1. Healthcare

Ninnescah Rural Electric
Watts Ahead
P.O. Box 967, Pratt, KS 67124 ● 620-672-5538 ● 800-828-5538 ● www.ninnescah.com
Ninnescah Rural
Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Board of Trustees
Ronald Schultz
President
Glen Honeman
Vice President
Paul Unruh
Secretary
Edwin Lenkner
Treasurer
Michael Christie
Trustee
Curtis Durall
Trustee
Bryan Francis
Trustee
Ruth Teichman
Trustee
Kenneth Unruh
Trustee
Staff
Teresa Miller
General Manager
John Tilley
Manager Operations
In Case of an Outage
If your electricity is off for
more than a few minutes,
please call 800-828-5538.
The office hours are 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m., Monday–Friday.
After hours, calls will be
answered by dispatch and
forwarded to our on-call
personnel.
Why You Should Attend
Ninnescah’s Annual Meeting
Join us on March 24 at the Pratt Muyour community. They are concerned
nicipal Building. We look forward to
with the issues you face every day
gathering with you–our members–to
because they face them too. And
catch up, enjoy some good food and
don’t forget–all members of Ninnesfellowship.
cah Electric are eligible to run for the
This event is not only a chance
board–that includes you!
to visit with members of our co-op
A democratic and open eleccommunity–it’s also a great opportution is one of the many elements
nity to learn about programs offered
that make our electric cooperative
by Ninnescah Electric and get to know stand out from other utilities. Havyour co-op staff. Our annual meeting
ing a voice in who makes the major
makes it possible
decisions that directly affect your
for us to gather
life and your
March 2015
feedback from
family is a right
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M
you by providing a
we all share as
T W U
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S
forum where you
Americans. We
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can let us know
all vote for our
6
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how we can betstate and federal
11
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ter serve you and
Congressional
16 17 18
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your family.
representatives,
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This is an
but not every
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occasion to disAmerican has the
cuss and learn
right to vote for
more about the issues affecting our
those who will
local communities. It’s also an opporrepresent community interests within
tunity for you to exercise one of the
their electric utility. You have that
greatest benefits of being a member
right, so why not exercise it?
of an electric co-op, by voting for the
Rest assured, no matter what
upcoming year’s board of directors.
happens, we remain dedicated to
Ninnescah Electric is not owned
providing you with safe, reliable and
by far away investors, and it is not
affordable electric service, but we
run by an appointed board of direcencourage you to take part in helptors. We are run by a democratically
ing us improve how we deliver that
elected board of directors–a board
service. So make it a point to join us
who is given the privilege to serve
on March 24 at our annual meeting.
because of your vote.
We promise we will make it worth
Our directors are members of
your while!
FEBRUARY 2015
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
16-A
WAT T S A H E A D F R O M N I N N E S C A H R U R A L E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
Democracy at the Co-op
BY A D A M S C H WA RT Z
Democratic Member Control is critical to the operation of every co-op
While the national elections of the past November may be fading from your memory, voting
for politicians is not the only way we as co-op
members can practice democracy.
Every co-op–whether it’s Ninnescah Electric,
your credit union or a farm co-op–follows the
basic principle of one member, one vote. Most
often you are asked to vote and elect individuals
that will represent you on the board of directors. These folks are your friends, neighbors and
fellow residents of our community. Occasionally,
you may be asked to vote on a policy, such as
a bylaw change (this is like the constitution for
your co-op).
Every member in good standing of the
co-op may run for the board. This is one of the
key differences between a co-op member and
a customer of an investor-owned utility (IOU).
Most IOUs are not too interested in customers’
opinions of how the company should be run.
Co-ops invite participation. In fact, it is critically important to the survival of the co-op. Most
co-ops serve far fewer people than IOUs. Co-ops
measure the number of members in the thousands, IOUs in the millions. If you are not actively
involved with the co-op, we all suffer. As the
electric utility industry evolves, having interested
members who are willing to take an active role is
critically important.
Several colleagues have developed the following scenario to encourage member participation in consumer co-ops such as rural electric
co-ops. It is called the Own, Use, Serve and
Belong model.
Refers to each member truly
believing and feeling that
they do indeed share in the ownership of the
co-op. This can come from attending the Annual
Meeting, voting, receiving a capital credits check
or participating in other co-op events.
For electric co-ops this means
that you use the co-op's resources wisely (after all, you are an owner of those
resources). You use energy-efficient appliances,
weather strip windows and doors, use LED or
CFL lights–and you turn them off when you
leave the room. Share that one with the kids!
If we are successful with
“own” and “use,” perhaps
you will feel called to serve your co-op–maybe
as a board member, volunteer, committee member
or community contributor
through the co-op.
Own
Use
Serve
Ninnescah’s 77th Annual Meeting is March 24
Ninnescah Electric
Cooperative’s
2015
Annual
Meeting
Join us for a
FREE dinner!
16-B
Tues., March 24.
At the Pratt
Registration at 5 p.m.
g
in
ild
Bu
l
pa
Munici
Dinner at 6 p.m.
Meeting to follow
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
FEBRUARY 2015
Belong
We all seek to belong to
something. In the early days
when the co-op was just
getting started, neighbors
helped neighbors. While
our lives seem busier and
more electronically driven
than ever, the need to connect and belong is necessary for us and our communities to thrive.
There is great power in
the human connection, and
at Ninnescah Electric, we
strive to do that every day.
Linemen Are Geared Up for Safety
Can you imagine working a job that requires you
to lift heavy equipment and perform detailed
tasks near deadly high voltage? Now imagine
doing this 40 feet in the air, and sometimes,
in extreme weather. This is the life of a
lineman.
