December 2005
19
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
Member Newsletter
Middle Georgia
Middle Georgia
The Official Newsletter of Middle Georgia Electric Membership Corporation
P.O. Box 190, Vienna, GA 31092
December 2005
MANAGER'S
MANAGER'S
Comments
Comments
By Hugh Richardson
inter is upon us and that means our heating
systems will be churning away. We have read
reports that heating costs will increase considerably
this winter, especially if we are using gas heat.
Heating with electricity may be slightly higher
compared to last winter, but don't expect a very large
increase. Our retail rates are in place for 2006, and
that includes a winter rate that gives our members a
little break for usage over 750 kwh during the months
of January through March.
High electric bills during the winter tend to sneak
up on us when compared to the summer months.
That's because the temperature difference inside your
home and outside may be 40 degrees or more in win-
ter and only about 20 degrees in the summer. When
that happens, the auxiliary heat of your heat pump
kicks in and you don't
realize it until you get
your bill. So, keep that
in mind on those
extremely cold days
when it's below 40
degrees outside--and especially if it's below 30
degrees.
We will continue to offer the rebate program to
our members to convert their gas heating system to
an electric heat pump. We will rebate $150 per ton
of cooling capacity to those members after the con-
version is done. Contact us or your local heating
and air-conditioning contractor for more informa-
tion. So far, more than 130 of our members have
made that choice.
W
W
Our offices will be
closed on Friday, Dec. 23, and
Monday, Dec. 26, for the
Christmas holidays!
Holiday Closing
oseph Jones, age 8,
is the son of Chipper
and Tonya Jones of
Pinehurst. Joseph won
Grand Champion
Market Hog for 2005 in
the Dooly County Big
Pig Jig Hog Show.
Joseph also won Class
4 and Division 1
Champion at the 2005
Georgia National Fair in
Perry. Joseph's hog was
bred by Morgan
Livestock of Vienna.
Grand
Champion
J
PHO
T
O
:
LIND
A
20
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
iddle Georgia EMC in Vienna is currently
accepting applications for the prestigious Walter
Harrison Scholarship, a program sponsored by the
EMCs in Georgia. The $1,000 scholarship can be used
to defray educational costs at any accredited two- or
four-year university, college or vocational-technical
institute in Georgia.
"Participating in the Walter Harrison Scholarship
program is one of the many ways we invest in our
local community," says Lisa Laney with Middle
Georgia. "We recognize the growing cost of educa-
tion, and we are happy to play a part in helping
members pursue their dream of a college education."
To be eligible for consideration, students must be
accepted or enrolled in an accredited undergraduate
degree program, complete a two-page application
and write a two-page autobiographical sketch with
references to future plans and goals.
The Walter Harrison Scholarship is awarded to
students who excel in the areas of GPA, SAT scores,
academic standing and scholastic honors, and who
demonstrate a financial need. Entries will be
reviewed by a scholarship committee made up of
EMC directors and managers from across Georgia.
The Walter Harrison
Scholarship was created 20 years
ago by the board of directors of the
Georgia Electric Membership Corp.,
a trade association for the electric
cooperatives of Georgia. The award pays tribute
to the late Walter Harrison, a pioneer in the
rural electrification movement and a leader at the
local, state and national level in the electric coopera-
tive program.
Since 1985, Georgia's electric cooperatives, the
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and
the Georgia Rural Electric Supply Corp. have award-
ed more than $92,000 to students through the Walter
Harrison Scholarship program.
To receive a scholarship application, contact
Robert Herman or Lisa Laney at Middle Georgia EMC
at (229) 268-2671. The deadline for applications will
be Feb. 1, 2006. The deadline for essays will be
March 1, 2006.
Middle Georgia EMC, based in Vienna, is a
consumer-owned cooperative providing electricity
and related services to more than 4,300 members in
three counties.
Middle Georgia EMC seeks applicants for college scholarship
EMCs sponsor Georgia High School Association for seventh year
iddle Georgia Electric
Membership Corp. (EMC) in
Vienna joins 31 EMCs across the state
to announce a partnership with the
Georgia High School Association (GHSA) to
sponsor 88 state championships during the
2005-2006 season.
The sponsorship allows Middle Georgia
EMC to support student athletes, parents
and the entire athletic community through a
number of efforts such as participating with Georgia
Public Broadcasting (GPB) to sponsor "Prep Sports +"
on Thursday and Friday nights and Saturday mornings
through the school year.
