HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEMEMBER CONNECTIONS

MAY 2018 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 19

Safety above all else

Safety is a universal word that is mentioned often and used loosely. Communities large and small, companies across all industries, and sports leagues

at every level are committed to safety. Unfortunately, when it really counts, measures to keep the public, workers, athletes, and loved ones safe are often ignored in the interest of expediency or convenience.

However, safety is a serious issue, especially when it comes to electrical safety. For Hancock-Wood, it’s the number one priority. This is not empty talk. Over time, Hancock-Wood has created a culture of safety by putting our employees’ safety and that of the community above all else. At its essence, Hancock-Wood’s mission is to provide safe, aff ordable, and reliable electricity to its Member-owners. But equally important is the need to return our workers home safely to their loved ones. This requires ongoing focus, dedication, and vigilance.

Following leading national safety standardsWorking with electricity is an inherently dangerous job, especially for lineworkers. Hancock-Wood has a safety program that is focused on keeping employees and the community safe around electricity. We established and follow safety protocols based on leading national safety practices for the utility industry. We require our lineworkers to wear specialized equipment when working next to or with power lines, and they must follow specifi c protocols. Our safety committee has regular meetings where they discuss all projects from a safety perspective.

Equally important, we encourage all of our crews to speak up and hold each other accountable for safety. By cultivating a culture of openness and transparency, we promote problem-solving with regard to safety. We examine the data gleaned from near-misses and accident reports to discern patterns and use safety metrics to improve in areas where we have fallen short.

Keeping the community safeBecause we live and work in the community we serve, we care about our neighbors. Hancock-Wood conducts electrical safety demonstrations at schools and community events.

May is National Electrical Safety Month. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, thousands of people in the United States each year are critically injured and electrocuted as a result of electrical fi res, accidents, and electrocution in their own homes. Many of these accidents are preventable.

Don’t attempt electrical DIY projects or overload your outlets. Report downed power lines, unlocked substations, or pad-mount transformers that look amiss. Contact Hancock-Wood for additional electrical safety tips.

If you would like us to provide a safety demonstration at your school or community event, please call our o� ce at 800-445-4840.

Be mindful when it comes to electrical safety. Pause and take the extra time to plug into safety.

George WaltonPRESIDENT & CEO

This month, we encourage all members to take extra time to plug into safety.

#ElectricalSafetyMonth

HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEMEMBER CONNECTIONS

20 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2018

TRUSTHancock-Wood Electric Cooperative has been your trusted source of safe, a� ordable, and reliable electricity since 1936.

When other organizations come calling to o� er energy advice or “savings programs,” remember that you can’t always be certain they represent your best interest. However, HWE answers directly to YOU — not to investors or regulatory agencies. As a member of an electric cooperative, YOU own the company. YOU elect the co-op leaders to make decisions and o� er programs that are in YOUR best interest.

Contact us to learn more about energy savings and renewable energy programs available to you as a co-op member — on the farm, at the o� ce, or at home.

www.hwe.coop

800-445-4840

Notice of NondiscriminationIn accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the 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 (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or 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, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY), or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

Additionally, 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 www.ascr.usda.gov/ complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter 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 Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250- 9410; (2) fax: 202-690-7442, or (3) e-mail: program.intake@usda.gov.

The 2018 Annual Meeting is set for June 9 Mark your calendars for the Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Findlay. HWE’s Annual Meeting and Member

Appreciation Day plans are underway. You have a voice as a Member of our cooperative

and will be voting on the representatives for districts 1, 4, 5, and 10. The winning

candidates will be sworn in on June 9, and Members will hear a cooperative update

during the business meeting. Similar to past events, Members will enjoy a family-friendly

atmosphere with plenty of activities for all ages and a catered lunch. Kids will enjoy rides,

face painters, and more! Members won’t want to miss out on all of the fun, and each

membership will receive 80th anniversary giveaways (while supplies last). See the cover

wrap of this edition of Ohio Cooperative Living for your RSVP card and more details.

The o� ce will be closed on

Monday, May 28, in observance of Memorial Day.

We remember all those who

made the ultimate sacrifi ce

serving our country.

HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEMEMBER CONNECTIONS

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Chair Tom Kagy, Vice Chair William Kale, Secretary/Treasurer Tom Dierksheide, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Marlene Barker, and trustees Dave Corbin, Edward Ingold, Knut Lahrs, Glenn Miller, Timothy Phillips, and Ann Demler.

MAY 2018 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 21

U.S. Rep. Latta and State Sen. Gardneraddress energy issuesOn March 9, Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative Members and their elected officials gathered for Hancock-Wood’s Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE®) Legislative Meeting. U.S. Rep. Bob Latta of Ohio’s 5th district and State Senator Randy Gardner of Ohio Senate District 2 discussed regulatory issues affecting electric co-ops and their ability to deliver affordable energy. Also in attendance were Jon Cross, candidate for state representative for the 83rd Ohio House district, Wood County Auditor Matthew Oestreich, and Wood County Commissioner Doris Herringshaw.

