August 2013

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Aug 26, 2013 ... a light fixture & fuse box, also has about 3' wide door,. $300, Gastonia, N.C. 706- 870-4791. 1999 Toyota 4-door Camry. 828-584-2308.
Vol. 16, No. 8



Now Serving 67,594 Members

August 2013

North Carolina Students Travel to Washington, D.C., Meet Legislators North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives provide scholarships for Rural Electric Youth Tour Jesse Bunton of Morganton, Sarah Cash of Mill Spring and Ken Bass of Denver attended the 2013 Rural Electric Youth Tour June 15-21 in Washington, D.C. They were among nearly 1,600 high school students nationwide who attended the Youth Tour to learn about electric cooperatives’ role in the national economy and foster students’ appreciation for the democratic form of the U.S. government. Students also had the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of our nation’s heritage. Rutherford EMC sponsored Jesse, son of Eddy and Yvonne Bunton; Sarah Cash, daughter of Darrell and Karen Cash; and Ken, son of Andy and Leanne Bass. The trip allowed participants to meet elected officials and better understand how the federal government operates. This year, North Carolina students who attended the Youth Tour were able to meet 10 of North Carolina’s 13 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The representatives stressed civic involvement and leadership skills as key components in making a difference in their local communities. The Youth Tourists also met with Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) who talked to the students about the country’s energy policy, current job market and paying for college. The Monday of every Youth Tour is declared Youth Day. On Youth Day, the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) members are introduced. The council consists of one member from each state and is elected by their peers. The selected members have the opportunity to actively participate in the NRECA Annual Meeting the following February in Nashville, Tenn. The North Carolina Youth Tourists formed a working drink co-op called the H2O & Soda Too Co-op. The experience provides a snapshot of the cooperative business model, plus provides drinks and snacks at a reasonable price in DC. They elect a board of directors and hire a manager and an assistant manager to oversee the co-op. Jesse was elected as chairman of the board. On the last day of the tour, the board of directors held a meeting to disperse any capital credits and then dissolve the co-op. During the meeting a vote was held and approved to send their capital credits to the recovery effort in Oklahoma. The Youth Tour has brought students to Washington, D.C., since 1964. To date, more than 50,000 students from small towns in 44 states have participated in this program and walked away with a greater understanding of their role as a citizen. North Carolina has sent 1,638 students to participate in the Youth Tour since 1967. Past participants of the Youth Tour have gone on to design airplanes, work as congressional aides on Capitol Hill and serve in some of the highest ranks of our government, including the U.S. Senate. The Rural Electric Youth Tour is a joint effort of local electric co-ops, such as Rutherford EMC, statewide co-op associations and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Arlington, Va.

From left to right, Jesse Bunton of Morganton, Sarah Cash of Mill Spring and Ken Bass of Denver, represented Rutherford EMC on the 49th Rural Electric Youth Tour, held June 15-21 in Washington, D.C. Carolina Country Rutherford EMC AUGUST 2013 25

S WA P S H O P

Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation provides Swap Shop ads as a free service to its members. Guidelines are as follows: Ads are published first-come, first-served. When the space allotted for ads each month is full, the remaining ads will be held over for the next issue. Ads will not be run more than once. Commercial ads will not be accepted. We reserve the right to edit, condense, or deny publication of any advertisement. Rutherford Electric Membership Corp. assumes no responsibility for the content of any advertisement and does not endorse or warrant any of the goods so advertised. Please include your account number with your ad. Mail your ads to: Newsletter Editor, Rutherford EMC, PO Box 1569, Forest City, NC, 28043-1569 or e-mail at [email protected]. No phone calls please.

FOR SALE

Homelite generator - 4,000 watts, 8-HP Briggs & Stratton, 120 and 240 volts, just serviced, $250; dump bed for short wheelbase truck, complete, $1,000; motor lift (cherry picker), $200; two, 16” one-piece wheels, fit 1970 Ford truck, nearly new, $40 for both. 828-334-7634 (no text or voice mail, please). Gas insert w/grates & logs - used approximately 30 minutes, $550; double breaker for mobile home, $100; new & used clothes & shoes, all sizes, men’s and women’s, boys’ and girls’, cheap. 828-403-0517, 828-652-1434 or 843-450-6161. 2 motorcycle helmets - 1 open face, $25, 1 full face, $45. 704-735-5988. Handcrafted jewelry inventory, along with miscellaneous jewelry making supply inventory - $300. 704745-6894. Dining suite - china cabinet & table with 6 chairs, $200; mirror top coffee table and 2 end tables, $150; new 5,550-watt generator, never been out of box, $400; Shop-Vac vacuum, ladder, tools & fan, all for $20. 704-263-1861. 404 Witten Lane, Gastonia, N.C. - outside city, 3

