4 SOUTHCAROLINALIVING |   september 2010 |   SCLIVING.COOp

www.horryelectric.com

Main OfficeP.O. Box 119 Conway, SC 29528-0119

Conway Office: 369-2211

Socastee Office: 650-7530

(to report power outages only)369-2212

Board of TrusteesJohnny M. Shelley President

James P. “Pat” Howle Executive Vice President and CEO

Eugene Harriott, Jr. Vice President

Ashley AndersonSecretary/Treasurer

Elaine D. GoreBobby E. JordanFranklin C. BlantonRonald H. FloydHenry W. BoydMarcus E. Gerald

Co-op Connection EditorPenelope D. Hinsonpenelope.hinson@ horryelectric.com

Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a non-profit, member-owned organization providing information and energy-related services on a fair and equitable basis.

Co-opConnection

Card puts value in your wallet

James P. “Pat” HowleExecutive Vice President/CEO

HOrrY eLeCtrIC’s COmmItmeNt tO YOU  goes beyond providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity.

We’re always looking for ways to provide value to our members and the communities we serve, especially during tough economic times. Horry Electric’s Co-op Connections member

wallet cards and key fobs provide you with a real money-saving tool. The program connects you with discounts on everything from hotel stays to prescription drugs. A wide variety of merchants throughout our community accept Co-op

Connections cards and some of the most recent additions to the list are featured on page 5 of this edition of South Carolina Living magazine. As the list grows, we’ll continue to feature the latest editions in this publication, as well as on our Facebook fan page.

We hope local businesses participating in our Co-op Connections program benefit from increased traffic from Horry Electric members. Businesses can sign up for the program at no cost. For a complete list of all participating businesses in our area, simply log on to our website, horryelectric.com, and follow the Co-op Connections link.

The card also gives you access to online savings at more than 90 national retailers such as Barnes&Noble.com, Hertz Rental Cars, Best Western hotels, and ProFlowers.com. You can check out these great national discounts at connections.coop.

One of the most valuable features of the Co-op Connections card is the pharmacy discount. While not insurance, the discount can deliver savings of 10 percent to 60 percent

on prescription drugs. The logo and information on the back of your card is recognized at more than 60,000 national, regional and local pharmacies.

The pharmacy discount has been widely used by co-ops that are members of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, resulting in combined savings of more than $20 million on prescriptions nationwide.

As of June 30, members of South Carolina co-ops have saved $2,898,310.91 since the Co-op Connections card was introduced in 2007. That includes about $180,000 saved by members of Horry Electric Cooperative.

Want to find out more? Log on to locateproviders.com to search for pharmacies in our area honoring the card. Use code 22203 as the group number under the “Groups” login section. Next, enter your ZIP code.

As a Touchstone Energy Cooperatives member, Horry Electric strives to serve you according to four core values: integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community. Our Co-op Connections card program is one of the ways we live up to those values.

We’re eager to answer any questions you have about the card and how to take advantage of the discounts it provides. Call us at (843) 369-2211 to find out more or log onto horryelectric.com.

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Horry News

tHe LIst Of LOCaL businesses participating in the co-op connections Discount Card Program is growing, and we hope you’ll take the time to take advantage of the benefits they’re offering to members of Horry Electric Cooperative and of the other participating Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.

f Grande Dunes Resort Club is offering golfers $10 off a.m. walk-in rates and $5 off p.m. walk-in rates. Located in Myrtle Beach, Grande Dunes was named the 2009 National Golf Course of the Year by The National Golf Association. For details and directions, call (843) 913-9416 or visit granddunesgolf.com.

f Myrtlewood Golf

New connectionsLocal businesses add benefit

Co-op Connections is your source for exceptional discount offers.

Miniature golf, too! $2 OFF all day play or $1 OFF 18 holes before 6 p.m. at several local courses! You can find all four of these at myrtlebeachfamilygolf.com.

Captain Hooks adventure Golf features a smoking 15-foot skull! Beware of roving pirates, animated crocodiles and secret caverns! Call (843) 913-7851 for hours of operation and details.

Dragon Lair fantasy Golf, which features a 30-foot, fire-breathing dragon, several caves and a few castles, is located near Broadway at the Beach. Call (843) 913-9301 for hours of operation and details.

