YOUR COOPERATIVE
Board of DirectorsMike Banks, PresidentMarty Crowder, Vice PresidentJohn E. “Jay” Gilliland Jr., Secretary/TreasurerJohnny JohnsonJohn ScarbroughKenneth SeitzErnest H. “Bud” Tumlinson
10 n Today in Mississippi n August 2015
“A people that values its privileges above itsprinciples soon loses both.”
– Dwight D. EisenhowerAll cooperative businesses around the world
operate in accordance with the following sevencooperative principles:
1. Voluntary and Open Membership2. Democratic Member Control3. Member Economic Participation4. Autonomy and Independence5. Education, Training and Information6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives7. Concern for Community
Less known is the fact that cooperatives havealso adopted a set of values that helps to putthese principles into practice.
Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy,equality, equity and solidarity. In the traditionof their founders, co-ops believe in the ethicalvalues of honesty, openness, social responsibili-ty and caring for others.
Let’s take a closer look at these values andsee how they impact us here at 4-County Elec-tric Power Association.
The founders of 4-County created it to servethe members that use the electricity and otherservices we provide, and we continue to do thattoday. This embodies the values of self-help,taking action and doing what needs to be done.We also know we must embrace the value ofself-responsibility and be accountable to you,our member.
Each member has one vote, no matter how
much electricity you use. This ensures thatdemocracy is practiced the way it is intendedwith equality for all members. This is a key dif-ference between co-ops and investor-ownedcompanies, where the number of votes youhave depends on the number of shares youown.
For co-op members, equity has two mean-ings. We strive to treat all of our members fair-ly. It also means that, as a member, you haveequity (ownership) in the co-op.
While each co-op is autonomous, we do actin solidarity with other co-ops and our commu-nity. We know that we can do more for you bypartnering with other co-ops and like-mindedorganizations.
Your parents were right when they said,“Honesty is the best policy.” As an owner, youhave the right to expect us to act with opennessand in a transparent manner. We welcome youractive participation in our co-op.
Cooperatives have long (and correctly) beenidentified as the original socially responsiblebusiness, meaning we care about the impact wehave on the community while ensuring we areeconomically viable.
We try to demonstrate our concern for ourcommunities through caring for others everysingle day, whether it is through volunteerefforts, cooperative programs, safety demon-strations, school programs, the Youth Tour orthe 4-County Foundation.
By using our values in supportof our principles since our found-ing in 1939, we have been able toserve you for the past 76 years andwill do so long into the future.
Here’s an idea
Are you grounded? GFCI outlets can help!Did you know there are different types of electrical outlets? Each are
designed for different purposes; however, there is one specific type thatstands high above the rest—the ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)outlet. GFCIs have saved thousands of lives and cut the number of electro-cutions in half since the 1970s. If your home lacks GFCI outlets, don’tfret—you can learn how to “get grounded.”
GFCIs are the most efficient outlet in protecting from electrical shock.If it senses a loss of current, the outlet switches off power to that circuit.These devices can either be installed in your electrical system or built intoa power cord. The third hole at the bottom of the outlet is known as the“ground” slot, and it monitors electrical currents that flow through theleft “neutral” slot and the right “hot” slot on each outlet. A GFCI can reactfaster than a blink of an eye to any imbalance of power by immediatelyshutting off the electrical current. These outlets are now a requirement inall places where water could potentially come into contact with electricalproducts such as bathrooms, garages, outdoors and kitchens. GFCIs arenot exclusive to three-prong outlets. They can be installed into standardoutlets, and there are even portable devices available when installation isnot practical.
GFCIs should be tested at least once a month to ensure they are work-ing effectively. The first step you need to take is to test an item, such as alamp, that visibly powers on when plugged in. Push the “reset” button toprepare the outlet then push the “test” button. Did your lamp turn off? Ifit did, the GFCI is working properly. Now, hit the “reset” button onceagain to power it back on. If your lamp did not power off, then youshould contact a certified electrician to correct the problem.
Next time you have a free moment, take the time to look around yourhouse. If you’re not “grounded,” consider updating your electrical outletsto GFCIs.
