Tag: UCEMC

Christmas Truce in ” No Man’s Land”

Written by UCEMC Communications on December 10, 2019. Posted in UCEMC News.

During the first year of World War 1, the Great War raged on the Western Front. On a specific strip of land – not more than 100 feet wide in places – were trenches where soldiers were engaged in battle. The British, Belgian, and French were on one side and the Germans on the other.

On Christmas Eve 1914, both sides put down their rifles. Pope Benedict XV had called for a Christmas truce, but his efforts fell on deaf ears. Unlike today’s news coverage showing specific locations predicting the next military move, this event’s report came from oral accounts, daily journals, and letters written to families at home. It’s difficult to know exact details that started it all on that moonlit Christmas Eve but from a document in the New York Times, Graham Williams of the Fifth London Rifle Brigade described it in great detail:

“First, the Germans would sing one of their carols, and then we would sing one of ours, until when we started up ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful,’ the Germans immediately joined in singing the same hymn to the Latin words Adeste Fideles. And I thought, well, this is a most extraordinary thing – two nations both singing the same carol in the middle of a war.”

The next morning, German soldiers emerged from their trenches, calling out ‘Merry Christmas’ in English. Allied soldiers cautiously came out to greet them. German soldiers held up signs reading. “You no shoot, we no shoot.”

The troops exchanged gifts of cigarettes, food, buttons, and hats. Both buried their dead in this narrow strip called “no man’s land.” The truce was not universal. In other places, the firing continued.

While there were occasional times of peace throughout the rest of World War 1, none was on the scale of the Christmas Truce of 1914.

More than 100 years later, the Christmas truce is a testament to the power of hope and humanity in a dark hour of history, symbolizing a human desire for peace across the globe.

Respiratory Therapist Breathes Life Into Livingston Square

Written by UCEMC Communications on November 14, 2019. Posted in UCEMC News.

When Gene Gantt’s grandfather said to him in North Carolina, ‘go over the mountain and make something of yourself,’ he took the command to heart and followed the loving edict with determination. Grandad would be proud.

For Gantt, over the mountain, turned out to be Livingston, Tennessee. Making something of himself meant becoming a successful respiratory therapist, the owner of a medical equipment company, restaurateur, restoration pioneer, and preservationist. And those are just a few of the interests on this busy man’s list. But when you ask him how his career made the transition from respiratory to restaurant, he’s the first to tell you. He has no idea.

From Iron Lung to Iron Skillet

Gantt purchased the historic building for the 1806 General Store on the Livingston square because – like any savvy entrepreneur – he saw a need and filled it. Gantt already owns several buildings here. The front window of his respiratory consulting business houses one of only 32 Iron Lungs in the country. This one was made famous by tourists who take selfies with the rare collector’s item.

[widgetkit id=”22″ name=”Before and After – Livingston”]

Perhaps it’s providence that the man who has spent his life helping people breathe is breathing new life into the town square.

The idea for a restaurant on the square came from the most basic of needs. Gantt was thirsty.

“One day, my wife Donna and I were looking for aspirin and a Coca-Cola when we were walking around the square. We couldn’t find a single place that had either,” Gantt recalls, as he sits at a table of 1806 following a particularly busy lunch hour. “That’s when we decided to do something different. We decided to put in a General Store and make it nostalgic. We got into the restaurant business at that moment. We opened last August and haven’t looked back.”

Who are Gumby and Pokey?

Entering the 1806 General Store is stepping into a time machine. Hearing your footsteps on the old floorboards, popping your pennies in the gumball machines, and shopping the selection of vintage toys will take you back. The toys lining the original old shelves of the store are from the Baby Boomer generation, and earlier. If you were born after 1985, these games seem foreign. To those of us who spent recess with these classics, they’re like old friends: Pic-Up-Stix, Slinky, Wooly Willy, and Mr. Potato Head. Gumby and Pokey. Maybe it didn’t take that much to entertain us back in the day, but we loved these toys.

Just Playin’

After lunch, how about a game of Jacks? The staff at the 1806 General Store can show you how to play. Gantt and his team have planned the entire store for a complete family adventure and learning experience.

“We’ve had fun ordering the old toys on the shelves upfront. Every day I come in there is something new. The toys have become quite a tourist attraction,” Gantt says. “It was surprising to me that we’ve had youngsters to pick up a bottle opener and not know what it was. We had to teach them how it was used ‘back in the day’ before there were screw-tops.”

Confections, nuts, and other goodies are for sale by the bags full and are displayed in vintage, revolving candy jars. Loaves of bread, fresh from the bakery, line the shelves. It’s the food shopping experience our grandparents enjoyed.

Dining in 1806 is the main event, and the restaurant offers a full menu with a salad bar, soups, and sandwiches. One of the most popular items is a staple at any general store; the bologna and cheese sandwich. All of the menu items can be served up quickly, followed by homemade pies, cakes, and cookies. The Coca-Colas are those little ones, and they’re ice-cold. And, yes, you must use a bottle opener. They’ll show you how it’s done.

