WFEC celebrates America's spirit
Patriotism and community pride resonated throughout West Florida Electric Cooperative’s Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day Saturday, April 27, at the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville. From the giant flag hung between two WFEC bucket trucks at the meeting’s entrance to a video celebrating American unity following the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001, to the ceremony honoring local firefighters, law enforcement, military personnel and emergency management workers, the event echoed the theme of "Courage, Sacrifice, Patriotism – A Call to Service." The festivities also commemorated the Co-op’s 65th anniversary.
The program opened with the Holmes County JROTC’s presentation of the colors, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and WFEC Member Services Representative Donna Pittman’s stirring a cappella rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. WFEC District 5 Trustee and Vietnam veteran A. C. Miles presented the Co-op’s first-ever "Veteran of the Year" award to Lawrence P. Felton, of Grand Ridge. Then District 4 Trustee Charles Holman presented WFEC charter member Gertha Simpson, his mother, with a plaque recognizing her as the oldest member-owner present. The Co-op received an award, as well, from the American Cancer Society for its contributions to area Relay for Life events.
Several public officials, including Senator Durrell Peaden, Representatives Bev Kilmer and Don Brown and Graceville Mayor Guyton Williams were on hand to address the crowd. Praising WFEC’s role in local economic development efforts, Kilmer said, "In working with economic development, everywhere I go, they are there. Their logo with the hands coming together tells exactly what they do. Thank you for the work you do in helping our communities grow and thrive."
Recalling WFEC’s earlier mission, begun in 1937, of providing electricity to homes and farms not served by investor-owned utilities, Williams stated, "The REA opened up rural America." Long-time local residents often refer to the Co-op as the "REA" because of its historical relationship to the former federal Rural Electrification Administration.
In his remarks, WFEC Executive Vice President and CEO Bill Rimes called 2001 "a challenging year for our country and our cooperative." First came the election of a new president, a slowing of the economy to a near-recession, California’s electrical energy crisis and Enron’s bankruptcy, then the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks – "the most horrific tragedy since Pearl Harbor," he said.
"Yet, from the ashes of this American nightmare was born a steady resolve to protect our way of life and rid the world of terrorism," he continued. "We saw Americans recommit themselves to the values that made our nation great – values of faith in God, love of family and a renewed commitment to one’s community. This happened across our great nation and our state, and it has happened throughout the homes and communities in West Florida Electric’s service area."
During the meeting’s business session, Rimes reported a decline in WFEC’s energy sales and revenues last year due to mild weather, accompanied by a 10 percent rise in wholesale power costs due to increases in the prices of fuels used to generate electricity. "However, we have not raised rates in over nine years, since July 1993," he noted.
Near the meeting’s close, a representative of McDaniel and Associates’ certified public accounting firm announced the results of WFEC’s trustee elections. Incumbents Charles Holman, A. C. Miles and John Worthington retained their seats on the Co-op’s board. Approximately 4,300 WFEC members cast ballots by mail.
Other activities at the event included old-fashioned blacksmithing and printing press demonstrations, hot air balloon rides, face-painting and balloon sculptures by Jama the Clown, the Touchstone Energy bouncy house, music by the Millers, soft drinks served by the Altha High School cheerleaders, a light lunch of barbeque sandwiches and hotdogs by Sonny’s Barbeque, door prizes and prize drawings. Prize winners included Rita McGuire, of Alford, who received a $100 electric bill credit, and Paul Carnley, of Bonifay, who took home a 3 kw Honda-powered Gillette Power-Pro generator.
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