loyal connections l - burke-divide electric cooperative · complaint filing deadlines vary by...

NOVEMBER 2017Bulletin

What’s inside: • New boutique in Powers Lake • Used poles available • Cooking and holiday safety

Message from the manager

Jerry Kinggeneral manager

Columbus, N.D. | 701-939-6671 | 800-472-2983 | email: [email protected]

Loyalty is a prized virtue – to country, family, even the schools we attend. We keep those ties strong throughout our lives.

We at Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative also have loyalties, to the members and communities we serve. We have deep connections here because this is our home, and you are our neighbor.

We exist to provide you with safe, reliable and affordable electric service – and doing so in a way that makes things better for future generations. That means we care about improving the quality of life in the areas we serve. That’s why we offer scholarships to college-bound students, send a high school student to Washington, D.C., every summer to learn about history and government, provide low-interest loans to businesses and participate in community service projects.

We don’t participate in these activities simply because it’s nice to do, or even the right thing to do. We do it because we remain loyal to our members, our neighbors, our home – and a mission to make life better in the areas we serve.

Until next time,Jerry KingGeneral manager

Loyal connections

On Oct. 11, Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative employees participated in the co-op’s third annual Community Service Day in Crosby. The group assembled playground equipment at the new Crosby Kids Daycare facility. Past Community Service Day projects were held at the Short Creek Dam recreation area and the Bowbells School playground.

www.bdec.coop BURKE-DIVIDE ELECTRIC NEWS n NOVEMBER 2017 C1

Boutique charms customers online and on Main StreetSTORY AND PHOTOS BY CANDI HELSETH

Northern Charm Boutique has attracted online customers from as far away as Louisiana

and retail customers from as far as Edmonton, Alberta. Beginning with online sales in January, Northern Charm expanded its outreach in August with the establishment of a retail store open on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Powers Lake's Main Street.

Tammy Moody and her daughters, Mallory Edwards and Morgan Dosch, own and operate the business. Tammy and Morgan live near Battleview in Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative territory and Mallory lives in Powers Lake. They began the business out of Mallory's home,

storing products there and packaging and shipping them in response to online orders. Demand increased quickly and the business outgrew Mallory's home.

“The idea for a boutique really started with Mallory,” Tammy said. “She had talked about it for a few years. Morgan and I thought it sounded fun. Last winter, we got to the point where we decided to just do it!”

Northern Charm Boutique is a store for females – offering apparel, accessories and giftware for a wide variety of ages. Inventory changes constantly as the owners follow current fashion trends and purchase new stock based on their preferences

and customer feedback. “We try not to carry more than six

to eight pieces of a particular style, because people who live in the area don’t want to all be wearing the same thing,” Tammy said. “Working with different companies and going to shows in Minneapolis to pick our products is one of the things we all really enjoy.”

The women do it all. With none of them having a retail or online business background, their process has been “learn as you go.” Mallory and her husband, Cliff, primarily handle the Northern Charm website and its Facebook presence where photographs of their apparel is often modeled by family members

Mallory Edwards helps Hayley Allen, Lignite, find the perfect outfit at Northern Charm Boutique, open Fridays on Main Street in Powers Lake. Northern Charm also markets its products on Facebook and through its website.

C2 NOVEMBER 2017 n BURKE-DIVIDE ELECTRIC NEWS www.bdec.coop

and friends. Morgan’s specialty is assembling store displays. She says she has learned sales can dip or soar simply from how a display is assembled or where it is placed.

So far, Mallory says, Facebook is their best sales generator. They are fortunate to have a loyal base of supporters who share Northern Charm’s posts with others. In fact, that’s how a woman from Edmonton — home of one of the largest malls in North America – ended up shopping in Powers Lake. Originally from Lignite, she saw Northern Charm’s Facebook ads and loved the clothing featured. Back in North Dakota in August, she and four friends planned an afternoon outing to Powers Lake. Along with much laughter, conversation and trying on clothes, they all left carrying purchases.

“I think that’s one of the most fun things for me,” Tammy said. “I love seeing people love what we’ve chosen and watching their enjoyment when

they are in the store. I would never have pictured we’d be doing this. We work together really well and that’s good, because we spend a lot more time together now. I don’t get to be the mom here. I am one of the partners and when I make mistakes, they do get to correct me!”