Jungle safari miniature Golf is a real adventure that includes waterfalls, streams and even a few elephants, giraffes and other big game. Pith helmets are not required. Call (843) 315-0311 for hours of operation and details.

shipwreck Island adventure Golf features streams, waterfalls, fish and whales. You might even spot crew members lost at sea! Call (843) 913-5330 for hours of operation and details.

Your Co-op Connections Card is good for 10 to 60 per-cent discounts on prescription drugs at more than 60,000 national and regional pharmacy chain stores, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Target. Horry Electric Cooperative members have saved more than $168,000 on prescriptions since May 2009. Check out the additional participating local businesses at horryelectric.com.

Club, home to two championship golf courses, is located along the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway in the heart of Myrtle Beach. Golfers can enjoy the Pine Hills or the Palmetto course for $10 off the a.m. walk-in rate and $5 off the p.m. walk-in rate. For details, call (843) 913-9217 or visit myrtlewoodgolf.com.

f Arcadian Shores Golf Club is offering $10 off the a.m. walk-in rate and $5 off the p.m. walk-in rate at their course, which accommodates any level of golfer with its selection of five tee boxes. The #2 and #13 holes have been designated by golf experts as part of the “Dream 18”, a compilation of the best 18 holes on the

beach. For details, call (843) 449-5217 or visit arcadianshores.com.

f Cane Patch Par 3 is offering $2 off 18 holes of play at their course. The 27-hole Par 3 and the Cane Patch Driving Range are lighted (in season), which allows for night play or practice. They’re offering $2 off a large basket of balls to those who don’t have time for a full round, but want to practice. For details and information on

hours of operation, call (843) 315-0301 or visit myrtlebeachfamilygolf.com.

f Midway Par 3 is offering $2 off 18 holes of play at their course, which is lighted (in season) for night play. Forget your clubs? No worries, they’re offering free rentals. Call (843) 913-5335 or visit myrtlebeachfamilygolf.com for hours of operation, which are subject to change without notice.

No hits, no runs—one errorNew York Yankees star Andy Pettitte’s last name was misspelled in our July story, “Going to bat against breast cancer.” Thanks to Herbie Buck of Murrell’s Inlet for charging us with the error. The Bucks, formerly of Freehold, N.Y., describe themselves as the “#1 Yankee Fans.”

SCLIVING.COOp   | september 2010  | SOUTHCAROLINALIVING 20A

Hitting the books

Horry Extra

New trustee Ronald Floyd already knows ‘the co-op way’ fairly well By WALTER ALLREAD

tWO DaYs befOre HIs fIrst meetING as  

trUstee for Horry Electric Coop-erative’s District 5, Ronald H. Floyd was literally hitting the highlights of the co-op’s bylaws.

The co-op had provided Floyd with a thick notebook of its governing rules as well as information about the business at hand for that Thursday’s meeting. Yellow highlighting on key points made the documents less daunting, and it wasn’t “all Greek” to Floyd anyway. He has served on other boards, including one for a tobacco growers’ co-op.

“It’s not completely foreign,” he says, “but I’ve got a lot to learn.” The Green Sea native was nominated for HEC’s board by his predecessor, Ben P. Harrelson, who stepped down in June after more than 32 years as a trustee.

In July, the full board appointed Floyd to complete Harrelson’s three-year term, which began in April. “I’ve got big shoes to try to fill. He is certainly a well-respected gentleman in the community,” Floyd says. “It was a tremendous honor for Mr. Ben to call on me.”

Since the lights came onHis family has been on co-op lines “since the lights came on,” and Floyd, 60, remembers the early days of rural electrification well—even if he was just a boy. “My grandfather had one of the first TVs in the community,” he says. “Neighbors from all around

‘Mr. Ben’ praised for service to co-opBen P. Harrelson, who stepped down in June after almost 33 years on Horry Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees, is drawing high praise for his service to his co-op and to Horry County.

One of the co-op’s longest-serving trustees, Harrelson had represented District 5 of the co-op’s service area since October 1977. The Green Sea resident was board secretary from 1979 to 1985, when he was elected president. While president, Harrelson served as chairman of the Executive and Finance Committee. He represented Horry Electric on the board of the state association of electric co-ops from 1986 to 1991.

