www.marshallremc.com

CONTACT US

OFFICE: 574-936-3161OUTAGES: 866-936-3161FAX: 574-935-4162EMAIL•General inquires: mail@marshallremc.com•Website issues: webmaster@marshallremc.comOFFICE HOURS 8 a.m–5 p.m., Monday-FridaySTREET ADDRESS 11299 12th Road, Plymouth, IN 46563MAILING ADDRESSP.O. Box 250, Plymouth, IN 46563

BOARD OF DIRECTORSRobert Broeker, CHAIRMAN

Dr. Richard Leeper, VICE CHAIRMAN, INDIANA STATEWIDE DIRECTOR

Jon Rettinger, SECRETARY/TREASURER, WABASH VALLEY POWER DIRECTOR

Andy LemlerMikel LargeSteven RobertsStephen Ringer

OUTAGE INFORMATIONIn case of a power failure:1. Check your fuses or breakers.2. Call your neighbors and ask if they have service.3. Have your location number ready.4. Call 866-936-3161.

SERVICE CHARGESIf it is a problem on your end:•$40 (8 a.m.-3 p.m.)•$100 (after 3 p.m.)•Collection charge: $30•Reconnection charge: $40 (8 a.m.-3 p.m.)•Reconnection charge: $100 (after 3 p.m.)•Insufficient funds check: $30

The life of a lineman

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NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATIVE

They wake before the sun, pour steaming cups of coffee, and kiss their fami-lies goodbye. After swing-ing by the office to get the day’s orders, eight men climb into their trucks and head out. Our lineworkers form a solid team with one job: to

deliver safe, reliable electricity. But that job can change in a million ways when rough weather steps in.

We often take power — and the men and women who provide it — for granted. Let’s take a moment and stand in their boots.

Linemen have to work safely, smart, and efficiently — all while 40 feet in the air wearing sturdy, thick rubber gloves. On a typical day, lineworkers maintain electrical distribution lines or build service to new homes and businesses in Indiana. They have a lot on their plates. But when our dispatch center calls crews with a problem, everything else takes a backseat.

Power restoration takes precedence on a lineworker’s to-do list. These brave men are always on call. We have linemen stand-ing by to serve you 24 hours a day, in the middle of the night or wee hours of the morning, weekends and holidays.

Can you imagine getting a call at 3 a.m. telling you to work outside during bad weather? Not many people are willing to face storms. Our lineworkers face harsh elements daily, all to serve you.

Lineworkers also focus on safety; the lives of coworkers are on the line. Job safety is important to everyone, no matter your occupa-tion. But for lineworkers, there can be no slip ups or careless actions. Mistakes can cost a limb or life. That’s one of the reasons linemen form a brotherhood. When you put your life in the hands of cowork-

ers every day, they become more than col-leagues. They’re family.

That sense of family extends to elec-tric co-ops across the nation. One of our principles is cooperation among coopera-tives. We help other co-ops in their times of need, and they extend that service to us, too. It’s reassuring to know if a severe storm strikes, a national team of linework-ers stands ready to answer the call.

To be ready to respond no matter the situation or weather conditions, linemen are highly trained. At Marshall County REMC, linemen go through regular train-ing to ensure they can work safely with var-ious kinds of equipment. The equipment gets tested regularly, too.

These highly skilled men light our homes and businesses every day. They endure harsh weather and long hours, all to make our lives better. Today (and every day), please take a moment to thank them. Marshall County REMC’s linemen are the heart of the Co-op Nation, proud and strong.

MARK BATMAN is CEO of Marshall County REMC.

MARK BATMAN

Linemen endure harsh weather conditions and long hours to bring electricity to our homes and businesses.

4 ELECTRIC CONSUMER • APRIL 2014 • ElectricConsumer.org

NEWS FROM YOUR COOPERATIVE

k Non-payment disconnect day: April 10

k Scheduled meter read date: April 10

k Payment due date: April 15

ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP

These days, it may be easier to trim your refrigerator’s energy use than it is to trim your waistline. Consider this energy-saving and maintenance regimen to keep your refrigerator in shape. Set the refrigerator temperature above 37 F. Make sure door seals are in place and are snug when closed. And keep outside coils unobstructed and clean; dirty ones could overwork the unit’s compressor.

—Source: Energy.gov

Happy Easter! The Marshall County REMC office will be closed on April 18 for Good Friday. The employees and directors wish you and your family a happy Easter!

Important dates in April

ElectricConsumer.org • APRIL 2014 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER 5

Thank you to all the members who attended the 2014 Marshall County REMC Annual Meeting! Results of the election will be published in the May issue of Electric Consumer.