The Kennedy and Lincoln Dining Halls

Large groups and club meetings have room to spread out in spacious back dining halls. Gantt is bringing some of his favorite historical collections from home for history buffs for this private section of the hyper-local museum. These rooms will be opened and ready to receive family gatherings in the next few weeks. All the while, Gantt never stops dreaming of another project.

“Our next step: we have two rooms in the back. One is being converted into the Lincoln Room dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, our nation’s 16^th president,” Gantt tells of his plans as he walks down the corridor. “Here, we’ll have memorabilia, photos, civil war mementos, letters, and things of that nature. The other room is dedicated to John F. Kennedy. It’ll have more of a 60s vibe and reflects the history of his presidency. It’s a dream of mine, and it’s certainly a fulfillment of my wife’s dream to get a lot of these collections out of our house,” Gantt says with a laugh. “We’re eager to get it here where it can be displayed and enjoyed by the public.”

Stress-Free Holidays

“We’re seeing a lot of new businesses opening,” Gantt adds. If you don’t have a lot of time, you can come to the square, park stress-free, get a baby gift, a Christmas gift, and now, you can have lunch. There is so much going on. Christmas in the Country is coming up, and we’re currently looking at having reservation-only candlelight dinners for couples around Valentine’s Day.”

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS:

Christmas in the Country on the Livingston Square

November 29, December 6, and December 13th.

Hours: 5p-8p.

Food, carriage rides, and kids can visit with Santa!

Coach Jim Brown Inducted Into the TSSAA Hall Of Fame

Written by UCEMC Communications on October 30, 2019. Posted in UCEMC News.

Coach Jim Brown has served as Head Girls’ Basketball Coach at Jackson County High School for 30 successful years with 627 career wins. He coached five Miss Basketball winners and led the teams to 14 District Championships, nine Region Championships, and 13 State Tournament appearances. Coach Brown’s teams were State runners-up four times, and they brought home the TSSAA State Championship trophy seven times. His name is now in the TSSAA Hall of Fame.

In 2019, Coach Brown had just been inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee Hall of Fame when we caught up with this busy teacher to learn more about the man, his leadership strategy, and his secret to coaching one winning team after another:

Of all the teachers and coaches you had as a youngster, who do you think would be the proudest of your accomplishments? Do you think anyone is surprised at your achievements?

My Mom was my high school Algebra teacher and served as my assistant coach for the first 22 years of my career. So, she would be most proud. Kevin Bray was my middle school and high school coach, and he was a significant influence on my becoming a basketball coach. Coach Bray was a mentor and has become one of my best friends over the years. So, I think he would be pretty proud of me as well. I really can’t think of anyone who would be surprised. I always loved basketball growing up, and I did pretty well.

What do you think is the key to getting a young person to “hear” you? How do you earn their respect?

Coaching is teaching. It is easy to see the areas in which a young person needs to improve. The hard part is finding a way to get them to understand that – create or find a drill to teach them what you want them to know. You also have to be honest with them, and they can see through any deception. Show them respect yourself and demand their respect in return. Young people will give you what you require of them.

When you first started, did you look back at some of your former teachers and coaches for some “Dos & Don’ts,” or did you want to make your path?

There is a big difference between being able to play a game and coaching or teaching a sport. I realized that early in my career. I was blessed to be in the presence of many successful coaches throughout my career. I was like a sponge trying to soak up what they knew. I watched, and I listened to them. I asked many questions. Then, I took what I learned and applied it to my coaching style.

Does a child come to mind – who didn’t have confidence – a child you took under your wing and showed that they could change their lives with this game?

I had a sophomore one season which was a fantastic athlete, but I struggled to get her to become a solid defender. I knew she was physically capable of guarding anyone’s best player, but I couldn’t find a way to get her to put forth the effort. The Tennessean called me one day at the start of that season, and they were putting together a list of the best defenders in the mid-state. I gave them her name even though I didn’t believe she truly belonged at the time. She made the list of the top ten defensive players in the mid-state. From that point on, she identified herself as a great defender and guarded our opponent’s best player for the next three seasons. She was also an excellent offensive player, but her role as our best on-ball defender was critical to our success during those three years.

You’ve seen generations of students come and go. How have your athletes used the lessons they learned on the court to enrich their adult lives?

I have had former players go into just about every career imaginable. Many of them have become very successful. The most enjoyable part for me was seeing the many great Moms they have become. It’s also pretty comical to hear them tell “Coach Brown” stories and quotes. I have forgotten so many things over the years, but they can remember exact instances.

Will the butterflies EVER go away before a game? Have you ever gone into a match confident that your team would walk away with a win?

The butterflies are still there for the big games. The butterflies come from hoping that I prepared my team for everything they would encounter during the game. If they see something they weren’t ready for, I feel like it’s my fault. I don’t think I have ever felt entirely confident unless we were playing someone that we just totally overmatched. If an opponent’s best game can beat your worst game, you are always concerned as a coach.

Thoughts for any young man or woman out there about becoming a coach?

Young coaches need to understand that coaching is teaching. If you expect your players to know something, you need to explain it to them. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know” or “it was my fault.” No one knows everything, including coaches. Also, don’t be afraid to scrap something you think is good if it is not working for that particular team. I have always thought one of the most fun and most challenging aspects of coaching is trying to figure out what the best answer is for each group. No two teams are the same.

