Georgia EMC News www.gemc.com Georgia EMC News Service 3/11/2010 6:51:20 PM us=en <![CDATA[Georgia EMC Applauds Senator Johnny Isakson]]> newslist.aspx?itemID=78 Georgia’s electric membership corporations (EMCs) thank Senator Johnny Isakson for his tireless efforts to preserve our employees’ retirement savings plans. 

Today, the U.S. Senate approved a “Jobs Bill” that included legislation authored by Senator Isakson that will help EMCs avoid the impossible choice of increasing electricity rates, reducing or eliminating retirement benefits altogether to pay for massively inflated short-term liabilities due to the unprecedented market conditions of 2008 and early 2009.

 “Thanks to Johnny Isakson, the retirement benefits of Georgia’s 4000+ EMC employees are more secure today,” said Georgia EMC President/CEO A. Paul Wood. 
 
“Georgia EMCs were not immune from the extraordinary investment losses in the financial markets, which significantly increased our required pension plan contributions.  Without Senator Isakson’s bill, our obligations could double next year, making these critical benefits impossible to maintain.”
 
Wood also noted, “This is not a giveaway to anyone or a “taxpayer-funded bailout at all.  Senator Isakson’s bipartisan bill simply gives all parties more time to make up for the losses of 2008 and early 2009, and puts new requirements and limitations on any entity taking part in the program.”
 
Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp.  Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to more than four million people, half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area.
###

 

]]> Georgia EMC News Service 03/11/10 Georgia EMC News Service <![CDATA[Brumbeloe Named Distinguished Cooperator]]> newslist.aspx?itemID=77 Raphael Brumbeloe, a long-time resident of Pike County and active community leader, has been selected as the 2010 Distinguished Cooperator, a statewide honor annually bestowed by the Georgia Cooperative Council.


The Georgia Distinguished Cooperator Awards were presented March 1 at the Cooperative Council’s annual meeting in Macon. The awards recognize outstanding achievement and service to the cooperative movement.
 

“Raphael has a long association with electric membership cooperatives going back nearly 35 years,” says Neal Trice , President/CEO of Upson Electric Membership Corporation.


“His contributions through local, state and national organizations make him especially deserving of this honor,” said Hill Bentley, chairman of the Cooperative Council’s Board of Directors and CEO of Tri-County EMC.


Brumbeloe has held top posts at Upson EMC in Thomaston, Ga.; Georgia EMC, a statewide trade association; Oglethorpe Power Corp., the nation's largest power supply cooperative; National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC); and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).


He began his work on behalf of electric cooperatives in 1978 at Upson EMC where he currently serves on the board of directors, becoming chairman in 1998.


In addition, he served in top positions at the state level as chairman of Georgia EMC’s board of directors. During that time, Brumbeloe always demonstrated a total commitment to the highest personal and professional standards.


On a national level, he has served on the Board of Directors of the National Rural Utilities Finance Corporation since 2007 and will begin a second term this year.


In addition to his service to electric cooperatives, Brumbeloe has served on the Pike County Zoning and Appeals Board, Pine Valley Girl Scout Council and the Piedmont Chapter of the American Red Cross.
 

He is a member and Deacon of Beulah Baptist Church.


He and his wife, Uldine, reside in Meansville. They have two children and one grandson.


Nominees for Distinguished Cooperator may be a director, agent, professional, public official, or other individual who deserves recognition for his or her commitment to cooperatives and efforts on behalf of a cooperative.
 

The Georgia Cooperative Council is a statewide, non-profit cooperative with members representing marketing, supply, financial, electric, telephone, cotton, poultry and service cooperatives. The Council educates the public about cooperative organizations and recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to cooperative businesses.


Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 42 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to more than four million people, half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area.
###

 

]]> Georgia EMC News Service 03/09/10 Georgia EMC News Service