LamarEC1210 11/9/10 3:22 PM Page 20 PARIS, TEXAS 75461 ... · 22 TEXAS CO-OP POWER LAMAR ECDecember...
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J ust like a roll of tissue, the end of this year will be here before you know it. The year of 2011, will be … well, it will be new and offer a clean slate. While 2010 was not as financially difficult for as many people as was 2009, it still presented abundant challenges both for ordinary folks and for businesses like Lamar Electric Cooperative. Your cooperative, thanks to the hard work and dedication of its employees and the forward-thinking leadership of the board of directors, is meeting the challenges of this busi- ness climate. In October, a new four-year construction work plan was completed and approved by the board. This plan was based on an in-depth engi- neering model of our entire electric system, with information from each account plugged in and future load growth projected. This allowed us to identify areas that need upgrading now and areas that will have to be upgraded in the very near future to maintain good voltage. Many cir- cuits will be upgraded from 7,200 volts to 14,400 volts. With the larger wire and other upgrades, Lamar Electric will be poised for whatever challenges might come in 2011 or future years. A 10-year, long-range construction work plan is nearing completion that will help us make sure the equipment we are adding now will fit into the long-term, big picture. Forecasting that far in advance is never perfect, but larger items such as substations take a long time to plan and construct. Next month we will start listing some of the first target areas. The purpose for all this planning and upgrading of circuits is to make sure you have power when it’s needed. Electricity is one of the very few items everyone expects to use as much as they want at any time they want it. It is just expected to be there when you turn on a switch. Folks add big-screen TVs, microwaves and all sorts of elec- tric gadgets, but you never hear of someone contacting their electric cooperative to give their projected needs for electricity. We’re your neigh- bors, and we can handle it. You see, the cooperative exists solely to fulfill one mission: to provide you the best possible electric service at the lowest possible cost. That’s what all of us who work here—from the front desk to the tree trimmer, from engineering to accounting and every- where in between—dedicate ourselves to, year in and year out. As the new year nears, I’d like to take this time to thank all of the employees at Lamar Electric. I’ve never seen a more dedicated group of people. All of them come to work each day with service to the co-op’s mem- bers on their minds and the safety of themselves and their fellow workers foremost. And I’d like to thank the members of the co-op’s board of directors who have taken on the responsibility of running a multimillion-dollar utility. It takes a real commitment to keep up with the latest standards of this com- plex and fast-changing industry while making decisions that affect thou- sands of their fellow members. I’d especially like to thank you, our member/owners, who make all of our jobs possible. Thank you for your sup- port and understanding when things don’t go right; thank you for paying your bills on time, which keeps the cooperative financially strong; thank you for sharing your suggestions, com- pliments and complaints—they all help us do a better job for you; and thank you for your participation in our annual meetings. Without you, there would be no cooperative. As we say goodbye to 2010 and look ahead to 2011, let us hope it will be a banner year, for all of us. 20 TEXAS CO-OP POWER LAMAR EC December 2010 Lamar ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE P.O. BOX 580 ≠ PARIS, TEXAS 75461 ≠ (903) 784-4303 MESSAGE FROM MANAGER JERRY D. WILLIAMS Time Marches On, But Our Mission Never Changes You see, the cooperative exists solely to fulfill one mission: to provide you the best possible electric service at the lowest possible cost. LEARN ABOUT MEMBER BENEFITS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.LAMARELECTRIC.COOP
Transcript of LamarEC1210 11/9/10 3:22 PM Page 20 PARIS, TEXAS 75461 ... · 22 TEXAS CO-OP POWER LAMAR ECDecember...
Just like a roll of tissue, the end of this year will be here before
you know it. The year of 2011, will be … well, it will be new and offer aclean slate.
While 2010 was not as financiallydifficult for as many people as was2009, it still presented abundantchallenges both for ordinary folks andfor businesses like Lamar ElectricCooperative.
Your cooperative, thanks to thehard work and dedication of itsemployees and the forward-thinkingleadership of the board of directors, is meeting the challenges of this busi-ness climate.
In October, a new four-year construction work plan was completedand approved by the board. This plan was based on an in-depth engi-neering model of our entire electricsystem, with information from eachaccount plugged in and future loadgrowth projected. This allowed us to identify areas that need upgradingnow and areas that will have to beupgraded in the very near future to maintain good voltage. Many cir-cuits will be upgraded from 7,200volts to 14,400 volts. With the largerwire and other upgrades, Lamar Electric will be poised for whateverchallenges might come in 2011 orfuture years.