As Superintendent of Schools, your wife is also extremely busy with her career. Add to that your role as a UCEMC board member. Do you two ever have time to relax? What’s your ideal getaway as a couple?

We have two children, so we take advantage of the school breaks for family vacations. We try to stay away from work, but we still have to solve some problems over the phone or computer. My wife and I take occasional weekend trips. We like to go to concerts and shows together, but we don’t like being away from our kids very long.

Name your top three bucket list items:

Visit Europe, Australia, and Machu Picchu in Peru.

If you could be in any other “Hall of Fame,”?

The Husband-Father-Son-Brother Hall of Fame, if one existed. I try to be the best for my family. But on a fun note, the Motion Picture Hall of Fame as a Producer or Director. I’ve always thought making movies would be fun!

Congratulations to Coach Jim Brown! Here’s to another winning season and another honor for a terrific coach.

UCEMC Member Spotlight: A Smashing Success

Written by UCEMC Communications on October 1, 2019. Posted in UCEMC News.

Upper Cumberland Visionary Cleans Up-Never Gives Up

Like many young boys full of vitality and big ideas back in 1989, Steve Cooper’s quest for extra money began with recycling aluminum cans. Lots of them. He collected bags full and crushed them one-by-one with his foot until he had a truckload. That was fun. Until it wasn’t. But once he learned he could sell his flattened aluminum bounty for more than he could make by flipping burgers, he was hooked.

He read that recycling one aluminum can could save the amount of energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for more than twenty-four hours. Recycling centers were paying good money per can upon delivery. That was huge for the planet and his future. That was the wave Steve wanted to ride.

He talked his new father-in-law into helping him. They bought a two-ton truck; collected cans all day and crushed them under the truck tires at night, hauling their compact cargo to Knoxville by the weekend and re-investing their $400-a-week profit in the business as they went along. Yes. Business. They decided they would create a business out of this. It worked.

The Cooper Recycling claw at work. “What we were getting for our work was far better than minimum wage back then,” Steve recalls, now sitting in the executive office at one of his busy Upper Cumberland area recycling/shredding locations. He points out the window to a massive claw on the end of a crane. We watch as the claw reaches down to grab a mouthful of rusty conduit, plops the tangled web on a conveyor belt and sends the mess to its gritty demise. That was quick. Done and done.

Getting rid of stuff nobody wants has built quite an empire for Steve. But he had to want it. Steve wanted it badly enough to go after it.

“We would try to get 3,000 pounds of cans a week at least – however, we could get them – going way out in the country and picking up loads of cans if people had collected large quantities.”

Each trip to the scrapyard was a chance for Steve to think about his future.

“I would watch what they did with the large scrap metal; the automobiles, the appliances, the huge metal reinforcement beams from buildings, and I would envision myself doing that kind of recycling someday too!”

Steve worked his aluminum can-plan and then considered what the future might bring.

“We saved our money and re-invested until we got a down payment and moved into a bigger area on Airport Road that could handle the bigger scrap metal and the machines to shred it,” Steve says. “This is where Upper Cumberland Electric helped us tremendously. We had to have three-phase electricity to recycle big pieces, and I contacted UCEMC to make sure we had the right voltage coming in to take care of the load and, if we grew quickly, I had to find out how easy it would be to make those transitions.”

Steve and his father-in-law now had a business called Cooper Recycling. They invested in car crushers, signed up industrial accounts and paid a quarter of a million dollars for a portable bailer which they took to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. There, they processed thousands of tons of scrap metal; appliances, cars, mobile homes, and hauled it to landfills in that area.

To stay ahead of the competitive curve, Steve embraced solid partnerships early in his career.

“When we started getting our data together with UCEMC in 2008 about electricity for the shredder here in Monroe, I asked if we could hook up to the line behind us and UCEMC told us, ‘Well, it will put the lights out in Byrdstown, Steve, we can’t do that, but we have this new substation coming on, and it’ll be ready about the time that you are in 2009’, and, it was ready. Right on time. A success for UCEMC and a victory for me. I would have had to go to natural gas or diesel if not for that, and I would not have have been as efficient as I am now. UCEMC has been a great partner for us!”

Steve quickly turned recycling in this area into big business, but he’s never forgotten his humble beginnings. The photo of the driveway where he stomped his first soda can is framed and hanging near his office. He’s always thinking about what’s next in the industry; he’ll tell you all about a machine in the works that will someday sort plastic into different grades; which, if developed, might solve one of the most complicated recycling challenges in recent history.

He’s bursting with energy, and you get the impression that he’s ready at a moment’s notice to pull out a pen and paper and jot down ideas or show you around the sprawling facility where the business is always, well, boom-boom-booming.

Today, he wears a big, almost permanent, smile. And why not? He’s doing what all boys love to do; tearing down “stuff” and turning big piles into little piles.

Moms out there know what we mean.

The bright, young boy who once spent afternoons crushing 7Up cans under his feet, is now a happy, successful, businessman who can turn a school bus – into a tiny piece of metal the size of a cell phone – in a minute and a half.

