NORTH BALTIMORE, OHIO – March , 2015 – Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative has received numerous tributes to linemen who work on power lines but still seeks more – and one writer will win. Since it launched its Thank a Lineman campaign last month, the story has been reTweeted nationally and featured in the co-op’s national trade publication Electric Co-op Today at http://www.ect.coop/newsmakers/co-op-news-newsmakers/thank-a-lineman-program-launched/78900
President and CEO George Walton said, “We are pleased to be receiving emails from across the U.S., but we would like to see more local notes.”
He encourages co-op members, citizens, businesses, schools and organizations to write a short tribute to these first responders, who restore power outages in the most challenging of weather situations. Those interested may send an email to [email protected] until March 31, 2015. A panel of judges will decide the most moving tribute and the winner, who will be announced April 13, will receive an Apple iPad.
The co-op has received email praises for linemen from across Ohio and the nation – even from other linemen. Rob Weber of Guernsey Muskingum Electric Cooperative in New Concord, Ohio, writes, “Hats off to Hancock-Wood. This is a great thing you guys are doing…what a great way to show your linemen you care. Being a lineman and seeing things like ‘thankalineman’ is the reason we do what we do.”
Craig Tate of Holy Cross Energy Cooperative, north of Aspen, Colorado, called to ask if their Colorado co-op could repeat the campaign in the west and Hancock-Wood immediately agreed.
“This isn’t about us, it’s about all linemen who brave the elements to keep our power going,” said Walton. “The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has proclaimed April 13, 2015, as Lineman Appreciation Day, so we are doing what we can. We will hold our linemen recognition event April 13 at the co-op and announce the winning entry.”
Angie Hensley of North Carolina, writes, “As an employee of French Broad Electric Company in Marshall, NC, I know our linemen…the job they do and the conditions that they endure to keep our power on. So today, I say, ‘Thank you’ to all the linemen everywhere in the U.S. for the awesome job they do for us.”
Bill and Carla Morse of McComb Ohio, wrote, “We can’t say enough about how much we appreciate the linemen of our electric company, Hancock Wood Co-op! The outages we experience are few and far between, but when our power does go out, it’s restored in a remarkably short period of time. I worked at AEP in Findlay for almost 40 years, and I know first hand what these great guys go through at times after extreme, damaging weather events. Thank you, Linemen, for all you do for us and for your company!”
As part of the Thank-a-Lineman campaign, Walton also urges northwest Ohio elected officials to issue proclamations citing April 13 as Lineman Appreciation Day in their communities.
Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative, established April 20, 1938, serves portions of Hancock, Wood, Allen, Erie, Hardin, Henry, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca and Wyandot counties. For more information about Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative, visit www.hwe.coop or call 800-445-4840.
