FEATURED ARTICLES INSIDE:Spreading Joy This Season Page 2 REC’s Hunting Success Stories Page 3 Make Health a Habit Page 4

S lips, trips and falls are the leading cause of workplace accidents, and they can happen to anyone, at any time. With winter

weather creating more possibilities for slippery surfaces, REC encourages all employees to practice these tips to avoid injuries and accidents in the workplace: • If you notice a slip, trip or fall hazard, especially in highly utilized areas, clean it up or notify the maintenance department or appropriate personnel in your office to remove the danger. • Wipe your shoes thoroughly on a doormat when you come into a work area from outdoors. • Be sure to walk up or down stairways instead of running. • Keep an unobstructed view while walking. Avoid carrying objects up or down steps. • Keep stairways and walking surfaces clean and clear of items.

• Use walkways. Don’t take shortcuts – especially through areas where it is obvious pedestrian traffic is not intended to go. • Use the handrail; always have one hand free to hold onto a handrail. • Beware of single steps. Small changes in levels can be unexpected. • Be aware of your footwear. Take extra caution on steps when wearing high heels or open toe sandals. • Use the right step stools to retrieve things from overhead; inspect them to assure they are safe to use. • Be aware of slippery bumpers on trucks and always use the handrail when climbing on or off the truck. Maxie Rozell (FB) says, “Slips, trips and falls affect millions of people in the United States and result in billions of dollars in medical costs each year. They can occur at any height or on the ground. Employees should pay close attention to their work environment and always keep safety tips in mind to avoid these types of accidents.” n

The Right Way is the Safe Way!MAXIESAYS:

wAtch Your Step:S l i P S , t r i P S & f a l l S

A N E W S L E T T E R F O R R E C E M P L O Y E E S

January 2015

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january service anniversariesLois Smith 37Jimmy Tyler 37Ron Clevenger 36Travis Heffler 27Kent Stanley 27Kevin Pories 26Don Penney 26John Fincher 26Reuben Rock 25Gabe Jenkins 25Dwain Williams 25Stuart Schools 23Kevin Houston 22John McGinley 21Mark Ponton 17Jodi Petitt 16Faye Garza 16Phillip Aylor 16Larry Olson (LMIT) 16Karen Smirco 15Mark Roy 15Keith Forry 14Larry Andrews 14Patty Cunningham 14Kristy Fischer 14Randye Butcher 11Robert Aldridge 10Patricia Hatcher 10Crystal Wedding 10Jennifer Cox 9John Hall 8Michael Luck 8Mary Kay Beer 8Jeffrey Cropp 8Brad Sylvia 7Thomas Bailey 7Richard Jones 7Chris Farmer 7Conrad Kolls (LMIT) 7Tim Tinsman 5Randolph Beazley 4Brandon Samuel 4Jimmy Norman 3Eric Dodson 3Justin Boyce 3Kathleen Bowers 3Betty Pearson 3Elizabeth Umpenhour 3Eugene Hamrick 2Randal Chenault 2Sierra Silver 2

Five senior citizens in the Front Royal area received Christmas gifts this year because of employees in the Blue Ridge district. They also adopted 24 children in the Warren, Shenandoah and Frederick counties. Employees “adopted” children through local social services departments and shopped with money provided by Project Big Heart (PBH). In addition, each family was provided with Christmas dinner food items, including a ham.

Blue Ridge

Bowling green

Culpeper

Fredericksburg

REC’s HuntIng SucceSS StorieS

Bowling Green PBH adopted three families to deliver Christmas presents to in Hanover, King & Queen and King William counties. TJ Loving (BG), Lilly Wade (BG), Pam Goforth (BG), Kevin Houston (BG) and board member William Lane helped deliver the presents with special guest Al Ware (BG) dressed as Santa. In addition to the presents for the children, PBH donated a Christmas dinner box to each family, including a turkey and all the trimmings.

The Culpeper office made over $7,000 in donations to several local organizations including Orange Co. Children’s Toy Box, Culpeper Christmas Basket Program, Madison Co. Dept. of Social Services, SAFE (Services to Abused Families, Inc.), LOW Childhelp Auxiliary, Caring for the Children Christmas Gift Project (Greene Co.), Hospice of the Rapidan and Fauquier Co. Toys for Tots. Food bank donations were made to Wilderness Food Pantry, Love Outreach Food Pantry, Greene Co. Dept. of Social Services, Emergency Food Bank, Rappahannock Dept. of Social Services, Fauquier Co. Food Distribution Coalition, Madison Co. Dept. of Social Services and the Culpeper Food Closet.

Employees in Fredericksburg adopted 80 children this year through the American Red Cross Letters to Santa program. Volunteers spent their spare time shopping with a $150 donation for each child and senior from the Fredericksburg Project Big Heart chapter. In early December, employees delivered rows of bikes and bags filled with toys to the drop-off location. Thank you to everyone who adopted a child and made his or her holiday wishes come true.

This year, REC employees participated in holiday parades throughout the cooperative’s service territory. Thank you to all of the employees who volunteered their time to participate.

Parades ThroughouT The service TerriTory

Alison Lahners (BR) and her husband, Jeremy Lahners, went back home to Nebraska this past Thanksgiving to visit family. While they were there her husband went hunting and shot this mule deer in central Nebraska.

Teresa Bevers’ (FB) son Billy came home to visit from Florida and for a hunting trip. He took this buck.

Larry Schools’ (BG) son Frederick took his first eight pointer with the first shot using a black power rifle.