Simply. Smashing.

Our Hometown Astronaut

Written by UCEMC Communications on August 30, 2019. Posted in UCEMC News.

The Millard Oakley Library may promote itself to Livingston as “Your Window to the World,” but no one in the state can say they’ve seen the world from the window quite like Mike McCulley. McCulley was the guest speaker at the Oakley library recently. Many in the audience – now grandparents – were only children when the Livingston Academy graduate piloted the Atlantis Space Shuttle in October 1989 and secured his standing as Livingston’s “Hometown Astronaut.”

Coming home and signing autographs – a heady experience for others – is like old home week for the pragmatic McCulley. The first thing he sees upon driving within the city limits is his face on a Welcome to Livingston billboard, but he takes it all in stride. “Meeting with these nice people and talking about their interest in science and space never gets old for me,” says McCulley, who is now retired and living in Florida with his wife, Jane. “I owe so much to my hometown, and I enjoy coming back here for a visit. They ask about the future of space exploration and my fantastic experiences back in the day. I like talking with Overton County’s people and the important role they played in my success. I look forward to hearing the questions; I find any questions from children always interesting.”

Michael James McCulley was born in San Diego, California in 1943, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gilson H. McCulley. His father died in an auto accident when Mike was only nine. That’s when his mother, Sarah, moved back to her hometown of Livingston with Mike and his sister Phyllis. Livingston became their new home. McCulley remembers those who influenced him during that time: his mom, his Scout leader Mr. Lowell, and his teachers Arleigh Poston and Lucille Hyder.

Upon graduation from high school, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Navy, entered Purdue University, and received his Naval Officers commission and both degrees. Following flight training, he served tours of duty in A-4 and A-6 aircraft and was selected to attend the Empire Test Pilots School in Great Britain. He returned to sea duty on the USS Saratoga and USS Nimitz.

Selected by NASA in May 1984, McCulley completed a one-year training and evaluation program in June 1985, qualifying him as a pilot on future Space Shuttle flight crews. Mike joined the team of the STS-34. The mission featured the deployment of the Galileo spacecraft to Jupiter.

Upper Cumberland Electric always felt a special connection with the shuttle launch because McCully took along with him, the July 1989 edition of our Current Lines newsletter. McCulley also took with him flags from other states, schools and organizations, jewelry and souvenirs for friends, family, and loved ones.

You would think breathing this rarified air would whet an appetite for travel that was out of this world. Not for a grounded and well-rounded tourist like McCulley.

“Oh, I still have an “itch” for exploration,” McCulley admits, “but it’s all about parts of America that I still haven’t seen. As far as the space program is concerned, I want to see us continue to explore and colonize space. I want us to have a human presence away from earth in the future.”

McCulley’s advice for future voyagers in the area? “Don’t be afraid to try once, twice, or even more to reach your goals. Keep up your curiosity, your optimism, work hard. Don’t be afraid to try once, twice, three times. I was selected as an astronaut on my third try! Never give up.”

There must be something about Overton County and its educational system that has generations of youngsters reaching for the stars and making their mark early in life. NASA Scientist Duvone Dale was born and raised in Livingston. NASA honored Dale for his faithful service and his contribution to the moon landing and the successful launch of the first Saturn V Rocket. The Project Manager of the Hubble Space Telescope Jimmy Carlock also hailed from Overton County as did teacher and Coach Sam Brooks.

Whatever the reason this area continues to present these exemplary citizens to the world, McCulley shares with his fellow Upper Cumberland adventurers this common thread: A spirit of discovery and a desire to seek answers that just won’t be denied. UCEMC salutes our brilliant explorers!

Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors

Written by UCEMC Communications on August 29, 2019. Posted in UCEMC News.

On August 23 and 24, 2019, UCEMC members went to the polls at the four UCEMC district offices to vote for directors seeking re-election for their seats in districts one, three, and four.

In District 1, consisting of Smith, DeKalb, Wilson and Macon counties, incumbent Board Member C.D. (Digger) Poindexter was the only candidate running opposed in the election. Poindexter defeated Smith County realtor Robin Underwood for that District 1 post.

James W. West retained his seat representing Overton, Clay, Fentress, and Pickett in District 3, while Jim Brown, the incumbent assistant Secretary/Treasurer was also re-elected and will continue to serve on the board representing District 4, Jackson County.

Scam Alert

Written by UCEMC Communications on August 22, 2019. Posted in UCEMC News.

A UCEMC member in Livingston knew better than to give his bank account information to someone posing as a “power company” customer service employee recently. Our super-alert member says the apparently not-so-bright crook called him on Wednesday, August 21, claiming to represent his “power company.”

“He said that I had been overcharged on my light bill and that they wanted to put the credit back into my bank account,” the member recalls, “I recognized it as a scam immediately and hung up the phone.”

The call originated in Collinsville, Illinois. If you receive similar scam calls regarding your electric bill, you are asked to report them to your local police department and UCEMC.

Hot-Hot-HOT! A Lineman’s No-Sweat Tips for Keeping Your Cool

Written by UCEMC Communications on August 15, 2019. Posted in UCEMC News.

