coloradocountrylife.coop 74 JULY 2016

GRAND VALLEY POWER LINES

[Grand Valley News]

A continuing effort to enhance board effectiveness prompted the Grand Valley Power Board of Directors to impose term limits for directors serving the organization. Action was taken at a special board meeting held last month to amend the organization’s bylaws to limit directors to serving five consecutive three-year terms. This change will take effect with directors elected in August 2016 and thereafter.

The implementation of term limits has many potential benefits, including:• Introducing leaders who will bring a

fresh approach and fresh ideas• Enabling an ongoing reconfiguration

of the ideal board composition, including opportunities to increase the diversity of board perspectives

• Growing the base of board alumni, who can promote the organization in the community

• Strengthening recruitment as potential board members know that there is a defined limit to the amount of time they will serve

• Creating a sense of urgency for board members to accomplish their goals during the time of their service on the boardThe board acknowledges that term

limits present a potential downside — it can be difficult to replace the experience and knowledge that long-standing board members bring to the table. Neverthe-

less, the Grand Valley Power board enacted this change because it believes it is in the best interest of the cooperative’s

members. It is the direct result of a strategic planning session conducted a couple months ago. You will likely see other changes grow out of this planning session.

Next month Grand Val-ley Power will celebrate 80 years of success. We are here because of the foresight and vision of our found-ers — leaders who were not

afraid to make changes for the good of the organization’s members. Today’s cooperative leaders embrace the same approach, as we believe it is the best way that we can continue to provide value for our members and consumers.

GVP BOARD IMPLEMENTS DIRECTOR TERM LIMITSBY TOM WALCH || GENERAL MANAGER || TWALCH@GVP.ORG

A

Tom Walch

COMMENTS TO THE MANAGERYou are a member of a cooperative and your opinion does count. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please let General Manager Tom Walch know by writing to Ask the Manager, P.O. Box 190, Grand Junction, CO 81502, or send an email to TWalch@gvp.org or use the website at www.gvp.org.

BOARD MEETING NOTICEGrand Valley Power board meetings are open to the members, consumers and public. Regularly scheduled board meetings are held at 9 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the headquarters building at 845 22 Road, Grand Junction. The monthly agenda is posted in the lobby of the headquarters building 10 days before each meeting, and posted on the GVP website. If anyone desires to address the board of directors, please let me know in advance and you will be placed on the agenda.

M A N A G E R ’ S C O R N E R

ANNUAL MEETING TIME HAS CHANGED TO THURSDAY, AUGUST 4This year Grand Valley Power will celebrate 80 years of supplying electric service to its member-owners at the annual meeting on Thursday, August 4, 2016. This year’s annual meeting is at the University Center Ballroom at Colorado Mesa University. Reservation cards for the event will be included in the annual report that you will receive this month.

More specific information about the annual meeting will be in the annual report and in the August issue of Grand Valley News. Mark your calendars now for a special day at Grand Valley Power on Thursday, August 4.

8 JULY 2016

[Grand Valley News]

coloradocountrylife.coop

TVincent, Norma AVintage 70Viray, Deborah AVisconti, Jason TVodopich, Thomas HVogt, Mark RVoight, CraigVoltmer, Fred RVon Ehrenkroo, LynnVon Ehrenkroo, PaulVoorhees, MilesVrbas, Justin MVroman, Jason DWaalkes, Adrian KWacker, DeanaWadadli Equities LlcWadkins, Harold RWaggoner, James PWagner, Clyde LWagner, LloydWagner, Robert LWagner, Tommie JWagner, Virginia FWagoner, ByrnadineWahlmeier, SusanWalck, LisaWalden, Sharon AWalk, Richard DWalker, Barbara JWalker, Bill EWalker, David RWalker, Jack LWalker, Karen KWalker, Nancy RWalker, Robert WWalker, Timothy JWalker, William AWallace, ChadWallace, Craig FWallace, Elsie PWallace, Gene JWallace, LaniWallace, William JWaller, Karl RWaller, Mark DWallette, LarryWallick, Charles CWalls, Richard RWalp, Char EWalsh, JohnWalsh, Lloyd JWalter, AnnaWalter, Daniel SWalter, Roslyn MWalters, Dorothy VWalters, James KWalters, MordekaiWalton, JulianWalton, Marjorie LWalton, Ronald JWaltz, William GWampler, Terry LWard, David FWard, Donald FWard, Joseph TWard, Marie CWard, Ray RWard, Sharlene CWard, SteveWare, LarryWargo, Ruth EWaring, Tom EWarner, James AWarner, MargaretWarnke, Donald EWarr, Hazel