Hancock-Wood President and CEO George Walton introduced Rep. Latta, praising him for his support of electric cooperatives in rural Ohio.

“I can truly say that Congressman Latta is a congressman for the people,” Walton said.

Latta, whose district is home to 60,000 manufacturing jobs and the state’s largest farming area, spoke about the importance of having reliable electricity and broadband internet service in rural Ohio.

“Getting electricity to the rural areas is important. We need power in the rural areas because that’s where the industries are and that’s where the farms are,” he said. “When it comes to broadband internet, everything is switching over, and

parts of my district don’t have connectivity. Many small businesses don’t have access to the World Wide Web yet. We are working on how to get that out to people.”

Gardner spoke highly of Hancock-Wood’s member services and safety records.

“I remember being so impressed by your safety record in serving the public, and those things matter,” he said. “As elected o� cials, we tend to support entities who provide quality to the people we represent, like Hancock-Wood does.”

Marc Armstrong, director of government aff airs for Hancock-Wood’s statewide trade association, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, spoke about how ACRE benefi ts co-ops. 

“We want folks in Columbus and in Washington who understand and support electric cooperatives,” he said.

ACRE is the federal political action committee of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Founded in 1966 by the approximately 1,000 member-owned, not-for-profi t electric cooperatives of NRECA, ACRE supports candidates

for the U.S. House and Senate who will speak for and protect the interests of electric cooperatives and their consumer-owners.

“It is so important for us, as a member-owned electric cooperative, to keep pressure on agencies in Washington to protect co-op rights,” Walton said.

May rebuild updateHancock-Wood Electric Cooperative crews will begin work on Rangeline Road in Wood County in Jackson and Henry townships, Township Road 131 in Hancock County in Portage and Pleasant townships, and the Hancock-Wood County Line Road east and west of Rangeline. See more details on our website, hwe.coop, by clicking the Construction Corner icon.

“Getting electricity to the rural

areas is important. We need

power in the rural areas because

that’s where the industries are

and that’s where the farms are.”

SAVE $300 OFF YOUR BILLYou have a chance to win $300 off your next energy bill! Visit

HWE’s website, hwe.coop, to sign up for e-mail alerts, news,

and more to enter a quarterly drawing for $300 off your next

bill. Click on Members Connect to complete the form.

HANCOCK-WOOD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEMEMBER CONNECTIONS1399 Business Park Drive South, North Baltimore, OH 45872 • www.hwe.coop • info@hwe.coop • 800-445-4840

22 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • MAY 2018

2018 scholarship and Youth Tour winners announced

In a special ceremony held March 20, the Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees congratulated seven co-op scholarship winners and

one Youth Tour participant. Hancock-Wood awarded a total of $12,450 in scholarships, with another $2,000 to be awarded to University of Findlay and Owens Community College applicants.

The fi rst-place winner is Trevor Hellman of Findlay High School. Trever plans to attend The Ohio State University, majoring in biology. Trevor went on to compete at the statewide scholastic competition at Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives (OEC) in Columbus in April.

In second place is Nathan Bostelman of Patrick Henry High School. Nathan plans to attend Bowling Green State University and major in chemistry. The third-place winner is Emma Harris of Findlay High School. Emma is undecided on which college she will be attending but plans to major in fi nance. Samuel Stahl of Arcadia High School earned fourth place and will attending The Ohio State University, majoring in biochemistry and health science. The fi fth-place winner is Logan Kreinbrink of Leipsic High School. Logan plans to attend The Ohio

State University and will be majoring in agribusiness. The sixth-place winner is Miranda Mowrey of Van Buren High School. Miranda will pursue her studies at Ursuline College, majoring in nursing. The seventh-place winner is Madison Swope of Van Buren High School. Madison plans to attend Owens Community College, majoring in nursing.

In addition, one high school student won a trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the co-op’s annual Youth Tour program, and a scholarship of $500. The winner was Ross Wenzinger of RW Faith Academy Homeschool. 

Applications were screened by the scholarship committee for academic achievement, including grade-point average, ACT/SAT college test scores, presentation, and the variety and quality of extracurricular and community activities. 

Hancock-Wood operates on seven cooperative principles — including concern for community and education, training, and information — which support the rationale behind off ering these youth programs.

Top left: Board trustees Ann Demler, Knut Larhs, Marlene Barker, Glenn Miller, Tim Phillips, Bill Kale, Ed Ingold, Tom Direksheide, Tom Kagy, Dave Corbin, and President and CEO George Walton. Bottom left: Award winners Emma Harris, Trevor Hellman, Ross Wenzinger, Madison Swope, Miranda Mowrey, Nathan Bostelman, and Samuel Stahl (not pictured is Logan Kreinbrink).