With a heat index of more than 100 degrees these days, Josh Hammock of UCEMC’s district office in Cookeville suits up for safety in his lifesaving, but uncomfortable, rubber safety gear.

You have to wonder why weather forecasters feel the need to state the obvious in heat like this. They remind us to stay out of the sun, wear light clothing, drink plenty of fluids, and take frequent breaks if we “must be outdoors in this heat.” When hot, humid ‘air you can wear’ hits you in the face the minute you step outside, it’s a no-brainer; run back inside, sit in front of a fan and drink ice water. But if your job requires you to be outdoors when it’s 100 plus degrees, you have no choice. You become an expert on staying comfortable and safe because your life depends on it.

Not that it gets any more comfortable with experience. Our UCEMC linemen ride in buckets to get up-up-up to where the heat is unbearable. They’re wearing fire-retardant (FR) protective, long-sleeved clothing with thick rubber gloves and sleeve coverings, and unventilated hard hats. This required personal protective equipment (PPE) causes them to drip with sweat as they work with electricity.

Linemen are working in rubber sleeves in this extreme heat. The sweat is pooling in the fingertips of their gloves. On a hot August day, safety gear morphs into a necessary evil. It wasn’t that long ago when the fire retardant gear felt like a burlap sack. Today, the gear is more comfortable, but it’s still unforgiving in the Tennessee heat. Unfortunately, if the fabric is breathable, it isn’t fire retardant.”

In many cases, UCEMC linemen can’t choose what time of day they’ll be at the top of that pole. An outage might determine that for them, but whenever there is extreme heat, and complicated energized work is involved, UCEMC makes every effort to allow our crews to work an altered schedule and begin earlier to avoid the most extreme heat during the day. The truck coolers are packed with ice, water, and plenty of low-sodium electrolyte drinks for each crew. Our linemen advise you to stay away from tea, coffee, or any beverage containing caffeine, which causes dehydration. Dress in light-colored, short-sleeved, cotton T-shirts just as they do (when they’re not working in the primary zone).

For these guys, staying cool during hot Tennessee days is simply a matter of common sense. Staying safe in this extreme heat comes with recognizing when they’re in the heat danger zone. They realize that when the focus is on the task, and they don’t sip water or take a break in the shade, their body might remind them by displaying some unpleasant symptoms:

Heat Cramps – When you’re dehydrated from pouring sweat and not replenishing all that water loss, you’ll experience muscle spasms. Remedy: Move to a shady spot, preferably under a tree. Trees release water into the air. Sitting in the shade of a tree can make the temperature feel 10-15 degrees cooler. Drink cold water to lower the body temperature or a sports drink – preferably a lower sodium variety that contains electrolytes. Apply a cold, wet cloth to the back of your neck and forehead.

Heat Exhaustion – When those heat cramps are accompanied by dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache, or fainting, you’ve reached the danger zone. Remedy: Remove any protective clothing, i.e., vests, gloves, hats, long sleeves. Rest and allow your body to cool-down; below 100 degrees. Seek emergency medical help if these steps don’t relieve your symptoms.

Heatstroke – Emergency medical attention is vital, and symptoms of this potentially fatal condition can mimic any stroke: Victims may be confused or disoriented. They may have slurred speech. They either have hot, dry skin or they’re pouring sweat with a body temperature climbing as high as 104 degrees. They might suffer seizures or convulsions. Remedy: Call 911. Move the person to the shade. Apply cold compresses and pour water on the victim’s clothing, putting them near a fan if possible. Do not give the heatstroke victim anything to drink as it could cause a choking hazard. Keep the victim calm and relaxed until EMTs arrive.

No-Sweat tips for keeping your cool at home

Even if you’re not out in the glaring sun, the risk of overheating is still there – especially for the elderly and our pets.

Moving the air around in your home doesn’t lower the temperature, but it can make your body feel more relaxed when you sit near a fan. Remember that ceiling fans only cool the people in the room – not the room itself. Turn the fan off when you leave to save energy. If you have a heat pump, turn the unit to the FAN setting. The air will circulate throughout the house and help you to feel more refreshed.

Throwing shade

If you need more cool-air circulation and you don’t have an air conditioner, close the windows, curtains or blinds on the sunny side of the house and open the windows on the shady side. As the sun moves during the day, follow the shade – closing the bright windows and blinds and opening the now shady windows. Placing window fans in the shadiest window of the home will get a cool breeze blowing through in no time.

Stopping the thermo-games

Mom likes to set the thermostat at 71 in the summer. Dad prefers the setting for Nome, Alaska. It’s a constant battle and one that can cause a bigger ruckus when the resulting higher electric bill arrives. If you have an air conditioner or HVAC, don’t play with the thermostat. Agree on a reasonable, comfortable temperature, set the thermostat, and don’t change it. When the thermostat setting is continuously altered, everything within the house becomes either cooler or warmer than before. This see-saw thermostat game causes the cooling system to operate much longer, and the entire home and contents must acclimate to the new temperature.

