Rural Missouri - April 2013 - (Page 4)

C O M M E N T S “Devoted to the rural way of life” April 2013 Volume 65 / Number 4 Jim McCarty, editor jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop Jason Jenkins, managing editor jjenkins@ruralmissouri.coop Heather Berry, associate editor hberry@ruralmissouri.coop Kyle Spradley, field editor kspradley@ruralmissouri.coop Megan Schibi, editorial assistant mschibi@ruralmissouri.coop Mary Davis, production manager mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop Angie Jones Dusty Weter Co-op page designers USPS 473-000 ISSN 0164-8578 Copyright 2013, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Call for reprint rights. photo by Jim McCarty Those attending the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association annual meeting heard a stirring farewell speech from retiring CEO Glenn English. He encouraged electric co-op leaders to continue engaging members in the effort to protect their rates. ‘Heirs to a cause’ NRECA’s English rallies the troops in farewell address G English pointed to a survey conducted by Touchstone lenn English, retiring CEO of the National Rural Energy that showed 60 percent of electric cooperative Electric Cooperative Association, rallied the members were willing to contact their members of Congress troops in his farewell address at the 2013 NRECA if asked to do so by their electric cooperative. That response annual meeting. In his address to more than shows a potential of 25 million 9,000 rural electric leaders, English people willing to stand up against encouraged them to rally around those who would enact policies policies that will keep electricity that would increase electric rates. affordable and improve the quality “There is no other program of life for the 41 million Americans in the United States that has 25 who receive electricity from an million folks willing to stand electric cooperative. up. The only thing standing in English reminded the electric between this tremendous political cooperative managers, directors power, something we haven’t seen and key employees that they are in 40 years, is your asking.” all “heirs to a cause” that has English has led NRECA for the improved the quality of life for past 19 years. Prior to that, he members and their communities was a U.S. representative from for more than 75 years. Oklahoma and a strong advocate “I used to hear people talk photo courtesy of NRECA for the rural people he represented. about the program,” English said. Jo Ann Emerson gets some help sending her own He said his call to public service “It wasn’t about wires and poles. message to Congress from members of the Youth stemmed from a desire to improve What it was about was the cause, Leadership Council. She is the new NRECA CEO. the lives of his fellow citizens — a the program. They didn’t come role he continued as CEO of the together just to build the largest national association. “This opportunity to do something distribution network in the nation. They did it to improve for these people was more than I could resist,” he said. the lives of their family and their neighbors.” He leaves NRECA debt free and with a reputation But English cautioned that those who follow in the for honesty in Washington, D.C. Former Missouri footsteps of those early pioneers have a responsibility to congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson took his place in March. look out for the best interests of the electric cooperative In parting, English, joined by his wife, Jan, expressed members they serve. “There are many battles ahead,” his appreciation for the many friendships he has enjoyed he said. “You can win those battles if you engage your at NRECA. “In a few days, Jan and I will be those folks at members and build the loyalty that is the foundation of the end of the line,” he said. “But I’ll be looking to see if political strength. You can win those battles if you ask anyone asks us to get involved.” them to help out and point out to them what is at stake.” 4 WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP Rural Missouri is published monthly by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Barry Hart, executive vice president. Individual subscription rate: $10 per year or $22 for three years, taxes and postage included. Group rate for members of participating RECs $4.20, taxes and postage included. Delivery as specified by subscriber. If not specified, delivery will be by periodical class mail at subscriber’s expense. Periodical Class postage paid at Jefferson City, MO, and additional mailing offices. Rural Missouri P.O. Box 1645 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-659-3423 info@ruralmissouri.coop www.ruralmissouri.coop Postmasters: Send address changes to Rural Missouri, P.O. Box 1645, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Subscribers: Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Rural Missouri. Advertising standards: Advertising published in Rural Missouri is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and sold to customers at the advertised price. Rural Missouri and Missouri’s electric cooperatives do not endorse any products or services advertised herein. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading is never knowingly accepted by this publication. Advertising information: mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop 573-659-3400 National Advertising Representative: National Country Market; 611 S. Congress St., Suite 504; Austin, TX 78704 573-659-3400 Member, Missouri Association of Publications and Missouri Press Association http://www.ruralmissouri.coop http://www.facebook.com/RuralMissouri http://www.pinterest.com/ruralmissouri http://www.youtube.com/RuralMOmag http://WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - April 2013

Rural Missouri - April 2013
Table of Contents
Comments
Columns
Companion planting
News Briefs
Operation cooperation
Outdoors
It’s all about redemption
Best of rural Missouri
Hearth and Home
Marmaduke’s Cape expedition
Around Missouri
Marketplace
The soldier’s paper
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - April 2013