National Awards Given to Blue Ridge

For Immediate Release

Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager: 1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener

Lenoir, North Carolina (May 8, 2006) - Three top communications awards were recently presented to Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation during the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) annual Connect Conference held in San Antonio, Texas.

The awards were made as part of the 2006 “Spotlight on Excellence” awards program, sponsored by the Council of Rural Electric Communicators.

Grey Scheer, director of community relations, won an Award of Excellence in the Best Multimedia Presentation category for “Battered by a Hurricane (Hurricane Relief Tribute)” which utilized photos of Blue Ridge Electric linemen helping restore power in Mississippi during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The video included audio from local cooperative leaders and a song written especially for the Blue Ridge Electric linemen.

Reneé Whitener, director of public relations, received an Award of Excellence for Best News Story, titled “Boone Residents Partner with NC GreenPower and Blue Ridge EMC for Greener Energy.” The release featured Watauga County members Harvard Ayers and wife Mackie Hagaman who are participating through Blue Ridge Electric in NC GreenPower, the state’s renewable energy initiative.

Susan Simmons, electronic communications manager, accepted an Award of Merit in the Best Website category for the redesign of Blue Ridge Electric’s website, www.BlueRidgeEMC. The web site was redesigned based on ease of use and the type of information members most desired. The site includes tools and information on energy efficiency and ways to save on home energy use.

Each year the Spotlight on Excellence program recognizes a body of outstanding work produced by electric co-op communication and marketing professionals throughout the country. More than 700 entries were submitted this year. Judges for the Spotlight competition come from the faculties of two prestigious universities: the University of Missouri School of Journalism and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Communication and marketing staff compete in six separate classes, and winners are recognized each year during an awards banquet at the Connect Conference.

Blue Ride Electric is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 69,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Alexander and Wilkes counties.

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