The salad days

Eat fresh meals. Tuna or egg salad. Crisp lettuce with chopped veggies. Iceberg lettuce wedges. Fruit and cheese platters. You don’t have to fire up the stove. We’re getting cooler – and hungry – just thinking about it.

Chill out and deal

We have no control over the weather here in the Upper Cumberland, but we can adjust the way we live with it. Plan ahead! Slather on sunscreen and schedule work around the coolest part of the day, keeping an eye on the elderly, children, and pets to help them cope with these final, scorching dog days of summer!

UCEMC Member Spotlight: Amberlee Taylor has a keen eye for detail at Camp Discovery

Written by UCEMC Communications on August 13, 2019. Posted in UCEMC News.

Amberlee

If Amberlee Taylor had her way, the words to the song Dance Like Nobody’s Watching would be changed to Work Like Everyone’s Watching; a theme that not only describes her work ethic but her philosophy of life.

It was Taylor’s attention to detail during a local Jaycees volunteer clean-up day at the non-profit Camp Discovery that got her people-friendly management style noticed. She was offered a full-time “position” on the spot and four years into her adventure as a volunteer Director of Operations at the 186-acre facility, she’s still a stickler for putting extra effort into everything she does.

We caught up with Taylor during a rare break from working the phones and supervising crews.

Tell us more about being “discovered” at Camp Discovery and how it led to this opportunity?

“Like many people, I only saw the Camp Discovery signs along the highways in Gainesboro and didn’t really know what it was. I was already volunteering with the local Jaycees when I was introduced to the facility to supervise volunteer cleanup crews after camp and conferences. One day, the vice president contacted me out-of-the-blue and it was a complete shock because there was no formal open position at the time. The VP said he watched closely as I was working with the Jaycee volunteers. He said he saw me make a disgusted face when I was watching someone changing trash bags in a large bin. He observed a young woman as she shoved a new bag into the dirty bin, but he said that he was impressed that I stopped her and accompanied her outside to first give the bin a good scouring. He said that he knew I would pay attention to details that others overlook and that I obviously was not afraid of stepping up and directing others. I guess it goes to show that you never know who is watching and that great opportunities may come from putting extra effort into anything you do; whether you really want to so the task or not.”

Is Gainesboro your hometown? What kind of work did you do before landing this position?

“Gainesboro is my home now, but I’m from everywhere: North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Ohio, Florida, and The Bahamas. You can say that I was a wanderer and I’ve done a little bit of everything; from world champion horse breeder, construction, estate planning, nanny, college advisor, rancher, bio-chemical industry assistant and ecology adventurer. I’ve traveled so much in my life and I’ve even managed to do a lot of home and pet-sitting for many families along the way.”

We’re referring to you as the Director of Operations – is that your official title?

“My title? Now that’s a question with multiple answers! What do you call a person who has to know just about everything related to on-site maintenance: I have to know about landscaping, managing equipment and knowing who does which repairs, managing contractors for building upkeep, overseeing pool cleaning, volunteer and project management, and I host rental and camper showings to potential clients. So far, I’ve been called: On-site Manager, Chief/Director of Operations, Estate Manager, and on a good day, the Make-It-Happen Gal. Take your pick. I go by any title.”

Is this the kind of position you imagined for yourself as a child?

“This was a totally pleasant surprise! Out of college, I started in ecology travel and that worked into back-country horsemanship, and then I opened and operated a horse ranch in New Zealand. Life then tossed me a curveball and I focused on less physically taxing positions to keep me busy like Criminal Justice and Homeland Security. After another curveball, I ended up here. I’m surprised and delighted that my education and variety of positions I’ve held in the past have led me to this point.”

Describe the average summer workday at the camp:

“The camp is buzzing with campers, renters, and hundreds of volunteer groups during the summer and that certainly keeps us moving around here. The schedule is engrained in me after so long. Here goes:

4:30-6a – Paperwork. Loads of it.

6-7:30a – Overseeing pool maintenance and making sure that the crew has the water chemically balanced and ready for the busy day.

8-10a – Back in the office working the phones to contact repair people if any are needed, getting estimates on repairs and new project costs, returning calls from prospective renters.

10-8p – Showing prospective renters and camp groups the property, answering any questions they might have, making sure that the various landscaping crews are where they need to be and doing what they need to be doing, pointing out any downed limbs that need to be removed in the mower’s path, managing deliveries and trying to fit a meal or two in there somewhere.

8-10p – Catch up on emails/make my list for callbacks for the next day/next day’s chore list for volunteers.

9:59p– Say my bedtime prayers that no major issues come up for us during the night.

10p – 4:30a – Getting a good night’s sleep if all goes as planned. If not, I’m on call to supervise any camp equipment/maintenance issues.

That’s a busy day! What’s your favorite part of this daily routine?

“The people – from renters to summer campers – you can explore a whole new world by meeting different people all in one place. From business professionals, newlyweds, religious groups, special-needs individuals to Wounded Warriors, Wildlife Resources officers, and law enforcement, there is a diverse group of people coming through our gates constantly and that is the one thing I enjoy most about being here. I would say the view from my hammock is another one of my favorite things, but the only time I really get to enjoy the view is when I’m showing it off to someone else! Watching the dogs chase the geese back into the water brings out the “fun kid” in me too.”

