Membership Matters
April 2003
Blue Ridge Sponsors an Appalachian Summer Festival
Discount Tickets Available to Members for Lee Ann Womack Outdoor Fireworks Concert
As part of Blue Ridge Electric’s sponsorship of An Appalachian Summer Festival’s Outdoor Fireworks Concert, the cooperative is pleased to announce that discount concert tickets will again be available to members. This year’s featured performer is Lee Ann Womack, Country Music Association’s female vocalist of the year.
Famous for her “I Hope You Dance” album, which sold over 3 million copies and won too many awards to list, Womack is back this year with her trademark sound in “Something Worth Leaving Behind,” whose title track emphasizes the positive mark we all have the opportunity to make in life.
An Appalachian Summer Festival is a cultural arts program of Appalachian State University (ASU) held each summer for the past 18 years. The two-month arts festival, which includes music, dance, theatre, and art for all ages, is rated one of the top 20 attractions in the Southeast. This is the sixth consecutive year Blue Ridge Electric has sponsored An Appalachian Summer Festival.
The Outdoor Fireworks Concert with Lee Ann Womack, sponsored by Blue Ridge Electric, will be held on Saturday evening, July 26, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Kidd Brewer Stadium on the campus of ASU. The evening will conclude with the concert’s spectacular trademark fireworks show.
Tickets may be ordered from ASU by phone, FAX, mail, or at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com:
1. For mail orders, send this order form with your check, money order, VISA or MasterCard number to:
Farthing Auditorium Box Office
Appalachian State University
PO Box 32057
Boone, North Carolina 28608-2057
Tickets will be held at the stadium box office and can be picked up on the day of the concert, or they can be mailed back if a self-addressed stamped envelope is included and received by July 12.
2. For phone orders using your VISA or MasterCard, call toll free: 1-800-841-2787 or (828) 262-4046 in the Boone area. Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday.
Blue Ridge Electric customers - to receive your discount, have your electric account number ready.
3. FAX this order form with your VISA or MasterCard number to: (828) 262-2848.
4. To order tickets over the Internet, go to www.BlueRidgeEMC.com and click on “Lee Ann Womack Concert Tickets.”
Members Only News
-For Members of Blue Ridge Electric
Earth Day Commemorated with Book Donations
Elementary schools throughout the service territory of Blue Ridge Electric will receive a donation of books from the cooperative in honor of Earth Day on April 22. Each year, the cooperative gives books to local schools to help students understand the importance of taking care of our environment.
This year, elementary schools in Blue Ridge Electric’s service area will receive two books from the cooperative: “The Tree,” by Dana Lyons and David Lane Danioth, and “Our Park,” by Mercer Mayer.
“The Tree,” which is printed on recycled paper, is about the life of an 800-year-old Douglas Fir tree that is threatened by development until school children come to its rescue.
“Our Park” is written for very young readers and features the “Little Critter” characters made famous by Mercer Mayer.
Blue Ridge Electric works with school media coordinators to select materials that will be well received by students and academically useful.
Committee Named
The Board of Directors appointed members for the cooperative’s Nominating Committee at their February board meeting. The committee will select a slate of candidates to fill four available board seats this year. The candidates will be announced in the May Enlightener as well as posted in district offices 30 days prior to the Annual Membership Meeting on
June 14.
Committee members are:
Caldwell: Barbara Melton, Chris Hunt, Reba Barlow. Alternate: Judi C. Hyatt.
Watauga: Terry Beach, Ted Clevenger, J.B. Greene. Alternate: Cheryl Hunt.
Ashe: Sally Walters, John Shepherd, Wesley Hicks. Alternate: Jackie Byers.
Alleghany: Rose Marie Miller, Grace Wilkins, Wilma Foster. Alternate: Judy Sexton.
"Meet the Candidates" Forums
You will have the opportunity to meet the candidates for your cooperative’s Board of Directors during “Meet the Candidates” forums being held in each district office on the following dates: Ashe District: May 28; Watauga District: May 29; Caldwell District: June 3; and Alleghany District: June 9.
Each forum will begin at 7 p.m.
The Perspective
An Editorial by Chief Executive Officer Doug Johnson
Helping Local Communities
One way cooperatives make a difference in local communities is by striving to improve the lives of those we serve. This is why Blue Ridge Electric sponsors the BREMCare program to provide emergency assistance to members who are having a difficult time paying an electric or heating bill.
This year’s extreme winter weather and higher energy bills, coupled with a general economic decline, have caused requests for BREMCare assistance to increase. Last year, the total amount given to deserving families was more than $34,000, and this year the requests for assistance could easily surpass that amount.
On behalf of our communities, let me say a wholehearted “thank you” to our members who have chosen to help their neighbors by contributing to BREMCare. One gentleman in particular recently impressed me with his generosity to BREMCare and concern for others. Mr. W.E. Howell, a Greensboro resident who has a seasonal home on the Blue Ridge system, inquired about how BREMCare contributions are figured. A long-time BREMCare contributor, Mr. Howell was touched by the realization that many local people are in need of help today. At 81 years of age, Mr. Howell increased his monthly BREMCare donation, saying “I have seen the day I have needed help, so now that I am able, this donation is the least that I can do.”
Most participants choose to “round up” their power bill to the next dollar amount. For example, if your bill is $158.37, it’s rounded up to $159.00 with the extra .63 cents going to BREMCare. Many find this the easiest way to give and I can assure you that all the extra change really adds up to make a difference for people in our area. Our cooperative pays for administration costs so every cent donated is used to help people in need.
Mr. Howell and many other caring members make BREMCare what it is today: a way for local folks to join together to make life a little better for our neighbors in their time of need. Thank you, Mr. Howell, and thanks to all our member-owners who are making a difference through BREMCare and your local electric cooperative, Blue Ridge Electric. If you would like to become a BREMCare supporter, just give us a call. A small effort on your part can go a long way in helping a family in need.
Colder Weather Brings Greater Need for BREMCare
Extremely cold weather and the resulting higher energy bills for this winter season have led to record requests for BREMCare assistance.
Fortunately, many Blue Ridge Electric members continue to support the BREMCare program by rounding up their electric bill to the next highest dollar and allowing these few cents per month to add up and help others. The number of members contributing to BREMCare grew by five percent last year. In 2002, a total of 5,857 members –nine percent of the total membership – participated in BREMCare and contributed $34,573.65 to help those in need.
Administered by the cooperative, BREMCare is a member-supported program designed as an emergency assistance resource to help pay electric or heating bills of members. All contributions go directly to benefit those in need. Local helping agencies identify qualifying households and allocate funds, which are limited to a $100 once-per-year assistance. Because weatherization efforts can help conserve energy and control home heating bills, one-time home weatherization funds are also available under BREMCare at a cap of $300.
Members may contribute any amount to BREMCare and have it added directly to their monthly electric bill.
You can help by making one phone call or by requesting on-line at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com to round up your bill and join BREMCare.
Published monthly by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation for its 52,022 members.