The EMCs also will run new 30-second and 15-
second TV spots during the 30-minute "Prep Sports +"
shows and during live GPB broadcasts of football
semifinals (Nov. 25-26), football finals (Dec. 2-3) and
basketball finals (March 3-4, 2006). This year's spon-
sorship also includes radio spots, print advertising
and the return of the popular Coaches Corner.
The 32 EMCs joining this year to sponsor GHSA
championships include Canoochee EMC in Reidsville,
Central Georgia EMC in Jackson, Coastal Electric
Cooperative in Midway, Cobb EMC in Marietta,
Coweta-Fayette EMC in Newnan, Diverse Power in
LaGrange, Excelsior EMC in Metter, Grady EMC in
Cairo, GreyStone Power in Douglasville, Habersham
EMC in Clarkesville, Hart EMC in Hartwell, Irwin EMC
in Ocilla, Jackson EMC in Jefferson, Jefferson Energies
in Wrens, Southern Rivers Energy in Barnesville, Little
Ocmulgee EMC in Alamo, Middle Georgia EMC in
Vienna, Mitchell EMC in Camilla, Ocmulgee EMC in
Eastman, Oconee EMC in Dudley, Okefenoke REMC in
Nahunta, Pataula EMC in Cuthbert, Planters EMC in
Millen, Rayle EMC in Washington, Slash Pine EMC in
Homerville, Snapping Shoals EMC in Covington,
Sumter EMC in Americus, Three Notch EMC in
Donalsonville, Tri-County EMC in Gray, Upson EMC in
Thomaston, Walton EMC in Monroe and Washington
EMC in Sandersville.
Middle Georgia EMC is a consumer-owned cooper-
ative providing electricity and related services to more
than 4,300 members in three counties.
Through this statewide network, Georgia's EMCs
provide electricity and related services to four million
people, nearly half of Georgia's population, across 73
percent of the state's land area. Georgia's 42 electric
membership cooperatives now serve more customers
than any other state network of EMCs in the nation.
M
M
M
December 2005
21
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
Bacon roll ups
Toothpicks are necessary to
secure these little roll ups. Prep
time is approximately 25 minutes.
Cook time is approximately 30
minutes. Makes 20 servings.
Ingredients
1 loaf of white bread, crusts trimmed
1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese,
softened
1 pound of sliced bacon, cut in half
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut each slice of white bread in
half horizontally. Spread with
cream cheese. Tightly roll each
piece of bread with half of a piece
of bacon. The bacon should be on
the outside of the bread. Secure
with toothpicks. Arrange roll ups
in a single layer on a medium
baking dish. Bake in a preheated
oven for 30 minutes, or until
bacon is no longer pink and
bread is lightly browned. Serve
while they are warm!
Caramel corn snack mix
Makes 15 cups
Ingredients
8 cups of popped popcorn
4 cups crispy rice cereal squares
2 cups small pretzel twists
1 cup pecan halves
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
Years of Service Recognition
Years of Service Recognition
Years of Service Recognition for Middle Georgia EMC's dedicated employees goes to
Joe Tripp
, line foreman, who has been here
for 33 years as of Nov. 20, and
Gary Fowler
, computer technician, who has been dutifully employed with Middle Georgia EMC
for 19 years as of Nov. 3.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine the pop-
corn, cereal squares, pretzels and
pecans. In a saucepan over medi-
um heat, combine the brown
sugar, butter and corn syrup.
Cook and stir until mixture comes
to a boil. Reduce heat to medium
low; cook without stirring for 5
minutes. Remove saucepan from
heat and stir in vanilla extract and
baking soda. Pour over popcorn
mixture and toss until evenly coat-
ed. Bake at 300 degrees for 30
minutes, stirring after 15 minutes.
Transfer to large piece of parch-
ment paper and cool completely.
Break into chunks once cool.
Tiger Butter
A deceptively easy, very tasty
candy. Make them into bars or use
petit fours cups placed in a minia-
ture muffin tin. Pour the mixture
into the cups and then drizzle a
little melted milk chocolate on top
for decoration. This method will
give you about 50 cups. Prep time
is approximately 1 minute; cook
time, approximately 3 minutes.
