Andrea:
Welcome to Live Wire, a podcast powered by Kosciusko REMC. We are a member-owned and locally-operated cooperative that supplies electricity, the portions of Kosciusko, Fulton, Wabash, and Whitley Counties here in Northern Indiana.
Live Wire is a program where we come together to discuss co-op matters, energy, community topics, and to communicate with KREMC members. I'm your host, Andrea Melton.
Hello, Live Wire listeners. Thanks so much for joining me today for this episode of the podcast. We are going to cover so much in a brief amount of time on the podcast today. And I'm so excited. We have a special lunch-and-learn event coming up, we're going to be talking about that.
We're also going to talk about Linemen Appreciation, the annual meeting, which is coming up in June, amazing that we are already discussing that, but time flies when you're having fun, and we want to highlight some special awards that our team has won.
So, a lot to cover. But first and foremost, let's talk about our amazing linemen. One of our favorite days at Kosciusko REMC is National Linemen Appreciation Day, which is celebrated every year in April. So we just want to take a moment on the podcast to thank not just our dedicated linemen, but lineworkers around the world for the imperative and dangerous work they do.
These are dedicated, highly skilled workers who put their lives on the line 24/7, 365 days a year to keep the lights on. They work in the most dangerous conditions, and are faced with challenging weather elements and situations.
Our linemen truly overcome all obstacles to get the job done, and we are just really grateful to have the extraordinary team of linemen that we do here at KREMC. So, please join me in saying thank you to the KREMC linemen and all lineworkers.
Next up, we want to talk about a very special, informative event coming up here at KREMC. I am so excited to have, from our fabulous Member Services Team, Sarah Marsh. Hi, Sarah.

Sarah Marsh:
Hi, Andrea, how are you today?

Andrea:
I'm great, how are you doing?

Sarah Marsh:
Good.

Andrea:
Wonderful. Sarah, can you tell the listeners a little bit about the upcoming lunch-and-learn event that the Member Services Team is hosting?

Sarah Marsh:
Yes. So that is coming up April 30th. It is lunchtime, so 11:30 to 12:30. We will be providing lunch, as it says, and we will be learning about our Home Energy Advisor that they can find online.

Andrea:
Awesome. So, what inspired the team to organize this event?

Sarah Marsh:
Well, you know we love our members, and we were seeing that a lot of people were calling in on high bills, and we just really wanted to be able to educate and show them where they can go to look at ways they can save money on their electric bills and where those problem areas may be in their home.

Andrea:
Absolutely. I had Nicole Fifer on the podcast last month, and we talked at length about those high electric bills and what might be causing them. So, this is perfect to go right into this event after that. So, the event features our online Home Energy Advisor tool. Could you elaborate on what that tool offers to our members?

Sarah Marsh:
Yes. So what that tool does, if they go online to their customer link and go in, they can see the Home Energy Advisor. They can put in more detailed information about insulation in their home, window ages, appliances, and what it does is, it will process with what their bills have been to see areas that they can improve on their energy bill, to cut costs and save on the electricity for the home.
So, it's really just, it will show them what is using the most in their home, like, most electricity, and then, suggestions on home saving tips, be it windows or insulation.

Andrea:
Wow, that is so cool that it can do all that. That is really neat. This might be a silly question, but why do you think it's important for our members to learn about energy efficiency in their homes?

Sarah Marsh:
Many factors these days. Nothing is getting cheaper, inflation's going up. So, it's just a good way for them to be able to save money, keep some money in their pocket by being able to save on electricity, certain little things like shutting off lights, turning your thermostat down to 68. All that, in the long run, can lead up to big savings for our members.

Andrea:
Absolutely. And I know everybody knows a couple little things they're familiar with, ways to save energy, but I imagine the event and this online Home Energy Advisor tool probably is giving people tips, things they haven't thought of. So that's really valuable to share that knowledge.
So, I know our members had to register for the event, and we announced it a few days ago. We've had a great response for that registration, haven't we?

Sarah Marsh:
Yes, we are full at this time. However, if somebody is still interested in attending, they can call us or go online or email us and let us know that they're interested in being put in on the waiting list for the event, and then, if there is a cancellation, we can reach out to them and get them added.
Plus, we are going to be hosting a couple more of these lunch-and-learns through the year on different topics. So if they are interested in still doing a lunch-and-learn, they can just keep checking our social media and emails for those events.

Andrea:
Awesome. That's really exciting. I will be looking forward to hearing what other topics we might cover at future lunch-and-learns. How cool. So, for members who are listening who may be already registered for the event, is there anything that they need to bring with them or be prepared for?

