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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2013)
in other words Sounding Board: What’s Up With Electricity? By Jack Phillips What’s happening with Pwr/1 and WOEC? Or said another way, “ho hum…what’s new?” Complaint or criticism repeats. Answers roll back as if pre-recorded. Rates continue to increase. Life goes on. Nothing changes. Or does it? Sometimes, poetry helps. I like to write it for brevity of expression. So, here it goes: “Who’s knocking on my door? Poverty- man! Who’s that with him? Inflation-kid! Who’s standing behind them? Oh, that’s cold North Wind! Why are they knocking on my door? You have not paid your electric bill!” How many of us, young or old, are financially stressed in a collapsed economy? How many of us are older, retired and have only social security income? How many of us are a sneeze away from disaster only to watch wide-eyed as our food prices, fuel prices, medical bills, retail prices and electricity bills skyrocket to the moon?! What happens if your electricity is turned off? What if you have to choose between warmth or freezing temperatures? Gasoline or isolation? Food or medicine? Staying in business or leaving town? How many of us have had these experiences? Pwr/1 would like to hear your stories. Contact or write us c/o this paper. Our blog spot is: www.utilitymembershippowerof1. blogspot.com Or call Jack Phillips (503) 429-8089; or Sally Harrison (503) 429- 8425; or Nick Galaday (503) 429-8910. So what about our highest-in- the-state electric rates? Shouldn’t we, as co-operative members, be able to examine how our utility is being run? Absolutely. These rates cause unwanted anxiety, disadvantage and harm to those who cannot afford them. Therefore, it is important for affected members to have access to operational information as permitted by the By-laws and to do something about it. Pwr/1 has requested information, repeatedly. Our requests have been stone-walled. At Board Meetings, there is a one-page agenda handed out but the real work of the Board is withheld in binders, given to District Reps before a meeting, ready to be voted on, and not provided to visiting members. If anything controversial is present it is taken to secret Executive Session after the board meeting; no general members allowed. A natural question is “Why the secrecy; what is going on? Double entry book-keeping tells us money does not just appear or disappear. It comes from a source and goes to a location. It can be followed. It can be traced. It can be taken apart and put together. Its parts can be examined. We know that certain expenses are standardized, e.g. the cost of wholesale power from BPA; the costs of its transmission to WOEC; the costs associated with WOEC employees who are union members etc. From that point, most other expenses are variable, including administrative salaries, wages, travel, contractor services, construction costs etc. It is those expenses that need to be examined and analyzed. Formula- wise, examination looks like this: Assets minus Liabilities = Equity + (income minus expenses) Want to get involved? Then you should know WOEC is a private corporation; it is not a State Agency. It is relatively autonomous and organized as a co-operative, that is, controlled CONNIE’S BREAKFASTS will return April 5. Fridays 7:30- 9:00 here at the Bridge Street Senior Center. No age limit. Also a reminder of our lunches served Mon-Fri. 60 and up - $4 or donation. Under 60 - $5. To- Go lunches - $5. Contact Karen Miller to qualify for Meals on Wheels. 503-366-6581. Com- munity Action Team. WATCH for news on our up- coming annual fundraiser plant sale. Your donations would be kindly appreciated. Contact Pauline. LOOKING for a place to volun- teer? Please come in and fill out an application. FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Low income households who 2013 15 by its Members (customers). The Board of Directors is answerable to the Membership, not the General Manager. For the “long-run”, there may be statutory violations and we have asked the Attorney General to take a look. Meanwhile, in the short run, members can meet and do something. This includes finding, nominating and electing new members to the Board of Directors. If you, or someone you know, would like to become active with the backing of Pwr/1 please contact us; or, alternatively, contact WOEC. The time is now. At the next annual membership meeting this summer, elections are for Districts 2 and 