Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative
F E B R UA RY 2018
Patrolling the Poles
Attaching signs and other items to power poles endangers the lives of lineworkers and is illegal. Read more on page 6.
70th Annual Meeting Scheduled PAGE 4    Guide to State Elected Officials PAGE 28 n
Gulf Coast
Members acknowledge that $3.96, plus actual postage, is the cost to publish 12 issues a year of Florida Currents (USPS8300). Published by Ruralite Services Inc., 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-for-profit Oregon cooperative corporation—the magazine serves the communications needs of consumer-owned electric utilities in Florida. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Hillsboro, OR 97123 and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send address corrections to 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124. HOW TO CONTACT FLORIDA CURRENTS
Have a problem receiving your edition of Florida Currents? Utility members should contact the local utility office listed on the back cover. Nonmembers should contact Ruralite Services, 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124; (503) 718-3717; email info@floridacurrents.com. Subscription services: Nonmember subscriptions $15 (U.S.) per year; $25 (foreign) per year. Prepayment required. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for first issue. Be sure to identify which local edition you want to receive. Order online at www.floridacurrents.com. Extra copies: $2 each, prepayment required. Supply is limited. Identify edition, month and year. Contact Ruralite Services. Reprint permission: Direct all requests to Ruralite Services. MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
Please do not send unsolicited materials. If interested in writing for Florida Currents, query first. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for writer’s guidelines. Address requests and queries to Ruralite Services. DISPLAY ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
Contact Jessah Willis American MainStreet Publications 611 S. Congress Ave. Suite 504 Austin, TX 98704 (800) 626-1181 or (512) 441-5200 www.amp.coop PRINTED IN FLORIDA
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LET’S
POWER VALUE
On average, Americans spend less than $4 a day on electricity. That’s less than you’d pay for a hamburger and fries, or one of those fancy coffees! www.gcec.com (800) 568-3667
We value your membership. We value you.
Inside
February 2018 Vol. 7, No. 4
The Power of Love 12 Experts and everyday people share transforming and inspiring stories of love, and advice for keeping love alive. Also In This Issue In the Kitchen 16 Great Picture Hunt 18 Travel Journal 20
Festival Roundup 22 Outdoor Pursuits 24 Parting Shot 30
Your utility pages: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32
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Gulf Coast
70th Annual Meeting Scheduled Member gathering is Saturday, April 28 Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s 70th Annual Members’ Meeting is just around the corner. We look forward to seeing all of our members there. The meeting, of course, is yours. The agenda reflects what keeps your electric cooperative in business to serve your community. Your vote, voice and participation all go into making your cooperative a unique entity. You might say the cooperative way of conducting business is truly democracy in action. Bring the family, meet and greet your neighbors and friends, and make your annual meeting a memorable moment on April 28. n
District 3 Trustees Up for Election on April 28 As Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative celebrates its 70th Annual Members’ Meeting, it also is a time to elect your representatives. According to the bylaws, the board must name the Nominating Committee at least 90 days prior to the meeting. The committee must be selected by January 28. The Nominating Committee must meet and nominate candidates for open trustee positions at least 60 days prior to the annual meeting. Those not selected by the Nominating Committee, but interested in serving, have until February 28 to present a nomination by petition to have their names on the ballot. A
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petition needs the signature of 15 cooperative members. Interested persons should have no trouble getting their names on the ballot. District 3 trustees are up for election this year. The incumbents for the three positions are Rupert Brown, Group 1; Jimmy Black, Group 2; and Robert Byrd, Group 3. The 70th Annual Members’ Meeting is Saturday, April 28. Copies of the bylaws and the nominating procedures are available in GCEC’s main office in Wewahitchka or district offices in Southport or Panama City. You also may view the co-op’s bylaws at www.gcec.com.
