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Author: Amanda Richardson

SECO Scholarship Deadline Approaching

SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees has continued its long-standing college scholarship program for 2017. The Board has approved for up to $36,000 in college scholarships be awarded to graduating high school seniors who live in a home served by SECO. The application deadline is March 31, 2017.

 

Students from area high schools will compete for twelve (12) $3,000 scholarships to an accredited college, university or vocational/technical school. To qualify, students must be a graduating high school senior, live in a home serviced by SECO, and plan to be enrolled as a full-time student in the fall.

 

The SECO Scholarship program began in 1996 and has granted over $500,000 to local students who dream of a college education. Concern for Community is a key cooperative principle, and as a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes in supporting its members and communities by providing financial assistance to aspiring scholars.

 

SECO News, January 2017 - SECO Scholars Deadlines

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Central Florida is full of smart, talented young people who are growing into the leaders of tomorrow. We want to entice these talented folks to return to the area and hopefully be interested in pursuing a career in the energy industry. I am proud that SECO is an advocate for education and academia.”

 

Ray Vick, Board of Trustees President, stated, “The Board is proud to continue its service to our communities by sponsoring students who want to further their education. On behalf of myself and the Board, we are excited to meet the newest crop of SECO scholars at the winners’ banquet that is held in May.”

 

Visit SECO’s Scholarship page for more details or to print an application. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO News, March 2017

SECO News, Duncan's Digest, February 2016

Duncan’s Digest: Facebook Help Squad

 

Mark your calendar to attend SECO’s 79th Annual Meeting of the Membership on March 25. Gates and registration open at 8:00 a.m., and the business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. Prize drawing begins immediately after the business meeting and you must be present to win. This year’s prizes include cash, a refurbished 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup truck, an electric refurbished golf cart and too many additional door prizes to name.

 

Speaking of prizes – be on the lookout for SECO’s Facebook Help Squad – the group who will help you enter the random drawing to win a $300 bill credit. Remember – you must be present to win.

Facebook Help Squad and Golf Cart 2017

 

Are you ready to win? If you don’t already have a Facebook profile, get started by signing up for a free account today at www.facebook.com. Next, members should “like” SECO Energy’s Facebook page. Finally, interact with SECO on Facebook during the Annual Meeting. It’s easy – post a picture of yourself having fun at the Annual Meeting, comment on our status update, or mention @SECO Energy on your Facebook page. The $300 bill credit winner will be announced just before the business meeting begins. Did I mention that you must be present to win?

 

The Facebook Help Squad is here to help you. Have your smartphone or tablet ready, and a Help Squad member will take your picture and post it on SECO’s page. Or you can post your own “selfie.” Your kids and grandkids will be so impressed at your tech skills. Watch for the big blue Facebook signs. The Help Squad is a fun group of customer-service ambassadors – they are characters who have a good time.

 

Enjoy the world-class hospitality of the best cooperative employees around, munch on good food, win door prizes, dance to the band and maybe get lucky with extra surprises and prizes. Join us at 8:00 a.m. on March 25 at our Sumterville Compound at 293 S. Highway 301. I look forward to seeing you there – because you must be present to win.

 

 

Internship Candidate is 2016 SECO Scholarship Awardee

2017 Scholarship Reminder

 

Graduating highs school seniors – don’t forget to apply for a chance to win a $3,000 scholarship. Application deadline is March 31, 2017. Print an application today. $36,000 in scholarships will be awarded this year.

 

SECO Energy Scholarship 2017

 

Read the full March 2017 SECO News here.

Nature’s Reflections-Pileated Woodpecker

The Pileated Woodpecker, (Melanerpes carolinus) is the largest and most famous of Florida’s seven woodpeckers. It was the inspiration for the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker. A mature bird is fifteen to nineteen inches tall and weighs about twelve ounces.

 

This woodpecker is easily identified by its bold black and white striped head and neck, long bill, white wing linings and the distinctive flame-red crest found on both male and female. Only the male has a red mustache stripe on the side of his face. The juvenile is similar, with a shorter crest.

 

Its long, straight, pointy beak is just right for making unique rectangular holes and its long, sticky tongue is equipped with a sharp end for spiking ants, larvae and a variety of other bugs lodged in tree bark. Carpenter ants are its primary food. It also eats nuts, berries and wild fruits and has been known to visit bird feeders.

 

It has an extra-thick skull. Its pecking or drumming (14 to 17 beats per second) is a distinctive loud hammering sound. Pairs establish territories which can cover as much as 4,000 acres. Although the Pileated mates for life, each bird normally sleeps alone. Roost cavities provide protection from weather and have multiple entrance and exit holes for alternate escape routes from predators.