Thank you for attending the annual meeting!

Marshall County REMC News

B eware. Spring can usher in more than April show-ers. Now through the summer months, thunder-storms can quickly roll in and tornadoes can touch

down, often during the afternoon and evening hours, according to researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Severe Storms Laboratory.

Follow these tips from NOAA and the American Red Cross to keep you and your home safe when tornadoes and severe thunder-storms come your way.

k Prepare for high winds by removing diseased and dam-aged tree limbs.

k Listen to local news or National Weather Service broadcasts to stay informed about tor-nado watches and warnings.

k If in a mobile home, immediately head to a sturdy shelter or vehicle. Mobile homes, especially hallways and bathrooms, are not safe places to take shelter during tornadoes or other severe winds.

k Designate a family meeting place for shelter during and after a storm. If possible, go to your home’s basement, a small interior room, or under stairs on the lowest level. Also, have a battery-operated weather radio handy along with emergency supplies.

k Unplug your electronics. Avoid using electrical equip-ment and corded telephones.

k Remember that there is no safe place outside during a severe storm. If you are caught in a storm while on the road, the American Red Cross urges drivers to turn their headlights on, try to safely exit the roadway, and park. Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt on and turn on the emer-gency flashers until the heavy rain ends. If thunder and lightning is occurring, avoid touching metal or other sur-faces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.

k Move or secure lawn furniture, trash cans, hang-ing plants or any-thing else that can be picked up by the wind and become a projectile.

k Stay safe after a storm. Remain indoors at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. Also, stay away from downed power lines and avoid flooded areas; power lines could be submerged and still live with electricity. Report them to Marshall County REMC at 866-936-3161 immediately.

Learn more about storm safety at http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/thunderstorms/. …

SOURCES: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Severe Storms Laboratory; American Red Cross

B. DENISE HAWKINS writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

Preparing forSPRING STORMS

Storm clouds erupt with lightning. The current in a lightning bolt can produce tens of thousands of amps and more than 100,000 volts. When they strike, find shelter indoors and unplug electrical devices.

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BY B. DENISE HAWKINS

28 ELECTRIC CONSUMER • APRIL 2014 • ElectricConsumer.org

Your small change has once again made a big dif-

ference to some local organizations thanks to your participation in the Operation Round Up® program.

Care and Share of Marshall County was awarded $1,000 to help support low-income families struggling to make ends meet. Care and Share of Marshall County is committed to validating needs and coordinating aid by referring to proper agencies or directly distributing funds when available. Care and Share also provides mentoring programs, community service, prayer and encouraging church involvement.

Junior Achievement was awarded $1,000 to help fund JA BizTown for fifth and sixth grade students at Triton Elementary School. JA BizTown is an authentic, life-sized town where students learn to juggle personal and profes-sional responsibilities, while managing business and per-sonal finances. This program is designed to equip students with the problem-solving and decision-making skills they’ll need to succeed in business, economics and personal finance.

Hello Gorgeous! received $600 to help pamper women battling cancer. Makeovers will be made by participat-ing salon C.C. Hair Company located in Plymouth. Hello Gorgeous! is a non-profit organization that provides com-plimentary, professional makeovers and cosmetic educa-tion to women battling all cancers. The experience begins with a nomination by family and friends. If chosen their surprise includes showering the nominee with flowers, chocolates and a big “Hello Gorgeous!” makeover.

The Operation Round Up® fund is made possible through the kindness of Marshall County REMC members and partnership with the Marshall County Community Foundation. The REMC would like to thank them for their dedication to the fund. …

Three Operation Round Up grants awarded locally

Pastor Jim Irwin, director of Care and Share of Marshall County, accepts a $1,000 Operation Round Up grant.

Operation Round Up directors Janet Howard (second from the right) and Ann Fitzgerald (fourth from the right) present Program Manager Julie Stabrowski (far right) and Junior Achievement volunteers a check for $1,000 to help fund JA BizTown.

Pictured left to right, Heather Brewer, Gina Greenlee, Christina Pepple, and Marilyn Rans of C.C. Hair Company accept an Operation Round Up grant to help fund professional makeovers for women battling cancer.

How to apply for a grant from the Operation Round Up programOperation Round Up funds are used to contribute to crucial community needs such as housing, assistance programs, medical care and education, but is not lim-ited to these categories. Operation Round Up® funds are used for charitable purposes only.

Applications are available at www.marshallremc.com. For more information, contact Emily Howard, communications specialist, at 574-936-3161 or ehoward@marshallremc.com.

ElectricConsumer.org • APRIL 2014 • ELECTRIC CONSUMER 29