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www.midsouthsynergy.com18 Texas Co-op Power MID-SOUTH SYNERGY March 2016

MID-SOUTH SYNERGY

Engage in Your CooperativeMESSAGE FROM GENERAL MANAGER, KERRY KELTON

IN 2012, THE NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, the trade association representing approximately 900 electric cooperatives in 47 states, released a report titled, “The Electric Cooperative Purpose: A Compass for the 21st Century.” A blue-ribbon task force of co-op leaders from across the country arrived at the conclusion that an electric cooperative’s purpose is to “power communities and empower members to improve the quality of their lives.”

Mid-South Synergy is a member of NRECA and firmly believes that you, our members, need to be at the heart of everything we do. We are proud that we are different from investor-owned utilities, where the primary purpose is to generate profit for their stockholders.

Cooperatives are different. Co-ops enjoy the support of people from all walks of life. We operate in every type of business from agriculture, housing and finance to health care, food, technology and many more. Co-ops can be found from the most rural to the most urban areas.

While the co-op must, of course, generate enough revenue to cover costs, profit is not our motive. Serving you and your neighbors is our No. 1 priority.

As the Electric Cooperative Purpose report noted, “Our story is about ordinary people who banded together to improve the quality of life by providing electricity to our community when no one else would do it.” But that was 75 years ago when Mid-South Electric Cooperative was founded. As we look to the future, we once again need your active participation to determine the future of our co-op.

We welcome your input on what we can do to ensure that we meet your needs. You can provide us that input in several ways: You can attend the co-op’s annual meeting, vote on co-op matters, and ask questions of cooperative staff and management. You can call us at 936-825-5100 or contact us via www.midsouthsynergy.com with questions, comments and suggestions. And you can talk to any Mid-South Synergy staff member when you see them during community events.

One thing you can absolutely count on: We will never move to Mexico or China like so many other companies have done. We will always be local—right here, ready to listen and ready to serve our members.

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Please feel free to talk to any co-op staff member when you see us out and about in the community.

t has been argued that it is the oldest known sport in the world. Although the origins of the game are unclear, it is widely accepted that the game we know as golf, was developed in Scotland during

the 14th century. According to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Scotland, one of the oldest and most historic golf courses in the world, “Stick and ball games have been around for many centuries, but golf as we know it, clearly originated in Scotland.” Some 500 years later the game of golf is still relevant and very popular. The game has changed since then and become much more modernized and, of course, become a recognized professional sport.

www.midsouthsynergy.com20 Texas Co-op Power MID-SOUTH SYNERGY March 2016

At Mid-South Synergy, we are proud to play a role in the game of golf, by providing utility services to Woodforest Golf Club. Woodforest Golf Club is a semi-private golf club located in Montgomery, TX. “I think because Mid-South Synergy is a cooperative, they are on point and respond in a timely manner,” said Tom Martty, GM/COO of Woodforest Golf Club. “We’ve become very friendly with a lot of people on their staff. They are aware of our needs and are always very willing to take care of our needs when problems arise.”

Woodforest Golf Club has been in existence now for the past 15 years. The original course was foreclosed on in 2003 by Woodforest National Bank. The bank then put together a group of stockholders and purchased the club later that year in June. Woodforest offers guests a spectacular 27-hole championship facility, as well as their new 17,000 square foot clubhouse, which opened roughly 16 months ago. The clubhouse holds both private and semi-private dining rooms capable of serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner and boasts a sizeable back porch area, running the length of the clubhouse that provides spectacular views of the course. “Our mission here at Woodforest Golf Club is to offer the

best product in the marketplace for people interested in playing golf and having a great experience doing it,” said Tom Martty.

The golf course itself is a spectacular facility and has been rated as either the number one or one of the top courses in the state of Texas for the past few years. “The golf course is

laid out and designed to be somewhat player friendly, but can also be one of the toughest courses you will find in our area,” said Director of Sales & Marketing, Howard Levinson. Having played the course and after speaking with the staff, one characteristic that was mentioned time and time again was how consistent the golf course is. “I like the golf course here because it’s consistent”, said Martty. “The maintenance on the course is highly consistent and we get a lot of notoriety for the quality of the greens, not just on a temporary basis or for specific events; it’s every day. “The worst thing for a golfer is to go out for a round and putt on one green and have the next green totally different,” said Levinson. “This course is set up and designed to be a playable golf course. We want this to be a player applicable golf course, and we believe we have done just that.”

Woodforest strives to be one of the top-rated courses in the greater Houston area, and has met that mark time and time again. Not only is the staff proud of the golf course itself, but they have invested in and believe in their top-notch practice facilities as well. “I think one of the things that

makes us unique, is that we offer such a high quality product, not only as far as playing golf is concerned, but also on the practice side of golf as well,” said Martty. When you step foot on the grounds at Woodforest, you will notice the amount of effort they have put towards all of their practice facilities. The main practice facility offers an expansive driving range

as well as a chipping area with multiple pin locations and two practice putting greens, one of which is located behind the clubhouse. They also just introduced their brand new state-of-the-art performance center program, Axis. Woodforest allows golfers, the ability to work on every aspect of their golf game, from tee to green. Woodforest Golf Club offers lessons to both members and

non-members. “There are three of us on staff that teach,” said Martty. “Myself, Jon Baacke, who is our head golf pro, and one of our assistants.” They also put a large emphasis on their junior golf program. “Junior golfers are the lifeblood of this business,” said Tom. “We put a lot effort into teaching junior golfers and instructing them on etiquette and the rules of golf.