Sarah Marsh:
Yes. So we would like the members who have applied to have an online account, that is where they can access the home advisory tool. And if they have any questions, they can call in, we can help them get that account set up so that they can be ready to use that and run through that with us at that lunch-and-learn.
We'd also like them to have a list of the type of installation in their home, ages of appliances, the different factors for their home. And then, if they can, if they have a laptop, a tablet, a tool to be able to run through that with us so that we can pull that up, we will provide some, but we do have 40 people coming up, we have a couple of iPads and tablets, laptops available, but if they have their own, that is a huge help to us.
And come hungry. We will be providing that lunch, so bring your appetites, just bring your thinking caps, and any questions that you may have on energy savings as well.

Andrea:
Wonderful. And that lunch is provided by Apogee, and Apogee is the company that that tool is provided by, or facilitated by.

Sarah Marsh:
Yes.

Andrea:
So, we mentioned, for those who haven't registered, it is full. Definitely, get ahold of us if you would like to be on the wait list in case there's cancellation. And then, there is going to be a live stream of the lunch-and-learn?

Sarah Marsh:
Yes, I believe we are live-streaming that, and then we are recording that and possibly looking at putting that on YouTube. So, if anybody does want a tutorial on how to use that Home Energy Advisor, then they can go in and learn it that way.
And like I said, they can always feel free, we are here for our members, so we would love to have them call in if they had any questions at all about having how to use any of the tools that we provide online for them.

Andrea:
For sure. Okay, cool. So, we'll be doing a live stream. That would be a fun way to engage, but also, we will have a playback on YouTube available after the lunch-and-learn is over. So lastly, any other things you want to discuss, anything you hope attendees will take away from this lunch-and-learn event?

Sarah Marsh:
We really just want our members to know that we really care about them and their needs, and we are here for them, and then we want them to know how to use the tools that we provide for them.

Andrea:
Awesome. Love that. Sarah Marsh, thank you so much for coming in and talking with us on Live Wire about the upcoming lunch-and-learn event. I appreciate your time.

Sarah Marsh:
I appreciate you, Andrea. You have a great day.

Andrea:
You too. Bye.

Sarah Marsh:
Bye.

Andrea:
I also wanted to take some time to talk about some special awards that our team has won. So, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, or the NRECA, is the trade association for America's electric cooperatives. And every year, as part of their connect conference for cooperative communicators nationwide, they have a program called the Spotlight on Excellence Awards.
And co-ops from around the country submit projects or work they've done as entries in certain categories in the contest. A few months ago, our marketing team submitted several projects to the Spotlight on Excellence Awards, and we found out recently that we won three awards. How cool is that?
I'll give you the rundown of what they were. Our Kosciusko Connected Connected Conversations podcast has won a Gold Award in the category of Most Innovative use of Digital Engagement for a company that is a subsidiary of a member.
And then we also have a Halloween social media campaign that won a Gold Award for best social media campaign, also in that classification of a subsidiary of a co-op. And we are super proud that the KREMC Annual Drive-through meeting won the Gold Award for Best External Event for a class-one distribution co-op.
It's a huge honor for our work to be recognized at a national level, and we can't wait to accept the awards at the Connect Conference in May. And speaking of the annual Drive-through meeting, we want to cover some of the details as that meeting is unbelievably quickly approaching. It's going to be held Thursday, June 13th, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, here at our facility.
You'll want to keep an eye out for the May issue of Indiana Connection in your mailbox to get more details on the Drive-through meeting. One thing to note that is different this year is that your ballot for the Board of Directors Election is going to be arriving as a separate postcard in your mailbox this year.
The last couple of years it has been sent within that Indiana Connection Magazine, but this year it will be a separate postcard. We have a great slate of candidates running for the seats on the board that are up for election this year. You will be able to learn all about those candidates and read their personal statements in the May edition of Indiana Connection.
This year's Drive-through meeting is going to look a lot like last year. You will come, drive through the warehouse, receive your free meal, a special prize, a bill credit, and cast your vote for the Board of Directors, and participate in our Democratic process.
We're looking forward to it. It's our favorite event of the year. We know you are too. And just make sure you're tuning into the podcast. Keep an eye on our social media, and read your Indiana Connection to keep up with the details of the annual meeting and more.
Well, thank you so much for joining me for this episode of Live Wire. And thanks again to Sarah Marsh for coming in to talk about the lunch-and-learn session on April 30th. Have a great day.
You've been listening to Live Wire, the official podcast of Kosciusko REMC. To learn more about KREMC, visit our website, kremc.com, and follow us on social media. Thanks for listening.