The 2012 Cooperative scholarship program will again award 15 $1,000 scholarships that can be used to help defray the costs of attending any accredited college or university and five $500 awards to be awarded to awarded to students planning to pursue a trade-related degree at a community college, technical school or power line school. Three $1,000 scholarships and a $500 scholarship will be awarded in each of the Cooperative's five districts this spring. The deadline for applying for the scholarship program is March 15, 2012.
The Cooperative’s scholarship program is open to all 2012 high school seniors, whose parents or guardians are members of the Cooperative. This includes children of Cooperative directors and employees.
To download the scholarship application packet CLICK HERE.
Each summer, during the Eastern Iowa REC district meetings, elections are held for
positions on the Cooperative’s board of directors. For those thinking about serving on
the board, the first step is to complete the nomination process. Potential director
candidates are asked to submit a petition signed by 15 members of their district by April
2. All candidates who submit qualifying petitions will then be asked to fill out a brief
biographical form and return it to the Cooperative by May 15. This information will be
used for the candidate profiles which will be published in the June issue of the
Current
News. All profiles will be published verbatim, as submitted.
The nomination process puts no limit to the number of candidates in a given district. To
serve on the board:
P A candidate must hold an active membership and be a bonafide resident in the district he or she is to
represent.
P A candidate cannot be in any way employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise or business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative, or a business primarily engaged in selling electrical or plumbing appliances, fixtures or supplies to the members of the Cooperative.
This nomination process in no way screens or filters potential candidates for seats on the Cooperative's board. Anyone who successfully completes the nomination papers and meets qualifications as described will be placed on the ballot. All candidates should note the time requirements of a director are more than just the 12 monthly meetings. Directors should be prepared to devote an average of 25-30 days to Cooperative business-related activities.
The incumbent directors whose terms expire in 2012 are: Glenn McCulloh, district 1; Les Paarmann, district 2; Bob Heirigs, district 3; Wayne Freyenberger, district 4; and Jack Hobbs, district 5. There will be a second election in district 2 for the last two years of the term for which David Timmerman was recently appointed to fill.
To download a direction nomination packet CLICK HERE.
Help will again be available for Iowa residents who may struggle to meet home heating costs this winter. You can apply
until April 30, 2012 for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This program is funded through the Iowa Department of Human Rights, and has been established to help qualifying families meet home heating costs. Low-income Iowa homeowners and renters can obtain assistance to help pay for a portion of their primary heating costs through LIHEAP. The assistance is based on household income, size, type of fuel and type of housing.
Anyone applying for assistance will need their social security number, proof of income for the past three months and a current heating and electric bill.For more information about the LIHEAP, contact your local community action agency or call
515-281-0859 or contact your local community action agency:
Cedar County, 563-886-3191; Clinton County, 563-243-5220; Rural Clinton County,
563-659-8492; Des Moines County, 319-753-2893; Henry County, 319-385-2310;
Jackson County, 563-652-5197; Johnson County, 319-337-5765; Jones County,
319-462-4343; Linn County, 319-739-4211; Louisa County, 319-728-2314; Muscatine
County, 563-263-9290; Scott County, 563-324-3236; Washington County,
319-653-7275.
Jim Roling, Preston, was elected board president during a
re-organizational session held
following the Eastern Iowa REC annual meeting Sept. 8 at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport. Other board officers elected included: Mike Shuger, Wilton vice president; Joel Carstensen, Charlotte, treasurer; Larry Rice, Riverside, secretary; and Nancy Varner, Blue Grass, assistant secretary. The Clinton County Cattlemen served lunch to more than 2,100 people. Comedic entertainer Sean Emery was the keynote speaker and the band “Girlfriend” from Sioux City entertained annual meeting guests.
For more on "Girlfriend" CLICK
HERE. During the membership meeting, directors elected at the summer district meetings were officially seated for new terms. These included Joel Carstensen, Charlotte; Larry Quinn, Lowden; Mike Shuger, Wilton; Larry Rice, Riverside; and Robert Crew, Mediapolis.
Prizes were won by: Harold and Velma Morrison, West Liberty, 24" Toshiba LED HDTV; Norman and Alice Schnoor, McCausland, deluxe cart grill; Richard Wojtak, Wellman, portable DVD player; Linda Lamp, Charlotte, Sony 7” portable DVD player; and Robert and Evonne Lavender, Long Grove, Singer sewing machine.