Warren, JohnWarren, Judith EWarren, Steve RWarren, Steven LWashburn, Arlea WWashburn, Glen TWashington, Donald LWasson, Jo’Ni MWastren IncWatkins, CodyWatkins, JamesWatkins, LauraWatkins, Robert CWatkins, Robert IWatkins, WarrenWatson, Billy JWatson, EdWatson, FredWatson, Isaac FWatson, JimWatson, Jim RWatson, Lawrence EWatson, LonnieWatson, Michael JWatson, Teresa MWatson, TerriWattenberg, Ellen LWatton, LadonnaWatts, Brian SWatts, RickWeatherby, Evonne IWeatherholt, CarolWeaver, EarnestWeaver, Jasper CWeaver, Robert WWeaver, TriciaWebb Crane Service IncWebb, DaveWebb, EddieWebb, JohnnyWebb, Margaret FWebber, Donald LWebber, James AWeber, Amanda RWeber, Judith BWeber, Nancy JWeber, Roger LWebster, IvanWeddle, AnitaWeddle, Judith HWederath, Richard AWeeks, RonaldWeicker, Brian KWeimer, AverlWeimer, KennethWeis, Jeremy JWeiser, PaulWelch, Tom EWelch, WilliamWelch, William LWell Servicing EquipmentWeller, Ronald LWellman, BarbaraWells, A AWells, Dan HWells, DavidWells, DorothyWells, Jess BWells, LawrenceWells, Mark LWells, Robert DWells, Robert RWelshans, WendyWelte, Fred EWendig, Charles DWerner, Pam

Werner, Patricia AWert, H LeonWert, RogerWertenberger, Monica JWescourt Group IncWesfrac IncWest, CharlesWest, Kenneth PWest, Lonnie OWest, TennieWestback, Deborah AWestcott And AssociatesWestcott, J TWestcott, Wayne AWestern Air DrillingWestern Diesel, Inc.Western Disaster ServicesWestern Slope Feeders IncWestern States RoofingWestway FeedlotWestwood HomesWethington, DorothyWevill, EuniceWhalen, Judy LWhalin, Ted EWhatley, George OWheeler, Carl JWheeler, Frank AWheeler, JimmyWheeler, Marjory LWheeling Corrugating CoWhitacre, LesleyWhitaker, DorothyWhite, Barbara JWhite, BrittanyWhite, Chester EWhite, John HWhite, Leo JWhite, LeroyWhite, LoydWhite, Nicole DWhite, Roger MWhite, Rusty LWhite, William EWhiteside, John AWhitewater General StoreWhitewater Mutual DitchWhiting, DonnaWhitledge, Sofie RWhitney, LymanWhitney, Robert BWhitney-Grant, Beverly AWhittaker, BrettWhittaker, Steed NWhitteker, JuanitaWickersham, HenryWickham, William LWidhalm, Pat MWied, WilliamWieker, GeraldWilbur, Cynthia LWilcox, Darwin MWilcox, Gary DWilcox, William HWilczek, Robert JWildermuth, DavidWilkie, W RWilkins, C PaulWilkins, James EWilkins, Kevin PWilkinson, Mildred AWilkinson, ScottWilkison, GeorgeWillden, LeeWilliams, ArnettWilliams, Dolores

