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News & Views from Your Elected Representatives
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Board Meeting
April 23, 2002
The
meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Vice President Jim Dyer with all
members present (President Alicia Bonesteele was present via conference call).
Beach/Horn moved to have the auditor's report moved up
on the agenda, the motion passed unanimously. On a motion by Horn/Anderson the
consent calendar was unanimously approved as written.
Kenneth Kuhns and Scott Muller of Kenneth Kuhns &
Co. presented the auditor's report for the year ending December 31, 2001.
Muller said there were no adjustments and the cooperative received a clean
opinion. He briefly explained the audit process. Muller stated Salem Electric
is in a very solid financial position. On a motion from Anderson/Beach the
auditor's report was accepted.
The Administrative Services report included review of
a three-year summary of taxes paid to the cities of Keizer and Salem.
The Engineering and Operations report included a
status report on the power poles scheduled for removal on Orchard Heights near
the new West Salem High School. On a question from President Bonesteele, Bob
Speckman updated the board on the status of efforts to replace or salvage the
heating system in the Salem Electric office.
The Member Services report included an update on the
SEMAP Program; it is anticipated that $172,000 will be spent this year.
Angie Thomas said she has a final project due for
Leadership Youth. She will be writing an essay describing her interaction with,
and reactions to, the Leadership Youth Program. She said she has enjoyed her
time with the Salem Electric board and has learned a lot about the various jobs
and activities of the cooperative. She was very appreciative of her time spent
with the board. Vice President Dyer presented Thomas with a scholarship and
thanked her for her participation on the board.
General Manager Bob Speck-man reported that the
Northwest Public Power Association delegation to Washington D.C. had a very
successful trip. He said they were promoting Bonneville's borrowing authority,
and expressing concerns about deregulation, the National Energy Policy Act and
other issues.
Speckman reported that Salem Electric was visited by a
delegation of electric utility executives and regulators from India. The group
had many questions about distribution, transmission and the operations of a
cooperative.
The Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association's
(ORECA) mid-year meeting is scheduled for July 19, 2002. Anderson will remain
the primary voting delegate with Speckman as the alternate.
Horn will represent Salem Electric on the new ORECA
Ways and Means Committee. Bonesteele's name has been submitted to replace
former board member John Elliott on the Mid-Valley Community Development
Partnership Board.
Speckman toured the new West Salem High School and
informed the board of Salem Electric's participation in the Founders Club. This
entails a donation which will place Salem Electric's name, along with other
donors, on a permanent plaque at the school.
Speckman said everything is on schedule for the annual
meeting on May 14, 2002.
In order to enhance communication between directors
and staff via e-mail, Salem Electric has a policy of either providing board
members with a computer or contributing toward the purchase or upgrade of a
director's own computer. The board approved staff-recommended changes to this
policy.
There were no appearances of interested members.
Under new business, Thomas said she is a volunteer for
the American Red Cross and told of an upcoming blood drive.
The meeting adjourned at 8:19 pm.
Jeff Anderson
Secretary/Treasurer
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 I
recently applied for, and was appointed to, an open position on the Salem
Electric Board of Directors. I am looking forward to representing you on the
board.
I moved
to Oregon in 1971, and I have been a Salem Electric customer since moving to
West Salem in 1972. My wife, Vicki, and I have been married for 33 years and
raised three children who attended Salem-Keizer public schools. My daughter,
Mara, attended South Salem High School, and my two boys, John and Richard,
attended North Salem High School. My wife is a native Oregonian, born and
raised in Salem. When I completed an advanced degree at the University of
Wyoming, I looked for employment in Colorado, my native state, and in Oregon my
wife's native state. I found employment at the Oregon Department of Education,
we moved to Salem, and we have been here ever since.
In 1974,
I became Director of Counseling at Chemeketa Community College. At that time
Chemeketa had an enrollment of approximately 7,000 students. After serving in a
number of other positions (Dean of Students, Dean of College Services, and Vice
President of Academic Services), I became President of Chemeketa in 1993. After
a wonderful 27-year career, I retired from Chemeketa in the summer of 2001. The
year I retired, Chemeketa had an enrollment of over 58,000 students - quite a
contrast to the 7,000 enrolled in 1974. I was very fortunate to have had the
opportunity to work with a wonderful group of talented faculty and staff. I
also worked with a dedicated seven-person board whose major focus was on
serving the needs of the community and providing essential services to
students. It was a wonderful career of which I am extremely proud.
During
my years at Chemeketa, I also learned the importance of giving back to the
community that supported our efforts. I've been involved with the Marion/Polk
County Family YMCA as a board member and campaign fundraiser for a number of
years. I've served on a number of boards and commissions dealing with K-12 and
higher education issues. I also have been a Rotary Club member for over 20
years. I believe it is imperative, if we want a strong community, that each
person must be involved and give of oneself.
I am
looking forward to serving you as a director on the Salem Electric board.
Before applying for the director's position I carefully reviewed Salem Electric
as to its staffing and business practices. I found that the organization had a
dedicated and experienced staff who are committed to its customers. I strongly
support Salem Electric's five key goals: reliable service, financial integrity,
good customer relations, good employee relations and lowest possible rates. I
also found that customer satisfaction is very high. Learning this, I decided to
apply for the director position.
I worked
with a local institution, Chemeketa Community College, which is committed to
the needs of its students and community. I am proud to join Salem Electric,
which also is committed to its customers and community. I will work hard
representing you and insuring that the directions taken by Salem Electric are
ones that enhance services and are of benefit to its members. If you have
questions or comments, please don't hesitate to call me at 503 581-9969 or
e-mail me at: mjrberg@ncn.com
Jerry Berger
Director
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