiana Youth Tour to Washington D.C.

RushShelby Energy is proud to send three local students to Washington, D.C. this month for an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. This exciting opportunity will allow them to learn about our nation’s history and government, connect with fellow students from across the country, and create lasting memories along the way.

These students have demonstrated a strong desire to learn, dedication to their education, and commitment to the activities and organizations in which they are involved. We congratulate them on this achievement and look forward to seeing all they will gain from this incredible journey.

2026 NRECA Legislative Conference

Last month, RushShelby Energy President & CEO Chris Chastain, along with Board Directors Robert Stroup, Charles Smith, Bruce Everhart, and Jill Koch, traveled to Washington, D.C. for the 2026 NRECA Legislative Conference.

During the conference, cooperative leaders from across the nation discussed several important issues impacting electric cooperatives and the communities they serve, including maintaining affordability and reliability, streamlining permitting processes, securing Rural Utilities Service (RUS) funding, wildfire mitigation, grid resilience, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reform.

This trip highlights how cooperative leaders are stepping up to advocate for the needs of their communities, ensuring members continue to receive reliable, affordable energy and the support they deserve.

Dear Member of RushShelby Energy,

You are hereby notified that the annual meeting of the members of RushShelby Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Incorporated will be held at RushShelby Energy, 2777 S 840 W, Manilla, Indiana, on Thursday,

Cooperatively yours,

Jill Koch

Secretary, Board of Directors

RushShelby Energy