Verendrye Electric Cooperative Velva, N.D.

NetworkNewsVelva: 701-338-2855 • Minot: 701-852-0406 Website: www.verendrye.com

OCTO

BER

2016

OCTOBER 2016IN THIS ISSUE

• Solar panel on display• Got wet mail?• Youth Tour essay contest• Celebrate Co-op Month

Verendrye Electric serves new Minotelementary school

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The John Hoeven Elementary School opened this year and is served by Verendrye Electric Cooperative.

Sen. John Hoeven, his wife, Mikey, and two of their grandchildren help cut the ribbon at the new school in August.

New Minot school served by Verendrye Electric Co-op

Verendrye Electric Cooperative serves Minot’s newest school, John Hoeven Elementary, which opened this school year with a ribbon-cutting

ceremony that included the senator’s family. � e new school can hold 550 students and is located

in southeast Minot in Verendrye Electric Cooperative’s service area. � e new school was one of the projects made possible by a $39.5 million school bond issue voters approved in 2015.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Hoeven presented the school with a U.S. � ag that was � own over the White House and 167 books donated by the Library of Congress. He spoke about how the teachers make a di� erence in students’ lives.

“I can hardly think of a � ner, more wonderful title than teacher. … A teacher gives a gi� every day. � e gi� of

learning to make somebody’s life better,” Hoeven said.Lowell Latimer, a former superintendent of Minot

schools and longtime Minot educator, was also honored. � e school’s media center was named the Lowell Latimer Media Center.

Minot Mayor Chuck Barney said students can look to Hoeven as an example of what can be accomplished with education.

“Naming this school John Hoeven Elementary represents to the youth all that is possible,” Barney said. “Education opens doors and this a great example of that.”

Verendrye Electric also serves the new Nedrose School in east Minot, Bell School in southeast Minot, Berthold School, South Prairie School south of Minot and North Plains Elementary, Dakota Elementary and Memorial Middle School all on the Minot Air Force Base. n

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Verendrye solar panel on display at Heritage Center

Guess the weight of the pumpkin

and win!

A solar program Verendrye Electric Cooperative has used to bring fresh water to cattle for decades is on display at the North Dakota Heritage Center.

Verendrye donated the display that is part of the Green Revolution exhibit in the Governor’s Gallery. � e solar panels are used to pump water with a direct current pump. Large troughs act as batteries because they can hold water that is pumped while the sun is bright, making water available even a� er the sun goes down.

� e solar panels are used at remote sites where there are no nearby power lines. Ranchers provide the tank and pump, while the solar panels and controller are leased to them. Verendrye leases more than 200 solar systems across its service area.

� e panel will be on display through April 30, 2017. Admission to the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum is free. It is located on the State Capital grounds and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit history.nd.gov. n

Do you think you have what it takes to win the Great Pumpkin Contest?

All you have to do is like us on Facebook if you haven’t already, and make a comment in the Great Pumpkin Contest section on what you think the weight is. � e guess should be in pounds and rounded to the nearest two decimal places. Example: 99.51 pounds. In the event of a tie, a drawing will be held. Only one entry per person is allowed. � e closest guess will get a $50 gi� card to Scheels. You must be a Verendrye Electric Cooperative member to win. Verendrye employees and close relatives are ineligible to enter the contest. � e contest ends at noon on Oct. 31. n

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Got wet mail? In August, a summer storm caused 800 Verendrye Electric bills to become soaked as they were in

transit with the Postal Service. Most of the bills were still delivered, but many members could barely read them. Most members requested the new bills to be emailed to them, but a handful of people requested new paper bills to be mailed to them.

While Verendrye Electric employees are happy to help members receive additional copies of bills, members can also access current and past bills themselves at any time of day.

All they need to do is to go to www.verendrye.com and click on the “View and Pay Bill” tab on the top right corner of the homepage. Once there, members will need their Verendrye account number handy and a valid email address to access their account through SmartHub.

Once in SmartHub, members can view bills, see their electrical usage by the month, day and hour, and manage their account. Members can continue to receive paper bills, or if they want to save 50 cents a month on their bill, they can elect to go paperless.

If you need help with SmartHub, call Verendrye at 800-472-2141. n

Around 800 Verendrye Electric bills were damaged by water during delivery in September. Members can access their current and past bills by creating an online account at www.verendrye.com.