Right-of-Way Trimming Ensures Safety and Reliability Do you live in the Bayou George, Crystal Lake or Fountain areas? Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative will be clearing rights-of-way in those areas during February. GCEC has about 2,600 miles of distribution line. If vegetation comes into contact with power lines, it can interfere with your electric service and cause a dangerous situation. Vegetation must be cleared from power lines to provide reliable electric service and prevent a hazardous condition. When a person signs up to be a member of the cooperative, there is an agreement between the member and GCEC to allow rightof-way maintenance. The agreement gives GCEC the legal right
to remove from the right-of-way anything that could interfere with safe, reliable electric service for all members. The co-op realizes most people regard trees as an asset, but if the cooperative’s right-of-way clearance is not maintained, tree limbs and other growth coming into contact with power lines could increase the number of power outages. GCEC tries to work with landowners to preserve landscaping when maintaining rightsof-way. However, federal law requires GCEC to eliminate hazardous conditions. Thank you for your patience and understanding as GCEC works to bring you quality, reliable service. n
Meet Your District 3 Trustee Rupert Brown represents members residing in the Southport area. The district is bounded on the east side by the centerline of North Bay, Deer Point Lake and the Econfina Creek, on the north by the Bay County line, on the west by the extremities of the cooperative lines and on the south by the Gulf of Mexico. Rupert is retired from his family-owned business, Rupert’s Cleaners, and is a member of the International Fabricare Institute. He began serving on Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees in 2002. Rupert earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Credentialed Cooperative Director certification. The program requires attendance and demonstrated understanding of basic
competencies in five core courses related to governance and skills required of cooperative directors. He also earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board Leadership Certificate. That program consists of 10 courses focusing in greater depth on specific industry and governance issues. Courses provide advanced study in areas such as risk management, ratemaking and policy development. More than 62 percent of eligible directors nationwide have earned Credentialed Cooperative Director status. Just more than 25 percent have Board Leadership Certificates. In recognition of his commitment to continuing education throughout his service on GCEC’s board, Rupert also earned NRECA’s Director
Gold Certificate. The designation recognizes directors who have earned both their Credentialed Cooperative Director and Board Leadership certificates. Rupert served as GCEC’s representative on the PowerSouth Energy Cooperative board from 2003 until 2006. He was a member of the engineering and operations and member relations and strategic planning committees. He also served on the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association Board of Directors. Now treasurer of GCEC’s board, he previously served as president and vice president. Rupert and his wife, Cindy, have three children and four grandchildren. They are members of Emerald Coast Fellowship Baptist Church. n
Rupert Brown
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Gulf  Coast
Poles Patrolling the
Attaching items to power poles could endanger lives By Lindsay Peak
Power poles stand in the most convenient places to hang yard sale, political and event signs. Poles are sometimes even perfectly located for your satellite dish, hunting stand or bird feeder. Unfortunately, most people are not aware of the dangers associated with hanging such items on power poles. It is a violation of the National Electrical Safety Code and illegal to attach items to power poles. It also can be dangerous to those hanging the items and the line technicians who have to work on the poles. When a person attaches something to a power pole, they are extremely close to energized electric lines, with thousands of volts of electricity pulsing above. Line technicians have to climb the poles at all times of the day and night in whatever weather conditions are present. The tack, nail or staple used to hang items from the pole can create obstacles for line technicians, cause small punctures in their rubber gloves and make workers susceptible to electrocution. The climbing gear used by workers also can get caught in the tacks, nails or staples and cause them to fall from the pole. Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is concerned about the safety of our members and employees. Please help us keep poles clear of unauthorized items, for everyone’s safety. n
Above, this power pole in downtown Wewahitchka has been used repeatedly to display signs for elections, yard sales and other events. Staples, nails and tacks present a hazard for electrical workers.
Right, this satellite dish attached to a power pole was spotted in GCEC’s service territory. Nothing should be attached to power poles. 6
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Co-op Offers Various Payment Options For your convenience, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative offers a number of ways to pay your electric bill. Automatic Withdrawal Each month, you can have payment for your bill automatically drawn from your bank account or credit card (Discover, MasterCard or Visa). This way, you do not have to worry about due dates. To enroll in this program, please stop by one of our offices for a form, or print the form from our website, www.gcec.com. Customized Billing Cycles To better serve our Social Security and disability recipients, we can place members on billing cycles based on the dates they receive their checks. If you are a recipient of government funds and are interested in this option, please call our office today for more information. Flex Pay Tired of paying late and disconnect fees? GCEC now offers Flex Pay—a prepaid metering solution that could lead to savings of $141 in monthly fees. With this program, there are no delinquent fees ($1), no late fees ($15), no disconnect fees ($60) and no reconnect fees ($60 plus an additional $15 for after hours). The deposit for this program, if required, is $50, which is a savings of up to $350. Contact one of our offices for more information. In Our Offices You may pay your bill in person using cash, check or credit/debit card (Discover, MasterCard or Visa) at one of our office locations listed at right. Offices
are open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST. If you need to bring a payment by outside of these hours, we have a drop box at each office. Online We offer online bill pay. Simply go to www.gcec.com to enroll for this service. Payment may be made using a credit/ debit card (Discover, MasterCard or Visa) or through your bank account. You can even do this through your smartphone. You need to type our web address into the phone’s browser. Over the Phone Our member service representatives accept payments over the phone using Discover, MasterCard or Visa. Members also can use our 24-hour automated system to pay with one of those credit card types, as well as pay by e-check using their bank routing and account numbers. There is no service charge for making a payment over the phone.
