November 2019 | Volume 81 | Issue 11
Co-op Employees and Members Donate to Save Lives at Platte-Clay’s Annual Blood Drive
Every year, Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative hosts an annual Blood Drive in October to benefit the community. The Blood Drive is held in conjunction with the Community Blood Center of Kansas City and has grown in size over the years.
This year’s Blood Drive on October 16 marked yet another successful event, with over 100 registered donors coming to the cooperative’s offices in Kearney and Platte City to donate – a new record.
The need for blood donations is critical and those who choose to give are often responsible for saving the lives of those with medical emergencies.
The Community Blood Center reports that 4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion this year. On average, every two seconds someone in the United States will need a blood donation. Additionally, one pint of blood – the typical donation amount – can save three lives.
“Concern for Community” is one of Platte-Clay’s guiding principles, and this event offers both co-op employees and members a unique chance to give back and make a difference.
Thankful for a Strong Record of Safety at PCEC
Dave Deihl, General Manager
From the General Manager
As we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, one thing I’m thankful for as Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative’s CEO and General Manager is a team of employees who keep safety at the front of everything they do. Our industry has a natural level of risk to the work, but minimizing that risk is possible through training, situational awareness and the right equipment.
Last year, we launched the “Think Safe, Work Safe, Go Home Safe” motto as a reminder for all employees to always work as safely as possible. We have seen tremendous success with this program, and the culture of safety at PCEC is stronger than ever before.
Empowering people with good education and the appropriate tools for the job goes a long way when it comes to keeping them safe. Last month, PCEC linemen attended the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperative’s 2019 Lineman Rodeo where they competed by showing off their proficiency in key safety skills. This is one of many opportunities AMEC provides for distribution cooperatives like Platte-Clay to offer skills training and development for those who work in higher risk environments.
We have conducted countless safety trainings, invested in equipment and given out many safety awards to employees across various departments at the cooperative, and now we also have gained recognition from outside the co-op as well.
Recently, our insurer noted our commitment to safety and our track record by awarding the lowest possible modification factor (a figure related to workplace safety) for our insurance policy. This change will save the cooperative noteable financial resources when it comes to our insurance premiums.
We were also recently awarded the 2019 No Lost Time Accident Award by AMEC at their annual meeting. This award recognized our achievement of 591,433 accident-free working hours.
Public safety is another important part of “Think Safe, Work Safe, Go Home Safe.” Our safety demonstration program, which educates members about how to stay safe around electrical equipment, has become popular among schools and organizations across the Northland community.
There is nothing more important to the success of our cooperative than the safety of those who keep it operating every single day. The power industry has changed a lot over the years and one of the most important improvements has been the increase in the care and attention paid to on-the-job safety issues. At Platte-Clay, our employees are dedicated to thinking safe and working safe so they can go home safe at the end of the day – that’s something I’m extremely thankful for.
Focus Group Members Help Steer Cooperative Forward
Platte-Clay’s 2019 Member Focus Group recently began meeting to discuss the cooperative’s initiatives and provide feedback to co-op leaders.
The Focus Group is one way PCEC stays in close contact with its consumer-members. The group’s feedback helps the organization make sure they remain on the right track for meeting the needs of members.
Focus Group members volunteer to meet regularly to learn about programs and services offered by Platte-Clay as well as plans the co-op has for improving its service in the future. The issues covered by the focus group range from reliability improvements to rebate programs and everything in between.
Platte-Clay Holiday Open House to be Held on December 6
Join us on December 6 at the Platte-Clay offices in Kearney or Platte City for our Holiday Open House. Our famous chili will be served for free between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM with holiday treats available all day.
To assist those in need in our community, please bring a donation of gently-used or new coats and non-perishable foods. We will continue to collect throughout December.
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE OFFICE LOCATIONS:
PCEC Kearney Headquarters:
1000 W. State Route 92, Kearney, MO 64060
PCEC Platte City District Office:
15055 Bethel Road, Platte City, MO 64079
Platte-Clay Moments
Safety Director Jim Cox holds Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative’s 2019 No Lost Time Accident Award from the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
Left: PCEC Technician Supervisor Harold Baker volunteers at Smithville’s Community Hazardous Waste Day. Right: CEO Dave Deihl gives an update about co-op business to Platte-Clay’s Pathfinders volunteer group.
Energy Efficiency Tip
Laundry Tip: Dry towels and heavier cottons separately from lighter clothing. You’ll spend less time drying the lighter-weight items.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy.
The Northland Connection is published monthly by Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc., 1000 W. 92 Highway, Kearney, MO 64060. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Northland Connection, PO Box 100, Kearney, MO 64060 or mail@pcec.coop.
Platte-Clay is an equal opportunity employer.