While they are thoroughly enjoying their entrepreneurial venture, all three women say they underestimated the amount of time it would take. They are balancing a new business with other work responsibilities and family time. Tammy works Fridays in the store and Monday through Thursday at Tioga Medical Center business office, a 20-mile drive from where she and her husband, Galen, live. Mallory and Morgan rotate Fridays in the store. Morgan works as a registered nurse at Mountrail County Clinic in Stanley 35 miles from her home. She and her husband, Nick, have two girls and two boys. Cliff and Mallory, who is co-director

at Lil Ranchers Daycare in Powers Lake, have three boys.

For an up-close look at this new business in BDEC territory, go online to Northern Charm Boutique’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/northerncharmshop and to the website at https://www.northerncharmboutique.com. Or visit the boutique in Powers Lake on a Friday! n

Mylee Dosch, Morgan’s 4-year-old daughter, loves modeling children’s clothes on Northern Charm’s online site. She also likes helping in the store on Powers Lake’s Main Street.

Tammy Moody, a Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative member, displays some of the boutique’s popular sale items – casual wear with slogans, fashion jeans and shoes.


Operation Round Up grants awarded

The Operation Round Up board met in September and awarded three grants totaling $1,975.

The Powers Lake Women’s Civic Club was awarded $275 to purchase a portable sound system to use at community events, the Donnybrook Fire Department was awarded $1,000 to purchase equipment for a new fire truck, and the Kenmare Police Department was awarded $700 for its Cops 4 Kids Christmas gift program.

The next distribution of Operation Round Up funds is scheduled for March 2018. The application deadline will be March 15, 2018.

Statement of nondiscriminationBurke-Divide Electric Cooperative is a recipient of

federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations/policies, USDA, its agencies, offices and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal/retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA; not all bases apply to all programs; remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_ filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1) mail: U.S. Department of AgricultureO� ce of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Ave. S.W.Washington, DC 20250-9410; 2) fax: 202-690-7442; or3) email: [email protected] is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Used poles availableBurke-Divide Electric

Cooperative has a surplus of used poles at its Columbus office. The used poles are available at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested in acquiring used poles should contact Michael at 701-939-6671. Individuals are responsible for transportation of the poles.


CHECK OUT THE ESSAY-CONTEST GUIDELINES AT

www.ndyouthtour.com

JUNE 9-15, 2018

TOP 3 REASONS TO ENTER THE ESSAY-WRITING CONTEST

1. All-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., compliments of Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative.2. A whole week to visit unforgettable historic monuments, museums and the U.S. Capitol.3. A learning experience you’ll never forget.

• To enter the essay-writing contest, you must be a sophomore or junior in high school.

• You and your parents or guardian must be served by Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative.

• If you have a question, contact Heidi Robbins, Burke-Divide Electric, at the address listed below, or call 701-939-6671 during regular business hours.

• The deadline is March 1, 2018. Emailed entries should be directed to [email protected], and hard-copy entries mailed to: Youth Tour Essay Contest, Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative, 9549 West Hwy. 5, PO Box 6, Columbus, ND 58727-0006.

WRITE A WINNING ESSAY

and win a trip of a lifetime!AN ALL-EXPENSE-PAID TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

North Dakota Electric Cooperative

HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES & JUNIORS

ESSAY QUESTION:There are approximately 20 million military veterans in the United States today. How shall fellow U.S. citizens

honor and look after these veterans, who have served and sacrifi ced on our behalf? Describe any special connection you may have to a veteran or active-duty member of the military.


Save energy thisThanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a great time of year to bring friends and families together. It also means spending time in the kitchen to prepare the traditional Thanksgiving

feast. If you are looking for good tips on how to put together a cozy winter meal while keeping energy bills reasonable, Burke-Divide Electric can help. Energy costs in the kitchen can add up to 15 percent of total home energy use, so it’s worth a bit of effort to learn how to use less energy in the kitchen.

Here are some tips to help keep your energy costs down:• Keep the oven door closed. While you may want to

check on the progress of a dish you’ve got cooking in your oven, use the light instead. Every time the oven door is opened, the temperature inside is reduced by as much as 25 degrees, delaying the progress of your dish and, more importantly, costing you more money to get that pot roast perfectly cooked.

• Check your oven temperature. A freestanding oven thermometer is a great way to check out how hot your oven really gets. Many ovens vary slightly from the dial you’re setting your cooking temperature at.