Aside from the award-winning course and facilities, Woodforest also prides itself on its’ service. “Guests can expect a friendly attitude from our entire staff and a willingness to help. Our staff is ready to provide our guests with all of the services they need to have a great experience here,” said Martty. Many of Woodforest’s staff members have been working at the golf club since it was opened back in 2003. This commitment to service carries over to the tournament and event planning side of their operations. “We don’t just provide a “boxed lunch”, said Levinson. “We give guests high quality service and understand the needs of their specific events. We create their event specifically to the needs of each individual tournament that is hosted here.” Woodforest Golf TOM MARTTY, GM/COO, WOODFOREST

GOLF CLUB

www.midsouthsynergy.com March 2016 MID-SOUTH SYNERGY Texas Co-op Power 21

Club hosts numerous tournaments and events every year. From charity organizations hosting fundraising efforts to businesses holding annual golf tournaments, Woodforest offers a variety of options to accommodate any type of event. Woodforest hosts golf outings as small as four to 16 players all the way up to events that have had upwards of 200 golfers. They are capable of hosting any sized event and will provide guests with their necessary needs, including food, beverage, and specialty merchandise.

Brianna Stumpf is the retail merchandiser for Woodforest Golf Club. She handles all of the merchandise buying for the golf shop and she would tell you that she has the best job there. “I bring in all of the apparel and accessories that someone might need to play golf out here at Woodforest,” said Stumpf. Woodforest’s pro shop is a “one-stop, full service shop” according to Stumpf. They carry men’s ladies, and junior apparel and accessories, a full range of golf clubs and even offer club fitting to make sure you are equipped with the proper clubs for your golf game. “We pretty much have something for everyone here at the pro shop”. Brianna also enjoys getting to play a part in planning tournaments and events. She can get anything you might need for your golf tournament, whether it be trophies, tee gifts, which can range anywhere from $5 up to $100 per player, and any specialty apparel or merchandise. “We can usually find something in

someone’s budget that will make a lasting impression to the participants in the event,” said Stumpf. The entire Woodforest staff has years of experience planning tournaments and events. Someone will be with you from start to finish to give guests the best possible experience and to make it as easy as possible on you as you plan.

Another great feature of Woodforest Golf Club is their dining room and patio. David Duenas is the Food & Beverage director for Woodforest Golf Club. He oversees the entire food and beverage operation, which includes serving golfers out on the course with their beverage carts as well as providing food and drinks before and

after rounds of golf. Not only do they serve the golfers and members, but they are also open to the public and provide full service dining to members of the community. “We are pretty much

the only restaurant within a 5-mile radius, and because of that we have become a “home lodge” to the entire Woodforest community,” said Duenas. While offering classics such as chicken sandwiches, burgers, and flat bread pizzas, David also wanted to offer dishes with a Cajun influence. “When I started looking at our community, I found out that a lot of people living in our area are originally from Louisiana and south Houston, and that is the type of cuisine they typically enjoy,” said Duenas. “We wanted to hit that mark and give them a taste of home.” David prides himself and his team on providing high quality food and beverage. He employs two great chefs that put out some eclectic dishes and are always giving guests opportunities to try new, exciting dishes.

Woodforest Golf Club is a top-notch facility and an overall great environment. “I think its’ an overall package here at Woodforest,” said Brianna. From event planning, to food and beverage, to the actual course itself, Woodforest Golf Club provides guests with unforgettable experiences. “Golf is a lifetime game,” said Martty. “It tests a person’s will and their character and their relentlessness to take good and bad and be able to handle it appropriately.” “Golf is an important game for people, not only for the outdoor activity that comes with it,” said Howard, “but it’s also the social networking that can come about from it as well.” Woodforest Golf Club gives members and non-members alike the opportunity to be with people that they like and enjoy, doing something that they love – playing the great game of golf.

HOWARD LEVINSON, DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING, WOODFOREST GOLF CLUB

BRIANNA STUMPF, MERCHANDISING DIRECTOR, WOODFOREST GOLF CLUB

hen your lights go out, day or night, we are the ones you call. Our crews, without hesitation, jump into action, and work as hard and as quickly as possible to restore your power to get life back to normal for you and your family. At Mid-South Synergy, we pride ourselves on outstanding member

service and strive to play a key role in our community. Our crews interact with our members on a daily basis, as we work for you, our members. We want to put a face to the name; a face to the cooperative; a face to your electric provider. Our commitment to community is why Mid-South Synergy is #YOURCREW.

