Rural Missouri - October 2016 - 24

Left: Residents of the two villages turned out in force for the inauguration ceremony. Right: Light spills through the cracks in one of the homes for the first time after power was turned on. "As an inside wireman, I've been able to go into the homes," Steve says. One group of thirsty linemen was saved by a friendly resident of Dos de Junio, who stops by with a cold bottle of Coke and a sleeve of plastic cups. This "These people take a lot of pride in what they have. Things are clean, even will be the trend for the next two weeks as the locals discover why the men are though it may not look like it. Their kitchen areas, if they have pots and pans on the wall they are hung in order so they can use them. The dust can get in their towns and do their best to help. "It's been an experience I'll never forget," says SEMO Electric's Jared Kelley. pretty stiff out here. I'm very impressed that their clothes look clean all the time. I just don't know how they can get that done because when I get back to "This is a poor area but the people are very appreciative of us being here." Craig told his group that flexibility would be the key once they arrived in the hotel, I just look like a mud pit." For $40 each, the 360 villagers can become a member of the cooperative and Bolivia, and he was right. "We have a few challenges," he says after that first day on the job. "Our material has been scarce and some of the tools are stuck get their house wired with two outlets and two lights. Their future electric bills are expected to be around $3 per month. in Customs. So we are working with some primitive tools at this time." The linemen learn that electricity means a lot to these simple people. The But these men are veterans at restoring power after ice storms, floods, tornados and even hurricanes. No one is as resourceful as an American lineman, first house wired belongs to a man and woman who are deaf and mute. The and this group proves to be no exception. The volunteers knew going into the woman's mother hitches rides so she can help her daughter. Now that electricproject they would be working without the equipment - such as bucket and ity will relieve some of her burdens, the mother says she can stay home. At another house being wired by the team, a couple relates that they are digger derrick trucks - they take for granted back home. "We are all linemen and we all know how to adapt to what we have," says waiting for electricity before moving into their new home, which like many others will do double duty as a tienda, or store, selling refreshments. Brandon Steffen from West Central Electric. "Climbing, that's what we do." A group of kids speaks up through an interpreter, saying they want electricThey are prepared to climb every pole, and some of them twice. Later many would comment that they climbed more poles during their time in Bolivia than ity because they are afraid of the dark. They want to watch TV, but "just a little they had in their entire career. "Back home we've got bucket trucks and electric bit." One of the boys says he does his homework early because if he waits too drills," says Laclede Electric's John Winther. "Here we've got their drill that you long, he will have to use a candle in order to see. As the project winds down, the linemen learn that, due to politics, the viljust crank by hand. Other than that, it is the same type of work. The way we lages will not be getting street lights. They pass the hat and quickly raise close hang things on the poles, we are doing that to the same REA specs." To keep the job moving while they wait for the tools to arrive, the crews start to $1,000. NRECA International and C.E.R. kick in more money. It's enough to work on secondary lines that don't need crossarms. In just two days, they buy 15 lights. On Sunday morning, just before the inaugural celebration, the linemen hang the lights where they knock out all of the secondary work in will do the most good. both villages. Their generosity doesn't end here. Then the hard part begins. "Today Some pay the membership fee so that we are stringing three phase through more of the villagers can receive elechere," says Osage Valley Electric tricity. They also leave their tools with Cooperative's Tom Golder. "You can the local linemen who will need them see by looking at all of the material on to maintain the new lines. the ground that it's all heavy. We have They came as strangers, but they two handlines for the whole crew, so left as friends. "I was a little anxious it's going to take awhile." about getting down here, but once we Tom is the first Missourian to climb were down here and set up, it's been a pole during the project, and he really enjoyable," says Rob Hawkins quickly discovers that it isn't going to from Boone Electric. "We were here be easy. The poles are made from presto teach and to help, and to get them sure-treated eucalyptus wood. Besides going better with their structures. being much harder than anything the Hopefully they catch on and start Americans have ever climbed, they planning for a better tomorrow." also are much smaller than poles used in the United States. Order a copy of "A Brighter Bolivia," Despite the challenges, which a hardbound book that includes more improve as the job progresses, the photographs from Rural Missouri Editask of framing 220 poles and stringtor Jim McCarty. Cost is $20 per copy, ing 10 miles of line is accomplished two days ahead of schedule. That The Missouri team included (back row, from left) John Winther, Laclede Electric; Rob Hawkins, plus shipping. The proceeds will help leaves the Missouri team free to help Boone Electric; Steve Joannes, Central Electric Power; Tom Golder, Osage Valley Electric; Steve pay for the next project. To order, call 573-659-3423 or visit www.ruralmSteve Joannes work on the inside wir- Smith, Northeast Power; (front row, from left) Brandon Steffen, West Central Electric; Craig issouri.org/merchandise.php. ing. It is an eye-opening experience. Moeller, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives and Jared Kelley, SEMO Electric. 24 RURALMISSOURI | OCTOBER 2016 http://www.ruralmissouri.org/merchandise.php http://www.ruralmissouri.org/merchandise.php

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - October 2016