A 10-year, long-range constructionwork plan is nearing completion thatwill help us make sure the equipmentwe are adding now will fit into thelong-term, big picture. Forecastingthat far in advance is never perfect,but larger items such as substationstake a long time to plan and construct.Next month we will start listing someof the first target areas.
The purpose for all this planningand upgrading of circuits is to makesure you have power when it’s needed.Electricity is one of the very few itemseveryone expects to use as much asthey want at any time they want it. Itis just expected to be there when youturn on a switch. Folks add big-screenTVs, microwaves and all sorts of elec-
tric gadgets, but you never hear ofsomeone contacting their electriccooperative to give their projectedneeds for electricity. We’re your neigh-bors, and we can handle it.
You see, the cooperative existssolely to fulfill one mission: to provideyou the best possible electric service atthe lowest possible cost. That’s whatall of us who work here—from thefront desk to the tree trimmer, fromengineering to accounting and every-where in between—dedicate ourselvesto, year in and year out.
As the new year nears, I’d like to
take this time to thank all of theemployees at Lamar Electric. I’venever seen a more dedicated group ofpeople. All of them come to work eachday with service to the co-op’s mem-bers on their minds and the safety ofthemselves and their fellow workersforemost.
And I’d like to thank the membersof the co-op’s board of directors whohave taken on the responsibility ofrunning a multimillion-dollar utility.It takes a real commitment to keep upwith the latest standards of this com-plex and fast-changing industry whilemaking decisions that affect thou-sands of their fellow members.
I’d especially like to thank you, ourmember/owners, who make all of our
jobs possible. Thank you for your sup-port and understanding when thingsdon’t go right; thank you for payingyour bills on time, which keeps thecooperative financially strong; thankyou for sharing your suggestions, com-pliments and complaints—they allhelp us do a better job for you; andthank you for your participation in ourannual meetings.
Without you, there would be nocooperative.
As we say goodbye to 2010 andlook ahead to 2011, let us hope it willbe a banner year, for all of us.
2 0 T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R L A M A R E C D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 0
Lamar ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEP . O . B O X 5 8 0 ≠ P A R I S , T E X A S 7 5 4 6 1 ≠ ( 9 0 3 ) 7 8 4 - 4 3 0 3
M E S S A G EF R O M M A N A G E RJ E R R Y D .W I L L I A M S
Time Marches On,But Our Mission Never Changes
You see, the cooperative exists solely to fulfillone mission: to provide you the best possibleelectric service at the lowest possible cost.
LEARN ABOUT MEMBER BENEFITS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.LAMARELECTRIC.COOP
LamarEC1210_ 11/9/10 3:22 PM Page 20
D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 0 L A M A R E C T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R 2 1
M E R R Y C H R I S T M A Sand
H A P P Y N E W Y E A Rfrom the Employees at Lamar Electric Cooperative
Our offices will be closed December 23, 24 & 31in observance of the holidays.
Front OfficeEmployeesFrom left: Back row—JerryWilliams, Mike Davidson, DelaynaMcFadden, Rachael Whipkey,Marci Thompson, Laura Williamsand Barry Murchison. Front row—Gretta Ashford, Tessi McFadden,Betty Wood, Marti Chumbley andLeslie Collard.
Line CrewEmployees
From left: Back row—GeorgeScroggins and Jose Recendiz.Middle row—Ronnie Bridges,
Danny Michael, Ryan Dean andLarry Bills. Front row—Wade
Niblett, Michael Sorensen, CodyJones, James Smith, Rayford
Dodd, Drew Conder, Cory May,Rick Crump, Casey Martin, Will
Armstrong, Jay Henry, JerryWilliams and Scott Sansom.
LamarEC1210_ 11/9/10 3:22 PM Page 21
2 2 T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R L A M A R E C D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 0
LAMAR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
2 Christmas Tree Lighting in Downtown Roxton at 6:30 p.m.
3 “Cruisin on the Plaza”—6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Paris on the square. Bringyour lawn chairs and enjoy classic cars, fellowship and music.
3-4 “Christmas in Fair Park” at Paris-Lamar County Fairgrounds. Friday 4 p.m. to 8p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (903) 785-7971 or visitwww.rrvfair.com.
