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2015 Annual Membership Meeting Each NEC annual meeting is unique in some way, but the 2015 annual meeting October 8 was unique in a particularly meaningful way: It was the last annual meeting for John Sims as CEO of NEC. Both employees and board members of NEC recognized Sims for his decades of service to the co-op and his unwavering commitment to the co-op’s members.
Many of the children attending were in a hurry to eat supper so they could join the activities in the children’s area. As parents looked on, the children took part in craft activities, jumped and careened into one another in the inflated bounce house and made a personal connection with a chicken, duck, rabbit, pig or goat in the petting zoo.
“We always remember that the members are who we work for,” Sims said, “and they’re the ones who pay the bills.”
At a few minutes before 7 p.m., Board President Brian Menking alerted the band that they had time for one more number before the annual meeting began. After Menking called the meeting to order, Pastor Jason Fry of Grace United Methodist Church offered the invocation and the U.S. Navy color guard presented the colors while the jazz combo performed the national anthem. Menking then returned to the microphone to recognize special guests and get started on the co-op’s business. The minutes for the 2014 Annual Meeting were approved and Menking and NEC CEO John Sims reviewed the co-op’s business performance in 2015.
Video tributes to Sims and to the Co-op’s success in 2014 drew the attention of the crowd as it rolled on screens throughout the meeting hall at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown. Members lined up outside before the exhibit hall doors opened at 5 p.m. and, once inside, made their way through the registration line to get a ballot for the board of directors election and a ticket for the barbecue supper catered by Howard’s BBQ and Catering. Once registered, the members and guests cast their votes for directors at the voting booths that lined the path to the serving area. Co-op event coordinators prepared the meeting hall and set tables for a total of 1,780 members and guests, with approximately 1,166 members included. During registration and dinner, the crowd listened to big-band favorites presented by the Texas A&M Kingsville Jazz Combo. Outside, co-op staff members cruised the parking lot in golf carts to help transport members from their cars to the front door.
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Total annual revenue for the co-op was $82,293,230 with expenses of $74,300, 146 and a net margin of $7,993,084. Each dollar the co-op touches breaks down to 68 percent for purchase cost of power, 6 percent for distribution operations and maintenance, 6 percent to member services and information, 5 percent to taxes, 7 percent for administration and general expenses, 4 percent to net interest and 4 percent to depreciation. For this period, NEC returned $9.2 million in capital credits to its owner-members. NEC also awards $14,000 in scholarships. Nearly $20,000 goes to local agencies to help members pay their electric bills, and more than $135,000 to 30 area nonprofits.
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Happy Thanksgiving Menking introduced the video tribute to Sims and Board members recounted how the manager led the co-op through the challenges of deregulation and built the employee count from 43 to 84. “There’s not another one like him,” said District 2 Director Tommy Ermis.
Of course the drawings for door prizes kept the crowd attentive to the end of the meeting. Included were gift cards, $75 energy bill credits, a Yeti cooler, this year’s prizes included a grand prize of a $500 electric bill credit. The winners of the NEC Retail Member Referral Program Winners included a $500 energy bill credit and a $250 energy bill credit.
District 10 Director Gladys Lippincott voiced her appreciation for Sims’ work to keep up with current techNEC’s emphasis on the retail businology to facilitate management of ness is an important part of the cothe co-op. District 1 Director Dr. Rum- op’s business plan, and as John Sims aldo Juarez noted the importance of explained, “The great thing is that we Sims’ leadership in “the challenges get to educate our investor-owned of achieving utility custom6,662 Members Returned Ballots: ers about the cocommuDavid Rosse, Maxine Stewart, nity solar.” operative difference. and Johnny Alvarado were all Menking Sharing that story is re-elected to serve 3-year terms. important to us.” said Sims’ success came from his “innate ability to be a This observation was a reflection visionary and the tenacity to get the of the perspective and sentiments job done.” offered earlier by John Sims took a few minutes to offer “not a goodbye, As a further tribute to Sims, the NEC but a farewell” to the group, remindBoard of Directors has established ing everyone once more “the only the John L. Sims Renewable Energy reason we’re in business is to serve Vision Scholarship. the membership.” Directing his attention to the members present, he said, “You make the co-op.” www.necretail.com
NEC offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 26–27, to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. hitde light | DollarP HotoClu b.com
Veterans Day November 11 NEC thanks all veterans for their service. NEC offices will be closed to commemorate the holiday. NEC Retail November 2015 Texas Co-op Power
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If ever we need a good laugh, it’s around the holidays! To bring you some holiday cheer, here are stories about a few of the funniest calls received by the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line from would-be Thanksgiving chefs around the country. -A disappointed woman called wondering why her turkey had no breast meat. After a conversation with an operator, it became apparent that the woman’s turkey was on the table upside down. -A proud gentleman called to tell the Talk-Line staff how he had wrapped his turkey in a towel and stomped on it several times, breaking the bones so it would fit in his pan. -When a Talk-Line staffer asked a caller what state her turkey was in (meaning how thawed was it), the caller responded with, “Florida.” -A man called to tell the operator that he cut his turkey in half with a chain saw and wanted to know if the oil from the chain would adversely affect the turkey. -Some holiday chefs take extreme measures to please their guests. A caller who was entertaining guests from the Bahamas called to ask how she could create a “bikini look” for her “tropical turkey.” The veteran operator suggested using aluminum foil as a way to make the turkey look like a sun goddess!
