NEC Annual Report 2017

2017

ANNUAL REPORT

ve. s

7!

Annual Membership Meeting

Thursday, October 11, 2018 Richard M. Borchard Fairgrounds, Robstown, TX

5:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

DOORS OPEN + Registration, Voting, Activities & Dinner Meeting, Reports & Door Prizes (Voting & Dinner Close)

Registration Card Please tear along the above line.

Sign the back and bring this card to the meeting and receive a $10 bill credit!

• • • •

2018_AnnualMeeting_TCPDustCover.indd 21

Can’t attend? Send your MAIL-IN Ballot (received in late September) to be eligible for a $500 energy bill credit drawing!

BBQ plates are FREE to all members & their immediate family members only who attend.

BRING THE KIDS! Children’s entertainment includes moonwalk, petting zoo, face painting and kid’s door prizes!

Learn about YOUR Co-op and VOTE for your directors!

9/10/18 3:45 PM

N

September 24, 2018 Dear Nueces Electric Cooperative Member, This is your official notice that the Annual Meeting of Members of Nueces Electric Cooperative will be held at the Richard Borchard Regional Fairgrounds on Thursday, October 12, 2017 for the purpose of electing directors, presentation of reports covering the 2016 fiscal year, and transaction of other business that may come before the meeting.

Notice is further given that three directors (one from District 3, 5 and 9) are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. Each Director will serve a term of (3) three years.

Nominees who successfully completed and returned the Director petition for their respective Districts are listed on this cover.

You may vote by mail or in person at the Annual Meeting.

This information is provided to you pursuant to the NEC Bylaws: Article I- §1; Article III- §1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; Article IV -§2, 3, 5.

A full copy of the NEC Bylaws is available online at www.nueceselectric.org under Transparency & Your Cooperative or a copy may be obtained by contacting NEC at 14353 Cooperative Ave, Robstown, TX 78380 or by phone at 1-800-632-9288.

PLEASE CALL AT LEAST ONE (1) WEEK BEFORE OCTOBER 11th.

Highlights of the annual financial audit are included in this magazine in the annual report. Members can access the full audit at nueceselectric.org under Transparency & Your Cooperative.

Sincerely,

David Rosse Secretary-Treasurer

If you are coming to NEC’s Annual Meeting and need assistance, please call Frank Wilson at 1-800-NEC-WATT. * Sign language interpreter * Spanish speaking only individuals * If you need assistance from your car into the building

Si viene al la reunioun anual de NEC y necesida ayuda, favor de darle una llamada a Frank Wilson a 1-800-NEC-WATT. * Interprete del idioma de senas * Individuos que hablan espanol * Si requiere ayuda de su carro en el granero de la muestra FAVOR DE LLAMAR POR LO MENOS UNO (1) SEMANAS ANTERIOR EL 11 DE OCTUBRE.

Registration Card

Jueves, 11 de Octubre de 2018 Registro: 5:30-7:00 p.m. (Cierra la votación y cena a las 7 p.m.)

Sesion del Negocio: 7:00 p.m.

Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds

Thursday, October 11, 2017\8 Registration: 5:30-7:00 p.m. (Voting & dinner close at 7 p.m.)

Business Session: 7:00 p.m.

Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds

Firme esta tarjeta y entrege al Escritorio de registro para elegible para premios.

Sign this card and deposit card at the registration desk to be eligible for prizes.

_______________________________ Firma del Miembro

_______________________________ Member’s Signature

_______________________________ Escriba su Nombre Aqui

_______________________________ Print Member’s Name Here

2018_AnnualMeeting_TCPDustCover.indd 22

See You There!

Tarjeta del Registro

9/10/18 3:45 PM

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October 2018

Since 1944

FA V O R I T E S 5

Letters

6

Currents

18 Local Co-op News Get the latest information plus energy and safety tips from your cooperative.

29 Texas History Bass Reeves, Lawman Extraordinaire

By Clay Coppedge

31 Recipes The Great Pumpkin

35 Focus on Texas Photo Contest: Clocks

36 Around Texas List of Local Events

38 Hit the Road Go With the Flow

By Eileen Mattei

ONLINE TexasCoopPower.com

Co-ops empower local schools through charitable programs and grants.

Find these stories online if they don’t appear in your edition of the magazine.

F E AT U R E S

8 14

Observations

More Than Electricity Through programs and projects, co-ops prove “they are the fabric of the community.”

Preying at a House of Worship

By Martha Deeringer

By Charles Lohrmann

Texas USA

The Seven Cooperative Principles A testament to the sustainability of the cooperative business model.

The Ballad Hunter

By Gene Fowler

NEXT MONTH Circle of Life Wreaths Across America honors deceased veterans across Texas at Christmas.

38

31 35

29 AD OPT-A- SCHOOL: COS ERV. W R EAT H: W R EAT HS AC R O SS A ME R IC A

ON THE COVER

Mary Aceves of Magic Valley EC, left, with student Marely Quintanilla at a McAllen Target store. Photo by John Faulk

TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Blaine Warzecha, Chair, Victoria; Alan Lesley, Vice Chair, Comanche; Robert Loth III, Secretary-Treasurer, Fredericksburg; Mark Boyd, Douglassville; Billy Jones, Corsicana; David McGinnis, Van Alstyne; Brent Wheeler, Dalhart • PRESIDENT/CEO: Mike Williams, Austin • COMMUNICATIONS & MEMBER SERVICES COMMITTEE: Clint Gardner, Coleman; Greg Henley, Tahoka; Bill Hetherington, Bandera; Mark McClain, Roby; Gary Raybon, El Campo; John Ed Shinpaugh, Bonham; Robert Walker, Gilmer; Brandon Young, McGregor • MAGAZINE STAFF: Martin Bevins, Vice President, Communications & Member Services; Charles J. Lohrmann, Editor; Tom Widlowski, Associate Editor; Karen Nejtek, Production

Manager; Andy Doughty, Creative Manager; Elaine Sproull, Advertising Manager; Grace Arsiaga, Print Production Specialist; Chris Burrows, Senior Communications Specialist; Christine Carlson, Administrative Assistant; Paula Disbrowe, Food Editor; Travis Hill, Communications Specialist; Qasim K. Johnson, Administrative Assistant; Jessica Ridge, Communications Specialist; Jane Sharpe, Senior Designer; Britian Lee, Intern; Shannon Oelrich, Proofreader

TexasCoopPower.com

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

3

LETTERS Is That Right?

I read that August 13 is International Left-Handers Day [Don’t Be Left Out, Currents, August 2018]. I also read elsewhere that a left-handed person is smarter than the average righthanded person because lefthanders have more copper and zinc in their bodies.

A Leading Lady We really enjoyed All the State’s a Stage [August 2018]. We have been tuned in to all things Shakespeare since our daughter, Sarah Enloe, left for Staunton, Virginia, to work

CHARLES CHANDLER | KEMP TRINITY VALLEY EC

with the American Shakespeare

Growing and Mowing

tion for ASC for a few years now

The highway between lakes Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn once had a wide variety of beautiful wildflowers and was called a scenic drive but was repeatedly mowed at the height of the bloom, a full month before it should have been mowed [Habitat Destruction, Letters, July 2018]. Now all the beautiful flowers are gone and so are the butterflies that accompanied them.

JOE ANNE DAIGRE | BURKEVILLE

Center. She has been head of educa-

and is in contact with several of the groups mentioned in the story.

SAM AND CAROL ENLOE | BRYAN | BRYAN TEXAS UTILITIES

Route 66 [July 2018] inspired me to make another visit.

Sadly, I was appalled at the poor condition of the area, with excessive amounts of litter scattered around the cars and all the way back out to the service road. Discarded spray cans, and even more plastic caps, were left everywhere.

The place definitely does not leave one with a good impression of old Route 66 nor of our state.

SH AKESP EARE: R OBERT MON CRI EFF. CADI LLAC RA NCH : CRAIG SC HELLBAC H

CRAIG SCHELLBACH | BURLESON UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICES

Cadillac Ranch Rubbish As it had been a number of years since I last visited the Cadillac Ranch, Rendezvous on

Editor’s note: Eric W. Miller, director of communications for the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council, offers this response: “We are aware of this issue and we hope to work with the landowner to find a solution to the trash. The landowner provides a couple of dumpsters, at his expense, along the access road that

are for the public to use. I have seen the disposal service go by and empty the dumpsters.”

FDR and the Hump According to the U.S. State Department, President Franklin D. Roosevelt never traveled to Burma or China or anywhere in the Pacific theater of World War II [Flying Roosevelt Over the Hump, Letters, July 2018].

The farthest east that he traveled was Tehran, Iran, in November and December 1943.

PAUL R. SHAW | MINEOLA WOOD COUNTY EC

others. Battling trash on the highways is difficult enough, and now people are using utility poles to trash our beautiful Hill Country.

CHERYL BISSON | HARPER CENTRAL TEXAS EC

GET MORE TCP AT

TexasCoopPower.com Sign up for our e-newsletter for monthly updates, prize drawings and more!

We want to hear from you!

Kudos Your writing selections are stellar. Thank you for your creativity and soulful devotion.

ROBIN RATHER | VIA FACEBOOK

Poles Aren’t Billboards I’ve seen signs posted on utility poles in Gillespie, Kerr, Blanco and Hays counties, among

ONLINE: TexasCoopPower.com/share EMAIL: letters@TexasCoopPower.com MAIL: Editor, Texas Co-op Power, 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701

Please include your town and electric co-op.

Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

D FE

Texas Co-op Power

TEXAS CO-OP POWER VOLUME 75, NUMBER 4 (USPS 540-560). Texas Co-op Power is published monthly by Texas Electric Cooperatives (TEC). Periodical postage paid at Austin, TX, and at additional offices. TEC is the statewide association representing 75 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s website is TexasCoopPower.com. Call (512) 454-0311 or email editor@TexasCoopPower.com. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE is $4.20 per year for individual members of subscribing cooperatives and is paid from equity accruing to the member. If you are not a member of a subscribing cooperative, you can purchase an annual subscription at the nonmember rate of $7.50. Individual copies and back issues are available for $3 each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Co-op Power (USPS 540-560), 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. Please enclose label from this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing old address and key numbers. ADVERTISING: Advertisers interested in buying display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in our 30 sister publications in other states, contact Elaine Sproull at (512) 486-6251. Advertisements in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. The publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any manner any product or company included in this publication. Product satisfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser.

© Copyright 2018 Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Reproduction of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited without written permission. Willie Wiredhand © Copyright 2018 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

TexasCoopPower.com

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

5

CURRENTS HAPPENINGS

T E C H K N OW L E D G E

Monarchs Rule the Day

ANTICIPATING POWER LINE PROBLEMS

event has morphed into a celebration of the annual monarch butterfly migration through East Texas. The alliance between butterflies and the community was cemented in 2015 when Gov. Greg Abbott signed a resolution designating Jasper the Butterfly Capital of Texas.