5. District 2 covers Mist, Apiary and Birkenfeld and is currently represented by Robert VanNatta; District 5 covers Timber and Buxton and is currently represented by Robert Paleck. Our next Pwr/1 meeting will be, Thursday March 28 th at 7:00 PM. If you want to attend, call 503 429-8425. Remember, democracy requires participation. “Tag! You’re it!” The Constitution Party Bridge Street Bits 5-AREA LUNCHEON: Monday, March 25 at the St. Helens Se- nior Center march21 need help with their energy bills, including electric/oil/ propane can contact Commu- nity Action Team Energy Assis- tance. Even if you have already received assistance after Octo- ber 1, 2012, you could get ad- ditional assistance to help with the last of the winter bill. 503- 397-3511 ext. 275. Seniors and non seniors alike. during the first week of each month. Buy locally and sup- port your local Senior Center. THRIFT STORE: Bargain prices can be found in Vernonia’s Se- nior Center Thrift Store. The retail store is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. The Thrift Store provides funds for the Senior Center’s facility and its many activities. Donations can also be dropped off during those same hours. Donated clothes need to be clean and in good condition so they are “sales ready”. We are offering half off YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES are a great way to help us keep our doors open for community needs. Only $15 for the year. For after hours drop-offs please contact Pauline 503- 429-5810. SPECIAL DAYS: On the last Wednesday of the month Wau- na Credit Union will be serving ice cream. THANK YOU to Scott Laird and the Voice for allowing us to share news with, for and about our community seniors. QUESTIONS? Call: (503) 429- 3912 SENIOR SIGN OFF: The best vi- tamin for developing friends is B1. The Constitution Party of Columbia County meets on the 3rd Monday each month at 7:00 PM at the Columbia River PUD, 64001 Columbia River Hwy., Deer Island, OR. Current political updates and more. P.E.O. Bulb Sale The Vernonia chapter of P.E.O. has launched its annual bulb sale, with an array of colorful blooms, from tiny Grecian Windflowers, 3-4 inches high, to giant “dinnerplate” dahlias which grow to four feet. The sale period lasts until April 22, and the proceeds from the sale will be used to provide scholarships for women. To see the catalog and to place an order, contact Mary Tolonen at 503-429-7214 or 503-719-2347; or contact any P.E.O. member. Vernonia’s Voice is published twice each month on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. Our next issue will be April 4. Church Directory (in alphabetical order) Assembly of God Sunday School: 9:45 AM Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Wayne Marr, Pastor 662 Jefferson Avenue 503-429-0373 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Sunday Schedule: Sacrament Meeting: 10:00 AM Sunday School & Primary: 11:20 AM Relief Society, Priesthood and Young Women: 12:10 PM Marc Farmer, Branch President 1350 E. Knott Street 503-429-7151 Covenant Church Vernonia Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 7:00 PM John D, Murray, Pastor 359 “A” Street 503-860-3860 Nehalem Valley Bible Church Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service: 10:45 AM Wed. Ladies Bible Study: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 7:00 PM Sat. Men’s Prayer Meeting: 6:30 AM Gary Taylor, Pastor Grant & North Streets 503-429-5378 Pioneer Baptist Fellowship Sunday School: 9:30 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM www.pbfalive.com John Cahill, Pastor 939 Bridge Street 503-429-1161 St. Mary’s Catholic Church Wednesday Religious Education: 3:15- 4:30 PM Sunday Mass: 12:00 PM Rev. Luan Tran, Administrator 960 Missouri Avenue 503-429-8841 Vernonia Christian Church Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service in Youth & Family Center: 11:00 AM www.VernoniaChristianChurch.org Sam Hough, Pastor 410 North Street 503-429-6522 Vernonia Community Church Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Wednesday Prayer: 6:30 PM Ralph Young, Interim Pastor 957 State Avenue 503-429-6790 Vernonia Foursquare Church Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 AM Children’s Sunday School Carl Pense, Pastor 850 Madison Avenue 503-429-1103 Vernonia Seventh-day Adventist Church Sabbath (Saturday) Services Sabbath School: 9:30 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM www.VernoniaSDAC.org Larry Gibson, Pastor 2nd Ave. and Nehalem St. 503-429-8301