Other winners included: Randy and Janelle Spies, Muscatine, Ultra blower vac; Clara Marie Hanson, Wapello, Brewing Station; John and Stephanie Diekema, Blue Grass, microwave; Wade and April Schnedler, Mediapolis, George Foreman Grilleration; Susan Giese, Bettendorf, 2-lamp package; Wayne Erwin, Blue Grass, Eureka Maxima Vacuum; Harley and Norma Nisly, Kalona, tower fan; Dan and Pamela Bair, Wheatland, jumbo griddle; Audrey Young, Muscatine, Duracraft Work light; Dennis and Barbara George, Wilton, Shop Vac; Evelyn Helm, Fruitland, Uniden cordless phone with two handsets; William and Julie Tack, DeWitt, food processor.
Additional winners include: Beverly and Terry Simonson, New London, Hamilton Beach 10-speed blender; Linda Henke, Muscatine, clothes steamer; Rory Marshall, Wilton, Weed Eater 12” electric trimmer; Larry Schroeder, Muscatine, Genesis 18-volt cordless drill/driver kit; Cindy Powell, West Burlington, waffle maker; Duffe Grain, Wilton, Farm & Fleet gift card--$25; Andy and Jamie Haney, Muscatine, Menards gift card--$25; Vera Webb, Muscatine, ice tea maker; Kenneth Hammell, Wapello, pad sander; Larry Woods, Blue Grass, jig saw; Terry Goodpaster, Burlington, Hamilton Beach slow cooker; Bernard Lidstrom, Wheatland, Presto popcorn popper; Joel Graves, Muscatine, Hamilton Beach 4-slice toaster.
For those looking to finally get rid of that old refrigerator, freezer or window air conditioner, Eastern Iowa REC can help with the Pull The Plug program.
Cooperative members can have these old, operable appliances recycled and collect an incentive for taking part in the program. Members merely need to contact the
Cooperative member service department to request to have an eligible appliance collected.
Each member is limited to three appliances per address. Incentives for specific appliances include $25 for window air-conditioners or freezers and $35 for
refrigerators. Incentive checks will be mailed to participating members
within two days of the appliance collection.
Appliances that do not qualify for the Pull The Plug program, like clothes washers and dryers, computers, dishwashers, microwaves, televisions and water heaters, can be picked up by
Environmental Services of Iowa, LLC representatives at a cost of $20 per appliance. Also note, a $20 penalty fee may be charged to any scheduled collection that includes appliances identified that are not available or all the appliances on site that are determined to be ineligible for the program. It is important that the
appliances are placed outside your home and are operable so that the actual energy savings for removing an inefficient appliance can be realized.
If you want to get rid of that old energy-wasting refrigerator, freezer or window air conditioner, contact the
Cooperative member service department, toll free, 1-800-728-1242. You can not only get rid of that clunker appliance but you can receive a cash incentive for taking part in the program.
Caleb
Claus
Brian Kruse
Travis Dierickx Levi
Wagener
Anne Easker
Brendan Bartels Melanie
Slattery Brianna Holladay
Skylar Dierikx
Carolin
Olson
Beth
Cole
Lupita Solis
Gabriel
Yoder Abbey
Wilson Kyle
Johnson Skyler
Houseal
Josh
Lanz
Adebayo Chris Kottenstette
Jenni Frank
Oladele-Ajose
The $1,000 scholarship winners are Caleb Claus, son of Daniel Claus of Delmar; Brian Kruse, son of Bill and Susan Kruse of DeWitt; and Travis Dierickx, son of Patrick and Lora Dierickx of Long Grove; Anne Easker, daughter of Douglas and Cynthia Easker of Lisbon; Brendan Bartels, son of Alan and Crystal Bartels of Wilton; Melanie Slattery, daughter of James Slattery and Peggy Slattery of Calamus; Skylar Dierikx, son of Guy and Dena Dierikx of Blue Grass; Caroline Olson, daughter of Randy and Rose Olson of Fairport; Beth Cole, daughter of Chris and Carolyn Cole of Muscatine; Kyle Johnson, son of Gary and Lisa Johnson of Oxford; Abbey Wilson, daughter of Douglas and Vickie Wilson of Columbus Jct.; Gabriel Yoder, son of Clark and Jean Yoder of Wellman; Josh Lanz, son of Ronald and Timna Lanz of Oakville; Adebayo Oladele-Ajose, son of Dr. Olufemi and Dr. Olubunmi Oladele-Ajose of Sperry; and Christopher Kottenstette, son of Pete and Carol Kottenstette of Burlington.