SmartHub allows you to manage your account from your

mobile device and your computer. Download the mobile

app at www.smarthubapp.com. To sign up on your

computer, go to www.verendrye.com and click on the

“E-bill” or “Plug in to my account” banners. 1-800-472-2141

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CHECK OUT THE ESSAY-CONTEST GUIDELINES AT

www.ndyouthtour.com and www.youthtour.coop

JUNE 10 to 16, 2017

TOP 3 REASONS TO ENTER THE ESSAY-WRITING CONTEST1. All-expense-paid trip to Washington,

D.C., compliments of Verendrye Electric Cooperative.

2. A whole week to visit unforgettable historic monuments, museums and the U.S. Capitol.

3. A learning experience you’ll never forget.

• To enter the essay-writing contest, you must be a sophomore or junior in high school.

• You and your parents or guardian must be served by Verendrye Electric Cooperative.

• If you have a question, contact Tom Raff erty, Verendrye Electric, at the address listed below, or call 701-338-2855 during regular business hours.

• The deadline is Jan. 31, 2017. Email entries to tomdr@verendrye.com or mail to: Youth Tour Essay Contest, Verendrye Electric Cooperative, 1225 Hwy. 2 Bypass E., Minot, ND 58701-7927.

HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES & JUNIORS

WRITE A WINNING ESSAY AND WIN A TRIP OF A LIFETIME!An all-expense-paid trip to WASHINGTON, D.C.WRITE A WINNING ESSAY AND WIN A TRIP OF A LIFETIME!

North Dakota Electric Cooperative

ESSAY QUESTION:Democracy is the foundation of our American way of life and of cooperative enterprise. The fundamentals of democracy include voter participation, political party affi liation, and public debate of issues. Describe what you think makes our current democracy strong, and provide suggestions for ways our democracy can be made stronger and more eff ective.

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Celebrate Co-op Month in October

October is National Cooperative Month, and Verendrye Electric Cooperative – and all co-ops across the United States. – are celebrating

the bene� ts and values that cooperatives bring to their members and communities. � ere are approximately 47,000 cooperatives nationwide.

While co-ops operate in many industries and sectors of the economy, seven cooperative principles set us apart from other businesses: voluntary and open membership; democratic member control; members’ economic participation; autonomy and independence; education, training and information; cooperation among cooperatives; and concern for community.

“Verendrye Electric Cooperative was started by people in 1939 who did not have electricity because investor-owned utilities could not make a pro� t doing it,” said Member Services Manager Tom Ra� erty. “� e cooperative model has served our members well, because it puts the

needs of people over pro� ts, and that’s something to celebrate.”

Verendrye Electric Cooperative is one of 16 distribution cooperatives serving 250,000 North Dakotans. � ese cooperatives are governed by local, consumer boards of directors. Electric cooperatives account for more than 50 percent of all retail electric sales in North Dakota.

Electric cooperatives are locally owned businesses with the advantage of belonging to a nationwide alliance that helps deliver the latest technology and state-of-the-art electric service to commercial, industrial and residential customers. More than 740 Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives in 47 states are delivering energy and energy solutions to millions of customers nationwide.

Follow our website, www.verendrye.com and Facebook page for special co-op month events. n

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OCTOBER10-21

No purchase necessary. Must be 18 to register and a North Dakota resident. Prize registration will be open October 10-21, 2016. Drawing to be held the week of Monday, October 24, 2016. Official rules available at www.srt.com/coopchallenge. Prize includes four tickets to a UND Fighting Hawks Hockey game on Saturday, December 10, 2016 and a $1000 Visa gift card. One entry per person. Winner is responsible for any and all applicable taxes. Drawing is not open to SRT, Town & Country Credit Union or Verendrye Electric employees or their immediate family members.

CO-OPS DO IT DIFFERENTLY!Member Owned. Community Focused.Local Service.

UND Hockey Prize Package Includes:4 tickets for game on Saturday, December 10, 2016 UND Fighting Hawks vs. Western Michigan University

$1000 Visa® Gift Card

2016Co-OpChallenge

Get in the drawingby completing the

Co-op Quiz atwww.srt.com/coopchallenge

WIN4 TICKETS TO A

UND HOCKEY GAME AND A

$1000 VISA®

GIFT CARD!

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BOARD PRESIDENTBlaine Bruner

MANAGERRandy Hauck

EDITORTom Rafferty

VERENDRYE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVEVelva, ND 58790

Velva: 701-338-2855 Minot: 701- 852-0406Toll-Free: 800-472-2141 Website: www.verendrye.com Email: rec@verendrye.com

Verendrye Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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