This month we are featuring Scott Long. Scott is one of our many talented lineman on staff here at Mid-South Synergy. Scott has spent the past five years working for us out of our Huntsville office. Scott sets an example day in and day out of what it means to provide great service to our members. He looks out for our younger lineman and shows them the ropes and helps them excel at their job. He has a passion for being involved in and giving back to our community and providing the best service he possibly can to our members. Not only is Scott proud to be a Mid-South Synergy foreman, he is proud to be #YOURCREW.

W

Spotlighting the linemen in your community who keep the lights on

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?I was born in Forest, Mississippi and then I came to Groveton, Texas. I’ve spent some time in and around Huntsville and Madisonville, which is where I currently live.

WHEN DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN LINE WORK?I became interested in line work in March of 2000. I was working for TDCJ and decided I needed a change and to do something different – I wanted a job that would be challenging, and I found that.

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING FOR MID-SOUTH SYNERGY?I started working for Mid-South in August of 2011. I head about Mid-South through an Entergy service man who came to my house in Madisonville.

WHY DO YOU LIKE WORKING FOR MID-SOUTH SYNERGY?The thing that I like about Mid-South Synergy is the family environment. There’s no doubt that these guys are my brothers and I get to work with them day in and day out.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY?Our community is a close-knit community – everybody knows everybody. Even if you’re not related, you still know of them.

WHY IS GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SO IMPORTANT?We give back to the community to show the involvement and responsibility that any business or provider should be involved in their community and give back a little bit, and we do that well.WHY IS BEING A LINEMAN SO IMPORTANT?To me, being a lineman is so important, because I believe I’m needed. When the weather hits and the lights go out, I’m needed, and it’s nice to be needed.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?The best piece of advice that a mentor gave to me was to keep your hobbies and your work separate. If you do your hobby as your work, it will become work and it won’t be fun anymore.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES?Some of my hobbies are riding and training roping horses. More recently, I’ve gotten into dirt bikes and riding out on the track.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FISHING SPOT?My favorite fishing spot is classified. I can’t share that information

FOR MORE ON SCOTT, PLEASE VISITWWW.MIDSOUTHSYNERGY.COM

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO EAT?My favorite local place to eat would definitely have to be the China King Buffet in College Station.

IF YOU COULD HAVE LUNCH WITH ANY ONE PERSON, ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?I would have to say Rocky. I want to figure out how he took such a beating and kept coming back to fight again.

IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU GO AND WHY?If I could go anywhere, I would go to Montana. I haven’t been there yet and I’ve heard it’s “Big Sky Country” and that’s a big claim if it’s bigger than here.

2016SCHOLARSHIPAPPLICATIONSARE HEREWHO IS ELIGIBLE?• Parent or Legal Guardian must be a MSS member

• Student must reside with Parent or Legal Guardian who is MSS member

• Student must be a graduating senior in 2016entering a College, University, Trade or Tech School

REQUIREMENTS:• Complete Application (no resumes)

• Official 4.0 scale Transcript signed by school official w/ seal

• Brief statement by Counselor or 3 letters of recommendationfrom school officials or teachers

• Essay detailing “Why I should receive this Scholarship”

• Graduation Picture - to be used for publication

www.midsouthsynergy.com/scholarships

Applications are due by April 5, 2016 to our Navasota office

Texas Co-op PowerMid-South Synergy EditionMarch, 2016

Editor-in-ChiefMike McDougald

Managing EditorEric Hubbard

ContributorsSpencer CogburnMartin Hooper

Special Thanks:Texas Electric CooperativesMid-South Synergy Board of DirectorsNRECAMid-South Synergy ManagementWoodforest Golf Club

Mid-South Synergy7625 Hwy 6Navasota, TX 77868

tel: 936-825-5100toll free: 888-525-6677fax: 936-825-5166

www.midsouthsynergy.comFind this and more delicious recipes online at TEXASCOOPPOWER.COM

ST E PA N P O P OV | I STO C K .CO M

Recipe of the Month

Sweet PotatoCornbread2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix1/4 cup sugar1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 1/2 cups milk1 cup cooked mashed sweet potato1/4 cup butter, melted1 large egg, beaten

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease an 8-inch cast-iron skillet or 8-inch-square baking pan.2. combine all ingredients, whisking together just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon batter into skillet or pan.3. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

2016SCHOLARSHIPAPPLICATIONSARE HEREWHO IS ELIGIBLE?• Parent or Legal Guardian must be a MSS member

• Student must reside with Parent or Legal Guardian who is MSS member

• Student must be a graduating senior in 2016entering a College, University, Trade or Tech School

REQUIREMENTS:• Complete Application (no resumes)

• Official 4.0 scale Transcript signed by school official w/ seal

• Brief statement by Counselor or 3 letters of recommendationfrom school officials or teachers

• Essay detailing “Why I should receive this Scholarship”

• Graduation Picture - to be used for publication

www.midsouthsynergy.com/scholarships

Applications are due by April 5, 2016 to our Navasota office