Gulf Coast Electric Offices XX
Southport
9434 Highway 77 (850) 265-3631; (800) 568-3667 XX
Wewahitchka
722 W. Highway 22 (850) 639-2216; (800) 333-9392 XX
Panama City
6243 E. Highway 98 (850) 481-1188
Through the Mail You may mail your payment. Return the portion of the paper bill that tears off, along with your check, in the envelope provided. n F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 8
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GCEC Presents Capital Credits In appreciation of your patronage, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative returned $550,000 to its membership in late 2017, making allocations to those who belonged to the cooperative in 1983 and 2016.
Trustee Kinneth Daniels, right, presents a capital credit check to Jimmy Kearney, left, and Amy McCormick, center, of Ebro Greyhound Park.
Treasurer Rupert Brown, left, presents a capital credit check to Kenneth Munroe of Eastern Shipbuilding.
President Waylon Graham, right, presents a capital credit check to Scott Payne of Gulf Correctional Institution.
Trustee Betty Moore, third from left, presents a capital credit check to, from left, Major Mikel Heard-Corbett, AWO Mitchell Brown, Colonel James Fleming, AWP Edward Watson, CSA Lorie Lykins, Classification Supervisor Jessica Santiago and Warden David Maddox of Northwest Florida Reception Center.
Trustee Doug Birmingham, third from right, presents a capital credit check to Wewahitchka High School Principal Jay Bidwell as, from left, Guidance Counselor Karen Turner and students Sam Parker, Jaiyden Scruggs, Madison Forehand, Landon Lanier, Zion Parker and Shanique Dennis look on.
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Gulf Coast
Trading Post For Rent Horse barn with five stalls, paddock and about 4 acres of pasture in Wewahitchka, one block from the old courthouse. Lease by the stall, with discount for multiple horses. (740) 334-0341.
For Sale Goulds JR10 1-horsepower pump with jet and well adapter with two pumps including 20 feet of 2-inch pipe with screen at foot. $300. Set of four sharp 12-inch chipper blades for Woodchuck or Asplundh drum chippers. $40. Woodchuck chipper floor plate with hardware. $75. (850) 7226004 or (850) 960-4233. Farm fresh eggs. Breeder birds, multiple breeds and ages. Homegrown mealworms. Fertilized eggs for hatching. Jessica, (850) 658-2837. Miniature donkeys. Jacks and Jennys, black, brown, gray and paints. All ages. $300 and up. Make great pets. Also standard donkeys. Betty, (850) 899-7424. Quarter horses. Ride well on trails, gentle, good for lessons. (850) 773-1957.
Real Estate Three-bedroom, three-bath home with fireplace, new roof, new HVAC, hardwood floors, fenced-in yard and two large sheds in Bear Creek. Price reduced to $85,000. (850) 571-5253. ½-acre corner lot. (850) 639-2220.