Mark Chenault’s (BG) son, Brandon, took this buck during muzzleloader

season. Both of Mark’s children Brandon and Morgan enjoy hunting.

2 PowerLines January 2015

PBH sPREADs

SAfetY tip: PREvEnt tHE fluThe single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. Good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu.

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online tip: www.MyREC.CooP/MyusAgEHelp REC members understand how they are using electricity. Visit www.myrec.coop/myusage to learn more about the program. Encourage members to sign up!

j a n u a r yBirTHDays

PowerLines January 2015 3

Phillip Aylor 2Lisa Smith 6Jennifer Melerski 6Travis Scheulen 7Mary Kay Beer 8Loretta Coleman 8John Fincher 9Alison Lahners 9Kotonya Rollins 10Joyce Bodoh 10Gloria Smith 11Steve Ryder 11Tim Kettlewell 11Linda Brooks 12Geraldine Bywaters 12Andrew Joos 12Matt Faulconer 14Eric Corbin 14David Johnson 15Larry Andrews 16Todd Tignor 18Bobby Rutherford 19Brandon Deane 19Cody Lockhart 19Randy Ross 23Carolyn Schoonover 23Eric Robinson 23Travis McCourt 26Allen Scott 28Pam Redgrave 28Jacoby Lipscomb 29Corbin Bowie 30Larry Schools 31Terry Zamski 31Donnie Brooks 31

Five senior citizens in the Front Royal area received Christmas gifts this year because of employees in the Blue Ridge district. They also adopted 24 children in the Warren, Shenandoah and Frederick counties. Employees “adopted” children through local social services departments and shopped with money provided by Project Big Heart (PBH). In addition, each family was provided with Christmas dinner food items, including a ham.

REC’s HuntIng SucceSS StorieS

Bowling Green PBH adopted three families to deliver Christmas presents to in Hanover, King & Queen and King William counties. TJ Loving (BG), Lilly Wade (BG), Pam Goforth (BG), Kevin Houston (BG) and board member William Lane helped deliver the presents with special guest Al Ware (BG) dressed as Santa. In addition to the presents for the children, PBH donated a Christmas dinner box to each family, including a turkey and all the trimmings.

Jeff Colvin’s (CU) son Tyler Colvin, took this nice 8 pointer on Dec. 12. This happened to be his first buck.

Alison Lahners (BR) and her husband, Jeremy Lahners, went back home to Nebraska this past Thanksgiving to visit family. While they were there her husband went hunting and shot this mule deer in central Nebraska.

Teresa Bevers’ (FB) son Billy came home to visit from Florida and for a hunting trip. He took this buck.

Dwayne Davis (BG) killed a bobcat with

his muzzleloader on Nov. 16 in Essex County. His 10 year

old daughter, Jenna, went hunting for the

first time in Essex County on Nov. 28

with her daddy. She took her first deer

with one shot while hunting with hounds.

It was a PROUD daddy moment!

Larry Schools’ (BG) son Frederick took his first eight pointer with the first shot using a black power rifle.

Mark Chenault’s (BG) son, Brandon, took this buck during muzzleloader

season. Both of Mark’s children Brandon and Morgan enjoy hunting.

Randy Southworth (BG) took his grandson, Coby hunting. Coby took his first ever deer with his trusty 410 shotgun.

Casey Hollins’ (FB) husband, Mark Sprouse, took this buck on Nov. 8 with his muzzleloader.

65KWh

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15KWh

HIGH TEMPERATURE

05/21/2013 05/26/2013 5/29/2013

LOW TEMPERATURE

DAILY USE CHART

60 Temp

85 Temp

54 KWh

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8

P.O. Box 7388Fredericksburg, VA 22404

PowerLines is published monthly for employees, their families, board members and retirees of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.

for news or story ideas, contact:Casey Hollins ext. 5908Brian Wolfe ext. 5914Justin Cruise ext. 5905

tools to Help Make Health a Habit

S tudies have confirmed the benefits of keeping track of the food you eat and the activity you do. The more consistently

you track your food intake, the more likely you are to lose weight. CONSIDER THESE TRACKERS TO HELP yOU MAKE A HEALTHy LIFESTyLE A HABIT:

MyFitnessPal.com: This tool focuses on making sure you can log your meals as quickly and easily as possible. It has both an online webpage for tracking, and several mobile apps, compatible with Android, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and Windows devices. The system is easy to use because it learns from you! All of us tend to eat the same foods over time. MyFitnessPal.com remembers what you’ve eaten and done most often in the past and makes it easy for you to add those foods again to your log.

FitBit: Keeping track of your steps throughout the day is easy too. One way to track your steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, stairs climbed, and sleep is with Fitbit devices. Your stats upload wirelessly via computer or select mobile devices, so you can see progress toward your goals. Stay motivated by earning badges or connecting with friends for support or friendly competitions. Log food, workouts and more. The advantage of utilizing both of these trackers is that you can connect your Fitbit to your MyFitnessPal account. All of the data tracked by your Fitbit will be synchronized with your MyFitnessPal account. Your daily calorie goal will automatically be adjusted to take into account your activity level as measured by your Fitbit. Getting fit may be easier than you think. Good luck with your journey to a healthier you. n

FEEDbACkThis month we want your feedback! Please complete the enclosed survey and return to Casey Hollins through interoffice mail by Jan. 23. If you prefer you may also complete the survey online. An email was sent to all employees providing instructions to complete the survey online.

Thank you in advance for your feedback as we work to provide you the best content for the PowerLines employee newsletter.

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