The $500 Cooperative scholarship winners are Levi Wagener, son of Daniel and Deanna Wagener of DeWitt; Brianna Holladay, daughter of Terry and Penny Holladay of Muscatine; Lupita Solis, daughter of Anselmo and Leticia Solis of Muscatine; Skyler Houseal, son of Dwight and Deborah Houseal of Riverside; and Jenni Frank, daughter of Curtis and Kathy Frank of Mediapolis.
This is the 25th group of Eastern Iowa REC scholarship winners. The Cooperative has awarded scholarships to 203 students since the program started in 1987. This means $171,000 in scholarship funds has been distributed to students representing 50 different communities. The scholarship winners will be recognized at the Eastern Iowa Light and Power Cooperative district meetings to be held in July and August.
Information about power outages affecting homes, businesses and farms served
by Eastern Iowa REC is now available online at www.iowarec.org, the web site of the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. During major outage situations, information will be posted on the Cooperative’s site along with updates to the new statewide outage map. This web resource, developed by the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives this fall, provides a statewide view of power outages at electric cooperatives that deliver electricity in each of state's 99 counties to approximately 650,000 Iowans. When you log onto the power outage tool, you will see a map of Iowa, and you can view the information from a county-by-county view of Iowa or electric cooperative-by-electric cooperative view, including Eastern Iowa REC. The web site will automatically refresh every 10 minutes, so it will reflect the most recently entered information from the electric co-ops.
At the Eastern Iowa REC district meetings this summer, elections for positions on the board of directors will be held. Your name must appear on the Eastern Iowa REC membership in order to seek election to the board or to vote during the election. An example: If just the husband's name appears on a membership, the wife cannot be a candidate for the board or vote in the election. Two unmarried adults may become joint members. There is no charge to take out a joint membership. Joint memberships have been available for about 10 years.
Joint membership applications are available HERE. You can also obtain joint membership forms at any Cooperative service center or at each district meeting, but both the husband and wife must be present to sign the application. Bring your completed joint membership form with you to your district meeting or mail it to the Cooperative prior to the meeting: Eastern Iowa REC, PO Box 3003, Wilton, IA 52778-3003.
Eastern Iowa REC, like all electric utilities, wants everyone to use electricity as safely and efficiently as possible. These two new web sites offer a variety of materials to make that possible.
Through the UseElectricWisely.com web site, you can obtain information about specific electric appliances, calculate home heating/cooling costs, obtain safety information and find contacts for contractors to help with electrical-related home projects.
Safe Electricity is a multi-media public awareness program that
provides life-saving information through its comprehensive web site. The site
includes information for home owners, children, teachers, contractors and agri-business
professionals.
Eastern Iowa REC has established new e-mail service which is tied to the
Cooperative's web site. This will provide better avenues of communications
for several departments. You can now reach personnel (with the exception
of the line crew) who work out of the Cooperative's Wilton service center by
name. For example jim.williams@easterniowa.com.
Other important e-mail addresses are:
General
Information
info@easterniowa.com
Billing
Information
billing@easterniowa.com
Member Service Information member.service@easterniowa.com
To submit Market Place ads market.place@easterniowa.com
What stands more than five feet tall, has four hands, two
feet, a pair of antennae and gets
children to laugh while learning about
electricity? Many eastern Iowa elementary school
students could easily
provide the
answer--Louie the Lightning Bug. Eastern Iowa REC
uses Louie the Lightning Bug shows to teach children about electric
safety. The Eastern
Iowa REC
Louie program consists of a special Louie video and musical review of
safety
tips. By the end of the current school year, more than 20,000
students throughout the
Cooperative's service area will have seen and heard
Louie's safety message since the
program was started in 1986. To schedule
a visit by Louie the Lightning Bug, contact
Janet Davis at the Cooperative's Wilton
service center 1-800-728-1242..