Three-bedroom, 2.5-bath, 1,600-sq.-ft. home on a cul-de-sac in Lynn Haven. Great room with fireplace, eat-in kitchen, two-car garage and privacy- fenced backyard with private patio. $175,000 with owner financing available or leaseto-own option. (850) 271-0289. Cape San Blas and Mexico Beach properties for sale by owner: 0 SR 30-A, Cape San Blas, bayfront lot, sewer tap pad, 0.50 acre, $99,900. 0 CR Highway 30-A, Cape San Blas, 14.42 acres, $149,900. 73 Westview Blvd., Port St Joe, gulf view lot, 0.31 acre, $89,900. 512 Long St., Mexico Beach, 111 feet of waterfront on Intracoastal Waterway, RVs OK, 2.37 acres, $99,900. Jay Rish, (850) 227-5569. For sale by owner: Chipola River front brick home in Scotts Ferry. 2,700 sq. ft. heated and cooled on 100x170 lot. One bedroom, one bath, kitchen and living room downstairs; two bedrooms, one bath, kitchen and living room upstairs. 20x24 garage, 8x36 glass sunporch, fireplace and fenced side yard. $140,000. (850) 933-6150 or patti_m_@hotmail.com for photos. FSBO. Two adjacent lots, about 2.5 acres on paved road, 10 miles north of Wewahitchka, 45 minutes from beaches. Borders the Chipola River and Cypress Creek. Cleared and ready to build. Quiet and peaceful; no neighbors. Deeded restrictions. Underground utilities, deep well and many fruit trees. $69,900. (850) 648-4214.
Considering Solar Energy? Please call us first! We know some members are considering installing solar panels. Please be aware all solar applications must be pre-approved and inspected to ensure they meet certain engineering codes and criteria. If you are considering solar, please contact GCEC’s Peyton Gleaton at (850) 265-3631.
Trading Post is a FREE service to members of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative. GCEC reserves the right to edit or reject ads. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY OR TYPE. Please circle the category that applies:
For Rent
For Sale
Real Estate
Free
Miscellaneous
Trade
Wanted
Items:
Name:
Phone:
Address:
City/zip:
Mail your ad to: The Trading Post; Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative; P.O. Box 8370; Southport, FL 32409; return with your electric payment; or email ad information to tradingpost@gcec.com. ** Due to press deadlines, please expect up to 60 days from submission for your advertisement to appear.
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Gulf Coast
A National Partnership The brand leverages the power of electric cooperatives
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You probably know Gulf Coast Electric is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative. But what is Touchstone Energy? It is an alliance of local consumer-owned electric cooperatives across the country committed to providing superior service to all members, large and small. The national brand of electric cooperatives has core values that consumers have long associated with cooperatives: integrity, accountability, innovation and genuine commitment to their communities. Touchstone Energy cooperatives use the resources of a national network and take advantage of economies of scale to enhance their unique relationships with their local member-owners. They provide high standards of service to all members: residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural. The Touchstone Energy program: • Communicates electric cooperatives’ unique characteristics in a changing marketplace where these values and differences matter more each day. • Emphasizes the significance of each electric cooperative’s local presence and unique ties to the community, but offers the advantages of a nationwide network to bring added value and benefit to all consumers. • Produces award-winning advertising and
Touchstone Energy’s membership consists of more than 700 electric cooperative systems in 46 states. communications materials. • Places television ads on various networks, including CNBC, CNN, The Weather Channel, A&E, Discovery and Direct TV, and print ads in national publications, including Time, Newsweek and U.S. News and World Reports. • Teams up with respected national partners such as Discovery Channel School to provide programs local cooperatives can use to enhance the quality of life in the communities they serve. • Delivers valuable employee education programs that equip employees with the skills to communicate the cooperative difference and provide top-notch customer service. • Provides the tools to evaluate and improve consumer satisfaction. • Offers an array of services and programs to enhance cooperative relationships with business and residential customers. n
Gulf  Coast
Have a Concern? Contact Elected Officials Citizens often have concerns regarding their state, and even the country as a whole. This is when you should contact your elected officials. These officials are available to respond to your concerns. Use this information to contact these officials with any issues you may have, and to make your voice heard.
