EMC linemen return from Costa Rica

"It was a great honor to go to a remote Costa Rican village and be able to help the people of San Bosco. Each day the people watched from their homes and driveways, knowing soon they would have electricity for the first time," said Patrick Long, Coweta-Fayette EMC maintenance crew chief.

Helping build power lines in another country is just a dream for most linemen, but Patrick Long and David Tillery of Coweta-Fayette, along with four other Georgia linemen, were given the chance to make it a reality.

"The work was different from what we are accustomed to so we had to learn some of their ways as well as teach them ours," said construction crew chief David Tillery.

The group of linemen was there for two weeks helping construct a line without modern conveniences like bucket trucks. They endured long days climbing poles and physically pulling lines from one pole to the next in an area where rain fell every day and insects were abundant. At the end of the day they returned to a room with no hot water and a thin foam mattress bed.

The six Georgia linemen worked alongside six Costa Rican linemen from Coopelesca cooperative in Cuidad Quesda. Even though their linemen spoke very little English, they could all communicate using "line" talk. According to Long it didn't matter what language they spoke, the goal was the same and that was to build lines, hook the service to the homes and finish the job.

"It was an experience I will never forget,” said Tillery. “The people were extremely friendly and it was a beautiful country. We were always welcome every where we went. The women would make us fresh squeezed juice (Refresca) and sweet bread (Arapa) while we worked on the line showing their heartfelt appreciation."

The trip and construction cost was made possible by "Take Aim At Progress," a program that began several years ago with EMC employees and venders from all over the state competing in a clay sporting shoot. Money made from the event was set aside to help bring electricity to the rural areas of Costa Rica that have never seen a light bulb or had a refrigerator for food and medicine. With electricity, they can now begin to improve themselves and start new businesses.

Because of this project, Coweta-Fayette inaugurated a formal sister electric cooperative relationship with a neighboring cooperative, Coopeguanacaste. Through this relationship, the EMC is sharing technical assistance and knowledge that will benefit them both.

"We are proud that our linemen take advantage of opportunities like this," said Michael Whiteside, president and CEO of the EMC. "It's a learning experience that will help them the rest of their lives."

Coweta-Fayette EMC is a consumer owned cooperative providing electricity and related services to 62,000 consumers in Fayette, Coweta, Heard, South Fulton, Meriwether, Clayton, Spalding and Troop counties.


		Friday, Apr. 1, 2005