Though millions of monarchs will fly through East Texas en route to their winter grounds in Central Mexico, their numbers have dropped from a billion in their heyday to about 33 million in 2014—or more than 80 percent since the mid-1990s, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All the more reason to pay attention to these beautiful insects.

So on OCTOBER 20 , people and butterflies are welcomed on the Jasper County Courthouse square for the FALL BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL . In addition to arts and crafts, food vendors and live entertainment, monarch education will be the order of the day.

WEB EXTRAS

INFO a (409) 384-2762, jaspercoc.org

a Find more happenings online.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s control center recently dispatched a crew to replace a faulty clamp on a section of electric line along a remote road.

No one reported a power outage, but the co-op knew about the clamp thanks to a new monitoring technology called distribution fault anticipation.

Falling limbs and switch arcing cause measurable changes in line current and voltage. DFA detects and reports such changes, allowing co-ops to find and fix these situations before they cause problems, including wildfires. Power line events caused more than 4,000 wildfires in Texas in one threeyear period alone, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Texas A&M engineers developed DFA, and Bluebonnet and Pedernales ECs and Mid-South Synergy participated in a multiyear demonstration of the technology. Bluebonnet now has DFA devices on 24 feeder lines.

“This technology helps us increase safety and reliability,” says Will Holford, Bluebonnet EC manager of public affairs. “If we had not known about that clamp that needed to be replaced, the consequences could have been significant. We’re always looking for ways to improve the health of our feeders and mitigate the threat of wildfires.”

6

Texas Co-op Power October 2018

TexasCoopPower.com

B U T T E R F L I E S & R I N G N E SS : DAV I D M O O R E . F I R E B U T TO N : EC E LO P | D R E A M ST I M E .CO M . C H I C KS : TA KO B U R I TO | D R E A M ST I M E .CO M . H A N DS : PAV LO 1 7 1 6 | D R E A M ST I M E .CO M

JASPER has hosted a fall festival for more than 40 years, but recently the

HONORS Two chicks from Texas were among 10 finalists earlier this year in Purina Animal Nutrition’s national contest to name the Strongest Chick in America. Jennifer Lampkin from Big Sandy and Laura Vaile Gariner from Hockley entered photos of their chicks, and voting on Facebook earned them a spot among the finalists.

A chick from Michigan named Rosaleen won the contest.

Don’t Mess With Texas Chicks

W O R T H R E P E AT I N G

“The people love their co-ops, and they stay close to it just like a community.”

—STATE SEN. ROBERT NICHOLS of Jacksonville, during a Senate Committee on Business and Commerce hearing in May about the electric utility industry; October is National Cooperative Month.

H I S TO R Y L E S S O N

Plow Know-How

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THIS MONTH marks the 175th anniversary of the birth of Ole Ringness in

Norway. Ringness, a mail carrier after his family settled in Bosque County, invented the disc plow and disc harrow after noticing how a warped wheel on his wagon moved large amounts of mud.

SPORTS SECTION HE MADE MODELS of a disc plow in his father’s blacksmith shop but never

had his invention patented. In July 1872, as he journeyed to Washington, D.C., to present his case for a patent, he died under mysterious circumstances. Ringness apparently had reached the patent office because it later contacted his family to say his patent had been approved and would be granted upon payment of a fee. The family declined the offer, so Ringness never received credit for the invention.

Similar farm equipment was later patented by a plow company.

TexasCoopPower.com

Did you know?

;

AS COTTON HARVEST continues in Texas, it’s a good time to note that Eli Whitney applied for a patent on the cotton gin 225 years ago— October 28, 1793. He was granted the patent in March 1794. Texas, which leads the nation in cotton farming, produced $1.62 billion in cotton and cottonseed in 2017.

UP FOR DISCUSSION Raise your hand if you know the significance of the Astros’ last game of the season 41 years ago. Hopefully somebody will come along and high-five you.

The celebratory gesture is said to have started in Los Angeles at that game, October 2, 1977, when Dusty Baker of the Dodgers homered off Houston pitcher J.R. Richard. Teammate Glenn Burke raised his hand to greet Baker as he touched home plate, and Baker reached up and slapped Burke’s hand.

That is believed to be the first high-five.

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

7

President’s Message Brian Menking W

ith our 2017 year in the books, as the President of NEC’s Board of Directors, I am pleased to bring you a recap of our accomplishments. Each year we use our Annual Membership Meeting as our opportunity to come together to share our progress and show members how your investment in the Co-op can help benefit you and your family. Nueces Electric Cooperative has implemented new programs and reached members in more ways this year than ever before.

As a Cooperative, NEC strives to keep up with current technology, and 2017 saw the implementation of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system to members. This was especially helpful following Hurricane Harvey when more than 8,000 members lost power due to the storms.

When thousands of people are without power, there are typically many factors that contribute to the problem. To face this challenge during Harvey relief efforts, NEC prioritized the outages affecting the largest number of people first, then focused on the nested outages that impacted individual members. This ensured efficiency as our staff worked hard to safely restore electricity to the entire service area.

In the past, members with nested outages would have to call the office to let us know their power was still

out after most homes and businesses around them had been restored.

Fortunately, thanks to our newly implemented AMI solution, we were able to monitor real-time outages down to each specific meter. Crews were then dispatched to the problem areas to address each outage proactively, a dramatic improvement in overall customer service.

This was a well-timed accomplishment of 2017 that by the time Hurricane Harvey hit, we had deployed a majority of our AMI meters to our membership.

Another benefit of the AMI system is that it allows our members to see their electric usage in real time through the SmartHub app. This feature helps members estimate their monthly bill and find usage spikes.

With each project we take on, we evaluate the assignment against the Cooperative’s strategic goals. Each project we begin and each improvement we make throughout the year must assist us in meeting these goals. The Strategic Planning Committee was created to monitor the progress of the cooperative to meet our goals established in 2014. Since its inception, our team at NEC is doing an excellent job at keeping our

NEC 2017 Margins Returned to Members

*Individual returns vary and are based on longevity with the co-op and overall usage. Longer membership and usage yield higher individual returns.

2015

$7.3 million

2015

2016

In 2017, $6.2 million averaged out to $208 per consumer* via Capital Credits or PowerPerks Adjustment Credits. It is our duty to work for you, the member-owners of the Co-op.

Total Refunded Margins (millions)

$6.1 million

2016

2017

As a not-for-profit cooperative, your Board of Directors is proud to return our margins to our members. Each year, the Board is diligent to maintain a healthy financial balance while ensuring members profit from their equity investment.

$6.2 million

2017

0

0.00

1.00

1

2.00

3

3.00

4.00

5

5.00

6.00

Total Returned Margins (millions)

7

7.00

8.00

Total Refunded Margins (millions)

NEC_Oct2018_TCP.indd 21

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“Since 1997, Nueces Electric Charities has distributed more than $1.5 million in charitible giving to local community organizations in need.”

- Brian Menking

five strategic goals a main focus. These five goals consist of Safety & Health, Member Satisfaction, Growth & Efficiency, Work Environment, and Key Message Communication. We measure these goals with 20 key performance indicators to ensure that our business priorities continue to show improvement.

In 2017, $141,442 was distributed to 21 local nonprofits to support our mission to improve members’ quality of life. This includes an annual $24,000 donation to our signature project, HALO-Flight. Other 2017 recipients include Rise School of Corpus Christi, YWCA, South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind, Driscoll Children’s Hospital and many more. Nueces Electric Charities is funded through Operation Round Up, a program which allows all NEC members the ability to choose to round up their electric bills to the next dollar in donation.

Since 1997, Nueces Electric Charities has distributed more than $1.5 million in charitable giving to local community organizations in need. This community resource is available to those in need thanks to you, our loyal members. Thank you to the members who support Nueces Electric Charities through this program.

As a fellow member, it is a privilege to return Cooperative margins back to the members we serve. We work for you, the members, and with each decision that we make, we always keep each of our loyal NEC members in mind. In total, with Capital Credits and the NEC Co-op Energy PowerPerks Adjustment, your Nueces Electric Board of Directors approved the return of more than $6.2 million in patronage back to its members in 2017.

On behalf of the NEC Board of Directors, I would like to commend our CEO, Trace McCuan for his dedication to the cooperative. And while our CEO is a very important part of our layout, as a member you are the foundation of NEC’s existence. As a democratically run organization, each member is able to select the 10 member-elected Board of Directors to represent your voice through the Cooperative. You have selected us to make sound decisions for you, our member-owners of the co-op as well as our neighbors, friends, and community. We value the feedback that you, as member-owners of Nueces Electric Cooperative, are able to provide to us.

NEC_Oct2018_TCP.indd 21

This December, Nueces Electric Cooperative will celebrate 80 years in this South Texas community. In this time, we remember why our co-op was started so many years ago, and we strive to maintain a relationship with every one of our members from every generation. We value upholding the founding principles that NEC began with and we will continue to work towards providing each member the best value and reliability of service as possible.

9/10/18 3:44 PM

C.E.O. Message Trace McCuan N

ueces Electric Cooperative’s service area saw some major changes in 2017 due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey, the implementation of the new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, and overall improvements to the day-to-day operations at the co-op. I am pleased to report that 2017 was healthy year for NEC and the positive effects of the year will continue to help us grow in the future.

Our Year in Review Each day, NEC employees and your Board of Directors work towards supporting our mission of continually improving the quality of life for all of our members by providing reliable and cost effective electric service. In everything we do, we work to benefit our nearly 30,000 NEC members, every day. Across our service area in 2017, an average of 77 employees worked a total of 157,826 hours and drove more than 806,066 miles. We maintained more than 85,099 poles and 3,454 miles of power line to deliver the most efficient and reliable service possible. The average outage time throughout the system for NEC delivery service members in 2017 was 2 hours and 48 minutes. This is a slight increase over 2016 mostly due to some of the damage and outages associated with strong spring storms, Hurricane Harvey, and a particularly icy winter.

Safety is our number one priority in everything we do, including the 42 weekly operations safety meetings and eight all-employee safety trainings that we conduct to ensure that each employee has a good focus on safety. In 2017, NEC’s recordable and lost time accidents decreased by 33% from 2016. Each year, we work to decrease any safety incidents to ensure that our employees and members are as safe as possible. NEC continues to train and provide hazard recognition training to encourage employees to always maintain safe practices and to report an incident, no matter how small so that preventative measures may be taken.

In addition to training and awareness, we have made some procedural changes and updated some of the tools that are used every day including the new ElectriFlex high voltage gloves which provides a more comfortable experience that puts less strain on the arms and hands of our linemen while keeping them safe across all voltages on our system. This efficiency eliminates the need to switch gloves out in the field and ensures that they will always have the best rated personal protective equipment (PPE).

NEC_Oct2018_TCP.indd 22

For NEC, 2017 also saw the effects of the first major hurricane to hit the United States in over a decade. Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas Gulf Coast as a category four storm with winds up to 130 miles per hour late in the evening on Friday, August 25th.