Governor of Florida
Rick Scott State of Florida Republican The Capitol 400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 (850) 488-7146
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U.S. Congressional Representatives
Matt Gaetz 1st District, Republican
Neal Dunn 2nd District, Republican
Washington: 507 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-4136
Washington: 423 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5235
District: 226 S. Palafox Place 6th Floor Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 479-1183
District: 840 W. 11th St. Suite 2250 Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 785-0812
1170 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Building 4 Room 454 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 (850) 479-1183
300 S. Adams St. Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 891-8610
State Representatives
Brad Drake 5th District, Republican
Jay Trumbull 6th District, Republican
Halsey Beshears 7th District, Republican
Capitol: 209 House Office Building 402 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 (850) 717-5005
Capitol: 303 House Office Building 402 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 (850) 717-5006
Capitol: 303 House Office Building 402 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 (850) 717-5007
District: Admin. Building, Room 186 Chipola College 3094 Indian Circle Marianna, FL 32446-1701 (850) 718-0047
District: 450 Magnolia Ave. Panama City, FL 32401-2775 (850) 914-6300
District: 78 11th St. Suite 5 Apalachicola, FL 32320-2028 (850) 508-3207 1305 W. Washington St. Monticello, FL 32344-1130 (850) 342-0016
372 Highway 83 North DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433-3800 (850) 951-0547
State Senators
George Gainer 1st District, Republican
Bill Montford 3rd District, Democrat
Capitol: 302 Senate Office Building 404 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 (850) 487-5002
Capitol: 410 Senate Office Building 404 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 (850) 487-5003
District: 840 W. 11th St. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 747-5454
District: 20 E. Washington St. Suite D Quincy, FL 32351 (850) 627-9100
Northwest Florida State College 100 E. College Blvd. Building 330 Rooms 105 and 112 Niceville, FL 32578 (850) 803-8395
105 North Jefferson St. Perry, FL 32347 (850) 223-0902
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FL-154
Offices 722 West Highway 22 P. O. Box 220 Wewahitchka, FL 32465 (850) 639-2216 or (800) 333-9392 9434 Highway 77 P. O. Box 8370 Southport, FL 32409 (850) 265-3631 or (800) 568-3667 6243 East Highway 98 Panama City, FL 32404 Phone: (850) 481-1188 www.gcec.com
CEO/General Manager John Bartley
Trustees President Waylon Graham Vice President Jimmy Black Secretary Eddie Jones Treasurer Rupert Brown Doug Birmingham Robert Byrd Gary Cox Kinneth Daniels Betty Moore Trustees normally meet the third Tuesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. CST. The board meets at the Wewahitchka office in even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October and December) and the Southport office in odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September and November). The mission of GCEC: Fulfilling the changing needs of our membership and communities by providing cost effective, reliable and safe utility services through a dedicated and responsive workforce. 32
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GCEC President’s Message
Do-It-Yourself Safety Tips
Do-it-yourself projects are a great way to save money. They can also be extremely rewarding. There is a sense of pride that comes from accomplishing a job yourself. Many electrical projects fall into the DIY category. Projects such as installing ceiling fans, lighting fixtures or appliances are fairly easy and do not require a large investment in tools. Before you begin any project, here are a few DIY tips to keep you safe: • Know your limitations. The first rule of DIY safety is this: Don’t do it yourself if you are not qualified for the job. Unless you are familiar with the basics of electrical wiring, turn electrical projects over to a licensed electrician. As they say, it is Waylon Graham better to be safe than sorry—and keeping you safe is our goal. • Turn off the power. Even 120 volts can be deadly. Always turn off the power to the circuit that you will be working on. To do this, locate your main service panel and turn off the circuit breaker. It is a good idea to take time and label all the breakers so you can identify them quickly. • Remember, there are wires behind those walls. Even if you are not working on an electrical project, you need to keep electrical safety in mind. Before you cut or drill into a wall or ceiling, be conscious of how deep you are cutting or drilling to avoid hitting wires. Even if you have the circuit turned off, cutting into wires can create a fire hazard when you turn the power back on. • Use GFCIs if you are going to use extension cords. Ground-fault circuit interrupters are devices designed to protect you from electrical shock. When using extension cords, use a GFCI outlet or GFCI whip—a short extension cord with a built-in GFCI. These are not expensive, and can save your life. In addition to turning off circuits and using GFCIs, here are a few more precautions you can take to prevent injury: • Wear gloves and safety glasses. • Use tools with insulated grips when working on electrical projects. • Even if you are just changing lightbulbs in a lamp or appliance, you should always make sure the lamp or appliance is unplugged. • Avoid working where water is present. Do not work on electrical systems in wet locations. Never work on electrical systems in the rain. • Choose fiberglass ladders. Because aluminum ladders conduct electricity, you should never use them for electrical projects. Instead, buy a quality fiberglass ladder. • Use rubber-soled shoes or rubber mats, particularly on concrete floors. At Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, your safety is our priority. Be sure to follow these tips and guidelines to make sure your next project ends with a satisfied smile. Let’s power safety! We value your membership. We value you. n