These brave men and women answer
when called–and they do so to ensure
that you are provided with safe, reliable
electric service. But how do they
stay safe when working in these
conditions? Ninnescah Electric
linemen are required to wear
personal protective equipment
(PPE) at all times when on the job
to keep them safe.
Let’s take a look at a lineman’s PPE.
INSULATED GLOVES.
Linemen must wear
insulated rubber gloves
when working on any type
of electrical line. These
gloves provide protection
against electrical shock
and burn, and are tested
at 30,000 volts. Protective
gloves, usually made of
leather, are worn over the
insulated gloves to protect
the rubber from punctures
and cuts.
STEEL TOE BOOTS. These heavyduty boots are typically 16 inches tall
and designed with extra support in mind.
The height of the boot shields linemen
from gouges, and serrated heels provide a
better grip when climbing poles. The steel
toe provides sturdier support and protects
from objects that could potentially pierce
the feet.
HARD HAT. No matter how tough or
“hardheaded” our linemen are, they still
need protection. Insulated hard hats are
worn at all times to protect them from
blows and falling objects.
SAFETY GOGGLES. Linemen must wear protective goggles or glasses, whether working on electrical
lines or clearing rights-of-way. This protects them from
loose debris and other hazards.
FIRE RESISTANT (FR) / ARC RATED
(AR) CLOTHING. While our linemen
do everything possible to prevent them,
unexpected fires can happen. Fires typically
occur with an arc flash–an explosion that
results from a low-impedance connection
to a ground phase in an electrical system.
FR clothing will self-extinguish, thus limiting injury due to burn.
The majority of these items
make up a lineman’s basic PPE.
While working on electrical lines,
they also may be required to wear
equipment belts, tool pouches,
safety straps and other types
of equipment. A lineman’s gear
usually weighs about 50 pounds–
that’s a lot of extra weight when
working in hazardous conditions.
So, the next time you see a
lineman–be sure to thank them
for keeping the lights on. But
more importantly, thank them
for the hard–and often times
dangerous–work they do,
day in and out.
FEBRUARY 2015
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
16-C
Purchase Your
Cookbook Today!
Makes a Great Gift!
We have copies of the Celebrating Our
75th Anniversary cookbooks for sale at
the office for
$8.09, or for $11
if you’d like it
to be mailed. It
makes a great
gift for bridal
showers and
weddings. To
purchase your
cookbook,
stop by the
office or
complete the
form below
and include a
check for $11,
and a copy will be mailed to you. If you
have any questions call 800-828-5538.
Mail this form to Ninnescah Rural Electric,
P.O. Box 967, Pratt, KS 67124, with a check
(payable to Ninnescah Rural Electric) for
$11 to receive your copy by mail.
__________________________________
Name
__________________________________
Address
Recipes from Ninnescah’s Members
We hope you are enjoying the recipes from your neighbors. Please
consider submitting YOUR favorite recipes for all to enjoy.
BAKED MAC-N-CHEESE WITH
CORN CASSEROLE
1 c. macaroni, uncooked
1 can whole kernel corn, undrained
8 oz. Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 can cream style corn
1 lb. hamburger, cooked (optional)
1 stick butter or oleo, melted
Combine all ingredients into a greased 2 quart casserole dish. Bake covered at 350 degrees for
30 to 45 minutes.
Ronda Monaghan, Haviland
CHICKEN & DRESSING
2 boxes stove top stuffing mix
4 lg. chicken breasts
1 stick butter, melted
2–3 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cans cream of celery soup
Place chicken in large pot, cover with water. Add chicken bouillon cubes and bring to boil. Cook
till done. Remove chicken and reserve 2-3 cups of chicken stock. Shred chicken and spread in
9 x13 pan. Spread soup over chicken. Sprinkle stuffing over soup. Pour reserved stock and butter
over stuffing. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Rebecca Hunley, St. John
CAKE MIX COOKIES
1 tsp. salt
½ c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. canola oil
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
½ tsp. nutmeg
1 c. pecans
2 c. quick oats
1 ½ tsp. vanilla
½ c. brown sugar
Mix all ingredients and roll into 1 ½ inch balls. Put on ungreased cookie sheet–flatten with oiled
glass. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
Betty Liebst, Nashville
__________________________________
City, State, Zip
__________________________________
Phone
Welcome New Members
Sean L. Conkle &/or Josie Brenner–Pratt
Dale R. Adelhardt–Cunningham
Jack &/or Brenda Kennedy–Pratt
Bortz Farms LLC–Smith Center
Ana Luz Bortz Trust–Smith Center
Benton J. Vosburg &/or Jessica H.
Mathis–Harper
Robert Kane Fam LL Ag Co–Bartlesville, OK
16-D
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
FEBRUARY 2015
PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA
½ tsp. vanilla extract
¼ c. creamy peanut butter
2 c. old-fashioned oats
¼ c. honey
(not quick cooking oats)
½ tsp. cinnamon
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. Add
peanut butter and honey to bowl and microwave until peanut butter melts (approximately 20
seconds). Stir to combine. Stir cinnamon and vanilla into peanut butter and honey mixture. Add
oats and stir until completely combined. Spread oat mixture onto prepared cookie sheet and
bake for 15 minutes or until granola is slightly browned. Let cool until granola is crunchy.
Shannon Jarmer, Accounting Assistant
How to Submit
To submit your recipe, please send the following information:
 Your name and contact information
 Ninnescah account number
 The recipe (clearly printed or typed)
Send your entry to:
Ninnescah Rural Electric Attn: Recipes
P.O. Box 967, Pratt, KS 67124
or email to naschenbrenner@
ninnescah.com