Ready in about 30 minutes. Makes
one 9x9-inch dish.
Ingredients
1 pound of white chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
Directions
Line a 9x9-inch dish with
waxed paper. Combine white
chocolate, chocolate chips and
peanut butter in a 2-quart,
microwave-safe dish and
microwave on low 1 minute. Stir
until smooth. Stir in the rice cere-
al and spread into prepared pan.
Let cool completely before cutting
into squares.
Cappuccino mix
Here is a homemade dry cap-
puccino mix in a jar. Make it for
yourself, or give it as a gift. Makes
3-1/2 cups.
Ingredients
1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
1 cup instant chocolate drink mix
3/4 cup instant coffee granules
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Directions
In a medium-sized glass jar,
combine the non-dairy creamer,
chocolate drink mix, instant cof-
fee, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg;
mix well. To prepare, place 2
tablespoons of mix in a mug,
pour 3/4 cup boiling water and
stir until dissolved. Serve hot.
Appetizers for your Christmas get-togethers!
22
Middle Georgia EMC Newsletter
Board of Directors
Don Wood
President
Johnny Noble
Vice President
Kay West
Secretary
Ronnie Youngblood
Treasurer
John David McCall
Director
Jerry F. Rhodes
Director
Royce Conner
Director
Ronnie Fleeman
Director
David Dunaway
Director
Davis and Forehand
Attorneys
Staff
Hugh Richardson
General Manager
Lisa Laney
Executive Secretary,
Newsletter Editor
Randy Kent
Office Manager
Mike McGee
Manager of Operations
and Engineering
Vienna Area (229) 268-2671
Rochelle
(Day) (229) 365-2263
(Night) 1-800-342-0144
Hawkinsville
(Day) (478) 892-3436
(Night) 1-800-342-0144
Office Hours
Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
(Branch offices closed from
12-1 p.m. daily)
Closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
There is a dispatcher on call 24 hours
a day for your convenience.
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
Middle Georgia EMC accepting
applications for Washington Youth Tour
Middle Georgia EMC accepting
applications for Washington Youth Tour
nce a year, Middle Georgia EMC selects three high school juniors or
seniors as delegates for the Washington Youth Tour, a once-in-a-lifetime
leadership opportunity available to prospective students in Georgia.
If chosen, the students will join dozens of other youths from Georgia
to represent the state during the 2006 Washington Youth Tour, to be held
June 8-15, 2006.
The fast-paced, high-energy program is designed to give students a
taste of democracy in action, expose them to the nation's rich history
through visits to national monuments and museums, and encourage stu-
dents to contribute to public service.
"I made so many friends, learned so much about leadership
and was inspired by every single thing that happened during
the week. It was amazing to see all of the monuments and
buildings and realize that these are the places where histo-
ry happened. It's as if all the things we learn in our text-
books come alive," reports a 2005 WYT delegate.
These feelings, expressed by many former delegates,
underscore the importance of the program--to partici-
pate in an unforgettable tour of the nation's capital that
includes meetings with state and national leaders,
attending leadership training, and meeting and debating
important issues with students from other states.
Before departing for Washington, students will spend
a day in Georgia getting to know each other, learning
about Georgia's 42 EMCs and the electric cooperative industry and enjoy-
ing a private tour of the birthplace of rural electrification--the Little White
House in Warm Springs.
While in D.C., the group will connect with hundreds of students from
across the country and enjoy cruising down the Potomac River; laying a
wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery; and
touring the U.S. Supreme Court, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving,
Mount Vernon, the National Cathedral and Ford's Theatre.
The group will also visit memorials honoring presidents Roosevelt,
Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington; World War II; the Vietnam and Korean
wars; and watch the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Silent
Drill Platoon perform at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Students will also visit the
Smithsonian Institution and Holocaust museums.
"If I hadn't applied, I would not have met the great people I did and
seen such magnificent places. I learned that I can be a leader, but most
importantly I met friends who will be in my heart forever," says another
recent delegate.
Students interested in developing their leadership skills and traveling to
the nation's capital should contact Lisa Laney or Robert Herman at Middle
Georgia EMC at (229) 268-2671 to obtain more information.
Middle Georgia is a consumer-owned cooperative providing electricity
and related services to more than 4,300 customers in Dooly, Pulaski and
Wilcox counties.
O