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Several
months ago I wrote an article telling about a new program your
Salem Electric board has decided to participate in and
support. That program is "Leadership Youth", a
recent winner of the "Outstanding Effort Award"-the
highest level of award for efforts to improve quality of life
from Today’s Choices. The program is being coordinated by
three key community organizations: Salem Area Chamber of
Commerce, Keizer Chamber of Commerce, and Salem Schools
Foundation.
In this two-year program, high school youth from all
area high schools have been attending nine, one-day, monthly
training sessions that cover such topics as: community history
and culture, natural resources, business and commerce,
education, human resources, legal systems, government and,
during the final day, they will perform a community project.
During the second year each student will be assigned to serve
on a community board while being paired with a board member.
Starting in September, one of the 25 students
participating in this program will start attending and
participating in our monthly board meetings. The student
selected to join our board is Natalie Reding, niece of Salem
Electric Engineer Nick Reding.
Natalie is a 10th grade student at McNary High School.
I have been selected by our board to fill the role of mentor
and Terry Kelly has been selected by our staff to assist in
this effort.
The remaining schedule for the students include:
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March
29, Government Day (or it’s all politics...or is it?).
Terry and I (along with all the student mentors) are also
planning to attend this session to meet our new board
member and get some mentor training.
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April
26, Education Day (or Education in Action).
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May
24, Community
Project.
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September
2000 thru May 2001, attend assigned board meetings.
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May
2000, GRADUATION!
The entire board is excited about this opportunity to
participate in developing future leaders for our community and
will be participating, along with Terry and myself, to provide
a productive experience for Natalie. In preparation for her
joining our board, we intend to host a lunch and tour of our
facilities for Natalie and the board members. This will allow
us to meet her and get to know each other and see a little of
what Salem Electric is all about.
As I mentioned above, we are all very excited about
this opportunity, and we hope you are too. I would like to invite you to attend one or more of our board
meetings during this time (actually any time), to support our
student and observe this
innovative process.
Murray McCreary
Vice-President
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The
meeting was called to order at 7
p.m. by Vice-President Murray McCreary. All board members were
present, with President Nancy Towslee present via conference
call.
Administrative
Services' Report
Jack
Belleque reported that monthly payments are now being taken by
using MasterCard or Visa. There was $5,600 received last month
by credit card. Also, about 1,000 customers
are on the monthly Average Pay Plan and 825 customers
are using the Autopay Plan.
Despite some concerns expressed over the 4% service
charge applied to credit card use, all agreed that the
convenience of this payment option would add to our customer
service.
Engineering
& Operations' Report
Roger
Kuhlman reported on the early status of the plan to develop a
new West Salem High School. The cost to place power lines
underground in the area would be about $1.5 million versus
$300,000 to relocate the existing overhead lines. No decision
has been made, however, Salem Electric is in discussions with
the City of Salem regarding some creative financing to resolve
the
cost difference.
Member
Services Report
Terry
Kelly showed the board a new display booth developed by staff
to visually depict the operations of Salem Electric. The
display can be altered by changing the photos etc.
to reflect the interest of the specific group viewing the
display.
General
Manager's Report
Bob
Speckman discussed the preliminary dialogue regarding
establishing a new contract with BPA.
The board agreed to spend additional time at the March board
meeting in a 'work session' to study
and discuss BPA contract negotiations.
Staff will return in April
with recommendations for the board's review regarding this
important contract which would cover
several years.
The meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.
Curt Culver
Secretary/Treasurer
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