OFF TO THE RACES - Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative

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BLUEBONNET NEWS Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s members chose two incumbent directors and two new ones to serve on the 11-member board of directors during the co-op’s annual meeting in May. Incumbents Robert Mikeska and Byron Balke, and newcomers Roderick Emanuel and Russell Jurk, received the most votes among the fi eld of eight candidates. More than 330 people attended the annual meeting in Giddings, and 7,180 members cast votes. Bluebonnet members voted by proxy or in person at the meeting. Bluebonnet directors and executives reported that the co-op is fi nancially strong and is one of the leading utilities in the country in technology and performance. “I am looking forward to working with the two new, very talented directors,” said Rick Schmidt, Bluebonnet’s board president. “Th e experience and diversity that Roderick and Russell bring to the board makes a strong group of leaders even stronger.” Balke, a local rancher, has represented Austin County on Bluebonnet’s board since 2000. He serves as the board’s assistant secretary/treasurer. Mikeska has represented Washington County since 2008. He works for Mike Hopkins Distributing Co. in Brenham. Emanuel is the fi rst African- American to be nominated for, elected to and serve on Bluebonnet’s board. He is a former superintendent of the Bastrop Independent School District. Jurk, who lives in Lee County, is the director of the Giddings Noon Lions Club. He works for Bobby Lehmann Trucking, Inc. and is the director and serves on the executive committee of the Texas Motor Transportation Association. For information about the magazine, contact editor Janet Wilson at 512-332-7967 or email magazine@bluebonnet.coop. annual meeting Sarah Beal photo More than 330 people attended the annual meeting in Giddings in May, and 7,180 members cast votes for the board of directors. Two incumbents, two new members elected to Bluebonnet's board By Will Holford Reports show co-op's fi nancial, technological strength n New directors' profi les, pages 22-23 Emanuel’s nomination was the second time in the last four years that a member nominated himself and was elected to the board. In 2008, Mikeska nominated himself from the fl oor during the annual meeting and won his fi rst term as a director. “Democratic control by members is one of the seven cooperative principles,” Schmidt said. “Two of our last four elections have had self-nominated candidates win seats on the board. It shows that anyone can run and get elected. Th at is what is great about cooperatives in general and Bluebonnet specifi cally.” Also during the meeting, Chief Operating Offi cer Matt Bentke presented an overview of Bluebonnet’s operational and fi nancial status, including rates, capital credits and system reliability. Bluebonnet’s rates are among the lowest of other utilities in the area, Bentke reported. Th e co-op also serves more members with fewer employees and has shorter outages compared to a national industry average. n 20 TEXAS CO-OP POWER July 2011 BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EDITION
What’s your daily job like? Bolding: I’m a line worker and do mostly new construction, building lines every day. Hohlt: As a line crew supervisor, I have four workers who do whatever is needed, replacing poles or lines out of the Brenham service center. I started with Bluebonnet in 1977. How did you do at last year’s rodeo? Bolding: I’ve been with Bluebonnet for two years and this will be my second year at the rodeo as an apprentice competitor. I did good in the timed events but the written test is 50 percent of your score and that was tough. Hohlt: I did all right. But the last event wore us out. It was hot and changing out of a 600-amp knife switch was difficult. What is your favorite event? Bolding: I liked the egg climb, and it’s a crowd favorite as well. You climb up and down a pole with an egg in your mouth BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EDITION QA & Hard hat rodeo Bluebonnet’s team of pros to compete in annual state event By Ed Crowell It’s rodeo season again in Texas, but the competition coming up in Seguin July 14-16 won’t feature bucking horses or bulls. Hard hats will replace cowboy hats. The 15th annual Texas Lineman’s Rodeo is an altogether different kind of animal with thrills that involve pole climbing, toolwielding skills and a healthy respect for safety around high voltage. (The lines built for the rodeo are not live.) Bluebonnet fields some impressive teams each year and contestants from the cooperative have gone on to the national competition in Kansas. We strung up some questions for two of the Bluebonnet participants in this year’s Texas Lineman’s Rodeo (TLRA.org). The youngest competitor, Jeff Bolding, 24, of Bastrop, and the oldest, Jeff Hohlt, 52, of Brenham, talked about their jobs and the rodeo. Sarah Beal photo Bluebonnet's youngest and oldest competitors respectively in this year's rodeo: Jeff Bolding, 24, left, of Bastrop, and Jeff Hohlt, 52, of Brenham. ON THE WEB Information about this year’s rodeo, plus stories and photos from previous years’ competitions are at bluebonnetelectric.coop (look under the Need to Know section). and try not to break it. Last year I fell about 6 feet at the bottom, so that took a lot of points away. Hohlt: No favorite, but I was on the rodeo team the last three years and served on the advisory board and as a judge before that. Ever put the Hurt Man Rescue event skills into practice while working? Bolding: Not personally, but safety is something Bluebonnet stresses all the time. You’ve got to have respect for the dangers of the job and trust the people you’re working with. Hohlt: No, I’ve been very fortunate. What do you like most about your job? Bolding: It’s something different every day. I enjoy being outside and the camaraderie involved. Hohlt: I like being outside, which may be hot in the summer and miserable in the winter, but for six months of the year it’s nice. n July 2011 TEXAS CO-OP POWER 21 BLUEBONNET
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OFF TO THE RACES - Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative

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