Our system took a hit from the hurricane with approximately 45 percent of members experiencing outages— leaving approximately 8,200 homes and businesses in the dark. Storm damage included the loss of 24 poles, eight substation feeders and one entire substation.

However, this was largely a learning experience for us as a cooperative. We were able to restore power to approximately 95 percent of members in our service area within 24 hours. Power was completely restored to 100 percent of the membership within 48 hours. Many of our neighboring co-ops and areas further north along the gulf coast suffered complete devastation as a result of the storm. NEC was proud to send multiple crews to these neighboring electric cooperatives to assist them in rebuilding after the storm. We were able to send aid to other areas because of how quickly we were able to restore power to our own members.

One of the largest initiatives we undertook last year was the implementation of a new information computer backup system to maximize the reliability and security of the members’ data. These backups are now performed multiple times a day with high level of encryption to ensure overall cyber security. Additionally, we have supplemented these processes with new cyber security training initiatives for our employees to minimize the risk of cyber-attacks while greatly improving the security of our IT infrastructure and systems.

NEC Co-op Energy As a division of the Cooperative, NEC Co-op Energy is a not-for-profit electricity provider and passes through the electric charges at the cost of service. As the co-op’s competitive retail electricity affiliate, NEC Co-op Energy works to better manage the costs of the cooperative which are ultimately reflected in our members’ bills. In early 2017, our Retail Division, formerly known as NEC Retail, was rebranded as NEC Co-op Energy and rolled out a new advertising campaign featuring real members.

In 2017, NEC Co-op Energy was able to decrease members’ overall rates to NEC wires member by roughly seven tenths of a cent and for all other NEC Co-op Energy members, we had to increase our rates by roughly seven tenths of a cent from the year before.

However, NEC Co-op Energy saw a -1.17% growth in accounts which is mostly due to homes lost during Hur-

9/10/18 3:44 PM

“It is every employee’s and director’s desire to provide great service, keep your lights on and do so as efficiently as possible.”

- Trace McCuan ricane Harvey, but sold more than 1.24 billion kilowatthours (kWh) to member homes and businesses with 10% growth. NEC Co-op Energy has chosen to display energy and power line charges separately as to not misinform consumers. NEC is dedicated to never mislead its members, though others in the market do use gimmicks to entice consumers only to lock them into surprise fees and higher rates. I am optimistic that NEC Co-op Energy can continue to compete in the high stakes retail electricity market and maintain our integrity with our member-owners.

For NEC Co-op Energy members, throughout the year there are many opportunities to experience many of the benefits of membership. Participation in our Military Appreciation Credit grew to more than 2,600 members for a total of nearly $65,000 back to members in honor of their service. Last year, NEC Co-op Energy’s $50/$50 new member referral program had 1,074 member participants. Thank you for spreading the good word to your friends and family throughout the State of Texas. Your endorsement is the best form of advertising.

Through the support of NEC Co-op Energy members who donate to the Member-To-Member assistance program, NEC Co-op Energy was able to distribute more than $10,000 to area agencies in 2017 to help members pay their electric bills.

Cooperative Financials The largest expense for the Cooperative as a whole was our purchased power and generation cost, which has been steadily increasing over the last few years. Thankfully, our power agreement with South Texas Electric Cooperative (STEC) guarantees NEC members a reliable source of generated power. In total, NEC purchased 1,291,069,483 kWh and sold 1,243,013,774 kWh. This represents a 10% increase over 2016 due to the continued expansion of NET Mexico Pipeline Partners, an affiliate of NET Midstream, which has increased operations over the last few years.

The average use of residential members was 1,432 kWh per month which is a 17% increase over 2016. This is mostly due to the particularly hot summer and very cold winter that prompted a higher usage from members in these peak times. Total revenue for the Co-op was up in 2017 by 12% due to the rate adjustment that took place near the end of 2016 as well as a particularly cold winter that encouraged higher consumption from members.

NEC saw a 6% increase in total assets and other debits.

Of the $186.8 million, our cash in bank totaled $1.9 mil-

NEC_Oct2018_TCP.indd 23

lion –an increase due to the rate adjustment as well borrowing money for capital expenditures. Total property and investments increased by 11%, totaling $57 million due to the purchasing of additional treasury strips representing members’ equity.

New technology, rising costs of materials and supplies, regulatory pressures, a more mature competitive retail market, and keeping up with the competitive pay and benefits requirements in a competitive labor market, all contribute to our rising cost of doing business. Despite these cost pressures, our Operating Margins in 2017 totaled $7.5 million and Non-Operating Margins totaled $5.7 million.

From these margins, one of the benefits of being a member-owner of a cooperative are capital credits. Many consider capital credit refunds a gift back to the members, but it is not. These credits are your equity and patronage in the cooperative. Similarly, at the end of 2017, for NEC Co-op Energy members, there was a PowerPerks Adjustment credit itemized on your December bill. This is also money that is paid back to you if it is not used to help offset unseasonably high rates during the hot summer months. In 2017, NEC Co-op Energy gave back a combined $5.7 million in Capital Credits and PowerPerks Adjustment Credits and NEC wires services returned $655,000 in the form of patronage. While for-profit companies pocket these extra margins, as a cooperative, we return them to you. These benefits are what being a member-owner of your electric cooperative is all about: it is the cooperative difference.

The Privilege of Membership As you can see, the past year has brought many positive changes to our cooperative. We at Nueces Electric Cooperative work each day keeping you, the memberowners of the co-op, in mind. It is every employee’s and director’s desire to provide great service, keep your lights on and do so as efficiently as possible. We are consistently working to increase the value of your cooperative membership and we are excited to continue to find new efficiencies and technologies to assist in meeting your needs. I am honored to be working with NEC employees, leadership and your Board of Directors as they should be commended for their work in effecting new processes to support the co-op’s mission for years to come.

9/10/18 3:44 PM

Financial

Report

Number of Members 29,671 Number of Accounts 41,193

Total Power Sold

Number of Facilities 6

2015

Total Power Sold KWh

898,597,516

2016

2015

2017

1,243,013,774

2017

0

Number of Poles 85,099

1,127,178,731

2016

-1.5

Total Miles of Line 3,454

0.5

2.5

4.5

500,000

6.5

Total Power Sold

8.5

10.5

1,000,000

12.5

measured in kWh

NEC Co-op Energy 2017 Power Resources Total Power Purchase = 1,243,013,774

Number of Employees 78 Executive: 6 Business Office: 20 Operations: 25 IT / Metering: 9 Engineering: 8 Compliance: 4 Retail: 4 Facilities: 2 Annual Miles Driven 806,066

Coal 20.6% Natural Gas 65%

Number of Transformers 16,515

Renewable 14.4%

Competitive Retailers in the NEC Territory 15

SMEC 31.0%

NEC_Oct2018_TCP.indd 24

9/10/18 3:44 PM

Balance Sheet

Operating Statistics

Assets: What We Own

Revenues: What We Took In

Net Utility Plant

$113,561,486

Operating Revenue

$105,815,767

Cash in Bank

$1,949,980

Nonoperating Revenue

$1,787,073

Investments

$57,430,537

Associated Cooperative Capital Credits

$3,976,054

Accounts Receivables

$4,390,705

TOTAL REVENUES

$111,578,894

Materials and Supplies

$2,276,501

Prepayments

$274,146

Expenses: What We Paid Out

Other Current & Accrued Assets

$5,614,474

Purchased Power

$74,267,927

Deferred Charges and Other Assets

$1,339,459

Operations and Maintenance

$5,675,020

TOTAL ASSETS

$186,837,288

Consumers Account Expenses

$4,652,199

Administrative and General Expenses

$5,402,717

Depreciation

$3,948,323

Interest

$2,877,262

Tax Expense

$1,270,196

Other Deductions

$178,811

Nonoperating Expenses

$64,599

TOTAL EXPENSES

$98,337,054

Liabilities: What We Owe Membership Fees & Consumer Deposits $2,558,788 Long-Term Debt

$64,583,374

Current and Accrued Liabilities

$19,541,628

Patronage Capital and Equities

$92,037,572

Deferred Credits

$8,115,926

TOTAL LIABILITIES

$186,837,288

Full audited report available at www.nueceselectric.org

How Your Dollar Was Spent in 2017 75.5¢: Cost of Purchased Power

NEC_Oct2018_TCP.indd 25

Margins: What We Had Left Operating Margins

$7,543,312

Nonoperating Margins

$5,698,528

TOTAL MARGINS

$13,241,840

5.5¢: 5.5¢: Distribution Admin & Operations & General 4¢: Maintenance Depreciation 3¢: 5¢: Member Net 1.5¢: Services & Interest Taxes Information

9/10/18 3:44 PM

MINUTES OF THE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING October 12, 2017 Call to Order The 78th annual meeting of the members of Nueces Electric Cooperative, Inc., was held on Thursday, October 12, 2017, at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown, Texas. The number of members present was 931 with 255 ballots issued at the meeting.

There were 6,733 represented by mail-in ballot, for a total of 6,988 voting members (Exhibit “A”). Upon determining that a quorum was present, the meeting was called to order

by President Brian Menking at 7:03 p.m.

The United States Navy presented the colors and Texas A & M Kingsville Jazz Combo led the audience in the National Anthem. Pastor Dale Brynestad, Messiah Lutheran Church, delivered the invocation.

Recognition of Board Members, Committee Members, Special Guests, Youth Tour Delegates, Ramiro De La Pas Scholarship winners & NEC Employees President Menking introduced the Cooperative’s Board of Directors and members of the Community Involvement Committee.

Recognition was given to special guests in attendance, youth tour delegates, Ramiro De La Paz scholarship winners, Halo Flight Program and employees of the Cooperative.

Reading of Notice of Meeting & Proof of Mailing of Notice President Menking read the “Proof of Mailing of the Notice of the Annual Meeting.” After the reading, the document was submitted to Executive Secretary, Liane Padilla for attachment to the official minutes of the meeting.

Minutes of 2016 Annual Meeting President Menking stated that the minutes of the 2016 annual meeting had been provided in the October 2017 issue of the Texas Co-op Power Magazine and the Annual Report booklet. Upon calling for corrections or additions to the minutes, a Motion was made, seconded and duly carried that the minutes of the 2016 Annual Membership Meeting be adopted as published.

Treasurer’s Report President Menking stated the Treasurer’s Report had been provided in the October 2017 issue of the Texas Co-op Power Magazine and the Annual Report booklet. A Motion was made, seconded, and duly carried to approve the report as printed.

President & CEO Reports Overall, 2016 was a good year for NEC and many of our accomplishments will ensure a strong and member-focused co-op for years to come. Last year, NEC employees worked a total of 157,826 hours and drove 836,130 miles across our service area. We maintained 23,386 service connections and 3,603 miles of power lines to deliver the most efficient and dependable service possible.