BRs, 1-1/2 BAs, oak floors, central heat/air three years old, fenced backyard, 12x24 wired building, move in ready, $65,000, taxes $87,000. 704-865-6879. Water ski equipment - Barefoot boom, trick skis, ropes, etc. and much more. 704-756-1851 after 12 noon. Nice brick home on 10+ acres near Pine Mountain Estates & South Mountains State Park - 3 BRs, 1 BA, full basement, $122,000. 828-437-5399 or 828-4432454. Spacious, like new, mountain-top home on Burkemont Mountain/Walker Top in Burke County, N.C. DW, 3 BRs, 2 BAs, mostly furnished, all appliances, gas log fireplace, 3 decks, paved road, $64,900. 828-433-1364. Water containers - 275-gallon and 330-gallon, $100 each; plastic 55-gallon barrels w/lids & rings, $15 each; 55-gallon metal burning barrels, $10 each; plastic barrels, solid top or open, no lids, $10 each (buy 5 or more). 828-327-4782. Trane 3-ton air conditioner compressor unit & indoor evaporator coil - model 2TTB0, installed 9-1-04, original receipts & manuals, $400 negotiable. 828584-4166. John Deere 450 dozer - ready to work, $6,000. 828248-2894. 2 wind turbines - only on roof for 2 weeks, $25 each. 828-738-4196. Troy-Bilt weed eater - $150. 828-738-3562. Lake Rhodhiss, Connelly Springs, N.C. - 1.52 wooded acres w/over 106’ lake frontage, sloping lot levels out to beautiful building site w/views of main channel & benefit of being in a quiet cove, private gated community, deeded boat slip plus 2009 Bass Buggy 18’ pontoon boat w/ trolling motor and 40-HP Mercury 4-stroke outboard engine, $139,000 w/$39,000 down & owner financing for balance. 704-435-6123 or 704675-4003.

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Dallas, N.C. lot in Walnut Springs subdivision, 3516 Cloninger Road - .69 acre, $19,000 OBO, tax value $24,000; oak kitchen table, white, rectangular in shape with 6 matching chairs, selling to first $40. 704-460-9392. 5.2 acres of wooded land on Fay Jones Road, Denver, N.C. B.J. Rickman at 704-788-3863. Wooden shed in good condition - 8’ wide x 8’ long x 9’ tall, has several shelves & outlets in it as well as a light fixture & fuse box, also has about 3’ wide door, $300, Gastonia, N.C. 706-870-4791. 1999 Toyota 4-door Camry. 828-584-2308. Brick home built in the 1940s on 2.5 acres - located at 1046 Ridge Avenue, Gastonia, N.C., 3 BRs, 1 BA, fireplace, appliances stay, $45,000 OBO. 704-8693279. 2008 Grizzly johnboat - exc. cond., good fishing boat for 2 or 3 people, 25-HP 4-stroke Mercury engine, $6,200. 704-435-0783 after 5 pm. Siberian Husky pups - DOB 5-31-13, big boned, big blue eyes, vet checked, 1st shots, dewormed, males & females, red & white and black & white, ready to go. 704-734-8072.

MISCELLANEOUS For Rent: Mobile home near Belwood, N.C. 704538-7615. For Sale or Trade: 8’x18’ long enclosed trailer with ramp door on back or trade for 12’ or 14’ long enclosed trailer. 828-584-2308.

WANTED To buy an old or junked saddle in need of repair. 828-493-0184. Female roommate September 1 - South Mountain (N.C.), 3 BRs, 2 BAs, child/pets OK. 828-433-5763.