Sources: Electrical Safety Foundation International, Consumer ProductSafety Commission
By Joe Cade CEO/General Manager
Principles + values = cooperatives
Co-op Connections Card savesSince the Co-op Connections Card was
unveiled in September 2011, 4-County mem-bers have saved over $465,025 on prescrip-
tion drugs through June.
Look here each month to see the savings total!
www.4county.org • 1-800-431-1544
August 2015 n Today in Mississippi n 10a
Inspection and treatment of wooden4-County Electric Power Associationpoles has begun in parts of NoxubeeCounty, near and around Macon.
The six-week inspection of theapproximately 5,400 poles will be per-formed by contract workers withOsmose. These workers inspect andtreat every wooden 4-County pole. Thework requires digging around thosepoles, which means Osmose employeeswill be working in 4-County members’yards.
The workers will be wearing clothingclearly identifying them as Osmoseworkers, and their trucks will also have4-County contractor signs.
4-County Manager of EngineeringLynn Timbrook said the work is part ofan overall plan to inspect and treat everypole in the 4-County system. “Our plan
calls for every one of our poles to beinspected and treated on a 10-year cycle.We do this to identify any poles thatneed to be replaced and to extend thelives of those poles that remain in serv-ice. This helps on reliability and safetyissues and keeps costs down for ourmembers,” Timbrook said.
Osmose, a New York-based companywith offices around the country, hasbeen providing services to utility compa-nies since 1934. “4-County, along withmany other electric cooperatives in theUnited States, has had a long workingrelationship with Osmose,” Timbrookexplained. “They are the acknowledgedindustry leaders in pole treatment andinspection.”
Timbrook said if members have anyquestions or concerns, they should call4-County at 1-800-431-1544.
4-County to beginpole inspections
A group of over 50 Mississippi 4-Hhigh school leaders received a lesson inCooperative 101 July 22 at the 4-CountyElectric Power Association CorporateCenter.
The cooperative hosted the group,composed of first-place winners in seniorlevel competition at this year’s 4-H Con-gress, state awareness team members andstate 4-H Council officers.
Young leaders got a first-hand look atcooperative hospitality as they were treat-ed to breakfast at 4-County’s CorporateCenter Pavilion. The group also viewed ahot-line safety demonstration providedby 4-County linemen and watched avideo detailing the cooperative’s history.
Lauren Revel of Noxubee County wasimpressed. “I especially enjoyed the his-torical aspect of how electricity reallychanged the landscape of Mississippi. It’salso very clear that electricity is danger-ous. It’s kind of like fire. Fire can begood for a lot of things. You just have toknow how to use it properly. Electricityis the same way,” Revel said.
Nadia McKinley of Choctaw Countyagreed. “It was very informative. While
electricity is very dangerous, we’re soglad to have it. It’s come a long way.”
Laura Lemons, an assistant professorin human sciences at Mississippi StateUniversity and working with the 4-Hgroup through the Extension service,said the 4-H cooperative leadership tourallows “the best of the best” of ouryouth to experience the real business ofcooperatives.
“I’m a firm believer in experientialeducation. I think this is the kind ofexperience that they will remember longterm. They’ll remember coming to4-County and learning what electricitylooks like,” Lemons said.
The group also visited the MississippiDelta later in the day.
Officials at 4-County believe the rela-tionship with 4-H is beneficial for bothparties.
“It’s a great way to kick off the daywhen 4-County can be involved withsuch an exemplary group of young peo-ple. Take a good look at a group likethis today and you’ve got a great look attomorrow’s leaders,” said Joe Cade,4-County CEO/general manager.
4-H meets 4-County
Osmose employees are treating and inspecting poles in the Noxubee County area. Sometimes, the employees willbe doing their work in members’ yards. Their clothing will identify them as Osmose workers and their trucks willhave 4-County contractor signs.
4-County welcomed 4-H July 22. About 50 young 4-H leaders visited the Corporate Center to learn a little aboutelectricity and cooperatives, and eat a good breakfast.