The task you least enjoy doing?

“Paperwork! I’m very good at it, but it takes so much time and I’m constantly thinking about how much fun I would have planning activities for the week if I had someone else doing the paperwork.”

This is quite a facility to manage! Does it seem overwhelming during the busy season?

“It is huge: There are 186 acres with eight rentable buildings, three camper cabins that hold thirty people each, the main lodge that has a full kitchen and living room; six bedrooms with two full-size beds in each, the nurses building with three bedrooms, a dining hall and a full-service kitchen, an attached pavilion with wood-burning fireplace, the lakeside pavilion, a private dock and boat ramp, and of course a pool and pool house. Mainly, we use the front half of the property which is 20-30 acres. The back half and wooded areas are hay fields and future development sites. I try to simply take one day at a time and have gratitude for the large groups of volunteers who are here to help us with anything that needs to be done.

How does your job change with the seasons?

“There are fewer landscaping issues and crews to deal with and the pool is shut down. That gives us more time to look closely at the high-priority maintenance issues. The last few years have meant road work and roofing. This coming winter and into the spring, we would like to address changing over the LED lighting on the inside and out, redoing porches, painting, and doing some ramp repair.”

Describe the setting at the camp and the wildlife. Is there anything you have to do pro-actively to prevent wildlife damage to the property?

“The wildlife is in abundance from small to large critters. We have plenty of deer roaming throughout the day and plenty of people to keep an eye on their safety. Raccoons are always peeping in the trash and our skunks have been known to wander around like they own the place. Black snakes are around as well; harmless helpers that chase away the rattlers and copperheads. We put out wildlife deterrents for snakes and skunks next to our buildings and main walkways. The most damage we get currently is from wood bees and Woodpeckers because we have solid wood cabins. Wood bee traps are hung and we have a specialist that we call once a year to keep them at bay. As for the Woodpeckers, we have to keep deterring them and filling up the holes they create which is a constant battle. Geese are another nuisance here because we’re on the water’s edge and have lovely mowed grass which is a buffet in their eyes. Their droppings can be a carrier of harmful bacteria that can make people sick, so we try to keep them off the property. I have two large, trained dogs that chase the geese back to the water, but then, you wake up the next morning and there they are, so it’s a constant struggle.”

This position looks like a lot of fun, but there is also a great deal of responsibility. Would you recommend this job to others who like to spend time outdoors?

“There definitely has to be a certain level of independence and willingness to learn or know multiple trades to do this job. If you don’t know a little about everything on the property, you could be at a disadvantage when it comes time to contact the right person to make the repairs. This job is not as easy as many people would think. Our hours are dependent on the weather, but the work goes on and on no matter what. You must be able to prioritize and delegate. It’s like being your own boss and if someone doesn’t pull their own weight or if they have a family emergency, you have to be ready to change your day and add their workload to your plate. Even though this facility is peaceful and fabulous, for those of us behind the scenes, it can be stressful. You have to know how to deal with this life of details and not bring work into your personal life. Any job can take over your life and you may not even realize it. Here, summers are the toughest because you are on call 24/7 for eight to nine weeks for camper summer sessions. Then, the offseason most weekends are booked for rentals and you must be on site for 48-72 hours to supervise. Most people are off enjoying their weekends while you have to work. Finding balance is crucial to surviving this way of life.”

What are some of the skills/strengths/abilities a person needs to do this job?

“It helps to be independent and self-motivated; skilled at time management and have flexibility and adaptability. A positive attitude and a strong work ethic are essential; organizational skills, problem-solving skills, the willingness to learn, and teaching skill sets come in handy. A focus on leadership and teamwork, communication skills (written and oral), and overall willingness to work even on the days you were supposed to have off, and, of course, attention to detail all come into play with this job. Even as an unpaid volunteer, you must think of it as a job. It’s something different every day and you have to be able to cope.

You have two very big dogs – are there any other pets who are enjoying their time with you when you’re in this fabulous setting?

Besides my dogs, I have a cat and six goldfish. My mom gifted me one of the goldfish when it outgrew her tank. It’s now about 10 inches long. JAWS needs to be moved to a Koi pond by next spring.

How do you relax after a harrowing day?

Relax? What’s that? The summers are taxing so, for me, it’s just mainly the routine of passing out and getting up and doing it all over again. When I do get the time to relax it’s usually when I take the dogs for a walk down by the water. Watching the Osprey cruise up and down the waterway to dive for their snack is awesome and very relaxing for me. I also love outdoor photography, mostly animals and landscape; and I get a beautiful view many mornings of the fog lifting and a Blue Heron hanging out at the bridge. If I’m lucky, he’ll let me get a close-up before he flies away.

Any landscaping tips you could offer us Do-It-Yourselfers who don’t have a manager to direct us?