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Texas Co-op Power NEC Retail November 2015
Tu rke y: Allie s In te ractiv e | Sh ut t e rstoc k.com
Thanks for the Laughs
Encouraging your children to turn off the lights when they leave a room will help build energysaving habits that last a lifetime.
Electrical Tips for Children AT NECRETAIL, we understand that your children’s health and well-being are top pri-
ority. With thousands of electrical fires and electrical shocks occurring in American homes each year, knowledge of electrical safety is necessary to ensure that your loved ones stay safe. A few tips can help teach good habits to keep your little ones safe: Electrical fires are caused when a wire or electrical device overheats. Make sure your children understand that water cannot extinguish this type of fire. Only fire extinguishers can be used to put out an electrical fire. Electrical shocks are also a common safety hazard. Remind your kids that it is never a good idea to mix water with electricity. Keep blow dryers, radios and any other electrical devices away from all water, especially in a bathroom. Make sure ground-fault circuit interrupters are installed in all outlets in areas that might come into contact with water, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens and outdoors. Keep metal objects out of appliances and plugs. If a piece of toast gets stuck in the toaster, never use a metal knife to retrieve it. Unplug the toaster, allow it to cool, and use a different tool or utensil to remove the toast. Remember, only plugs should go into outlets. Sticking fingers or other objects in outlets may result in an electrical shock and possibly a fire. It’s always a good idea to turn off lights when they are not in use. You may feel like you tell your kids hundreds of times a day to turn off lights when they’re not using them, but it’s worth the effort. Not only will this save your family money on your electric bill; it could also prevent electrical fires from overheated bulbs. For outside play, remind children to avoid overhead power lines. Whether they are climbing trees, flying kites or playing with remote-controlled toys, they should always be mindful of what is above. Talk to your children about the importance of electrical safety, and more important, lead by example—because you never know when little ones might be watching. For more information about electrical safety, visit www.necretail.com. www.necretail.com
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byn m ac | istock.com
Change Cooking Habits and Save Most cooks are surprised to learn that cooking habits, not technology, represent the biggest potential for energy efficiency and savings in the kitchen. Tests by the U.S. Bureau of Standards have shown that some people use 50 percent more energy than others to cook the same meal. Several strategies can help you save energy using your existing cooking equipment. Use the oven only when cooking large dishes or batches. Conventional ovens or ranges are inherently inefficient because they must first heat up about 35 pounds of steel and a large amount of air to heat up food. Tests indicate that only about 6 percent of the energy output of a typical oven is actually absorbed by the food. Think small. Opt for a smaller appliance, such as a toaster oven or microwave, whenever possible.
Turn off the oven or electric burners a few minutes before your food is ready. They will
remain hot enough to finish cooking the food. Don’t preheat the oven unless you are baking, or a recipe requires it. Bake with ceramic or glass pots and pans. This will allow you
to lower the oven temperature by about 25 degrees.
If you have a self-cleaning oven, plan to clean it immedi-
Preparing a delicious stew in a slow cooker is a great way to save time and energy in the kitchen.
ately after you’ve finished baking something, so that it won’t have to heat up a second time. Don’t peek. Opening the oven door can lower the internal temperature as much as 25 percent. If your oven has a glass window, keep it clean and use the internal lightbulb instead.
Don’t cover oven racks with foil. This reduces heat flow and increases cooking time. Make sure your pan covers the coil of your range. If you can see coil peeping out from
the sides of your pan, you need a bigger pan (or a smaller burner). Put a lid on it. Cover pans whenever possible while cooking to prevent heat loss. Plan ahead. Defrosting food in a microwave may be convenient, but defrosting it in the refrigerator is more energy efficient. Keeping these steps in mind is easy and comes at no extra cost. Making a habit out of them will save you energy in the kitchen and money on your electric bill. —Energy Efficiency Resource Center
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2015 Christmas Light Decorating Contest Do you light up the neighborhood with amazing home decorations? If so, enter the 2015 Christmas Decorating Contest for your chance to win! 1st Place: $100 Bill Credit 2nd Place: $50 Bill Credit 3rd Place: $25 Bill Credit Entry Deadline is Tues, December 15th. E-mail your photos, name, and NEC account number to: contest@necretail.com
Play & Win! If Your Account Number is:
53079-001
YOU WIN $25 off your electric bill! Call, NEC Retail before the 20th! NEC Retail November 2015 Texas Co-op Power
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Board Appoints Sarah Fisher as Interim C.E.O. As the Board of Directors continues the search for retiring C.E.O., John Sims’, permanent replacement, a plan has been made to temporarily place Chief Compliance Officer, Sarah Fisher, as the Co-op’s Interim C.E.O. until the permanent C.E.O. takes hold of the position. “The Board of Directors has worked diligently with NRECA to recruit qualified applicants and is well underway with the search process,” says Fisher. “They expect to extend an offer very soon,” she adds.
The BIG Winner
Fisher has served Nueces Electric Co-op for 18 years and a total of 23 years of Co-op experience in the areas of regulatory compliance, safety, human resources, emergency response, strategic planning, corporate communications, marketing, residential energy auditing, public relations, economic development, member services, and grant program administration..
At the 2015 Annual Meeting, NEC Retail member, Doug Satz, took home the $500 award for having the most Member Referrals on file between September 1st - August 31st.
Sarah holds a bachelors’ degree in Management & Human Resources from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Texas A&M, Corpus Christi. She is a graduate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Management Internship Program, and the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. Additionally, Fisher is a National Development Council Certified Economic Development Financial Packager and is an NRECA Certified Cooperative Communicator and a Certified Key Account Executive.
Doug Satz, of Mac Lamar Management LLC, took home the 1st place prize after he referred 62 new memberships.
Sarah resides on Padre Island in Corpus Christi with her husband, Alan. 24
Texas Co-op Power NEC Retail November 2015
Any NEC Retail member is eligible to win this bonus simply by referring friends, family or co-workers to join the Co-op. You get your $60 bonus off your electric bill, and the person you refer gets to enjoy the benefits of being a Co-op member!
Doug’s brother, also of Mac Lamar Management LLC, took home the 2nd place prize of $250 for referring 43 new members to the Co-op. NEC Retail Manager Frank Wilson says, “These guys are both loyal Co-op members and we would like to thank them for spreading the message about NEC Retail. They have referred so many new members, and accumulated so many bill credits, they will not be paying an electric bill for a long time.” “This program is highly successful and is a win-win for the Co-op and member-owners. Plus it is a very cost efficient way to advertise,” adds Wilson. If you refer a member to the Co-op, please remember they must list your name and account number on the referral form in order for you to recieve the $60 bill credit. Congratulations to Doug Satz & Michael Satz. And remember, all it takes to win is to spread the word!
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refer A friend www.necretail.com
EARN $60 It pays to be a member of an It pays to be a member of an electric cooperative. Get a electric cooperative. Get a $60 credit on your next $60 credit on your next electric bill for every person electric bill for every person you get to sign up for NEC you get to sign up for NEC Retail. There’s no limit to how Retail. There’s no limit to how many referrals you can get! many referrals you can get! Find completed rules at Find completed rules at necretail.com necretail.com
start start spreading spreadingthe thejoy joy
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$
Just fill out these cards, cut them out Just fill out these cards, cut them out and hand them to your closest friend, and hand them to your closest friend, family member or co-worker. You’ll family member or co-worker. You’ll receive a $60 bill credit for each new receive a $60 bill credit for each new member you get to sign up. member you get to sign up.
NEW WAYS TO CON
SO MANY REASONS TO SWITCH: SO MANY REASONS TO SWITCH: • Get your electricity AT COST for home or for business
T
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Get your electricity COST for home or for business • •No hidden fees or rateATsurcharges No hidden or rate surcharges • •NEC Retail isfees a not-for-profit retail electric provider NECRetail Retailisismember-owned, a not-for-profit much retail electric provider • •NEC like a credit union necretail.com 855-nec-rd4u • NEC Retail is member-owned, much like a credit union • NEC Retail gives back to its members necretail.com 855-nec-rd4u NECRetail Retailconsistently gives back to members • •NEC hasitsthe fewest customer complaints • NEC Retail consistently has the fewest customer complaints
referring member name: referring member name:
Switch Switchtoday! today!
account number account number
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SO MANY REASONS TO SWITCH: SO MANY REASONS TO SWITCH: • Get your electricity AT COST for home or for business
For Business or Home For Business or Home
Get your electricity COST for home or for business • •No hidden fees or rateATsurcharges No hidden or rate surcharges • •NEC Retail isfees a not-for-profit retail electric provider NECRetail Retailisismember-owned, a not-for-profit much retail electric provider • •NEC like a credit union • NEC Retail is member-owned, much like a credit union • NEC Retail gives back to its members NECRetail Retailconsistently gives back to members • •NEC hasitsthe fewest customer complaints • NEC Retail consistently has the fewest customer complaints
NEW WEBSITE Pay your bill, look up service areas or get details co-op offers and perks your Powered byonPeople desktopPowered or mobile device. by People
necretail.com necretail.com
www.necretail.com
Switch today! Switch today! necretail.com necretail.com 855-nec-rd4u 855-nec-rd4u
EASIER ENROLLMENT We’ve improved our online enrollment so new members can start enjoying all the benefits of the a co-op even faster.
referring member name: referring member name:
MEMBER REFERRAL PROGRAM Get a $60 credit off your electric bill each time you get a new member to sign up.
account number
Co-opnumber Power NEC Retail November 2015 Texas account
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NEC Member, Klepac Farms, aMAZEs the Coastal Bend Open through November 22, 2015 Saturdays 10am-8pm, Sundays 1-6pm Admission: $10 +tax for ages 3-64, $8 +tax for 65 and older, free for ages 2 and under. Location: Just west of Corpus Christi at the intersection of FM 666 and County Road 52 Website: RockinKMaze.com or www.facebook.com/rockinkmaze
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Fall adventures have begun in the Coastal Bend’s premier family-friendly corn maze. With a mind-boggling design, Klepac Farms has embarked on another year of family fun for the Coastal Bend. But let’s not limit the fun to just the kiddos, adults are equally entertained with the assortment of festivities. The Rockin’ K Maze is part of a popular “agri-tainment” trend of more than 253 affiliated MAiZE sites across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The Klepac family hopes to give visitors a chance to experience a unique source of old-fashioned farming fun in this uniquely-designed labyrinth. The 2015 design is a tribute to CocaCola’s 100th Anniversary. “We looked at several designs and we chose the design because the Coca-Cola brand represents family, fun and unity; core values that are shared by our family and community,” said Traci Klepac Visitors of all ages can enjoy the maze, where getting lost means having fun! “There are a lot of trails, twists and turns for people to enjoy. But don’t worry, there is a way out,” said Klepac. If the 6-acres of trails are too daunting for wee folks, there’s a hay bale mini-
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maze for them to explore -- as well as a Lil’ Farmers’ Korner playground area and Dummy Steer Roping. A giant rope spider web is great fun for climbing on! There are games like pumpkin tetherball and even large rolling ‘Hamster Wheels’ to tumble around the farm in. Bring your camera to capture the antics of a herd of amusing goats who just love visitors. Rockin’ K Maze is a great place to choose the perfect pumpkins -- for cooking, carving or fall decor. The Kountry Kitchen is open and features grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, fries, amazing kettle korn and drinks. The family not only has ambitions to entertain, but they also educate and add some fun to the school year by inviting schools to join them for exclusive day-time field trips. “One of the wonderful things is the maze offers something that everyone can enjoy from toddlers to grandparents. Our goal is to make sure everyone in your group leaves with memories they will cherish and can continue to create year after year,” states Klepac. For more information, visit www.RockinKMaze.com or like their page on Facebook. The maze does have restrooms and is wheel chair accessible. www.necretail.com
NEC Youth Tour Leadership Program Win THE Trip of a LIFETIME! Each year NEC sends four delegates to participate. Each winner receives an all-expense-paid trip, $250 spending money, and clothes. Delegates will travel with other Co-op delegates from Texas. You will tour monuments and museums, a dance aboard a river boat, and meet with Texas Legislators in Austin and Washington D.C. to discuss NRECA priorities.
How do you apply? It’s as easy as 1,2,3! 1. Complete the website application 2. Write a 300 - 500 word essay 3. Submit your application and essay
Entry Deadline: January 29, 2016 www.necretail.com
Apply Today!
Essay Topic: If the world’s electricity was permanently turned off tomorrow, how would it impact you?
Ramiro De la Paz Memorial
SCHOLARSHIP Application Deadline: Friday, February 12, 2016
Calling all High School Seniors! If your parents are members of the Co-op, you could win a scholarship!
For Applications & Details: www.necretail.com
Two $4,000 scholarships and
Ten $1,000 scholarships