August 2015 n Today in Mississippi n 10c10b n Today in Mississippi n August 2015
For a group of excited Mississippi high school stu-dents, history pages came to life during their recenttour of Washington, D.C.
A visual journey of our nation’s monuments broughtthe pages of their history books to life—live and in
color. Grant Wolfe of Starkville (Starkville Academy),Philip Evans of Ackerman (Choctaw County HighSchool) and Macy Walters of Columbus (Heritage Acad-emy)—4-County Electric Power Association delegatesat the 2015 Youth Tour, June 15-19—said the experi-ence spoke volumes.
“The trip to our nation’s capital has been the experi-ence of a lifetime,” Wolfe said. “I thoroughly enjoyedexperiencing all of the monuments and museums D.C.
has to offer. However, my favorite part was meetingpeople I would have otherwise never met. I thank4-County for giving me this amazing opportunity. Itreally has been the trip of a lifetime.”
Walters said the trip gave her a new perspective onour nation. “I loved the Lincoln Memorialmore than anything. This is an experience Iwill never forget,” she explained. “I’velearned so much about co-ops and theimportance of them, and I am so gratefulto 4-County and all the work they do. Thishas been an experience I will truly neverforget.”
Evans said participating in the trip wasan honor he’ll never forget. “Thank you, 4-County, for giving me the opportunity toattend the Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.The trip was amazing,” he said.
Each year in June, the action-filled weekprovides upcoming high school seniorsopportunities to learn first-hand what it islike to be involved in politics, communityservice and today’s pressing issues. High-lights included meeting with their electedrepresentatives in the U.S. House and Sen-
ate to discuss the process of government and issues ofthe day, increasing their knowledge of cooperativeelectric utilities, touring national monuments and see-ing other young leaders from around the state andnation.
The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has been a jointeffort of local electric co-ops and supporting organiza-tions—like 4-County, the Electric Power Associationsof Mississippi and the National Rural Electric Coopera-tive Association—for over 40 years.
Wolfe, Evans and Walters joined 55 other studentscomposing Mississippi’s delegation to the event.Nationwide, about 1,500 students participated.
Prior to Youth Tour, the trio participated in the Youth
Leadership Workshop in Jackson, sponsored by theElectric Power Associations of Mississippi. The annualworkshop offers high school students the opportunities
to hear motivational speakers, take part in team-build-ing exercises and see legislators in action at the stateCapitol.
Wolfe, Evans and Walters competed with 13 otherhigh school juniors in 4-County’s service area for thehonor to participate in the program. Wolfe won thecompetition, Evans was second and Walters was third.Nominated by his or her school, each competing stu-dent completed an application reflecting scholastic andextracurricular activities. The application also includedseveral short essay questions. In addition, studentswere provided information about cooperatives and4-County to introduce them to the cooperative form ofbusiness.
A panel of three judges interviewed each of the 16students at 4-County’s Corporate Center earlier thisyear.
History comes to life for Youth Tour studentsYouth Tour
TWENTY FIFTEEN4-County Electric
2015 Youth Tour Students
The students stop to have their picturetaken in front of the White House on
Pennsylvania Avenue.
Philip Evans, Macy Walters, Grant Wolfe
The Youth Tour group visits the Lincoln Memorial, one of
the many impressivememorials along the
National Mall.
Grant Wolfe, Macy Walters and Philip Evans stand atop the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts overlooking Washington, D.C., during their
recent participation in theYouth Tour.
Grant, Macy and Philip visit the National Cathedral.
“The trip to our nation’s capital hasbeen the experience of a lifetime.”
