Co-op News
Service Project Taking Shape
Florida co-ops are rallying around the third annual service project held in conjunction with NRECA’s annual meeting. And there’s still plenty of time to sign up.
Volunteers for this year’s annual meeting service project will make a camp for ill youngsters a more energy efficient place. (Photo By: Camp Boggy Creek)
This year’s beneficiary is Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, Fla. Founded by the late actor Paul Newman, the camp helps youngsters with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.
“It may be the best community service project that NRECA has ever attempted,” said Barry Bowman, director of corporate communications at Sumterville-based Sumter Electric Cooperative, which serves the camp. The main project at the March 5 event will be installation of a solar heating system for the pool, replacing a decade-old system that no longer works and has left the camp relying on propane.
“The water needs to be an even temperature because many of these kids have suppressed immune systems,” Bowman said, noting the pool is used for both therapeutic and recreational purposes.
In what Bowman called “a major coup,” the solar panels were donated by LeverEdge, a Florida company with which SECO worked. IQ Power, a solar contractor, will be at the camp to supervise the installation with co-op volunteer help.
Other volunteers will make improvements to some of the 16 camp cabins.
“We’re going to do the simple stuff—sealing the cracks, making sure the ductwork is properly sealed,” said Alan Shedd, principal in C&I development at Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives, which is coordinating the service project.
A blower door and infrared camera will be set up at one cabin to illustrate where the problems are, which Shedd said will make it “almost like a training class” for performing energy audits.
“The work we’re doing is really going to be a nice contribution,” said Shedd, who noted that volunteers from an investor-owned utility once came to the camp and painted picnic tables. “That’s useful,” he said. “But I think it speaks volumes for co-ops that we’re coming in and actually doing something that can make a difference in their utility bill.”
SECO is handling much of the logistic and supply issues for the project. And because an army travels on its stomach, Wauchula-based Peace River Electric Cooperative will make sure everyone’s well fed. A light breakfast will get everyone going, but the piece de resistance comes at lunchtime.
“We’ve got a group of folks that can cook,” said Nell Withers McCauley, Peace River’s chief marketing and member service officer. The co-op’s ACRE® Team will be at their grills, and they’ve got plenty of experience. “The same team goes up and cooks in Tallahassee for the Legislative Cookout.”
McCauley said no matter how many volunteers take part, there will be plenty of food to go around. “If they leave hungry it’s going to be their own fault.”
Registered users of cooperative.com may click here to register for the service project.