Pileated woodpecker, March 2017 Nature's Reflections

 

All woodpeckers have feet especially adapted for hanging onto trees. Two toes go forward and two go backward, like having an extra thumb. That, along with very sharp claws, helps the woodpecker keep its grip. Stiff tail feathers give added support.

 

Each spring, a pair works together to excavate a new nest cavity in a dead tree where two to four eggs are laid. Both parents incubate the eggs during the day, but the male takes the night shift. The eggs hatch after two weeks and the young fledge in about a month. The young depend on their parents for several months while learning to feed themselves, and then gradually wander away to find a mate the following spring. The new pair establishes their own territory, and mate for life, but may take a new mate if one dies.

 

Florida woodpeckers don’t migrate but live here year round. The oldest known lived twelve years.

SECO Supports Marion County 4-H Students

On Saturday, February 25, Kathy Judkins, SECO Energy’s Deputy Director of Civic, Charitable and Government Affairs, attended the Marion County Southeastern Youth Fair’s swine auction at the Ocala Livestock Pavilion. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative established in 1938 to bring power to rural homes, SECO’s commitment to students who participate in rural agriculture exhibitions has remained strong for decades.

 

Hundreds of Marion County students involved in local 4-H programs showed and sold their pigs at the Youth Fair swine auction on Saturday. 4-H is America’s largest youth development organization – a community of almost six million young people in the United States. Children in every state, county and parish in the nation participate in 4-H programs in their area.

 

The Marion County Southeastern Youth Fair is the largest Youth Fair event in Florida. The ever-popular swine show and auction began in 1978. The Youth Fair in Marion County is made possible through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers who contribute thousands of hours to the Fair’s success.

Pigs and Pavilion sign

 

As SECO’s representative, Judkins purchased three pigs from local 4-H students. Kelsey Albritton showed a 295 pound pig for the Ocklawaha Little Bits 4-H club. Kiden Johnston’s pig weighed in at 233 pounds and was raised under the direction of the Y Not 4-H club. Kaylin Griffin, a freshman at West Port High School, showed a pig for the Indigo 4-H club that weighed in at 232 pounds. Kaylin plans to use the profits from the sale to continue saving for college where she hopes to attend medical school to become a pediatrician.

 

Judkins stated, “4-H is an organization that brings families, schools and classmates together – their members feel a sense of community when they are working together toward a common goal. The kids who show their animals at the Youth Fair not only have fun, they are proud of their achievements and proud of their animals. Students enjoy showing off their accomplishments to their parents, teachers and friends.”

 

Visit SECO’s Community page to learn more about SECO’s community outreach programs. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

Fun, Food and Prizes at SECO’s 79th Annual Meeting

SECO Energy members are invited to spend a morning attending the cooperative’s 79th Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, March 25. The meeting is held at the Annual Meeting Pavilion, located across the street from SECO’s corporate headquarters at the junction of highways 301 and 471 in Sumterville.

 

Arrive early and hungry. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. and SECO is serving breakfast. Dine on fresh sausage, egg and cheese breakfast biscuits, Krispy Kreme donuts and a variety of cookies. Sip a hot cup of coffee, enjoy a soda or water, and tap your feet or line dance to live country music hits by Margo Rochelle and Rodeo Drive.

 

Learn more about energy efficiency and savings by exploring this year’s Energy Showcase. Visit with vendors providing energy efficient ideas and products, or drop by the SECO information booth to ask a question or inquire about a SECO product or service. Just outside the Energy Showcase, take a few minutes to view a brand-new rooftop solar photovoltaic system and solar demonstration. Use the Solar Estimator to eyeball what your costs might be for a solar array at your home or business.

 

Members who attend receive a gift bag containing two commemorative insulated steel tumblers, 2016 Annual Report, and an LED bulb – along with other giveaways in the Energy Showcase. Upon registering, drop your door prize ticket in the prize barrel for the grand prize drawing which will include cash prizes, an electric golf cart, a refurbished Dodge Dakota pickup truck and many other door prizes – many of which are donated by local businesses that are also SECO members. The business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. and the drawing for the grand prizes and door prizes takes place immediately after the business meeting ends – members must be present to win.