– Grant Wolfe
10d n Today in Mississippi n August 2015
SATURDAY, AUG. 1Second Annual Battle of the Sirens Charity SoftballGame; Starkville Sportsplex, 405 Lynn Lane; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.;$125 entry fee per team; details, (662) 769-4416 or (662)341-5947.Starkville Community Market; Fire Station Park, Lampkin atRussell Sts. in Starkville; 7:30 to 10:25 a.m.; continues everySaturday May through August; details, (662) 323-3322.TUESDAY, AUG. 4Starkville Community Mid-Week Market; Fire Station Park,Lampkin at Russell Sts. In Starkville; 7:30 to 10:25 a.m.; con-tinues every Tuesday May through August; details, (662)323-3322.WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5Blue Ribbon Business – Lunch and Learn; Hilton GardenInn, 975 Hwy. 12 E. in Starkville; 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; details,
(662) 323-3322.Free Small Business Workshop: Starting a Business FirstSteps;Mississippi State University Incubator Building, 60Technology Blvd., Conference Room in Starkville; 1 to 3 p.m.;details, (662) 325-1900.THURSDAY, AUG. 6Chick-fil-A Mini Moo Time; Chick-fil-A, 701 Hwy. 12 E. inStarkville; 9 to 10 a.m.; details, (662) 324-4460.FRIDAY, AUG. 7County Fair Relay for Life of Oktibbeha; Starkville Sport-splex, 405 Lynn Lane; 5 to 8 p.m.; details, (662) 323-3322.SATURDAY, AUG. 8Possum Town Quilters; Art Underground at the ColumbusArts Council, 501 Main St.; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; continues Satur-day, Aug. 22; details, (662) 328-2787.TUESDAY, AUG. 11Writers Meeting; Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St. inColumbus; 6 to 8 p.m.; details, (662) 328-2787.TUESDAY, AUG. 18Columbus Community Theatre; Omnova Theatre at Rosen-zweig Arts Center, 501 Main St. in Columbus; 6:30 to 8 p.m.;details, (662) 328-2787.
THURSDAY, AUG. 20Volunteer Get-Together;Main Gallery at Rosenzweig ArtsCenter, 501 Main St. in Columbus; 7 to 8 p.m.; details, (662)328-2787.FRIDAY, AUG. 21Grill Live Music Series – Thirty Fingers; 200 S. MontgomerySt. in Starkville; 7 to 11 p.m.; details, (662) 323-3322.Honeyboy & Boots; Omnova Theatre at Rosenzweig ArtsCenter, 501 Main St. in Columbus; 7 to 9 p.m.; details, (662)328-2787.THURSDAY, AUG. 272015 Men and Women of Color Summit; The Cotton Mill,600 Russell St. in Starkville; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Birth to 12Mini-Summit; 6 to 8 p.m. Men and Women of Color Empow-erment Dinner; continues Friday, Aug. 28, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Men and Women of Color Summit; details, (662) 325-2493.MONDAY, AUG. 31Make A Wish Mississippi Golf Classic; Old Waverly GolfCourse, 1 Magnolia Drive in West Point; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.;details, (601) 366-9474 (ext. 120).
August 2015 n Today in Mississippi n 11
The 4-County Foundation met recent-ly and made awards to several area
organizations, includingHEARTS After School Tutoring($2,000 to assist in purchase of
laptop computers and software),Safe Haven Inc. ($3,000 to assist with
provision of child-care services), Oktibbeha Coun-ty Relay For Life ($500 to assist in fund-raising efforts), Good Samaritan Med-ical Clinic ($2,000 for the purchase of diabetic test meters and diabetic test
n It’s the little thingsWhen it comes to energy efficiency in the home,
sometimes small changes can make a big impact. Asmall, unglamorous task like changing the filters on yourHVAC system makes your unit run more efficiently,keeping your house cooler in the summer and warmer inthe winter. It also saves money. And the savings gainedfrom having your system run more efficiently can beapplied to more fun or entertaining pursuits that yourfamily can enjoy together.
n The lowdown on dirt As you move around your home, you drive dust into
the air from carpets, furniture and drapes. Regardless ofwhere it comes from, dust and dirt trapped in a system’sair filter leads to several problems, including:• Reduced air flow in the home and up to 15 percenthigher operating costs• Costly duct cleaning or replacement• Lowered system efficiency
n Making the switchNow, that you know the facts, it’s time to get busy
changing or cleaning the air filter in your heating/cool-ing system.
Many HVAC professionals recommend that youclean or change the filter on your air conditioner or fur-nace monthly. It’s simple and easy, and in many cases, itonly takes a few minutes.