“The most important tip I can give is to make sure you understand the long-term maintenance and upkeep of the project you have in mind. Flowers and plants are grand but you have to ensure water sources are close by if a plant can’t tolerate dry conditions. Find out if those plants need to be trimmed to help positive growth. Ask yourself if you’ll have the time to keep up with the upkeep. Pine straw is amazing at keeping weeds down and the straw is little or no maintenance versus wood chips. Trim your trees lower limbs up to tractor-height whether you push or ride to mow. Your trees need to be high enough so that if there are heavy rains the branches won’t sag with water weight and be in your way. Low branches are dangerous and even on a zero turn mower, the safety bar can snag on a branch and cause serious injury. Get a zero turn! These crews make it look so easy on these mowers. You just may start to enjoy mowing enough to mow your neighbor’s lawn too.”

What’s your secret to being happy wherever you’re planted?

“That is the ultimate question in life is it not? For me, it’s enjoying the moments that make me laugh, smile and simply warm my heart. Whether it’s something silly that makes me laugh at myself, or spending time with friends and family talking about old times. There is so much beauty and you have to do what you need to do to be happy. I think people worry too much about money and impressing others and forget to enjoy the experiences and connections with people and nature that surrounds them. I’m content in myself and my actions in life, and I’m the only one who can ensure that what I do (or don’t do) makes me happy.

Have you ever had an electrical problem that UCEMC was able to help with in your time of need?

“This has happened a few times mainly because we have a set of lovely Osprey that is determined to make a nest behind our dining hall on the power lines. We’ve had power issues if their stick nest crosses the wires just right. UCEMC helped us after a transformer blew at our lodge cabin and they have quickly replaced our light sensors when they’ve gone out. Any time we have issues they are quick to service us and get us back up and running at full throttle. I see them all the time doing random line checks looking for potential problems since we have so many trees. It’s comforting to know that UCEMC tries to stay a step ahead so that minor issues are resolved before they become a major/serious one.

How does an organization rent Camp Discovery off-season for a company meeting or retreat?

“They can find our booking information through our website: jayceecamp.org. If they would like to tour the facility, they can email booking@jayceecamp.org and we can set up a time to show them around. Children and adults with special needs and their caregivers take over during June and July for camp, but in the off-season, this facility is available to any group or organization that needs a quiet getaway for employees. Our motto is “Everyone Deserves a Chance to go to Camp,” and that’s true! You’ll feel like a kid again. It’s a perfect location for weekend weddings, youth, church and social group retreats, school and family reunions – the possibilities are endless. It is indeed, a little piece of heaven right here in the Upper Cumberland!”

A Hole in One and a Birdie

Written by UCEMC Communications on August 2, 2019. Posted in UCEMC News.

Staying ahead of wind, weather, and wildlife damage is no game for UCEMC crews in Gainesboro

Year round, UCEMC crews battle the elements to keep the power surging through the lines to more than 50,000 members. When we’re advised to stay safe in our homes and hunker down during a storm, Upper Cumberland’s linemen are working around the clock in high winds and driving rain to repair downed lines. But severe storms are just part of what Mother Nature can dish out to threaten the power supply; as our Gainesboro district office team knows all too well.

Gainesboro District Manager Chris Saling points to the break in a pole weakened by Woodpecker damage.The UCEMC Right-of-Way crews were trimming vegetation near the steep bank just off North Grundy in mid-July when they noticed a pole that appeared to be cracked and leaning – almost ready to snap in two! This compromised pole supports lines over Roaring River Crossing. If it should go down, more than 1,000 members would be dealing with an outage – and this time – it would have nothing to do with the weather.

“This damaged pole is up on a hillside, on a bluff, with a line span of about 900 feet going across the river,” Gainesboro District Office Manager Chris Saling explains. “At first, we thought perhaps the high winds whipping this vast expansion caused the pole to break, but when the ground dried and we were able to inspect it more closely, we learned exactly why this pole had been weakened.”

Several holes in one pole can mean trouble down the line for UCEMC. This time, the problem wasn’t caused by a storm. It was trouble on-the-wing: Woodpeckers. And just as Tennesseans love their corn on the cob in the summertime, these birds seem to “love them” some wooden power poles when they feel a little puckish.

“We’ve been filling up the holes on this pole as quickly as the Woodpeckers have made them, but these birds are relentless,” Chris says. “As soon as we filled one, they made another hole within a few inches of it on the other side. It’s like playing a bad game of Whack-A-Mole!”

Time was of the essence. Chris and his crew knew that the damaged pole could snap at any moment, sending power lines into the river below.

For now it seems, the final score is UCEMC- 1, Woodpeckers -0.“I was sweating it there for a couple of weeks as we waited for the rain to stop and allow us to get a truck up on that bluff. Once we were able to safely do that, we set a temporary support pole to prevent it from falling.”

There was only one permanent solution available to Chris and the crew; a 33 hundred pound solid steel pole which would challenge the most determined Woodpecker out there.

Setting that heavy pole, in solid rock, on a slick, red-clay bluff, was a daunting task, but once the rain stopped, the UCEMC crew had the new steel structure set and the wires on within a few days.

“We have a structure in place now that will be there for another 35-40 years even with the Woodpeckers giving it their best shot,” Chris says.

“We want to find these problems and take corrective action before they occur in the middle of the night, cause power outages, and are more costly and more difficult to repair.”

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