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Empowered is a monthly newsletter for members of

CENTRAL DRIVE-THROUGH COMING NEAR YOU When is the last time you did something for the first time? You’ve been to a drive-through restaurant, a drivethrough car wash and maybe more recently, a drive-through birthday parade, but have you ever been to a drive-through meeting? This year will be your chance!

Drive-Through

There’s a reason drive-throughs are popular. They are convenient, fast and fun. That’s exactly what we have in mind for this year’s first drive-through annual meeting! Do you remember the days when families just loaded up in the car to go for an afternoon drive? Often it was without a destination or maybe just to stop for a Coke. That’s kind of what we have in mind for you on Thursday, October 8, although we hope you make your destination Central Rural Electric Cooperative’s 81st Annual Meeting! At four locations throughout Central’s service area, you will have the opportunity to drive-through the annual meeting to vote on bylaw amendments, receive your attendance gift, visit with Central employees and board members, and be entered for prize drawings. All of this from the convenience and safety of your car! Attendees will receive a $10 bill credit on their December bills and a $20 restaurant gift card. Attendees will

Oct. 8, 2020

STILLWATER • PERRY • GUTHRIE • CHANDLER also receive a set of Central branded car coasters! Prize winners and voting results will be announced on Central’s website and social media on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. To know how many members we can expect at each location, we are asking members to pre-register for Annual Meeting by visiting our website, MyCentral.coop/annualmeeting and selecting a location to attend. Members can also call and leave their name,

phone number and meeting location on our pre-registration phone line at 405-533-4130 or toll-free at 844-5334130. Pre-registration is not required, but it will help us know how many members to expect at each location. Watch for additional information in next month’s edition of Empowered and your official notice in the mail later in September. We are looking forward to seeing you at this year’s Annual Meeting!

UPDATE FROM THE CEO

COMMITTED TO A SAFETY FIRST CULTURE FOR ALL AUGUST 2020 Central Board of Trustees: Bill Davis, President (District 7) Gary McCune, Vice President (District 1) Carol Dvorak, Secretary/Treasurer (District 3) Stu Preston (District 2) Len Tontz (District 4) Mark Pittman (District 5) Raymond Nettles (District 6) Hunter Robinson - Chief Executive Officer Empowered Editors: Jillianne Tebow - Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Larry Mattox - Director of Communications

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Central Rural Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

accomplish our goal of member As a lineman, you learn to respect engagement, as well as keep everyone electricity and the great power it has. safe. We love engaging with our Not only does it have the power to members and feel this year’s format change someone’s life for the better will allow for interaction that wouldn’t but also it has the power to take be possible in a virtual-only event. life. Linemen are trained to work in hazardous conditions every single In the coming months, you will day. We are trained to take our time receive your official and thoroughly think notice which will include through the task at hand. It information on the is human nature to become four annual meeting complacent when work locations. It will also becomes repetitive, and it include information takes extreme self-discipline on the proposed bylaw and awareness to maintain amendments. We hope the a keen sense of one’s Hunter Robinson, extra meeting locations surroundings and thinking Central CEO are more convenient for through all of the what ifs. you and help balance the shortened format. We also plan to My background as a lineman has have each location open longer to instilled within me a passion for allow you to come at a time that is safety. It is a passion I try to pass on convenient for you. to every employee at Central Rural Electric Cooperative, and a passion My annual meeting presentation, that transcends to one of the seven as well as the board president and cooperative principles: concern for secretary/treasurer presentation will community. We constantly practice be available online. If you are unable safety measures and think about the to watch the presentations online, the safety of our membership and the information is available in the Annual general public. Report. An additional copy of the report will be included in your annual When we made the decision earlier meeting bag. this year to postpone our annual meeting, we did so with concern We are excited to have the for community, and the health opportunity to see you this fall even and wellness of our members and if it is does look different than usual. employees at the forefront of our We appreciate your willingness to minds. As October 8 approaches, we come and be engaged in the business are still erring on the side of caution of your cooperative all while staying in an effort to keep you safe. safe at this year’s 81st Annual Meeting! Rather than postpone again or cancel our annual meeting, we have looked at ways to adjust the meeting to both

EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITIES

Deborah and Michael assemble new member packets

We are so thankful for our partnership with MPower! They recently put together packets for new Central members that provide an overview of the services Central provides. Stillwater’s MPower was established in 1969 to provide services to individuals in Payne County with developmental disabilities. MPower provides a supportive environment for comprehensive employment, job training, job placement and residential services. To learn more about their incredible work, visit mpowerok.org.

for sale

SERVICES

DRY SKIN? CHAPPED LIPS? FLAKEY BEARD? Pharmacist Approved! All-natural, dryskin relief. Water, alcohol & preservative-free. Modified Lotions, Beard Compounds, Lip Balms & more. We have products for year-round use. We are a “Made In Oklahoma” female-owned company in Jones, OK. Visit www. TUCKORI-FARM.com or search TUCKORI FARM COMMODITIES on FB, Etsy, Amazon & Instagram.