Filters are available in a variety of types and efficien-cies, rated by a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value(MERV). MERV, a method developed by the AmericanSociety of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers, tests filter effectiveness.The higher the MERV number,the higher the filter’s effectivenessat keeping dust out of your sys-tem.
While most types of filtersmust be replaced, some filters arereusable. And don’t forget aboutthe winter months. Your heatingsystem needs to work as efficient-ly as possible to keep you warm(and your loved ones feelingsnuggly), and a clean air filterhelps it do just that.
Heating and cooling profes-
sionalsrecom-mendturningyour sys-tem offbefore
changing the air filter. Make sure that the arrow on thefilter—which indicates the direction of the airflow—ispointing toward the blower motor. When you’ve madethe change, turn your system back on.
n A teachable moment Beyond saving money and improving the air quality
in your home, changing your air filter is a great opportu-nity to teach your family more about energy efficiency.Consider getting everyone involved, and the entire fami-ly will learn how simple changes can make a big differ-ence.
For other tips on how to save, visit www.4county.org,or call the efficiency experts at 662-256-2962.
Mother Nature is not as predictable as wewould like her to be, and when she getsangry, we are left to pick up the pieces. Hurri-canes, floods, tornadoes, snow and ice, othernatural disasters—her methods of destruc-tion pose major threats to all kinds of infra-structure, including electrical lines and sys-tems. 4-County Electric Power Association is ready
to respond when the lights go out, but emer-gency situations—and extended outages—can be particularly challenging. Our linesserve several "critical needs" facilities, mak-ing longer outages a possibly life-threateningsituation.
Some homes may receive special attentionif power loss affects life-support systems or
poses other immediate danger.When a major storm moves through our
area, fellow co-op line crews are standing by,ready to help us restore power to the greatestnumber of members in the shortest amountof time possible. Even though co-ops areindependent entities, we still rely on oneanother to share resources, information and,in some cases, manpower.
“Relying on each other is the cooperativeway, and by doing so, we can restore powerto members more quickly when severeweather emergencies occur,” said Joe Cade,4-County CEO/ general manager.
This type of assistance is known as a mutu-al-aid agreement, and it works both ways.When the winter storms hit in January and
February, we called on our neighbor electriccooperatives to help restore power quicklyand safely. In more extensive outage situa-tions, we may rely on the help of coopera-tives in other states.
Most co-op lines and systems are designedand built to the same standards, so when fel-low crews answer the call for assistance, notraining is necessary. They show up ready toget the job done.
In addition to working with fellow co-opsduring emergency situations, 4-County com-municates with the Mississippi EmergencyManagement Agency (MEMA) and the Feder-al Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).When Mississippi’s governor formallydeclares an area a disaster, he or she requests
aid from the president so that FEMA andMEMA staffs can begin assessing damage.
“The best preparation for emergency situa-tions is becoming familiar with the rules andprocedures ahead of time, so you’re educatedand ready to respond,” Cade said. “Prepara-tion ensures shorter outages for our mem-bers, and that’s who we’re here to serve.”
A change for the better
Emergency restorationWhen disaster strikes, we’ll be ready
Watts HappeningThis listing of area events is compiled from information provided
by area chambers of commerce and visitors’ bureaus. The events listed are subject to change. Please call to confirm
dates, times and additional details.
strips), French Camp Elementary School ($5,500 to assist with robotics program),French Camp Academy Rainwater Observatory ($3,000 to assist with astronomy-related education programs), Pushmataha Area Council of the Boy Scouts ofAmerica ($5,000 to help fund a concrete basketball pad and two in-ground bas-ketball goals at Camp Seminole in Oktibbeha County), and Lowndes CountyDistrict 3 Volunteer Department ($3,000 to be applied toward the purchase of adistrict support truck).
The Foundation, through the generosity of 4-County members, has awardedmore than $84,000 to local groups. For details, go to www.4county.org (click on“About Us,” then click on “Community”) or call 1-800-431-1544.
4-County Foundation news