Williams, Donald PWilliams, Dorothy CWilliams, Edie LWilliams, Frank LWilliams, Frank TWilliams, Jack DWilliams, James VWilliams, JayneWilliams, Jeffrey KWilliams, John AWilliams, KaliWilliams, Larry AWilliams, Lee DWilliams, LindaWilliams, OrvisWilliams, Ray DWilliams, Rick DWilliams, Robert LWilliams, Russell JWilliams, Scott AWilliams, Sharon AWilliams, Teresa SWilliams, Zachary KWilliamsen Truck EquipWilliamson, Nathan JWilliamson, PaulWilliford, T WWillingham, Robert WWillis, Cyril SWillis, Dennis DWilson, AlbertWilson, ArthurWilson, BrentWilson, ByronWilson, E EnosWilson, Garth LWilson, Gerald WWilson, Gregory WWilson, Herman CWilson, James EWilson, James RWilson, Juliet RWilson, Kerry TWilson, LysleWilson, Otis LWilson, Peggy JWilson, RayWilson, Richard SWilson, RickWilson, Timothy CWilson, Tyler MWilson, WilliamWilson, Wm DWiltse, Donald RWiman, Jack LWiney, PeggyWinfield, JimWing, Owen RWinterhalder, Shirley AWinters, Gary LWisener, LeonWisenstine, John DWishart, Sherry NWiswell, Howard EWitek, Robert WWithers, Walter DWithington, BettyWithrow, JamesWitte, Lynn MWoerner, Jerry DWolcott, RalphWolf, Donna MWolfe, Melanie JWollner, NorbertWolverton, MargaretWolverton, Marvin

Wood ElectricWood, David LWood, David RWood, Jeffrey WWood, Karl CWood, Kim WWood, Mark AWood, Michael JWood, Travis JWoodard, VirgilWoodbury, KevinWoodell, Jerry LWoodruff, John PWoodward, VenaWorkman, Farrell MWorkman, Mark CWren IndustriesWright, ChristopherWright, Clifford RWright, DaleWright, Daniel GWright, David RWright, HerbWright, Leland BWright, Melissa AWright, SueWriston, RonWulf, Marie HWunsch, Jason SWyatt, Michael DWyers, Lynn LWylie, Terri LWymore, Warren MWynkoop, KennethWynn, HowardYager, Raymond JYates, Duane LYates, RacquelYeager, Adina MayYeager, Aleta LYeager, GeorgeYeates, PatriciaYehle, Tina MYenglin, MafordYoung RanchesYoung, Agnes AYoung, Dorothy IYoung, Michael JYoung, Robert FYoung, TerryYoung, Tonya LYoung, W JYoung, William NYoungberg, Elton AYounge, Jean BYounger, James MYourtee, Ryan CZahm, Robert BZamora, AlejandroZamora, Loretta TZandofsky, MichaelZartman, Kelley JZellmer, JuneZeman, Melvin RZeman, SamuelZemel, Alisa DZiegler Electric LlcZimmerer, Mary EZimmerman, DarylZimmerman, Philemon RZoll, Sharron MZvirblis, MichaelZybura, Jere

As you find yourself spending more time outdoors this summer, Grand Valley Power reminds you to exercise caution near electrical equipment maintained by the co-op.

Substations and power lines carry extremely high voltages, and if contact is accidentally made, the results can be dangerous — or even deadly.

Never climb trees near power lines. If you make contact with a tree that is touching a power line, your body could become the path of electricity from the line to the ground. If you encounter an animal trapped in a tree near power lines or inside a substation, do not attempt to remove it, no matter how furry and cute. Call Grand Valley Power or 911 for assistance.

Here at Grand Valley Power, your safety is important to us. We hope you will share the message of electrical safety so that you and others can enjoy plenty of summer days filled with fun. Visit gvp.org for more electrical safety tips.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Coopera-tive Association.

USE CAUTION NEAR CO-OP EQUIPMENTBY ABBY BERRY

Capital Credits Refunds — ContinuedThe following is the fourth and final installment of a list of those customers who did not claim their capital credit checks that were mailed in December 2014. Those checks reflect 60 percent of the margins that were made during 1999 and 40 percent of the margins made in subsequent years.

If you have any information as to the location or address of any of the following indi-viduals or businesses, please have them contact Grand Valley Power at 970-242-0040.

We have unclaimed capital credit refund checks for the following people:

coloradocountrylife.coop 94 JULY 2016

[Grand Valley News][Grand Valley News]

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED GRAND VALLEY POWER ANNOUNCES THE 2016 GRAND VALLEY POWER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

JACK BROUGHTON — CMU SCHOLARSHIP This is a $2,000 scholarship that is renewable for up to four years. This scholarship is awarded to a student who will attend Colorado Mesa University.