NEC_Oct2018_TCP.indd 26

In regard to safety, 2016 was a challenging year for NEC with an increase in our recordable and lost time accidents. NEC has implemented procedural changes, increased safety trainings for employees, and updated field tools to better equip our employees with the latest safety gear.

In Early 2017, the Retail Division, formerly known as NEC Retail, was rebranded as NEC Co-op Energy. In 2016, NEC Co-op Energy was able to decrease members’ overall rate by roughly half a cent from the year before.

However, NEC Co-op Energy saw only a 0.3% growth in accounts, but sold more than 1.13 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) to member homes and businesses. Participation in NEC Co-op Energy’s Military Appreciation Credit grew to more than 2,800 members for a total of nearly $70,000 back to members in honor of their service.

In 2015, the Board approved NEC Co-op Energy to move forward with a new renewable project with Clean Energy Collective. June of 2016, the panels began power production. NEC Co-op Energy members that have purchased panels began seeing the generated power from the panels as credit on each month’s bill. We are proud to provide renewable energy options to our members through this new program.

Another perk of being a member-owner of a cooperative are capital credits. In 2016, NEC Co-op Energy gave back a combined $5.5 million in capital credits and power perks adjustment credits and NEC wires services returned $650,000 in capital credits. Many consider capital credit refunds as a gift back to the members, but it is not. As a cooperative, we return them back to you. These benefits are what being a member-owner of your electric cooperative is all about.

And in 2016, NEC’s operating margins totaled a favorable 8.2 million dollars and non-operating margin totaled 1.2 million. However, the Co-op experienced a 10.8% increase in consumer accounts, operations and maintenance, and administrative and general expenses over those in 2015.

It became clear in 2015 that NEC Co-op Energy had been increasingly subsidizing members who live on NEC wires but have power supply services with another company, not NEC Co-op Energy. Therefore, in 2016, the NEC Board of Directors approved an adjustment in the wires rate structure to end the subsidy from NEC Co-op Energy, the power supply business unit. The new rates for delivery services took effect in December of 2016.

The cost of providing wires services is composed largely of costs which don’t change with energy use. As a result, NEC made the decision with its 2008 rate adjustment to begin to move more of its expenses into the monthly “customer charge” component of our rates. NEC has continued this process within this 2016 adjustment. The rate adjustment overall had minimal impact on most NEC members and NEC Co-op Energy was able to lower their rates to offset the overall cost of electricity.

Recently, NEC members participated in the annual membership survey. We are honored

that our membership gave NEC an 87% overall customer satisfaction approval rating. This is ten points above the national co-op average of 77%, and 15 points above the investorowned rating of 72%. We greatly appreciate your feedback as we strive to continually make improvement to the cooperative.

Many members of the co-op, from both NEC Co-op Energy and our traditional wires side, help us contribute to Nueces Electric Charities.

In 2016, more than 143 thousand dollars were distributed to 31 area charities to improve members’ quality of like. This includes our $24 thousand dollar donation to our signature project, Halo Flight. Thank you to the more than 20,000 who support Nueces Electric Charities through Operation Round-up.

As a cooperative, we are owned by you, our members, to serve your electricity needs. We come to the close of another successful year at NEC, I would like to thank you, the members, for your participation in and support of your electric cooperative. Each year we feel the impact of new challenges, but NEC is proud to continue to rise to the occasion to meet your needs. We care about service and care about you, that’s the cooperative difference.

Member Voting Survey and Ballot Systems (SBS) supervised the collection and counting of the ballots.

Upon completion of the counting of the ballots, the following results certified by Dick Berg, a representative of SBS, and Board Secretary/Treasurer David Rosse announced the results: District 1 Director: Rumaldo Juarez 6,534 Votes District 2 Director: Gregg Truesdale 6,345 Votes District 4 Director: Donald W. Herrmann 6,382 Votes It was declared that those elected as Directors for Districts 1, 2 and 4 are: Rumaldo Juarez District #1; Gregg Truesdale District #2 and Donald W. Herrmann District #4, all for threeyear terms.

NEC Co-op Energy Member Referral Program Winners and Prize Drawings NEC Co-op Energy Chief Retail Officer, Frank Wilson, announced the Referral Program winners who received $500 electric bill credit for first place and the runner up received a $250 electric bill credit and held the prize drawings.

Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:47 p.m.

9/10/18 3:44 PM

Pla in

T

re a spot elect the w espe

Rem Alwa locat

The The shru typic Vale us on NEC your

TEXAS

DAY

TREE GIVEAWAY

Saturday, November 3 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

NEC Headquarters Building 14353 Cooperative Avenue Robstown, TX NEC will be giving away FREE trees to all members in honor of Texas Arbor Day. Bring a copy of your latest bill and receive either a Bur Oak or Lacebark Elm two-year old seedling.

Plant the right tree in the right place

T

rees beautify our neighborhoods, and when planted in the right spot, can even help lower your electric bill. But the wrong tree in the wrong place can be a hazard... especially to power lines!

Remember to be safe: Always call 811 before you dig to locate any buried utility lines.

The right time to plant: The best time to plant trees and shrubs here in South Texas is typically between Halloween and Valentine’s Day. Don’t forget to join us on Saturday, November 3 at the NEC Headquarters Building to get your FREE tree for Texas Arbor Day!

NEC_Oct2018_TCP.indd 27

9/10/18 3:44 PM

THROUGH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, CO-OPS PROVE

BY CHARLES LOHRMANN

CO O P E RAT I V E P H OTOS

ohn Wied, a member of Fayette Electric Cooperative in La Grange since 1981, serves on the board of Hospice Brazos Valley, and he looks to the co-op to support the specialty health care provider. “We have our fundraiser in Round Top in August,” he says, “and I can always count on Fayette EC for a donation.”

But the true significance of the co-op’s role in the community goes much deeper than any of its individual contributions to service organizations, Wied says. “They are the fabric of the community,” he explains. “If you tried to pull it up and go away, a lot of people would go with it. They don’t just support the community—they are the community.”

Community involvement—along with local management—is what makes today’s electric cooperatives special in the eyes of their members. Recent research conducted on behalf of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association reports that one of the essential reasons members value co-ops is that they are local. “Community is the core co-op advantage that connects with consumers,” NRECA reports.

Since their creation in the 1930s, Texas’ 67 electric distribution co-ops have served rural and suburban areas. In those early years, investor-owned utilities were not willing to extend electric service beyond cities and towns because it was not profitable. Then came the Rural Electrification Administration, a federal program that helped cooperatives finance their own electric systems.

As Wied said of Fayette EC, they don’t just serve the community—they are the community. Kevin Houchin, a member of Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative in McGregor, echoes the sentiment, “Co-op employees are the little league coaches; they are the Sunday school teachers.”

In local communities and in foreign countries, improving lives is the co-op way.

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

9

10

Texas Co-op Power October 2018

n the Rio Grande Valley, Magic Valley Electric Cooperative in Mercedes assists a range of nonprofit organizations.

Thelma Garza, president of United Way of South Texas, which serves Hidalgo and Starr counties, explains that Magic Valley EC “is a very strong supporter of our United Way, not just in payroll deductions for employee contributions but also in volunteer work.”

“They help with training other volunteers,” she says, “and they support the calendar we mail out to 45,000 people. People see the Magic Valley logo, and they know the co-op is engaged with people.

“We need as many as 200 volunteers for our back-to-school program, when we give 120 eighth-graders and freshmen a $150 Target gift card to buy school supplies,” Garza explains. “Even though the school gives them a shopping list, the volunteers help the students make better choices. Some of those students have never had the opportunity to shop for themselves.

“We also have a program called Loaned Executive, in which someone in mid management becomes an extension of the United Way staff for 12 weeks during our campaign, “ Garza says. “These people meet with major employers and make what we call the TexasCoopPower.com

J O H N FAU L K

Magic Valley Electric Cooperative supports United Way of South Texas’ back-to-school program.

Volunteer Evelyn López helps Marely Quintanilla of Edinburg shop at a McAllen Target store.

midnight presentations at hospital shift changes—or even at 3 a.m., when UPS has a shift change.”

Abraham Quiroga, business and employee development division manager at Magic Valley EC, has taken part in the Loaned Executive program twice. “The biggest benefit of the program,” Quiroga says, “is learning about the organizations that United Way supports. Many people rely on those social services, and they meet real human needs.”

In Central Texas, Houchin retired from the McGregor Independent School District after 31 years, including 17 as superintendent. “Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative provided the energy for most of our schools,” he says, “and they were a great community partner.

“They were always available to help,” Houchin says, “even with something as simple as coming to dig the hole when someone donated a tree to honor a loved one. Or they would put up the decorations downtown.”

Heart of Texas EC is one of the many co-ops around the state that participate in Operation Round Up, a program in which members can round up their monthly bills to the next whole dollar to support their co-op’s charitable work. “Through their Round Up TexasCoopPower.com

program,” Houchin explains, “Heart of Texas is able to provide grants to all kinds of nonprofits. Money is tight, and a $2,500 grant for a volunteer fire department makes a big difference.”

Houchin also lauds the co-op in its basic role as energy provider.

“They were always competitive pricewise,” he says, “and they kept us up to date with what was happening. If something needed to be fixed, they fixed it. They were a great community partner.”

In Denton County, Janet Shelton has been impressed by the community involvement of CoServ, an electric co-op based in Corinth, and the CoServ Foundation. “I’ve been involved with the Denton Public School Foundation,” she says, “and CoServ has been very generous with their grants to support innovative classroom activity.” Shelton’s praise does not stop there.

“I was on the board of an organization called Hearts for Homes that provided home repairs for elderly residents who could not afford to make the repairs themselves. CoServ not only gave us money but sent volunteer crews to help complete the repairs.”

One more thing: “I was involved with the Denton Community Theater,” she adds, “and CoServ gave us a grant to purchase headphones for the hearing-impaired. So, you could say that CoServ supports schools, social services and the arts.”

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

11

CO O P E RAT I V E P H OTOS

ven though electric co-ops are known for community involvement, their primary business always will be fulfilling the basic need for reliable electricity. Every co-op is part of the complex infrastructure of the state’s electric grid. In some cases, even the co-op’s power generation component has a community function. As renewable energy technologies are incorporated into community generation projects, co-ops are making renewable resources accessible to members—to help the planet. In March, United Cooperative Services in Cleburne activated an installation of 44,340 solar panels in Bosque County that can generate up to 9.9 megawatts. The co-op’s members can subscribe to the power with no upfront costs and no contract.

Concern for Community, one of the Seven Cooperative Principles, extends to management, too. As one member put it, “When our power goes out, their power goes out, too.” As Wied says, “They’re not in New York, looking out from the 75th floor.”

Often, the most visible co-op personnel are lineworkers, who are on the job at all hours of the day and night, working to keep the lights on. In the aftermath WEB EXTRAS of ice storms, thunderstorms, tornaa Read this story does, wildfires, floods and other disonline to see more asters, lineworkers are among the first examples of how responders and sometimes don’t get co-ops support to go home for days at a time. their communities.