Six GMX magnets for hard water softener, $1,000 for set, email maryloujohn@ yahoo.com

Operation Catnip Stillwater Free spay/neuter/vaccination clinics for stray/feral/barn cats. Registration is required, and humane traps and instructions are provided. 7 clinics held during the school year (3 in Fall 2020 and 4 in Spring 2021) and are conducted at the OSU Veterinary School. Call 405-466-5810 or visit operationcatnip.okstate. edu for specific dates and info. Also, please visit the Operation Catnip Stillwater Facebook page.

INSTALLATION SERVICES We install windows, fences, siding and roofing. FREE estimates. Bonded and insured, call 405-714-5984

SERVICES Dr. Myers Chiropractic, Luther Real “Hands-on” physical adjustment $35 total office visit. Truck Driver DOT health card $75. Truck Driver DOT drug test $45. Truck Driver DOT alcohol test $45. Truck Owner FMCSA (DOT) Compliant. Randomized Drug Testing Program. Call 405-277-3325

SUBMIT YOUR AD Submit your ad by email to editor@mycentral.coop by the 10th of each month!

SUBMIT YOUR FREE CLASSIFIED AD Submit classifieds to P.O. Box 1809, Stillwater, OK 74076. Classifieds may be emailed to editor@mycentral.coop.

Name ________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________________________ Acct. #________________________________________Phone #_________________________________________ Ad is to read: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Outdated wiring and overloaded circuits are the most common causes of electrical fires. Check the following areas of your home to ensure your home’s electrical safety is up to par. Electrical outlets: Faulty electrical outlets are a leading cause in home fires. As outlets age, so do the wires behind them that you can’t see. Any loose, damaged or warm-to-the-touch outlets should be repaired or replaced. Electrical wiring: Outdated wiring is another common cause of electrical fires. Frequently tripped breakers, flickering lights and burning smells are clear warning signs. If your home is more than 20 years old, it may not be able to handle today’s increased power load. If you suspect your home’s wiring is outdated, leave this one to the pros and contact a qualified electrician. Overloaded cords and outlets: Extension cords are not permanent solutions. If your big-screen TV, home theater system and other electronics are plugged into an extension cord, it’s time to call an electrician and install additional outlets. Old appliances: Older appliances are more likely to have loose or damaged wiring, which means they’re more likely to catch fire. Check older appliances for damage and determine if it’s time to upgrade or replace. Also check to ensure you’re using appliance-grade outlets. A qualified electrician can help with installation.

YOUR POWER SUPPLIER IS MEMBER-OWNED & FOCUSED

Powering homes, farms and businesses in northeast Oklahoma is a point of pride for Associated Electric Cooperative, Central’s generation cooperative located in Springfield, Missouri. Associated serves co-ops in Oklahoma, Missouri and Iowa. Like Central, Associated is owned by members like you and serves 2.1 million people system wide. A board including representatives from distribution and transmission co-ops govern Associated. Power when you need it Providing reliable power expected by members requires different types of generation. Associated’s fleet – generated by natural gas, coal, wind and hydropower – is diverse enough to provide power on the hottest, coldest, driest, windiest and calmest days. Natural gas and coal are the most reliable forms of generation because they operate around the clock and can be controlled unlike renewable sources that are dependent on wind or the sun.

The Thomas Hill Energy Center in Missouri generates power for Associated co-ops. More information about Associated is available at aeci.org.

Power at a fair price Electricity is provided to members 24/7/365. As members ramp up their use, Associated’s goal is to ensure reliability, then match members’ needs to the most affordable generation resource. Coal generation supplied about half of members’ electricity in 2019. Coal and natural gas are typically less expensive for generation than renewable sources. Hydropower, the lowest-cost source, is limited by rainfall and is controlled by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Power generated the right way A focus on members drives Associated

to be responsible caretakers of the natural environment. To balance reliable and affordable electricity with environmental responsibility is not easy or inexpensive, but Associated is committed to generating power the right way. Associated and its members have spent more than $1.1 billion to reduce air emissions since 1994, resulting in more than 70% improvement in air quality. Adding wind power to diversify generating sources, investing in environmental controls and staying up to date with regulations and technologies, Associated complies with environmental regulations at the lowest cost possible for members.

POWER RESTORATION FILL-IN-THE-BLANK When the power goes out, line crews work hard to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. Complete the fill-in-the-blank activity below to learn about the steps of power restoration. Use the word bank if you need help, and check your work in the answer key.

distribution transformer

1. High-voltage ____________ lines are the large towers and cables that supply power to the greatest number of consumer-members. They rarely fail, but if they do, they have to be repaired first.

transmission pads

2. Next, crews inspect distribution _____________ for damage. They determine if the problem stems from the lines feeding into the equipment itself, or if the problem is further down the line.

substations

3. If the problem still can’t be pinpointed, _____________ power lines are inspected. These are the lines you typically see on the side of the road that deliver power to communities.

4. If the power outage persists, tap lines are inspected. These lines deliver power to transformers that are either mounted on poles or placed on ____________ for underground electric service.

5. If your home remains without power, the service line between the _____________ and your home may need repairs.

Answer Key: 1) transmission 2) substations 3) distribution 4) pads 5) transformer

Word Bank: