MEMBER CONNECTIONS
Powered by by People People Powered
855-NEC-RD4U | necretail.com 855-NEC-RD4U | necretail.com
NEC 75th Annual Meeting Article by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers. Photos by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers and Mary Goldstone.
Frank Wilson–Retail Division manager with Nueces Electric Cooperative– checked his watch, then surveyed the massive hall set with hundreds of dining tables and padded folding chairs. “Okay, show time, everyone!” he hollered. “Open the doors! And SMILE!” On cue, a red-shirted volunteer pushed opened the entrance doors to NEC’s 75th annual membership meeting, held October 9, 2014, at the Richard Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown, Texas. Approximately 2,100 people attended the meeting (of which 1,080 were registered co-op members), where they enjoyed a catered barbecue supper, elected directors, visited with family and friends, and vied for door prizes. Volunteers signed up members and handed out goodie bags, then pointed everyone toward voting booths and the ballot box. From there, American flagwaving volunteers steered members and their guests to serving tables laden with steaming plates of barbecued brisket, sausage, pinto beans, and potato salad, prepared by Howard’s Bar-BQue. “My husband, Jaime, and I were the very first ones in line!” exclaimed Chris Guillermo of Orange Grove. “We arrived at 3:45 p.m. and waited. We wanted to be the first ones inside. This is our third year to be first!” 20
Texas Co-op Power NEC Retail November 2014
At their table, Luis and Abbey Bazan with their children Kyleen, 9, and Brandon, eight months old, sat with Diana Bazan, Luis’ mother. “Oh, no, we don’t mind driving from San Diego for the annual meeting,” Diana said. “My husband, Rodolfo, couldn’t come because he’s working. Every year, we love to come so we can relax and enjoy the food. It’s worth every mile!” Members Carlos and Karen Garza of Calallen haven’t missed an annual meeting for at least seven years. “Good meal and good prizes,” Carlos com-
After Mathilda and I married, we lived in Robstown. Later we moved to the country, and we’ve been with Nueces ever since.” Ahlrich’s ties with NEC run even deeper. “My father, W. A. Ahlrich, was in a group of farmers who traveled to Washington, D.C., to convince President Franklin Roosevelt to bring electricity to the country,” he said. “Then he served 40 years on the NEC board of directors. As a child, I attended the first
“Good meal and good prizes. And the electric price is just right. Can’t beat it!” ~ Carlos Garza, NEC Member mented over his plate of barbecue. “And the electric price is just right. Can’t beat it!” Down a few tables, Vernon and Mathilda Simnacher of Robstown sat with their friends, Kenneth and Virginia Ahlrich of Corpus Christi. All are long-time NEC members. “My wife’s parents and mine were members since 1946,” Simnacher said. “Before my parents got electricity, we used lamps at home. Then in 1946, Nueces Electric Cooperative came out and put power lines to our house.
annual membership meeting in 1940. And I haven’t missed one since!” While members ate, the Carroll High School Madrigal Singers–directed by Stacy Weatherston–performed. Outside, a Kids’ Area outside kept children entertained with crafts, face painting, games, and a bouncy moonwalk. A small petting zoo–hosted by Cuddles and Critters–allowed kids to touch and pet a rabbit, goat, chickens, ducks, potbellied pigs, and a pony. At 7 p.m., the polls closed, and NEC president Brian Menking opened the
www.necretail.com
business meeting. The U.S. Navy Color Guard from MAS Kingsville presented the colors, and Pastor Justin Moss with Calallen Baptist Church gave the invocation. Co-op members approved minutes for the 2013 annual meeting and the treasurer’s report, both presented by secretary/ treasurer David Rosse. Then Menking and CEO John Sims gave their annual reports. “After five years of planning, the new headquarters facility was completed in September, and the co-op officially moved in on October 28, 2013,” Menking said. “It has been a positive adjustment to come from a facility which was originally built for 18 employees in 1949.” NEC currently employees 82 people.
6,124 members submitted a vote
According to Sims, 2013 ended with favorable net margins. Contributing items included “NEC Retail’s excellent job on maintaining consistent rates given erratic seasonal impacts, and the stepped-up use of cash management techniques in mitigating interest expense,” he said. After tabulation of votes, election results were announced. Directors elected were: Dr. Rumaldo Z. Juarez, District 1; Gregg Truesdale, District 2; and Donald Wayne Herrmann, District 4. Co-Bank provided NEC with a $5,000 matching grant, which was presented to Nueces Charities by Ken Gajdos of Co-Bank to director Tommy Ermis. This October, Nueces Charities–funded since 1996 by NEC employees through Operation Round-Up–reached the $1 million milestone. The program awards grants to deserving local non-profit organizations that positively impact the community.
Vernon and Mathilda Simnacher of Robstown (left) sat with their friends, Kenneth and Virginia Ahlrich of Corpus Christi. All are long-time NEC members.
Winners of the NEC Retail Member Referral Program were Janie Saldivar Esquivel, $250, and Dennis Yaklin, $500. A hearty helping of door prizes, such as small appliances, fishing rods, ice chests, gift baskets, gift cards, and electric bill credits ended the evening with a bang.
Members Carlos and Karen Garza of Calallen.
Dinner was catered by NEC members, Howards BBQ.
2,100 people attended the meeting,
www.necretail.com
1.855.NEC.RD4U
Meet the $500 BIG Winner
Virginia Gonzalez and NEC Retail Manager, Frank Wilson Congratulations to NEC Members Juan and Virginia Gonzalez of Robstown for winning the $500 electric bill credit. All members who mailed in the voting ballots by October 7th were entered to win. in total, 5,705 members returned their ballots. Congratulations again!
Co-Bank Donates $5,000
Director Tommy Ermis and Co-Bank’s Ken Gajdos Co-Bank, one of NEC’s primary financial lenders, donated $5,000 to Nueces Charities, Inc, the Co-op’s charitable foundation. The majority of Nueces Charities funds come from generous members who round-up their electric bill to the nearest dollar. Each year, Nueces Charities donates approximately $125,000 to the community. If you know a 501(c)3 who could apply, direct them to visit: www.nuecescharities.org. 22
Texas Co-op Power NEC Retail November 2014
www.necretail.com
www.necretail.com
NEC Retail Member Referral Program NEC Retail, Nueces Electric Cooperative’s retail electric subsidiary, is wild about giving back to members! Each year, NEC Retail provides members the opportunity to save money on their electric bill by referring friends and family to join NEC Retail. For each member who joins and lists you as the person who referred them, you receive $60 off your electric bill. Simply put, we could spend hundreds of thousands of dollars more on advertising efforts; but at the end of the day, word of mouth works best and your first-hand experience as an NEC Retail member speaks louder than a TV commercial. The program is unlimited so feel free to refer away. In October, NEC Retail recognizes the top two referring members with an extra bonus! Congratulations to the Grand Prize winner, Dennis Yaklin of Kingsville, TX, and to the Runner-up, Janie Saldivar Esquivel of San Benito, TX.
Armella, “Nook,” Yaklin and Frank Wilson
www.necretail.com
1.855.NEC.RD4U
Door Prize Winners! In addition to the $10 bill credit each member received for attending, over $2,500 in bill credits and prizes were drawn at the 2014 Annual Meeting held on October 9, 2014 which was held at the Richard Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. $75 NEC electric bill credit Ramon Perez $75 NEC electric bill credit Thomas W. Griffith $75 NEC electric bill credit Michael Stevens, Jr. $75 NEC electric bill credit Gracie Chaney $75 NEC electric bill credit Wayne Holbert $75 NEC electric bill credit Rance Vaughn $75 NEC electric bill credit Thomas Lancaster $75 NEC electric bill credit John Heflin $75 NEC electric bill credit Jesse Rosas $25 NEC electric bill credit Maria T. Cooper YETI cooler $235 value Paroda Deitch Gift Basket Joe C. Kuntscher Gift Basket Arnulfo Benavides, Jr. $25 Wal Mart Gift Card Nancy Munguia $25 Wal Mart Gift Card Ruben M. Benavides $25 Wal Mart Gift Card Juanita Kolodzie $25 Wal Mart Gift Card Toribio Vasquez $25 Wal Mart Gift Card Charles T. Conard $25 Wal Mart Gift Card Rafael Chavez $25 Best Buy Gift cards Javier Saenz $25 Best Buy Gift cards Susan Place $50 Wal-Mart Gift Card Cheryl A. Jackson $50 Wal-Mart Gift Card Julia Mason Camp Chair Jose A. Lopez Camp Chair Emma G. Barrera Blender Richard Wilburn Coffee Maker Maria Nora Garza Toaster/Oven Eufracio Ruelas Microwave Edward Vines Crock Pot Nelson Lancaster Ice Kool Cooler John Harwell Coleman Tent David J. Tajchman Shakespeare Reel/Fishing Pole James L. Vahalik Shakespeare Reel/Fishing Pole Pleas A. Mcgee, Jr. LED Decorative Candle Holder Melvin Landavazo Box of Dominoes David Norton Comforter Jose V. Wilmot Travel Cooler H R Miller Travel Cooler Gloria Trevino Co-op Power NEC Retail November 2014 Texas
23
www.necretail.com
1.855.NEC.RD4U
NEC Members Bring Fall Fun to South Texas With 6 acres of crop maze and a mindboggling design, the Klepac family is excited to bring the “MAiZE craze” to Robstown, TX. NEC Members, Klepac Farms, is not new to this area. Fourth and fifth generation Texas farmers, they grow corn, cotton, grain sorghum, and wheat in Nueces and San Patricio Counties. The Rockin’ K Maze is their newest venture -- a family-oriented entertainment venue that opens to the public on Saturday, September 27, 2014.
lost means having fun.. If the 6-acres of trails are too daunting for wee folks, there’s a hay bale minimaze for them to explore -- as well as a Lil’ Farmers’ Korner playground area. 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.
Part of a popular “agri-tainment” trend, it will be joined this year by more than 253 affiliated MAiZE sites across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Rockin’ K Maze is a great place to choose the perfect pumpkins -- for cooking, carving or fall decor. The Kountry Kitchen is open weekends with festival fare food and drinks.
Rockin’ K Maze and the Klepac family hope to give visitors a chance to experience a unique source of old-fashioned farming fun in this uniquely-designed labyrinth -- the design of which will be revealed a few weeks before opening! Visitors of all ages will be given ageappropriate “passports” to help guide them through the maze, where getting
“We are excited about bringing the maze to Robstown and the surrounding areas,” says family representative Kourtni Klepac. “Rockin’ K 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 forever.”
Located just outside of Robstown, Texas at the intersection of FM 666 and CR 52. Just minutes from the Corpus Christi metro area. Offering outdoor fun that everyone can enjoy from toddlers to grandparents, Rockin’ K’s goal is to make sure everyone leaves with memories to cherish for years to come.
24
Texas Co-op Power NEC Retail November 2014
Fall Season:
September 27 through November 30, 2014. (Closed November 16th)
Hours:
Fridays 5-9pm; Saturdays 10am-8pm, Sundays 1-5pm
Field trips:
Tuesday - Friday 9am-1pm by reservation only
Admission:
$10 +tax for ages 4-64 $8 +tax for 65 and older, free for ages 3 and under
Location: At the intersection of FM 666 and County Road 52 in Robstown, TX
Website:
RockinKMaze.com or https://www.facebook.com/rockinkmaze
Ride the Cow Train Play Pumpkin Tetherball Climb in a Rope Spider Web Roll in the Hamster Wheel Try Dummy Steer Roping Munch Kettle Corn For Smaller Visitors: Little Farmers Playground Hay Bale Mini-maze We’ve got Goats … and lots of Pumpkins! www.necretail.com
www.necretail.com
NEC
!
is card
red th sponso
www.necretail.com
1.855.NEC.RD4U
Show your co-op pride and support our local children’s hospital at the same time by purchasing the NEC sponsored card.
Co-op Power NEC Retail November 2014 Texas
25
www.necretail.com
1.855.NEC.RD4U
Take Note Of The New Payment Address s to: Mail Payment NEC Retail 32 PO Box 6598 TX San Antonio, 78265
26
Texas Co-op Power NEC Retail November 2014
Time for a Fireplace Check Crisp, cool days are here, so now is a good time to check your fireplace for safety and efficiency. If you’re using an energyinefficient wood fireplace, you can minimize the heat loss it causes by taking a few precautions: Close the fireplace damper until you’re ready to burn a fire. Open it only while the fire is burning, and close it again once you have extinguished the fire. An open damper in an unused fireplace sucks heated air out of your house through the chimney. Minimize heat loss by installing tempered glass doors on the front of the fireplace. Direct heat from the fire into your room by installing a heat/air exchange system to blow that warm air into the house. Reinforce the seals around your fireplace flue damper. Tight seals prevent home heating from escaping through the fireplace and chimney. Insulate your chimney with liners to prevent a buildup of creosote—a byproduct of exhaust from the fire. That buildup can make your fireplace less efficient and create the risk for an unintended chimney fire. Call a chimney sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America to clean your fireplace and chimney every year before heating season begins. The chimney sweep can advise you about safety issues and any malfunctioning parts. If you never use your fireplace, have a chimney expert plug and seal it so that it won’t rob your home of comfortable, heated air. www.necretail.com
www.necretail.com
1.855.NEC.RD4U
Keep Your Holidays Cool
Play & Win!
It’s hard enough to keep your cool when you’ve got a house full of company to entertain—much less while you’re slaving over a hot stove all day. Here are a few tips to keep your cool, at least in the kitchen:
If Your Account Number is:
1. Get up a little earlier. The house and the outdoor temperature usually are cooler in the morning than in the afternoon. The more cooking and baking you can do before noon, the more comfortable you’ll feel physically.
24293-001
2. Open the windows. That will keep the air circulating, which will keep the kitchen cooler and help odors leave the house. 4. Work ahead. Choose side dishes and desserts that you can start making a little at a time leading up to Thanksgiving, and then freeze them until the big day.
© iStock.com | ste e le 2123
5. Invest in a pressure cooker. It’s one of the fastest ways to cook food.
YOU WIN $25 off your electric bill! Call, NEC Retail before the 20th of the month to receive your electric bill credit!
Use slow cookers to keep the heat out of your kitchen this holiday season.
6. Dust off your crock-pot. Slow cookers don’t produce much heat. If you’re making chili, stew or meat for a pre- or post-Thanksgiving meal, throw in the ingredients and let the crock-pot do all the work for you. 7. Put your electric cooking appliances to work. An electric frying pan or grill cooks up side dishes and main courses quickly, which means they create heat for only short spurts.
Happy
8. If you’re replacing your stove anyway, invest in an induction cooktop. Its burners are so powerful and efficient that they cook your food with less heat, in less time.
NEC will be closed Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28, for the Thanksgiving holiday.
9. Serve some cold dishes. Fruit cups and side salads don’t require any cooking. 10. Turn everything off when you’re not using it. Don’t leave the oven on after the pies are done just because you might be baking cookies in a couple of hours. Turn off anything that creates heat when it’s not in use—including the lights. www.necretail.com
Thanksgiving!
We wish you and yours a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Co-op Power NEC Retail November 2014 Texas
27