Fun, Food and Prizes

 

Stroll the grounds, look for our special characters, and find a member of SECO’s Facebook Help Squad to help you take and upload a photo. Members who “like” SECO’s Facebook page and interact online during the Annual Meeting, will be entered into a random drawing for a $300 bill credit. “Like” SECO Energy’s Facebook page before the meeting and find a Facebook Help Squad member during the meeting for assistance in entering the drawing for the $300 bill credit. Drawing for the Facebook bill credit takes place just before the business meeting begins – as with all of the prizes, the member must be present to win.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Mark your calendar and plan to attend SECO’s Annual Meeting. Enjoy breakfast on us, dance to the band, mingle with your neighbors and fellow members, determine new ways to lower your energy usage and maybe win a prize. Come out and experience the hospitality of SECO employees, which I believe is second to none.”

 

Ray Vick, Board of Trustees President, stated, “SECO’s Annual Meeting is the Board’s favorite event. Myself and my Trustee peers like to share SECO’s latest news and relish the chance to meet and get to know our fellow members. My fellow Trustees and I hope to see you there.”

 

Members should look for their personal invitation to the Meeting to arrive with their monthly energy bill between February 8 and March 10.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Sponsors Youth Fair Participants

On Tuesday, February 21, Kathy Judkins, SECO Energy’s Deputy Director of Civic, Charitable and Government Affairs, attended the Marion County Southeastern Youth Fair at the Ocala Livestock Pavilion to continue SECO’s support of young people in rural agriculture activities. SECO has supported Youth Fairs in its service territory for decades.

 

Hundreds of students involved in local school chapters of 4-H or Future Farmers of America (FFA) participate in the fair each year. By showing and selling a steer at the Fair, students learn responsibility, marketing, communication and record keeping. Students are responsible for the animal’s feed, health and well-being and maintain the health records for their animal. Participants strengthen their communication and marketing skills by writing letters requesting sponsorship and generating interest in a final sale for their animal.

 

The Marion County Southeastern Youth Fair is the largest Youth Fair event in Florida. The foundation of the Fair began in 1941 with the Steer Show and the current Youth Fair format began in 1978. Hundreds of volunteers contribute thousands of hours to make the Youth Fair a success in Marion County.

 

As SECO’s representative, Judkins purchased a 1,004 pound steer from Dunnellon High School’s Tyler Matthew. Tyler is active in his school’s FFA Chapter, which includes 50 students under the guidance of teacher Austin Skipper. A senior this year, Tyler plans on attending college in the fall and will use his proceeds from the sale to assist in financing his education.

 

Judkins stated, “We live in a fast-paced world. In the age of social media and an infinite number of other distractions, it is a delight to see kids participating in farming events. FFA and 4-H gives kids a chance to slow-down, unplug and dedicate their time to caring and raising animals.”

 

Visit SECO Energy’s Community page online about its community outreach programs. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

Members Re-elect Richard Dennison District 4 Trustee

On Thursday, February 16, members voted to re-elect Richard Dennison to represent District 4 on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees.  A SECO member since 1999, Dennison was first elected to the Board in 2015 when a former Trustee stepped down.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO members vote for the person they choose to represent the members in a particular district and to make governance decisions that serve the best interests of the members at large.  SECO’s Board of Trustees are members themselves and provide governance and financial oversight to the cooperative.

 

A crowd of members gathered at the Marion Oaks Community Center in Ocala to cast their vote for the representative of their choice.  Dennison and Ocala residents Sheila Anderson and Edwin Million, Jr. expressed a willingness to serve the members in District 4 and submitted their letter of intent in January.

 

Dennison stated, “I am both humbled and grateful for your continued support for me as your District 4 Trustee.  Your confidence in me encourages me to work hard on your behalf for the cooperative that has an outstanding performance record.  Thank you again, it is a pleasure being your Trustee.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “I would like to congratulate Mr. Dennison on his re-election.  SECO’s Board of Trustees provides the cooperative with sound governance, and collectively represents all SECO members.  And a thank you to the hundreds of members who attended this year’s District Meetings.  Members are an important part of the cooperative difference – the cooperative exists to provide members reliable power at a fair price, while delivering first-rate customer satisfaction.”

 

Dennison added, “I look forward to continuing my work on the Board with my peers and working with Mr. Duncan, who I believe is the best CEO in the state.”

 

SECO members should plan to attend its 79th Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, March 25.  Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., and the business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m.  The meeting is located across the street from the corporate headquarters at the junction of highways 301 and 471 in Sumterville.

 

View photos of the Trustees and a District map online.  “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Employees Aid in Power Restoration for Clay Electric Members

Late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, a strong line of thunderstorms swept into SECO Energy territory. Heavy rains soaked the area causing downed trees, poles and electric lines.

