PRESS RELEASE
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| More than 2,000 people attended SMECO’s Annual Members' Meeting in 2007, the year of the Co-op’s 70th anniversary. | |
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| Maryland Public Service Commission Chairman Steve Larsen addresses the audience at SMECO’s Annual Members' Meeting. | |
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| Alice Neal of Charlotte Hall won the SMECO 1993 Ford Ranger at the Co-op’s Annual Members' Meeting on August 29, 2007. |
More than 2,000 people turned out for the 69th Annual Meeting of Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), held Wednesday, August 29, 2007. During the event, members voted for SMECO directors and enjoyed food, music, informational displays, and prize giveaways.
With fair and breezy weather to make the outdoor meeting more comfortable, more than 1,100 members registered to vote at the meeting, and more than 400 members voted by absentee mail-in ballot. Incumbents were re-elected for three-year terms to SMECO’s Board: W. Michael Phipps of Calvert County; Gilbert Bowling and Richard Winkler of Charles County; James Richards of Prince George’s County; and Francis Hewitt of St. Mary’s County.
Several SMECO members addressed the directors, staff, and customers in attendance during the open forum. Steven Larsen, chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC), was the evening’s guest speaker. He described some of Governor O’Malley’s and the PSC’s initiatives for utilities in the state with regard to reliability, safety, and renewable energy.
SMECO president and chief executive officer, Austin J. Slater, Jr., also addressed the audience. He recognized SMECO’s 70 th anniversary, some of the Co-op’s accomplishments over the past year, and how the Cooperative looks out for its customer-members. He said, “Our mission is to provide excellent service at a reasonable cost. Our business is not about profits. It’s about service. It’s about reliability. And as long as we keep our focus on our customers, we’ll keep going strong for another 70 years.” (Read the full text of Slater’s remarks.)
The evening’s program included a hot line demonstration conducted by the Co-op’s safety division to educate members about staying safe around electric lines, and SMECO personnel were on hand to promote money-saving energy tips and to respond to customer inquiries.
Several area fire departments and emergency medical services were represented at the meeting. Freddie the Fire Truck made an appearance, delighting children and adults alike. Nick Graham of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute demonstrated how a household sprinkler system puts out fires within a matter of seconds.
Entertainment included music from the band Country Memories. This year’s sales of hot dogs and nachos raised more than $1,200 for the charitable organization Alternatives for Youth and Families.
Members who registered to vote were eligible to win 50 electric bill credits of $35 each. Grand prizes were also awarded to the following members who were in attendance:
• Alice Neal, Charlotte Hall |
Used SMECO 1993 Ford Ranger | |
• James Estep, Waldorf |
$1,000 U.S. Savings Bond | |
• Anna Bankins, Waldorf |
$500 U.S. Savings Bond | |
• John Johnston, St. Inigoes |
$500 U.S. Savings Bond |