Rutherford EMC is warning members that thieves posing as cooperative employees are trying to steal your money and personal information. The scammers call customers whose primary language is not English, most of the time targeting Spanish speakers, and tell them that their electricity will be disconnected unless they send payment immediately. The scammers are instructing these cooperative members to purchase a pre-paid credit card and either send it to a predetermined address or provide the information from that card over the phone. “We would never, under any circumstance contact you to obtain account or personal information,” said Dirk Burleson, vice president of member and corporate services at Rutherford EMC. “If you ever doubt the identity of someone claiming to represent Rutherford EMC over the phone, please hang up and call our office using the phone number listed on your bill or another official document,” Burleson continued. Rutherford EMC urges its members to be aware of this scam and asks that members share this information with family and friends to help put a stop to it.

REMC OFFICES & PHONE NUMBERS

Forest City - (828) 245-1621 or 1-800-521-0920 (Toll Free)

Morganton - (828) 584-1410 or 1-800-228-9756 (Toll Free)

Marion - (828) 652-2136

Gastonia - (704) 629-6226

Cherryville - (704) 435-5401 or 1-800-228-5331 (Toll Free)

Lincolnton - (704) 735-5381

ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP When shopping for a new appliance, consider lifetime operation costs as well as the up-front purchase price. Refrigerators last an average of 12 years, clothes washers about 11, and dishwashers about 10. Check the Energy Guide label for the appliance’s estimated yearly operating cost, and look for ENERGY STAR units, which usually exceed minimum federal standards for efficiency and quality. To learn more, visit EnergySavers.gov. Source: U.S. Department of Energy

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Notice of Capital Credit Assignment Non-Profit Operation Each year the Cooperative’s revenues in excess of its operating expenses are recorded on the books as capital furnished by the members, and is known as “capital credits.” Members are notified of the percentage of margins or capital credits assigned for each year. To compute your individual capital credits for the year 2012, you need only to apply the percentage figure shown in the table at right to the sum of energy charges, and any fuel and yard light charges from your 2012 electric service bills, excluding sales tax. Refunds of Capital Credits to Estates Discounted refunds of capital credits accumulated from operating margins are being returned to estates of deceased members on a continuing basis as the required documents are presented. If you know of such a deceased member for whom an application of refund has not been submitted to Rutherford EMC, the proper representative may apply for the refund and submit the required evidence of death at any REMC office. It is important that the electric service be changed to the surviving spouse or the person currently receiving service. General Refund to Members Capital Credit refunds are planned as REMC’s financial position permits.

The percentages for margins shown here are applicable to consumers served on Rate Schedules E (Residential), G (General Service), and Security and Street Lighting. Industrial and large power consumers served on other schedules can be notified individually of capital assigned.

Your Capital Credit Assignment Would Be:

If Your Total Electric Bills For 2012 Were:

2012 Operating Margins (Bill x 5.435032%)

$500.00 $1,000.00 $2,000.00 $3,000.00 $4,000.00

$27.18 $54.35 $108.70 $163.05 $217.40

DIY Electrical Safety The current economic downturn has inspired more homeowners to tackle do-it-yourself projects than ever before. Faced with declining home values and aging properties, homeowners in some cases may choose not to pay for the services of a licensed electrician. However, most of us don’t have the training or experience needed to safely perform electrical work, which increases the risk of injury and electrocution and potentially introduces new dangers. Working with electricity requires thorough planning and extreme care—cutting corners can be a costly mistake. For example, electrical outlets cause nearly 4,000 injuries every year. And each year, more than 19,700 people are hurt by ceiling fans that are improperly mounted or incorrectly sized. The Electrical Safety Foundation International strongly recommends hiring a qualified, licensed electrician to perform electrical work in your home. However, if you decide to do it yourself, consider the following important safety tips:

3 Make an effort to learn about your home electrical system so that you can safely navigate and maintain it. 3 Never attempt a project that is beyond your skill level. Knowing when to call a professional may help prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities. 3 Always turn off the power to the circuit that you plan to work on by switching off the circuit breaker in the main service panel. 3 Be sure to unplug any lamp or appliance before working on it. 3 Test the wires before you touch them to make sure that the power has been turned off. 3 Never touch plumbing or gas pipes when performing a do-it-yourself electrical project. For more tips on treating electricity with care in the home and workplace, visit www.esfi.org.

Rutherford EMC’s Non-Discrimination Statement Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice users). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 28 AUGUST 2013 Rutherford EMC Carolina Country

Unplug any appliance or lamp before working on it. Source: U.S. Fire Administration