Blue Ridge Mountain EMC 'in good shape'
By JOAN CROTHERS Towns Sentinel Editor

Manager Joe Satterfield (left) presented three $100 grand prizes to New Union Baptist Church, represented by Stacey Holcomb; Ray C. Rowe of Hiawassee; and Jean G. Shuman of Hayesville.

So many events going on at the same time in this area have reduced the number of members of Blue Ridge Mountain EMC that have attended the past few annual meetings. Since it is a business meeting a quorum is needed, so this year they sent out ballots through the mail. In his welcome address, General Manager Joe Satterfield said he was pleased with the response of over 7900 ballots being returned. Physically registering at the meeting were over 360 members.

Satterfield has been General Manager for 24 years, and proudly announced that there have been 1,700 new members this past year added to 47,628 members, with 200 employees and 5,500 miles of power lines.

They have made major improvements to the Hayesville substation and completed a new line to the generating plant at Chatuge Dam. He said they will soon be increasing office space in Young Harris and working on the substation in Towns County.

"Our company is in good shape," continued Satterfield, "and in addition to our other service programs- internet service, water heater and surge protection- we offer a fiber optics program with Balsam West. This gives you power faster after an outage and savings on long distance calls."

All three members nominated for Board of Directors succeeded themselves for a three-year term: Kenneth Lance- Cherokee County NC; Ronnie Burch- Clay County NC; and Jack Lance- Union County GA. The only comment from the membership present was from Jim Turner of Hiawassee, "This is the best coop in the state of Georgia. Good leadership makes good employees. And they are all doing a d...n good job!"

Motivational Humorist Dr. Charles Perry was the entertainer on the program and kept everyone laughing throughout his talk. Then 2007 Little Miss Recreation Jamison Wood helped Sonny Mahan, Director of Member Services, draw names for the many electrical prizes lining the stage as well as the three $100 bill winners.