By testing your oven temperature at several settings (325, 350, 375 and 400 degrees), you can fi nd out if your oven runs hot or cool, and factor an extra 25 degrees or so into your cooking, if necessary. Always check your freestanding oven thermometer to verify the temperature so that you’re not needlessly cranking up the heat on an already hot oven!

• Turn down the heat. Spending all day in the kitchen? If you’ve got the oven running and soup on the stove, you can probably turn the heat down a bit. The heat from your oven, not to mention dinner guests, should keep your home warmer than usual, and your furnace won’t have to work as hard!

• Clean your burners. If you have an electric range, one great way to keep your stovetop cooking effi ciently is to keep the refl ectors under your burners grime-free. They can be a pain to clean, but regular maintenance can go a long way. You can also invest in some better refl ectors that can decrease your stovetop cooking times, which will save you energy (and money!) over time.


BOARD OF DIRECTORSDavid Sigloh, Pres. .......................................KenmareKent Haugland, V. Pres. ...................................CrosbyLynn Jacobson, Sec.-Treas. .............................AlamoSteven Overlee, Asst. Sec.-Treas. ............McGregorJeff Dahlin ....................................................KenmareKurt Koppelsloen ....................................... ColumbusLane Titus ...................................................Battleview

EMPLOYEES-COLUMBUSJerry King ...................................................... ManagerBrooke Watterud ............................... Office ManagerTodd Unruh ................................Operations ManagerHeidi Robbins .................Member Services ManagerKen Keysor ............Manager of Purchasing & StoresJoAnn Lunstad .............. Human Resources ManagerAshley Throntveit .......................... Billing CoordinatorJodi Nelson ...............................Cashier/ReceptionistBrandy Zepp ................................Work Order AnalystErin Fagerbakke ............................. Plant AccountantBrook Blom ...............................Assistant AccountantCory Marschner ..... Energy Management SupervisorTroy Nelson .......................Meter Technician/LocatorDustin Logelin ......................................IT CoordinatorEric Sieg ..................................Operations SupervisorLex Lindbo ............................................ Line ForemanScott Lesmeister ...........................................LinemanJosh Johnston ................................................LinemanLogan Erickson ..............................................LinemanColton Maruskie ........................ Apprentice LinemanMichael Powell. ............ Warehouse/Groundskeeper

KENMAREPete Stroklund............................ Service CoordinatorTom Rasmusson .........................Operations LaborerTyler Orvedal .....................Meter Technician/LocatorEthan Bahr ........................Meter Technician/LocatorJason Bruner ........................................ Line ForemanJoe Thomas ...................................................LinemanGabe Ellis .......................................................LinemanKyle Helmers .................................................LinemanTerry Knutson ................................................LinemanBrad Kjos ....................................................ElectricianKelly Bauer .................................................Electrician

CROSBYGeorge Knutson ................................... Line Foreman Randy Landsverk ..........................................LinemanDave Nelson ..................................................Lineman Levi Vangsness ........................ .Apprentice LinemanBill Books ....................................................ElectricianJerry Koppenhaver .....................................Electrician

Office Hours Monday through Friday8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 701-939-6671Toll-Free: 800-472-2983

www.bdec.coop [email protected]

Information concerning accounts, payments and bills is available only during regular working hours.

Box 6 - 9549 Hwy. 5Columbus, ND 58727-0006

Power outages can occur anytime of the day or night in any kind of weather.

When your electricity goes off, check fuses and breakers at the meter pole and service entrance. Call neighbors to see if they have power. Then call BDEC at 1.800.472.2983 or 701.939.6671 and follow these steps:

� Press 1 to report your outage. A dispatcher will answer if available,and you can report your outage to him or her.

� If all the dispatchers are busy assisting other callers, an automatedoutage system will assist you.

Press 1 to report an outage using your phone number.

Press 2 to report the outage by meter number.

Press 3 to report downed lines or poles or if you have critical information about the cause of an outage.

� Once you have completely answered the questions, you will receive amessage confirming that your outage has been reported and that line crews have been or will be dispatched.

� If you experience difficulties with the automated service,press 0 at any time for assistance.

1

2

3

Power OutagesPower OutagesPower OutagesPower OutagesPower OutagesPower OutagesPower OutagesPower OutagesPower Outages

November office closuresBurke-Divide Electric Cooperative offices will be closed the following days in

November: • Friday, Nov. 10 – Veterans Day observed • Thursday, Nov. 23, and Friday, Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving


loyal connections l - burke-divide electric cooperative · complaint filing deadlines vary by...

Documents