Rural Missouri - November 2012 - (Page 4)

C O M M E N T S Building a better world “Devoted to the rural way of life” November 2012 Volume 64 / Number 11 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 F NRECA program marks 50 years of lighting the world or 70 years, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has represented America’s electric co-ops. But during the past half-century, the scope of its work has reached far beyond U.S. borders. On Nov. 1, 1962, NRECA and the U.S. Agency for International Development formed a partnership to carry the successful U.S. electric cooperative model to distant lands. In the ensuing 50 years, with the support of more than 300 NRECA member co-ops, NRECA International Programs has spearheaded electrification projects that have resulted in enhanced photo courtesy of NRECA quality of life for more than Bill Marr, lead lineman with White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Branson, trains local line100 million people in more men in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on how to safely use equipment. than 40 nations. “Building a better planet While overseas, line technicians build distribution systakes experience,” NRECA CEO Glenn English remarks. tems, wire houses and train native line crews to work more “And no group has more experience bringing low-cost productively and safely. Co-op managers educate adminpower to far-flung communities than America’s electric istrators and board members, while engineers guide their cooperatives.” counterparts in line design and substation construction. One of the first projects took NRECA International ProIn addition, the NRECA International Foundation overgrams experts to Bolivia to form Cooperativa Rural de Elecsees four donation programs. Dozens of co-ops contribute trification Ltda. CRE, as it is known, grew rapidly and has monetarily, while others turn over used line emerged as the world’s largest electric co-op trucks and distribution equipment. with more than 450,000 members. “Transformers and bucket trucks are espeAs NRECA International Programs began cially valuable and are always in demand,” branching out, it adopted a slogan: “ElectriLearn more about NRECA says Ingrid Hunsicker, International Foundafying the world . . . one village at a time.” International Programs in tion senior program manager. “Employees A 1977 pilot study in Bangladesh led to the the online edition at can give to the Foundation through the establishment of 70 co-ops that now distribwww.ruralmissouri.coop. United Co-op Appeal ‘Gift of Light’ program, ute power to 45 million rural residents. an annual workplace fundraising campaign handled by the When an NRECA International Programs team arrived Cooperative Development Foundation.” in the Philippines 40 years ago, 80 percent of the populaToday, an enormous new mission has arisen in South tion lived in rural areas with less than 10 percent receiving Asia and Africa. central station electric service. Today, 78 percent of the “We’ve already picked the low-hanging fruit,” Waddle South Pacific nation’s dwellings have power, and 119 rural comments. “For example, rural Bangladeshis live in denseco-ops now serve 40 million consumers. ly packed villages, where sufficient revenue exists per mile A number of other projects have been equally successof line to support a utility. That’s not the case elsewhere. ful, points out Dan Waddle, senior vice president of NREIn Uganda, only 9 percent of the population has access to CA International Programs. “The four electric co-ops in electricity, and in rural areas, it’s much lower. On top of Costa Rica represent approximately 15 percent of the total that, few people have the ability to pay for electricity.” electric distribution market and cover roughly 40 percent Political strife makes Third World electrification increasof rural areas in that country. They are completely selfingly difficult. “Our biggest concern now is security and sustaining and have expanded the scope and range of their the safety of our personnel. Afghanistan, South Sudan, offerings. Costa Ricans are gung-ho for democracy, so they Uganda and Pakistan all experience severe peace-and-order really embrace co-ops.” problems,” Waddle says. Waddle leads a staff of 14 from NRECA’s headquarters Of course, social upheaval, economic instability and in Arlington, Va. The organization operates offices in nine physical danger always have lurked on the periphery of countries, with electrification projects in 13: Bangladesh, NRECA International Programs endeavors. But its dediBolivia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, cated contingent has never let that get in the way. Guatemala, Haiti, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Sudan, As he looks five years ahead, Waddle believes Africa Tanzania, Uganda and Yemen. likely will present the greatest challenge of all. “The needs NRECA International Foundation recruits co-op volunon the continent are immense, and the situation is grim. teers — usually line technicians, CEOs and engineering There are two key issues: food security and water. Electricmanagers — to send on two- to three-week assignments. ity plays a big role in both.” Many of these have come from Missouri electric cooperatives. The latest are two linemen from Osage Valley Electric You can learn more at www.nrecainternational.coop. Cooperative, Butler, who were sent to Bolivia. USPS 473-000 ISSN 0164-8578 Copyright 2012, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Call for reprint rights. Rural Missouri is published monthly by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Barry Hart, executive vice president. Individual subscription rate: $9 per year or $21 for three years, taxes and postage included. Group rate for members of participating RECs $3.99, 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. www.ruralmissouri.coop Find us on www.facebook.com/ruralmissouri 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 P.O. Box 1645 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-659-3423 info@ruralmissouri.coop Rural Missouri 4 WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP http://www.ruralmissouri.coop http://www.facebook.com/ruralmissouri http://www.facebook.com/ruralmissouri http://www.nrecainternational.coop http://WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - November 2012

Rural Missouri - November 2012
Contents
Comments
Columns
Doing away with the ‘old scrub bull’
Cooperation among co-ops
Addicted to duck calls
Outdoors
Out of the Way Eats
Redefining rustic
Best of rural Missouri
Hearth and Home
Sleep like the grain
Marketplace
Around Missouri
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - November 2012