Dakotah Matarozzo – Dakotah recently graduated from Plateau Valley High School and will study for a biology degree at Colo-rado Mesa University. She worked hard over the years helping family, volunteering and exhibiting natural leadership abilities in the organizations that she serves. One of her vol-unteering experiences led her to Costa Rica

where she and other schoolmates helped a family turn a one room home into two rooms for a poor Costa Rican family.

GRAND VALLEY POWER SCHOLARSHIPS Six $1,500 one-time scholarships are awarded to students who will attend an accredited institution of higher education.

Marta Morris – Marta is a Palisade High School graduate. She plans on attending Mar-ian University in Indiana to get a mathemat-ics degree and then pursue a mechanical engineering degree from Purdue University. Marta was very active at Palisade High School and did considerable volunteer work. One of her experiences was starting The Hive

with friends. The Hive is a non-profit organization to raise awareness on the importance of bees in the environment.

Sean Diehl – After his graduation from Central High School, Sean plans to attend the University of Northern Colorado majoring in music with a business emphasis. Sean has excelled in school and especially in music. While maintaining high grades, Sean worked several part-time jobs during his high school career including Sodexo, Papa John’s and Safeway.

Carolena Campos – Carolena graduated from Grand Junction High School and is planning to attend Colorado State University and major in biomedical science. She was a role model for her peers during her high school career. Her goal is to become a doctor and surgeon.

Maia Honeycutt – After her graduation from Grand Junction High School, Maia plans on attending the University of Northern Colo-rado. She will work toward a Biology degree with a pre-med concentration. After that, she plans on going to medical school to become a physician.

Cody VanWinkle – Cody recently gradu-ated from Fruita Monument High School. He will attend the University of Wyoming in the fall majoring in business. Cody plans on returning to the Grand Valley after receiving his degree to become a licensed surveyor and start his own business.

Miranda Raines – Miranda recently gradu-ated from Fruita Monument High School. She will attend Evergreen State College in Washington and major in biology. Her goal is to become a wildlife rehabilitation technician and hopefully run a wildlife shelter in the future.

2016 COOPERATIVE YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMPGrand Valley Power is sending one local student to this year’s Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp in Clark, Colorado, located just outside of Steamboat Springs. Sanford Atkinson, son of Clark and Mary Atkinson, will attend the camp in mid-July.

Nearly 200 high school students from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming will gather at a beautiful resort located along the Elk River and spend the week at an outstanding Leader-ship Camp. They will participate in activities to improve personal goals, set up and run their own cooperative, and get an inside view of the state and national legislatures. There is plenty of time for swim parties, barbecues, dances and a banquet during the week. Many of the attendees call this camp a “life-changing experience.”

This camp, in its 20th year, is hosted by the Colorado Rural Electric Association and staffed by cooperative employees from across Colorado.

G

10 JULY 2016

[Grand Valley News]

coloradocountrylife.coop

WWhile it is safe for a bird to sit on an over-head power line, it is not safe for people to be near overhead power lines. So how can birds sit on a power line unharmed? Safe Electricity reveals insights into the “bird on a wire” phenomenon and sepa-rates fact from fiction.

In order for an electrical charge, or electrons, to move from one spot to an-other, it must be in contact (or sometimes close proximity) with conductive mate-rial that has at least two different points of potential. Electrons will move toward lower potential. That is why it is said that electricity is always looking for a path to ground (lower potential).

A bird remains safe because it is sitting on a single wire and is at one point of contact, and consequently one electrical potential. If the bird sitting on this one potential was to also make contact with another object of different potential, that bird would be completing a path to ground, causing severe electric shock or electrocution. For larger birds with wider wingspans, reaching and touching another cable is a real hazard.

BIRDS ON A WIREWhy don’t they get electrocuted?

Adding a new building farm?

We care about the safety of you, your family and farm workers. That’s why we urge you to call us before you break ground

on a new grain bin, barn, or other building.

Building a structure too close to overhead power lines can create an electric shock danger during and after construction.

power line clearances for your addition.

Plan ahead for safety!

to your