Pioneer Electric hosts 85th Annual Meeting, first in-person gathering since 2019
Published 1:44 pm Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Pioneer Electric power trucks pointed the way to the cooperative’s 85th Annual Meeting at the Butler County Fairgrounds.
Greenville native Terry Moseley, the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc., gave his annual manager’s report to cooperative members at the 2022 Annual Meeting on Oct. 15.
Pioneer employees Austin Odom and Vicki Burt explained “Safety City” to meeting guests, highlighting the importance of powerline safety and awareness.
Long-Lewis Automotive Group representatives were on hand to describe features of the Ford F150 Lightning electric truck to longtime Pioneer member Charles Rogers. Pictured are (left to right) Bill Crum, Blake Callahan, and Charles Rogers.
Pioneer Electric linemen prepare to ascend an electric pole for the flag raising ceremony at the utility’s 2022 Annual Meeting. Pictured are (left to right) Jason McCormick, Jacob Braden, Brandon Hinson, Perry Castleberry, Mariquez Pope, and Gray Johnson.
Pioneer veteran lineman and electrical technician, Brandon Hinson, enjoyed Pioneer’s 85th Annual Meeting with his wife Alyssa and daughters Addilyn and Everly Bell.
Youth Tour delegates Hannah Scruggs, Kalee Russell, and McCann Perkins handed up the flag to waiting linemen for the National Anthem, flag raising, and Pledge of Allegiance.
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Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc. hosted their 85th Annual Meeting at the Butler County Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Over 207 registered members and their guests attended the cooperative’s first in-person meeting since 2019.
Guests at the event heard business and financial reports for the cooperative’s 2021 fiscal year and voted to elect trustees for three area districts. Winners of those elections included Bill Farrar for District 2, Dave Lyon for District 5, and Linda Arnold for District 8.
Longtime Greenville residents and cooperative members, Ira and Bridget Ealum, felt honored to participate in the voting process.
“I’m happy with our co-op,” Ira said. “[The cooperative] is more personal {than state-wide power companies]. They can send out a crew who can handle every situation, whatever it is, instead of having different crews that do different things. We are honored to come out and support our co-op.”
Cooperative members Ira and Bridget Ealum felt honored by the opportunity to vote for district representatives at Pioneer Electric’s 2022 Annual Meeting.
In addition to the business at hand, the event boasted something for guests of all ages. A bounce house, balloons, and linemen hats were available for the crowd’s younger members, and everyone enjoyed the local band, Two-Lane Hi-Way, who entertained guests before the business meeting began.
Kase Little enjoyed playing alongside Pioneer Electric’s customer service manager Deanna Armstrong at the cooperative’s 85th Annual Meeting.
Drawings were held for the generous door prizes available — $100 bill credits and a year’s worth of electricity valued at $2,232.
And while some members voted and enjoyed gathering with friends and neighbors, others learned from demonstrations and exhibits available inside the pavilion.
On-site demonstrations included members of Pioneer’s engineering team, Austin Odom and Vicki Burt, who explained “Safety City” – a hands-on power line display which shows the importance of power line awareness and safety around the home.
Representatives from SmartHub, Capital Credits, and Operation Round Up were on hand to answer billing and payment questions and explain the benefits of credit union membership.
Pioneer Electric linemen raised the flag while guests sang the National Anthem and pledged allegiance during the flag raising ceremony. Pictured are (top to bottom) Perry Castleberry, Brandon Hinson, Mariquez Pope, Jacob Braden, Gray Johnson, and Jason McCormick.
One of the day’s highlights included the flag raising ceremony, when Pioneer linemen climbed a power pole to raise the American flag for the National Anthem.
Former lineman, Brandon Hinson, participated in the event and afterwards explained his new role as technical engineer — a role which is part of the cooperative’s efforts to keep the power on for Butler and Lowndes County residents.
“I do inspections now instead of doing the line work,” Hinson explained. “We are doing inspections, making sure everything is up to standard.”
After the National Anthem, Youth Tour students Hannah Scruggs, Kalee Russell, and McCann Perkins led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
“High school juniors in coops all across the country participate in Youth Tour,” said Pioneer’s communications director Christi Scruggs. “These students compete for a spot to represent their Co-op at the statewide gathering where they compete for a chance to be part of the National Youth Tour.”
Russell said Youth Tour has revealed to her what goes on behind the scenes of an electric cooperative.
“I didn’t realize how much work went into electric coops and all that they do,” Russell said. “I’ve gotten to learn a lot that I didn’t know about co-ops.”
