Wednesday, August 22, 2001

EMC volunteers help restore power in Dominican Republic

While Americans suffer from brownouts in California and fear the possibility of paying top dollar for electricity in the future, there are cities where residents have never feared losing power. They've never had it to lose.

That fact hit Coweta-Fayette EMC employees Bobby Smith and Donnie Shelnutt hard enough for them to volunteer to spend two weeks in the Dominican Republic in order to rectify the situation for a tiny village.

"We've participated in the International Foundation for several years," says EMC President and CEO Michael C. Whiteside, referring to a program of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association through which global participation aids countries in need of assistance.

"Last year, we hosted a group of Armenians who were going through privatization of the electric utility industry in the Soviet Bloc. We feel a sense of responsibility to share with others," he says.

Launched in 1962 ­ in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the NRECA's International Foundation works with the private sector, the departments of Energy and Agriculture and other organizations to provide technical advice and electrification assistance in developing countries around the world.

To date, the NRECA has sent more than 500 American electric co-op specialists to 65 nations in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Coweta-Fayette EMC lineman Shelnutt and crew chief Smith volunteered to participate in this year's mission to the Dominican Republic after hearing of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Georges in September 1998; the total estimated damage to the electric system alone was in excess of $300 million.

The tiny village of Jobitos had been promised power for three decades, according to the town's mayor. Ironically, it was scheduled for the lines to be connected in 1998; the hurricane only made it seem more impossible that they would ever receive it.

"When we hooked the first house up," remembers Smith, "the whole family was in awe. For the first time ever, they had light bulbs inside their dirt-floored residence. They weren't the only ones in awe, though. Donnie and I thought it was awesome to be able to bring it to them!"

Coming from such a modern and technologically advanced society as that of the United States, the pair say they were amazed at the living conditions that pervade the countryside of the Dominican Republic. Sanitation isn't among the most important of issues for townspeople, and trash lines most roads and trails. "The main mode of transportation is by burro, although many of the locals do have motor scooters; we saw one with two adults and three children on it," offers Smith.

Although some of the residents go to nearby villages to work, most work in the thousands of acres of sugar cane that line the single road into Jobitos. Others milk cows, setting large urns of milk by the roadside to be picked up later in the day by trucks coming through town.

The linemen are quick to say that the scenery surrounding the town, including a river that runs into the ocean nearby, is beautiful. Lush vegetation lines the banks of the river, and clear, blue pools of water invite swimming before it empties into the sea. Colorful fishing boats dot the pristine beaches along the waterfront.

Encouraged to take along plenty of insecticide and extra clothing to protect from both heat and insects, the group of six EMC employees from the U.S. (the third group there) were hosted by locals; the NRECA had made arrangements for the group to stay in one of the more modern cottages (still without air conditioning) and assigned a local woman to cook during their stay. Fresh seafood, goats and pigs were ordinary fare, and hung from hooks on the exteriors of local markets. U.S. team was there was a day care center in Jobitos. To celebrate the opening of the center, the U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Janet Jacobs, visited for an open house and cookout. Locals said it was her first visit to the berg.

"Coweta-Fayette EMC is extremely proud to have men of this caliber for linemen," commented Whiteside on their return. "It was just this spirit of cooperation that allowed the creation of electric membership cooperatives, bringing electricity to rural areas. I know that they've been blessed by the experience, and that the town of Jobitos is better for it."

Smith and Shelnutt offered heartfelt appreciation for a company that would not only allow them to participate in such an important trip, but also support the efforts fully. "We know how fortunate we are to live in America and to work at the EMC," said Smith.

Whiteside also expressed his appreciation for the planning and coordination endeavors of the NRECA, without whom the trip would not have been possible. "We think 'cooperative' is the perfect term to define our organizations.

"Without cooperation, little progress can be accomplished in any country, any language or any corporation," he concluded.

Coweta-Fayette EMC provides electric power to members in Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Meriwether and parts of South Fulton, Clayton and Spalding counties. Recently, the EMC introduced a subsidiary, Relyco, to offer and manage a wide variety of services that are available to both members and non-members, including home security and monitoring, pagers, installation of BOSE sound equipment and a surge and lightning damage protection program.

For more information about the EMC or any of the Relyco products and services, phone 770-502-0226 or visit www.utility.org.

"We pulled three miles of line," explains Smith. "The poles had been contracted before we got there, and apparently the locals had dug the holes by hand. They were willing to do whatever it took to get it, I guess."

While there's a pharmacy approximately two miles from Jobitos, no hospital is available locally. Among the first buildings to receive power while the

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