The framework by which co-ops support one another is called a mutual-aid agreement. After Hurricane Harvey’s 130 mph winds tore out electric service for more than 175,000 meters in 15 co-op service territories, co-ops from across the state, including as far away as the Panhandle, sent line crews to restore power. Jimmie Scott, a lineworker for Jackson Electric Cooperative, did not miss a day of work restoring power to Jackson EC members, even though the roof caved in on the house he inherited from his father.

Members know they can count Inspired by the stories of servon co-ops to serve young peoice and sacrifice, members of ple, stay on top of trends in the Mecklenburg Electric Cooperaindustry and help get them through disasters. tive, based in Chase City, Virginia, TexasCoopPower.com

figuratively joined hands to support Texas co-ops. Employees, along with local schools and community groups, filled a semitrailer with cleaning and restoration supplies, water, and handwritten messages of support. The truck and driver, provided by a co-op member, made the 1,300-mile trip to Victoria Electric Cooperative, which distributed supplies along the coast.

People along the coast still are recovering from the damage of Harvey, even a year after it blasted Texas. This spring, the Sinton Little League asked San Patricio Electric Cooperative for help in replacing seven light poles that were damaged during the storm. Even though the ballpark does not receive electric service from San Patricio EC, the co-op covered the cost of the new poles.

A group of 21 co-op employees, led by Alex Torres and Joe Cruz, repainted the ballpark’s concession stand, replaced an unsafe staircase, fixed up its roof and added more power outlets.

Lineworkers take seriously the responsibility of serving their communities, even when they are not on the job. Four lineworkers from Tri-County Electric Cooperative encountered a fiery, multivehicle collision on Interstate 35 on their way to lunch one day in May 2017. They took action immediately, removing victims from their vehicles and providing first aid, including spinal immobilization, until medics arrived. Their lifesaving efforts took on even more immediacy as a fire caused by the initial collision spread to a cargo trailer filled with paint cans, causing explosions that accelerated the blaze.

Every community in Co-op Country tells similar stories of generosity and support. Many who collaborate with the co-ops share the sentiment of CoServ member Shelton, who says, “I’m just impressed.”

Charles Lohrmann is the Texas Co-op Power editor.

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

13

Cooperative business entities around the world adhere to the Seven Cooperative Principles originally formulated in the 1840s in England. The principles have endured to this day and are a testament to the sustainability of the cooperative business model.

1

4

VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP

AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

2 DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote), and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

5 EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so that they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

3 Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

6 COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7 CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

14

Texas Co-op Power October 2018

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Electric Notes CONSERVATION AND SAFETY INFORMATION

TATO M M | I STO C K .CO M

Fall Home Maintenance and Prep

Lower humidity makes fall a great time for outdoor painting.

FINALLY, TEMPERATURES ARE AT LEAST HINTING AT COOLING,

foliage is edging closer to its glorious reveal, and football is on TV. That means leaves are falling or will be soon. Here are some practical steps you can take to get your home in tiptop shape for autumn.

Outdoors Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves and debris. Also, con-

sider installing gutter guards to help minimize the job next time.

Trim dead limbs and branches from trees to prevent them from falling and causing damage to your house or car during winter storms that may come.

Lower humidity during fall makes for prime painting time. If you’ve been putting off an exterior house painting job, this could be an opportune time to get around to it.

Take a close look at your roof. Check for signs of wear and tear, including any misshapen, cracked or missing shingles.

Damaged shingles should be replaced, and if there is significant damage to the roof overall, it may be time to consider replacing the whole thing.

Check flashing around skylights, chimneys and pipes, and seal any leaks or gaps with roofing cement.

If doing any of the above necessitates a ladder, observe the following practices:

a Place the ladder’s base on a firm, dry surface. a Wear slip-resistant shoes.

18

Texas Co-op Power October 2018

a Always keep three points of contact with the ladder: two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand. a Don’t stand higher than the third rung from the top. a Don’t lean or overreach—reposition the ladder instead. a Be sure to check for and avoid any overhead power lines before climbing a ladder.

Once back on solid ground, rake or blow leaves from your lawn to avoid insects and prevent suffocating the grass below. The raked leaves make an excellent nutrient-rich mulch, or you can compost them.

One last task outdoors in anticipation of colder, potentially freezing winter temperatures: Wrap exposed water pipes with heating tape. The benefits of this are twofold—it will save energy and keep your pipes from freezing.

Indoors Clean or replace filters in your heating, ventilation and air con-

ditioning system.

Check your attic for proper insulation and make sure there’s enough. The insulation’s vapor barrier should face down toward your home’s interior. If more insulation is needed, install it on the attic’s floor between joists, taking care not to step off the joists.

If there isn’t one already, consider installing a screen behind any gable vents that lead into your home’s attic to discourage

pests from taking up residence there.

Weatherstrip doors and windows with vinyl, felt, foam tape or rubber to seal any drafty areas. Finish the job with a metal sweep along the bottom of the door. For an easier alternative to the door sweep, go with a removable draft guard. It’s also wise to repair caulking around window and door frames.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, sealing an old or especially drafty house can save more than 20 percent on heating and cooling bills, so this is a worthwhile practice to maintain year-round.

Have wood-burning fireplaces inspected and cleaned to prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries as needed. If you don’t own a CO detector, get one. Relatively inexpensive models can save lives.

Put these tips into action to make your home a safe and comfortable sanctuary for you and your family.

TexasCoopPower.com

Is Your Neighbor Stealing From You? EVERY YEAR, YOUR ELECTRIC COOPERA-

KA L I 9 | I STO C K .CO M

tive copes with thieves—folks who deliberately tamper with their electric meters to steal power. Not only is this practice extremely dangerous, it’s a serious crime that can result in hefty fines and jail time.

According to the Cooperative Research Network, power surging through a compromised meter can cause an electrical catastrophe.

A short circuit could produce an arc flash bright enough to cause blindness and powerful enough to launch fragments of shrapnellike, red-hot debris.

Serious injury or death from electrocution, explosion or fire often results from meter tampering. Only trained co-op personnel wearing protective clothing should work on meters.

Electricity theft has several victims.

The co-op loses revenue and expends resources to investigate tampering.

Co-op members pay more for the power they use to cover the cost of the stolen electricity.

And, most importantly, co-op personnel, members and the thief can be seriously injured when the meter’s safety features are compromised.

Anyone witnessing or aware of someone tampering with an electric meter should contact their electric co-op immediately.

Keep Halloween More Treat Than Trick EVERYONE LOVES A GOOD SCARE ON HALLOWEEN BUT NOT WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY.

The harsh reality is that, on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year, so make sure you take every safety precaution this October 31.

Trick-or-Treating Outfit your trick-or-treater with a glow stick or flashlight with fresh batteries, but make clear to never shine its beam into the eyes of drivers. Instruct children to stay on sidewalks wherever possible and to look both ways before crossing streets.

Make sure that little revelers (and you) cross streets only at corners and never from between parked vehicles. Lastly, keep youngsters from indulging until after a trusted adult has inspected their trove of treats carefully.

Haunting the House Never use electrical products outdoors that are marked for indoor use. You could get shocked—or worse.

Dried flowers, cornstalks, hay and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep them away from open flames and other heat sources, including lightbulbs and heaters.

Always inspect each decoration before use and discard any with cracked, frayed or bare wires. Always turn off electrical decorations and extinguish any open flames before leaving home or going to bed. Use a flashlight or battery-operated candles in jack-o’-lanterns.

Slow down in residential neighborhoods to at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit to give yourself extra time to react to children who may dart into the street.

Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs. Look for children crossing the street; they may not be paying attention to traffic and cross the street midblock or between parked cars. Turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible—even before the sun has set.

TexasCoopPower.com

E T-A RTWO R KS | I STO C K .CO M

While Driving

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

19

Observations

Preying at a House of Worship When killer bees take over a historic church, all hell breaks loose

BY MARTHA DEERINGER

20

Texas Co-op Power October 2018

As president of the association that cares for Historic Eagle Springs Baptist Church, the last remaining building in the almost-vanished town of Eagle Springs in Coryell County, I shuddered when I got the news.

Richard Newman, the young man who mows our spiky weeds (not even the most optimistic among us would call it a lawn), had encountered a hive of angry bees living in the church attic and been stung 20 or 30 times and was on his way to the emergency room.

We learned the hard way that bees and internal combustion engines are mortal enemies, and the bees’ wrath extends to the humans that operate the hated machines. Richard’s gas-powered weed trimmer triggered the venomous attack, and although he hightailed it for home about a half-mile away, the unforgiving bees chased him right to the front door.

After we confirmed Richard’s recovery, I called an emergency meeting of the association—but not at the church, which was still off-limits because of the bee uprising. Our annual homecoming celebration, the fundraiser that enables us to pay the electric bills and keep up with the constant repairs required for the 140-yearold building, was a mere two weeks away.

We decided to hire a local company that relocates unwanted swarms by vacuuming them out of the wall along with their honey. This simple plan had a fatal flaw created by a rare rainy spell: The vacuum (or maybe the employees) didn’t work in the rain.

On to plan B: David Scott, our vice pres-

ident, located a beekeeper in nearby Gatesville. “Yes,” he said. “I’ll relocate the bees and the honey.” If the honey remained inside the wall, he explained, wild bees would move in and we’d be right back where we started. He explained that he would need to cut a hole in the ceiling to gain access to the hive.

On the designated day, the phone rang.

“The beehive in the attic of the church is huge, the biggest I’ve ever seen, and this job is taking longer than I thought,” the beekeeper said. “I’m diabetic, and my blood sugar is getting too low. Could you bring me a Coke?” I exceeded the speed limit covering the 2 miles from my house to the church, haunted by visions of an unconscious beekeeper lying on the ground.

When I arrived, the beekeeper, dressed in his protective suit, was barely visible inside a vortex of angry bees. I lowered the window just enough to hand him the Coke.

“These are Africanized bees,” he said through my closed window. “I’m not going to try to relocate them.” He showed me an astonishing photo on his honey-encrusted phone of what looked like large snakes hanging down from the peak of the roof, pointing out the tiny octagonal cells of the honeycomb.

Africanized honeybees, which look just like their better-behaved cousins, European honeybees, have colonized Texas since their arrival from Brazil in 1990.

Their impulse to sting is 10 times greater, and attacks last longer. Once disturbed, they remain aggressive for as long as 24 hours. A swarm of Africanized honeybees attacked and killed a 62-year-old man one TexasCoopPower.com

J O H N KAC H I K

county over in 2013, so the beekeeper’s decision to eradicate them met no resistance from us.

Our carpenter repaired the ceiling a few days later and patched the bee-sized cracks in cypress siding that had been hauled by ox wagon from Galveston in 1878. David and I swept up a snowdrift of dead bees inside the church and wiped up honey that had dripped from the ceiling onto the floor below.

