Annual Meeting Emphasizes Changing the Way We Think About Electricity

Tri-County EMC held its 68th Annual Meeting Oct. 18 at its headquarters in Gray. The meeting resulted in the re-election of all Post 3 directors and an amendment to the bylaws.

A total of 1,123 completed ballots were received naming Rev. Charles Richardson of District 1, Mike Rainey III representing District 2 and Marion Nelson of District 3 to additional three-year terms. A bylaw amendment also passed providing individuals between 18 and 20 years of age with the opportunity to run for director. This change was required by the Rural Utilities Service—a Federal Agency that provides loans to Tri-County EMC.

With a projected 80 percent increase in electricity demand by the year 2020, Tri-County EMC Chairman Tom Thompson Jr. emphasized how the EMC is focusing on the challenge of meeting this increase through environmentally responsible means including clean-coal technology, nuclear units, natural gas generation, renewables (Green Power EMC) and conservation. He encouraged members to change the way they think about electricity by using the "fifth fuel," or energy conservation.

"The bottom line is change," emphasized Tri-County EMC CEO C. "Hill" Bentley. "We have to conserve energy." He asked members to begin by replacing every standard light bulb in their home with a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) noting how it will save them considerably over the life of each bulb.

Bentley acknowledged this past year’s scholarship recipients, Daniel Dunnam, Tri-County’s 2006 Washington Youth Tour delegate and the Tri-County EMC Foundation Board.

The following directors and employees were recognized for their years of service to the EMC: Tonja Andrews, Joe Jackson and Justin Strickland (five years); L. "Buzz" DeLoach, Julie Edwards, Sammy Hall and Mike Sasser (10 years); Dan Greene (20 years); Deryl Crosby (25 years) and Donald Appling (30 years). <<