3-4 & 10-11 5th Annual “Holiday in Paris” Christmas Extravaganza in downtownParis. For more information, call (903) 784-2501 or 1-800-727-4789 or visitwww.holidayinparistexas.com.
3-5 & 10-12 Paris Community Theatre presents “A Christmas Carol”—7:30 p.m.
4 The Paris Evening Parade, “A Whimsical Christmas,” beginning at 6 p.m. For moreinformation, call (903) 784-2501.
4 Honey Grove Christmas on the Square, “Deck the Square” tree-lighting ceremonyand parade
4 Clarksville Christmas Parade & Lighting of the Square, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
4 Clarksville Chamber of Commerce Chili & Stew Supper, at Presbyterian Churchstarting after the parade. Tickets $5.
4 Avery Christmas Parade—No other information provided
4 Detroit Christmas Parade—No other information provided
4 Cooper Christmas Parade. For information, call (903) 395-4314.
7 “Carols & Candlelight” presented by the PJC Chorale & Chamber Singers atDeshong Chapel at 7:30 p.m.
23-24 Christmas Holiday (Lamar Electric will be closed.)
31 New Year’s Holiday (Lamar Electric will be closed.)
If you have any events that you would like listed for Delta, Lamar or Red River counties,please contact Marci Thompson. Information must be submitted two months in advancefor the magazine. E-mail [email protected] or call (903) 783-4911.
You empty the ashes and sweep yourfireplace after every use to keep it safeand looking nice, right? But is it readyfor Santa?
Your fireplace isn’t really clean untilyou remove what you can’t see: the creosote, soot, ashes, dust, leaves andeven birds that are stuck in the flue andchimney.
Unless you want Santa to scrape offthe flaky mess with his big belly on hisway down the chimney on ChristmasEve, you’d better get the job donebefore he arrives.
If you do, you’ll have a clean, safechimney and fireplace to sit aroundwith company during the holidays.
Unless you’re already finished withyour shopping, baking, wrapping, mail-ing and card writing, you might want tohire a professional chimney sweep todo this time-consuming and messy job.That will cost you $100 or so.
Why bother? When smoke from yourfireplace goes up the chimney, some ofit condenses into soot and tar in theflue, which is the chimney’s inner sur-face. That creosote builds up over time,and it’s highly flammable.
Keeping your chimney clean willhelp Santa slide down it worry-free. Andit will help your family enjoy celebratingthe holidays around a dancing fire—also worry-free.
Get Your ChimneyReady for ColdWeather—and Santa
© G L E N D A P O W E R S | D R E A M S T I M E . C O M
COUNTRY CORNER EVENTS
LamarEC1210_ 11/9/10 3:22 PM Page 22
D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 0 L A M A R E C T E X A S C O - O P P O W E R 2 3
LAMAR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
1485 North Main St.P.O. Box 580 • Paris, TX 75461Phone (903) 784-4303
For general information and outages after hours, call (903) 784-4303 local or 1-800-782-9010 toll-free
Operating in Lamar, Red River, Delta and Fannin counties
Find us on the web atwww.lamarelectric.coop
G E N E R A L M A N A G E RJerry D. Williams
B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
CHAIRMANAllen Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sumner
VICE CHAIRMANCharles Dooley. . . . . . . . . . . . Annona
SECRETARY-TREASURERBilly Hines . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clarksville
James Sam Cooper . . . . . . . . RoxtonMark Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ParisRon E. Tippit . . . . . . . . . . . ClarksvilleMike Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . DetroitGeorge M. Wood. . . . . . . . . . BlossomLyle Yoder . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pattonville
Y O U R “ L O C A L P A G E S ”This section of Texas Co-op Powermagazine is produced by LEC eachmonth to provide you with informa-tion about current events, safety,special programs and other activitiesof the cooperative. If you have anycomments or suggestions, pleasecontact the local office.
M E M B E R B E N E F I T S :≠ Level billing≠ Automated meter reading≠ Free bank draft service≠ E-Bill≠ Visa and MasterCard accepted
LAMAR ELECTRICCOOPERATIVE
Six Decadesof Texas’
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When decorating, remember
that outdoor "icicle" lights
use more energy because they
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foot than regular light strands.
Consider using regular strands
of energy-saving LED lights.
They use less electricity and
last up to 100,000 hours.
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