When homecoming arrived, we had the church to ourselves again, but no one rejoiced at the outcome. Bee populations in Texas are in a steep decline, and rural Texans recognize the importance of bees to agriculture. “USDA researchers are hard at work to determine the cause of a problem called colony collapse disorder, which is wreaking havoc with the beekeeping industry,” says Blake Shook of Blue Ridge, a Fannin County Electric Cooperative member who is on the executive TexasCoopPower.com

board of the American Beekeeping Federation. “The disorder appears to be a combination of several factors: stress, pesticides, lack of good forage and new diseases. When European bees die out, it’s possible for Africanized bees to get a foothold, at least in the parts of Texas where Africanized bees thrive. They don’t do well in North Texas, where winters are cold.”

I’ve often thought that if the walls of the Historic Eagle Springs Baptist Church could talk, they’d have some astounding tales to tell. Historic accounts relate that in early days, the men of the congregation attended services with rifles across their knees for security. Horse thieves chased one early pastor into the brush for preaching against such unlawful activities. Our great bee invasion adds another chapter to the old building’s rich history.

Martha Deeringer, a member of Heart of Texas EC, lives near McGregor.

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

21

Texas USA

The Ballad Hunter John Avery Lomax collected thousands of early American cowboy, folk and spiritual songs

BY GENE FOWLER

22

Texas Co-op Power October 2018

Classic cowboy songs are so ingrained in American popular culture and history that it might seem as though plaintive strains of Home on the Range could be heard when the first settlers felt the West Texas wind over the plains, and Red River Valley seems as ancient as the stream itself.

However, those songs, and many more like them, were first collected by Texas folklorist John Avery Lomax, who not only collected such songs from oral tradition and preserved them for popular culture but also made them a subject for scholarly study. In fact, Harvard professors first recognized the value of such study before Lomax’s University of Texas teachers did.

In 1869, the Lomax family left Mississippi and headed for Texas by covered wagon with 2-year-old John in tow. The Lomaxes settled on a farm in the Bosque River Valley near Meridian. “I couldn’t have been more than 4 years old when I first heard a cowboy sing and yodel to his cattle,” Lomax wrote in his 1948 book, Adventures of a Ballad Hunter. “I was sleeping in my father’s two-room house in Texas beside a branch of the old Chisholm Trail.” Young John wrote down the words of the trail hands’ songs on scratchpads and on pieces of cardboard.

Lomax’s higher education began in 1887 with a year at Granbury College. He then taught school for several years in Clifton and Weatherford, and from 1895 to 1897, he studied at the University of Texas at Austin. There, he showed his collection of cowboy songs, “a roll of dingy manuscript written out in lead pencil and tied together with a cotton string,” to pro-

fessors of Shakespeare and philosophy, who found them completely devoid of cultural significance. “So that night in the dark,” wrote Lomax, “out behind Brackenridge Hall, I made a small bonfire of every scrap of my cowboy songs.”

In 1906, Lomax found encouragement as a postgraduate student at Harvard University. When his American literature professor learned that Lomax was interested in writing a dissertation on cowboy songs, he introduced Lomax to professor George L. Kittredge, a pioneer in American folklore studies. “That moment was the real beginning of my connection with the Archive of American Folk Song, established many years later in the Library of Congress,” Lomax wrote in Adventures of a Ballad Hunter.

Back in Texas in 1908, married and with a family to support, Lomax received the first of several fellowships from Harvard that allowed him to devote time and travel to collecting cowboy songs. Hauling one of Thomas Edison’s phonograph cylinders into saloons, rodeos and cattle camps, Lomax found that cowboys were reluctant to sing into the machine’s large horn, a sort of primitive microphone.

The ballad hunter persisted. In Fort Worth, he collected lyrics to The Old Chisholm Trail, of which one cowboy claimed to know 89 verses. At a campground on the west fork of the Trinity River, a Roma songstress sang Lomax “the first blues that I ever heard, moving me almost to tears.”

In Abilene, the professor learned The Buffalo Skinners from an old hunter who had lived the song. “It happened in TexasCoopPower.com

WEB EXTRAS u Read this story

on our website to listen to songs Lomax collected.

COU RT ESY UN IVER SI TY OF T EXAS PRESS

John Avery Lomax records Aunt Harriett McClintock at a crossroads near Sumterville, Alabama.

Jacksboro in the spring of ’73,” the story began. A man named Crego hired some hands to hunt bison in the Panhandle and stiffed them on their pay.

They killed Crego “and left his damn ol’ bones to bleach.”

Lomax collected Home on the Range in a San Antonio saloon from an AfricanAmerican bartender who had learned the song as trail-drive cook. He included the classic in his 1910 book, Cowboy Songs and

TexasCoopPower.com

Other Frontier Ballads.

By the time the ballad hunter wrote his 1948 autobiography, he had traveled hundreds of thousands of miles on his quest. In the 1930s, sons Alan and John Jr. accompanied him on treks to collect African-American folk songs, often from prison inmates. He toured northern cities with the singer Lead Belly. Alan Lomax went on to a distinguished musicology career, and the younger John Lomax released a CD of his late father singing The Buffalo Skinners and other folk songs a cappella.

Lomax’s archive is today preserved in

the university’s Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, and the University of Texas Press recently published a reprint of the classic Adventures of a Ballad Hunter.

“John Lomax rescued Home on the Range, Midnight Special and 10,000 other songs from obscurity and made them part of a new American canon of traditional music,” said John Wheat, music archivist at the Briscoe Center. “He helped launch a process of discovery of our cultural roots that continues long after his passing.”

Gene Fowler is an Austin writer who specializes in history.

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

23

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Texas History

Bass Reeves, Lawman Extraordinaire Could the West’s first African-American deputy marshal have inspired the Lone Ranger?

D O N G RAY ST U D I O | A LVA M U RA L S O C I E TY

BY CLAY COPPEDGE

Bass Reeves came to Texas from Arkansas as an enslaved 8-year-old with the William Reeves family in 1846. He would go on to become the first AfricanAmerican U.S. deputy marshal west of the Mississippi and among the most relentless lawmen of his or any day.

When William’s son, George, went to fight for the Confederacy during the Civil War, Bass was sent along with him. At some point, Bass lit out for Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) and never encountered the Reeves family again.

Bass Reeves found refuge in Indian Territory with the Seminole, Creek and other tribes and later bought land near Van Buren, Arkansas. He married Nellie Jennings, a Texas girl, in 1864 and grew crops, raised livestock and reared five boys and five girls.

In 1875, President Ulysses S. Grant ordered Judge Isaac C. Parker to bring law and order to Indian Territory. Parker authorized the hiring of 200 deputy marshals, and Reeves, an occasional scout and guide for deputy marshals, was one of them. Reeves was big (6 feet, 2 inches) and already a legendary marksman, and he knew the country.

Reeves also turned out to be dedicated and fearless. He worked for 32 years as a U.S. deputy marshal and reportedly brought to justice 3,000 felons, all but 14 of them alive.

Art T. Burton, author of the 2006 biography Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves, isn’t sure about that 3,000 number, even though it came from Reeves himself in a 1902 interview. Even so, Burton found TexasCoopPower.com

many newspaper accounts of Reeves bringing in a dozen or more desperados at a time.

Burton’s lifelong fascination with Reeves began when he was 11. He saw a movie about Wyatt Earp and asked his grandfather if there were any black marshals in the Old West. “There was one,” his grandfather told him. “His name was Bass Reeves.” Burton sought out family members and others who were around during the marshal’s heyday and listened to oftenfantastic and nearly always unverifiable stories about Reeves. But once retired as a history professor, he got to wondering if some of the stories might be true, which led him to write the biography.

“He was the baddest of the bad,” Burton says. “He was an expert with a rifle and a pistol. And if you were hiding, he would find you.”

Reeves operated, Burton says, without fear or favor, arresting the minister who baptized him for selling illegal liquor and even his own son, Bennie, for killing his wife. It’s hard to compare him to anybody, except maybe the Lone Ranger. And Burton does make that comparison.

Burton notes that U.S. marshals work-

ing in the region at that time, including Reeves, routinely hired Native Americans to work with them, and he found instances of Reeves repaying strangers for their kindness and hospitality with silver dollars. Perhaps that compares to how the Lone Ranger handed out silver bullets to verify his identity.

The original Lone Ranger wore a black mask, and Burton found several accounts of Reeves using disguises to capture bad guys. Many of the desperados Reeves arrested were sentenced to prison in Detroit, where The Lone Ranger radio show originated.

While Burton readily admits there is no conclusive evidence to support the notion that Reeves was the prototype for the Lone Ranger, he believes that Reeves “is the closest real person to resemble the fictional Lone Ranger that we have.”

Of course, there’s also the possibility that the creators of the radio show just made up the character. But Reeves was the real deal. He died in 1910, but, oddly, no one knows where he’s buried.

Burton believes he’s still in disguise.

Writer Clay Coppedge is the author of Forgotten Tales of Texas (The History Press, 2011).

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

29

H H

holiday

H

GIFT GUIDE H

In the magazine and on TexasCoopPower.com, we make it easy to shop for friends and family.

Special Gifts for Special People

2018 Texas Classic Fire Station Calendar

Personalized livestock brands, logos and names on custom-made metal bootjacks, leather coaster sets, luggage tags and marble trivets. Lasting gifts for Christmas, birthdays and special occasions.

Call for free brochure.

Large 20-by-15-inch calendar with 12 watercolors of active, classic Texas fire stations from Texas State Artist George Boutwell. $12.50 plus sales tax and $3.50 shipping.

Quantity prices on website!

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Fresh “New Crop” Pecans

T OF THE BES

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Comfortable and very effective at preventing injuries. Useful in many situations, and provides adjustable airflow. See website for all the benefits!

651-492-4830 www.armchaps.com 30

Texas Co-op Power October 2018

LY

OOK— —C O O K B

$29.95 PUBL ISHE FRO M THE

POW ER S CO-O P RS OF TEXA

Give friends and family the Best of Texas.

Texas Co-op Power presents a collection of best-loved recipes from two of our most popular cookbooks ever, the Typically Texas Cookbook and The Second Typically Texas Cookbook.

Contact your local co-op today, or place your order online at TexasCoopPower.com. To order by mail, send a check or money order payable to TEC for $29.95 to Best of Typically Texas Cookbook, 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701.

TexasCoopPower.com

Recipes

The Great Pumpkin ’Tis the season when all things pumpkin flavor our lattes, cookies, quick breads and more. No complaints here—the subtly sweet richness of pumpkin gives everything from soups to muffins a luscious texture and comforting, even nostalgic appeal. When I heard Ruth Reichl, the former editor of Gourmet magazine, describe the following recipe, I knew I had to give it a try. A small whole pumpkin (sometimes called a sugar or pie pumpkin) is layered with toasted bread and cheese; filled with cream, chicken stock and a few aromatics; and baked until the filling melds with the tender pumpkin flesh.