 

Central Florida has been the target of powerful winter thunderstorms this year, and SECO’s system continues to fare very well. This stability is attributed to solid design, quality construction, consistent maintenance and balanced vegetation management protocol.

 

At the height of the storms, almost 4,000 SECO members in Marion and Levy Counties experienced a service interruption when a Duke Energy transmission line failed. A second large-scale outage occurred when a tree fell into a line, affecting the Westwood Acres and Rainbow Lakes communities. SECO Operations employees were immediately dispatched to the affected area and worked throughout the night. Service was restored to all members by 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

 

Clay Electric Cooperative’s members were affected by widespread outages due to the strong late night storms and asked SECO for aid. SECO was fortunate to have recovered quickly from the storm and was more than willing to lend a hand to a fellow electric cooperative. The SECO Operations team jumped into action. In just over an hour, the cooperative sent 20 of SECO’s employees to help restore power and also sent released 11 of its contracted line crews to Clay’s service area that afternoon.

 
Crews travel to Clay Electric

John LaSelva, Vice President of Operations, stated, “SECO is always willing to assist our neighbors when possible. We have answered the call to assist fellow cooperatives, investor-owned utilities and municipalities, and understand our duty to render aid when needed. SECO’s efforts to storm harden its system continue to pay off. A well-designed system that includes comprehensive vegetation management is key to not only preventing outages but is paramount to restoring outages quickly and safely when they occur.”

 

LaSelva added, “The most important consideration is the energy consumer. Power is necessary for SECO members, and all consumers for that matter, to maintain their quality of life. SECO supports cooperation among cooperatives and stands Storm Ready when weather conditions turn volatile in The Sunshine State.”

 

Learn more about preparing your family’s emergency kit online. Bookmark SECO’s Storm Center so you can quickly report an outage using just your last name and house number. Establish a SmartHub account or download the app to update your phone number. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

Members Re-elect Earl Muffett District 6 Trustee

On Tuesday, February 7, members voted to re-elect Earl Muffett to represent District 6 on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. Muffett has been a SECO member since 1979 and has served on the Board for over 25 years.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO members vote for the person they choose to represent the members in a particular district and to make governance decisions that serve the best interests of the members at large. SECO’s Board of Trustees are members themselves and provide governance and financial oversight to the cooperative.

 

A crowd of members gathered at the Village View Community Church in Summerfield to cast their vote for the representative of their choice. Both Muffett and Oxford resident Michael Tucker had submitted their letter of intent in January and expressed a willingness to serve.

 

Muffett stated, “I am excited to continue my board service and be a strong representative for District 6 members as I have for over 25 years. Thank you to all members in my district who believe I am the best choice to represent them. I look forward to continuing my work on the Board with my fellow trustees and representing the members of District 6.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “I would like to congratulate Mr. Muffett, and I am proud to work with him and his board peers. With the Board’s guidance, SECO has kept members’ rates low, upgraded our system to offer members world-class reliability and earned two consecutive J.D. Power awards for member satisfaction. As a CEO, I couldn’t ask for a better Board to work with, and I am thankful for their service.”

 

View photos of the Trustees and a District map online. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

Members Re-elect District 2 Trustee Dillard Boyatt

On Thursday, February 2, members voted to re-elect Dillard Boyatt to represent District 2 on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. Boyatt has been a SECO member since 1978 and has served on the Board since 1990.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO members vote for the person they choose to represent the members in a particular district and to make governance decisions that serve the best interests of the members at large. SECO’s Board of Trustees are members themselves and provide governance and financial oversight to the cooperative.

 

Almost 200 members arrived at the Sumter County School Board to cast their vote for the representative of their choice. Both Boyatt and Bushnell resident Phillip Longo had submitted their letter of intent in January and expressed a willingness to serve.

 

Boyatt wishes to thank his community for their continued support. Boyatt stated, “I am proud to be a loyal Sumter County resident for 58 years and equally as proud to continue my service as a SECO Trustee. I am happy to see many positive changes for SECO members during my tenure on SECO’s Board. As a former SECO employee and long-time Trustee, watching the cooperative grow from a small operation to a nationally recognized model of customer satisfaction is especially gratifying.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “We had a large turn-out for SECO’s District 2 Meeting and I would like to thank the community for joining us. Our members continue to prove that the cooperative business model is alive and well, and that SECO member-owners enjoy their ability to vote for their District’s Trustee. The Board’s industry knowledge and oversight is invaluable and I look forward to working with them to continue SECO’s success.”

 

View photos of the Trustees and a District map online. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.