Delight friends and family by serving the whole baked pumpkin at the table, then carve it into quarters.

PAULA DISBROWE, FOOD EDITOR

Stuffed Pumpkin small pumpkin (about 4 pounds) loaf French bread (such as baguette), cubed (about 6 cups) 12 ounces grated cheese (such as Gruyère, Swiss, Emmenthal or sharp white cheddar) 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or sage 1 cup chicken stock 1 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Pinch grated nutmeg Pinch cayenne Vegetable oil, for brushing

D E P I A N O | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M

1 1

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Slice off the top of the pumpkin (as though you were making a jacko’-lantern) and use a metal spoon to scrape out the seeds and strings.

(Spread the seeds out to dry and eat later.)

3. Place the bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, about 9 minutes.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

31

Recipes The Great Pumpkin

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

MARI HALEY | CENTRAL TEXAS EC Haley’s swoonworthy riff on flan has a subtle, appealing pumpkin flavor that melds perfectly with its caramelized syrup. With a silky texture that’s slightly more substantial than traditional versions, the flan makes for a pie stand-in on Thanksgiving. Haley says it’s also a “great dessert for a Mexican-themed dinner” and “really complements a Cajun-spiced turkey.”

Family Style Pumpkin Flan CARAMEL

1

cup sugar

CUSTARD

5 1 1 ½ ¼ ¼ 1 ¾

eggs, at room temperature cup sweetened condensed milk can (15 ounces) pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling) teaspoon ground cinnamon teaspoon ground ginger teaspoon ground nutmeg teaspoon vanilla extract cup whole milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees with the rack in the middle of the oven.

2. CARAMEL: Pour the sugar into a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan and place over low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar melts into a golden liquid. Carefully pour the hot, caramelized sugar into an 8-inch metal (not glass) cake pan and allow to cool completely.

3. CUSTARD: Beat the eggs with an electric mixer at low speed until combined (do not whip the eggs into foam). Add the sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla and mix at low speed just until evenly combined. Add the milk and beat at low speed

$100 Recipe Contest March’s theme is Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner. Roasted? Stewed?

Fried until crisp? What’s the word on your best bird? The deadline to submit a recipe is October 10.

IF YOUR RECIPE IS FEATURED, YOU’LL WIN A TEXAS CO-OP POWER APRON! ENTER ONLINE at TexasCoopPower.com/contests; MAIL to 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701; FAX to (512) 763-3401. Include your name, address and phone number, plus your co-op and the name of the contest you are entering.

until well-blended (do not overbeat).

4. Place the cake pan in a larger pan (like a lasagna pan), then pour the egg mixture into the cake pan over the cooled caramelized sugar. Carefully pour hot water into the lasagna pan until it reaches about ⅔ up the side of the cake pan to create a water bath, then place combined pans in oven.

5. Bake 50 minutes or until the flan is firm to the touch but not solid.

(To double-check for doneness, insert a knife into the center and about halfway down into the flan—the knife should come out clean.) Remove the pans from the oven and carefully remove the cake pan from the water bath. Allow the cake pan to cool on counter, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one day or up to two days.

6. When you’re ready to serve, run a table knife around the side of the cake pan to release the flan. Place a deep serving plate on top of the cake pan and, while holding the plate and pan tightly together, invert. The caramel will run down the sides of the flan.

Serve in wedges or large spoonfuls, topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired. a Serves 6–8.

Remove from oven and cool slightly.

4. Layer the bread and cheese inside the pumpkin, leaving about ½ inch at the top (the filling will expand a bit during baking).

5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the fresh herbs, chicken stock, cream, salt, black pepper, nutmeg and cayenne. Pour the mixture into the pumpkin, using as much as you need to cover the top layer of filling. Place the top back on the pumpkin, brush the outside with oil, then bake on a rimmed baking sheet 2 hours, until the pumpkin is very tender.

6. Allow the pumpkin to cool 10–15 minutes, then slice it into quarters. Make sure you scoop up the pumpkin flesh with the bread and cheese mixture. a Serves 4.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins KELLY LASTER | PEDERNALES EC

You can use regular or mini chocolate chips in these easy-to-love muffins (they’re perfect for school parties or potlucks). “Our children used to ask to bring these to school on their birthdays to share with their classmates instead of cupcakes,” Laster says. “It’s been a family favorite recipe for the last 20 years.”

4 2 1 1½ 3 2 2 1 1 2

eggs cups sugar can (15 ounces) pumpkin purée cups vegetable oil cups flour teaspoons baking soda teaspoons baking powder teaspoon ground cinnamon teaspoon salt cups semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and apply nonstick spray to 2 muffin pans (or line them with paper cups).

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just combined, then fold in chocolate chips.

3. Fill the muffin indents about ¾ full, then bake 16–20 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove from TexasCoopPower.com

H A L E Y: CO U RT E SY M A R I H A L E Y. F L A N : F E R N A N D O M O R E N O | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M . B AC KG R O U N D : M Y D EG AG E | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M

THIS MONTH’S RECIPE CONTEST WINNER

heat and cool the muffins in pans 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. a Makes 24 muffins.

Curried Pumpkin Soup With Cilantro Chutney

2 tablespoons curry powder 1 teaspoon minced fresh dill 1 teaspoon grated orange zest 1 cup heavy cream Salt and pepper to taste

JANET ROSE | SAN BERNARD EC

CILANTRO CHUTNEY

We love the creative, exotic spin on this silky soup. Curry, bright orange juice and a cilantro chutney pair beautifully with the sweetness of pumpkin. “This soup can be served hot or cold,” Rose writes, “and can be made with any winter squash in place of the pumpkin. You can also use canned pumpkin purée.”

2 ½ 1 ¼ ½ 1

cups fresh cilantro (leaves and tender stems) yellow pepper, diced hot chile (preferably red), seeded and chopped cup roasted sunflower seeds teaspoon roasted cumin seeds teaspoon orange juice

SOUP

2 1 ½ 1 6 1 4 1

tablespoons butter cup chopped onion cup chopped shallots clove garlic, chopped cups cubed fresh pumpkin (about a 4-pound pumpkin) tart apple (preferably Granny Smith), peeled, cored and chopped cups chicken broth cup orange juice (preferably fresh)

1. SOUP: Melt the butter in a large saucepan (or Dutch oven) over medium heat. When the butter has melted, add the onion, shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are softened (but not brown), about 5–7 minutes.

Add the pumpkin, apple, chicken broth, orange juice, curry powder, dill and orange zest. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower heat and simmer about 40

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minutes, until the pumpkin is very soft.

2. Remove the soup from heat and allow to cool briefly, then purée the mixture in a blender or food processor (in batches if necessary). Return the purée to the pot, stir in the heavy cream, season to taste with salt and pepper and rewarm, if necessary, but do not allow the soup to boil.

3. CHUTNEY: Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and process into a coarse purée. Add additional sunflower seeds if the chutney is too thin. Serve immediately, or cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator up to one day in advance.

4. To serve the soup, ladle it into bowls and garnish with a spoonful of the cilantro chutney. a Serves 6–8.

COOK’S TIP For a thicker texture, drain the

pumpkin before puréeing, reserving the liquid, then add enough broth to create the consistency desired. This soup has a bright citrus flavor—to tone it down, use ½ cup orange juice and an additional ½ cup chicken broth.

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When you build with Morton, you build something that lasts. A Morton stands the test of time—we’ve been at this for more than 110 years after all. What got us here is simple: our materials, our people and a warranty that beats all others.

800-447-7436 • mortonbuildings.com

©2018 Morton Buildings, Inc. A listing of GC licenses available at mortonbuildings.com/licenses. Ref Code 606

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

33

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Focus on Texas

Clocks Just for old times’ sake, we’re taking a close look at clocks. Some might have a face only a mother could love, but all of them have the correct time at least twice a day. GRACE ARSIAGA WEB EXTRAS a See Focus on Texas on our website for more photos from readers.

o REAGAN FERGUSON, Central Texas EC: “The clock was given to my great-grandparents as a wedding gift in November 1885 in Medina.”

o PAUL GARCIA, Medina EC: Old windup clock that still works. g CHERI HANSON, Tri-County EC: The Wise County Courthouse in Decatur.

d SHARON BLACK-GREENE, Pedernales EC: The University of Texas Tower clock.

o BETH WEST, Wood County EC: “This is the face of the grandfather clock that my father-in-law purchased in Italy many years ago.”

UPCOMING CONTESTS FEBRUARY TWO OF A KIND

DUE OCTOBER 10

MARCH TREES

DUE NOVEMBER 10

APRIL MILES AND MILES OF TEXAS

DUE DECEMBER 10

All entries must include name, address, daytime phone and co-op affiliation, plus the contest topic and a brief description of your photo.

ONLINE: Submit highest-resolution digital images at TexasCoopPower.com/contests.

We do not accept entries via email. MAIL: Focus on Texas, 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. A stamped, self-addressed envelope must be included if you want your entry returned (approximately six weeks). Please do not submit irreplaceable photographs—send a copy or duplicate. We regret that Texas Co-op Power cannot be responsible for photos that are lost in the mail or not received by the deadline.

TexasCoopPower.com

October 2018 Texas Co-op Power

35

Around Texas

Event Calendar October 11 Tyler Fall Fun Horse Show

Pick of the Month

Inaugural Celina Oktoberfest Celina October 13 (972) 382-3300, celinaoktoberfest.com Oktoberfest promises live music from festive bands, a tempting assortment of traditional German foods and a bountiful beer garden.

Wear traditional German lederhosen or a dirndl to the festival and get in free. Don’t worry about missing college football: Games will be shown on a massive LED screen.

October 7 Arlington Cirque Zuma Zuma, (817) 543-4308, levittpavilionarlington.org Burnet Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church Fall Festival, (512) 756-4410, omoscc.com Caldwell Holy Rosary Annual Homecoming Bazaar & Picnic, (979) 567-3667, holyrosaryfrenstat.com

11 Tyler [11–14] Fall Fun Horse Show, (903) 882-8696, southboundshows.com/fall-fun

12 Lake Worth [12–13] Bullfrog Westfest Rodeo, (817) 237-9755, nwtlions.org/rodeo

13

Emory Oktoberfest, (903) 473-2465, emorytx.com Stonewall VFD Fall Fish Fry, (830) 644-5571, visitfredericksburgtx.com/events

Beaumont Dogtober Fest, (409) 838-2202, dogtoberfestbeaumont.com

14

Bluff Dale Fall Into Bluff Dale, (817) 575-9487

College Station Aggieland Humane Society’s Wiener Fest, (979) 775-5755, aggielandhumane.org/wienerfest

O KTO B E R F E ST: H A L F P O I N T | STO C K . A D O B E .CO M . H O R S E : S KU M E R | STO C K . A D O B E .CO M . H E R B S : N I T R | STO C K . A D O B E .CO M

STEPHENVILLE

Deadline: OCT. 6

WIN A TWO-NIGHT GETAWAY FOR SUNDOWN ON THE SQUARE IN

GET DETAILS AND ENTER ONLINE AT

TexasCoopPower.com Find more Stephenville information at stephenvilletx.gov and sundownsquare.com.

36

Texas Co-op Power October 2018

TexasCoopPower.com

Corpus Christi Padre Island Art Walk, (361) 949-7114

19 Jefferson Cruise Night, (903) 665-3733, visitjeffersontexas.com

27 Frisco Gary Burns Fun Run and 5K, (469) 633-6860, friscoisd.org Marble Falls Autumn Flight Disc Golf Tournament, (512) 267-6310, flatcreekestate.com

Woodville [19–20] Harvest Festival, (409) 283-2272, heritage-village.org

Milam Gaines-Oliphint House’s 200th Birthday, (409) 383-3880 San Marcos Farmer Fred’s Harvest Fall Carnival, (512) 393-8400

28 Schertz Bexar County Czech-Slovak Festival, (210) 492-7128, bexarcountyczechheritagesociety.com

20

Zuehl Redeemer United Church of Christ Harvest Festival, (830) 914-2168

Liberty Hill Harvest Festival, (512) 965-3260, crosstrackschurchumc.org Mineral Wells Crazy Kicker 100 Bike Ride, (940) 745-0807, crazykicker100.com

November

Richmond Texian Market Days, (281) 343-0218, georgeranch.org

3

Roxton Saturday Night Festival, (903) 346-2939

Mineola Pedal for Paws Bike Ride, (903) 638-6902, mineolapedalforpaws.com

21

Stephenville Woofstock, (254) 413-4664, pawsofstephenville.net

Georgetown Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas Buddy Walk, (512) 323-0808, dsact.org

26

Submit Your Event!

Wimberley HerbFest, (832) 287-9366, hillcountryherbs.org Kerrville [26–28] Kerr County Fair & Midway, (830) 257-6833, kerrcountyfair.com

October 26 Wimberley HerbFest

We pick events for the magazine directly from TexasCoopPower.com. Submit your event for December by October 10, and it just might be featured in this calendar.

The Th T h Only he Onl On nlllyy Folk Foolk F olk Life ol Lif Li iffe F Fees eestival stiv tiiva val al in East Eas Ea asst Te Teexxa Tex xxas as Restoring and Preserving Our History

In the heart of the Texas Hill Country visit 17 historic one-room schools built between 1847 and 1936 by following the 120 mile Gillespie County Country Schools Driving Trail through the scenic Fredericksburg,Texas countryside.

Visit our website for a tour map and information on our historic schools and community centers.

All schools listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Member of Country School Association of America.

WWW. HISTORICSCHOOLS . ORG

TexasCoopPower.com

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37

Hit the Road

Go With the Flow A visit to the Laredo Water Museum is an immersion in the wonders of the Rio Grande

BY EILEEN MATTEI

38

Texas Co-op Power October 2018

videos on each side of me explain the sixstage process (disinfecting, clumping, agitating, purifying, filtering and underground storage). This process treats as many as 48 million gallons daily.

In the main exhibit hall, the Water World pool illustrates how currents move plastics and trash around the ocean. At Water and You, I step on a scale, and flashing lights show how many gallons of water I tote around daily. Humans are, after all, 60–75 percent water. One station challenges you to guess how much water you use at home for bathing and washing clothes and dishes. Other kiosks focus on agriculture, drought and wastewater.

And that blue toilet? The display recommends using low-flow or dual-use toilets along with a blue dye test kit to find if your toilet leaks. Conservation suggestions include low-controlled aerosol faucets that reduce water use up to 50 percent along with xeriscaping and rainwater harvesting.

At a station labeled What You Can’t See in Water, a giant, simulated petri dish One of the interactive displays at the Laredo Water Museum.

reveals squiggles, clumps and bubbles moving in water. I navigate the microscope-joystick through magnified parasites, bacteria and water contaminants.

Romo says students like to pump water by hand into a 5-gallon container, feeling the energy it takes. They can learn more about the almost 800 million people worldwide who do not have access to clean water and sometimes risk waterborne illnesses like cholera, typhoid and amoebic dysentery. “Kids see the impact of polluting on the river, the environment, and want to stop it,” she adds.

Outside, a nature trail edged with Turk’s cap, cenizo, yucca, skeleton-leaf goldeneye and tropical sage slopes down to the Rio Grande. The lush and colorful native plants require minimal water and attract green jays, scissortail flycatchers and countless butterflies.

The multisensory message is easy to absorb: Take good care of our water.

Eileen Mattei, a Nueces EC member, is a Texas master naturalist in Harlingen.

.

WEB EXTRAS a Read this story on our

website to view a slideshow.

TexasCoopPower.com

AT E L I E R WO N G

Bathed in blue light, a toilet on a pedestal offers the first clue that the Laredo Water Museum takes a humorous approach to a serious topic.

“The Water Museum is about appreciating the importance of water and keeping the water supply safe,” says Wes Barbarena, plant operations supervisor of Laredo’s Jefferson Water Treatment Plant.

Why does the museum display a toilet on a pedestal? Because one-third of water used in homes goes down the toilet. With exhibits such as that one, the city of Laredo’s Water Treatment Division hopes visitors will grasp the connection between water demand and the environment.

Visitors like me soak up information in arcadelike interactive exhibits, complete with blinking lights and joysticks. A hands-on immersion in water, so to speak, makes a difference, says Maria Romo, museum project specialist. “Teachers tell me they like that the kids learn while looking and playing. It helps them remember and make connections to lessons in class.

Kids tell me they will come back with their brothers and sisters to have fun here and learn about water.”

At the museum entrance, a wall of bubbles shows water use facts such as the number of gallons of water needed to produce a vehicle, a pair of jeans or a cup of coffee. A terrazzo map invites me to walk along a scale model of the 1,900-mile-long Rio Grande, allowing me a bird’s-eye view to explore its watersheds and tributaries.

Inside the 30-foot-long Water Treatment Tunnel (a simulated 72-inch diameter water pipe where dim blue lights create the illusion of a watery atmosphere), I travel with water on its journey from the muddy Rio Grande to clear potability. Motion-activated, action-packed

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Nominees For Director

2018 Election

District 3 David Rosse

District 5 Maxine Stewart

District 9 Juan Alvarado

David Rosse grew up as a member of an NEC family. He, himself, has been a member of NEC for 42 years. His grandfather was an NEC director for 32 years. Mr. Rosse was elected as an NEC director in 1988 and has served as director for the past 30 years. As an NEC director, Mr. Rosse currently serves as secretary-treasurer for NEC and as director for San Miguel Electric Cooperative - one of NECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power suppliers. He additionally serves as the chair of each of the following committees: Government Affairs, Director Screening and Governance. Mr. Rosse is the Kleberg County Commissioner for Precinct 1. Mr. Rosse believes that the most important role NEC directors have is to ensure affordable, reliable energy to our membership and to represent the membership in the decision making processes of the Co-op. Mr. Rosse believes that he qualifies for service as an NEC director because of his Certified Electric Cooperative Director training, his experience serving NEC members as a director that helps him understand how the process works and his willingness to listen to all ideas and concerns that will help the co-op grow. Mr. Rosse resides in Kingsville and is the father of five children - Oscar David, Charles William (wife, Sarah), Maranie May, Morgan Marie, and April Nicole - and the grandfather of four - Mason, Landon, Maysie, and Isabel.

Maxine Stewart has been an NEC member for 54 years and an NEC director for the last 23 years. She was appointed in August 1995 to the Nueces Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, where she completed the term begun by her late husband, Raymond Stewart. Ms. Stewart has been awarded Certificates of Achievement for successfully completing the Board of Leadership and Director Gold Programs after taking several courses from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and is a fully Certified Electric Cooperative Director. Ms. Stewart has previously served on the Nueces Electric Charities and Finance Committees which guides and manages the funds raised through Nueces Electric Cooperativeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Operation Round-Up program and the overall financial health of the co-op respectively. In addition, Ms. Stewart currently serves on the Capital Credit and District Boundary Committees. Ms. Stewart believes the NEC directors make very important decisions for the co-op and its members. Ms. Stewart believes she is qualified because she genuinely cares about the co-op and the members it serves- those who also own it.

She will care and listen to the concerns and ideas of other co-op members, taking them into consideration while performing her duties as a director. Ms. Stewart earned a nursing degree from James Daughtery School of Nursing in Corpus Christi and worked as a nurse at the Freer, TX hospital for 15 years.

She is a lifelong resident of McMullen County. Ms. Stewart currently runs her family ranch in Tilden and has one daughter - Susan Stewart (Lloyd) - and one grandson - Jess Stewart.

Juan Alvarado is a life-time member of NEC. He was appointed to the NEC Board of Directors in February 2004. Currently, Mr. Alvarado serves as chairperson of the annual meeting planning committee. Mr. Alvarado is active in the community as a eucharistic minister and bingo chairman of his church (Our Lady of Consulation and Vattman), he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Historical Society of Texas A&M Kingsville and the Riviera Beautification Committee. Mr. Alvarado believes the most important role of an NEC director is to do what is best for the cooperative and its members. Mr. Alvarado has completed all courses required to be a Certified Electric Cooperative Director and feels this is an important qualification for a NEC director. He also believes his membership in the Rural Friends/Acre program, past electrical coursework at Austin Community College and his 11 years of experience as an NEC director are valuable qualifications as well. Mr. Alvarado currently is a rancher in Riviera where he resides with his wife, Edna. They are the parents of six children - Maria Berry, Ada Eskeets, Johnny Alvarado, Jr., Anita Jefferson, Delfino Alvarado and Edna Mae Larson. Mr. and Mrs. Alvarado have eleven grandchildren, and have just added four new great grandchildren, Alissa, Avalon, Alyssa and Daniel.

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NEC District Map Which District Are You In?

Director FAQ’s •

All members vote on all directors regardless of what district you reside.

•

Directors serve three year terms.

•

Election packets are available each June for the districts slated for election.

•

Your elected district director represents and votes for your community’s best interests at monthly board meetings.

•

Directors receive training and represent the Co-op at conferences and annual trainings.

Nueces Electric

Mission Statement

Districts 1-9 are shown above.

District 10 (Retail) includes all areas outside of 1-9

1.800.NEC.WATT www.nueceselectric.org

The mission of Nueces Electric Cooperative, Inc, a member-owned cooperative, is to help our members continually improve their quality of life by providing reliable and cost effective electric service.

Over $6.2 million returned to members in 2017!

How? Why? We work for YOUR street. Not Wall Street.

Cost Effective Service Integrity Members First. Always.

2018_AnnualMeeting_TCPDustCover.indd 21

Reliable Service

$6.2 Million

Honesty

Compassion

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