CEO and Executive Vice President James P. “Pat” Howle said Harrelson holds a special place in his heart because “Mr. Ben,” as he is affectionately known by many, headed the board when Howle was hired as CEO in 1995. “I’ll remember Mr. Ben for his integrity and his honesty,” Howle said. “He was always a calming influence and was a team player.”

While Harrelson was president, Howle noted, “He let the board make decisions and didn’t try to influence the outcome.” He added, “Mr. Ben is a perfect gentleman. It has been a pleasure to work with him for all this number of years.”

Current Board President Johnny M. Shelley said, “I have known Mr. Ben Harrelson my entire life. He has always been a leader and has served his community well. Mr. Ben has earned the respect of many. As a board member of Horry Electric, he always had his members at heart. Mr. Ben wanted to provide members with the most reliable service at the most affordable price possible. Although Mr. Ben is retiring, we may still call on

him from time to time for advice.”Harrelson and his wife, Isla Mae, have

three children and four grandchildren. They are members of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

A retired magistrate and a former insurance agent, Harrelson served on the U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency County Committee, the Horry County Zoning Board of Appeals and as a community board member for the National Bank of South Carolina in Loris.

During his time on HEC’s board, Harrelson completed training through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association to earn the status of Credentialed Cooperative Director. He also earned Board Leadership and Director’s certificates through NRECA.

Ben P. Harrelson

would come to his house to watch.”Floyd has served on HEC’s

volunteer Election and Credentials Committee for five years, most recently chairing the panel. Committee members monitor board elections at the co-op’s annual meetings, and help fellow HEC members exercise their democratic right to elect their peers to represent them. The Board of Trustees sets co-op policies and rates and hires the CEO, who manages the co-op’s day-to-day operations.

Floyd’s previous co-op experience was as a board member of the Twin City Farmers Co-op, which for years

(Continued on page 20B)

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Ronald Floyd hits the HEC books at the kitchen table in his Green Sea home. “It’s not completely foreign,” he says, “but I’ve got a lot to learn.”

Be prepared for dangerous weather anytime of the year.

Be prepared for dangerous weather anytime of the year. Follow these tips and play it safe around electricity.

Storms■ Stay indoors, away from windows and doors.

■ Unplug electronic equipment before the storm arrives and avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords during storms.

■ If you lose power, call Horry Electric’s Power Touch at 1-843-369-2212 to report the outage.

Generators■ Never plug a portable electric generator into a regular household

outlet. Always use the proper power cords.

■ Never use a generator indoors or in an attached garage.

■ To avoid electrical shock, make sure your generator is properlygrounded.

CONWAY: 843-369-2211 MYRTLE BEACH: 843-650-7530

Visit www.horryelectric.com for more electrical safety tips.

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Statement of nondiscriminationHorry Electric Cooperative, Inc. is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is subject to the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which provide that no person in the United States on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, the admission or access to, denied benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any of this organization’s programs or activities.

The person responsible for coordinating this organization’s nondiscrimination compliance efforts is Abigail Lewis, human resources coordinator. Any individual, or specific class of individuals, who feels that this organization has subjected them to discrimination may obtain further information about the statutes and regulations listed above from and/or file a written complaint with this organization; or write USDA, director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; or call, toll free, (866) 632-9992 (voice). TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal relay at (800) 877-8399 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice users). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Complaints must be filed within 180 days after the alleged discrimination. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible.

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A rural mail carrier, Floyd has delivered lots of Do the Light Switch CFLs — and South Carolina Living magazines. He jokes, “I may not know everybody in the community, but I know where they live.”

helped tobacco growers in the Loris-Tabor City area market their crops. As agribusiness evolved, the co-op’s farmer-members eventually decided to shutter Twin City. Later, Floyd himself, whose family has been involved in farming for decades, realized he needed to find ways to augment his income. He and his wife, JoAnn, raised two boys.

Blessed to diversify“Farming got kind of bad,” says Floyd, who earned an associate’s degree in agriculture from North Carolina State University. “I’ve been blessed to be able to diversify.”

He’s now a rural letter carrier out of the U.S. Postal Service’s Loris post office. Floyd started part-time as a postman in 1982 and went full-time in 1991. “I may not know everybody in the community, but I know where they live,” he jokes.

Floyd also earned his auctioneer’s license. He has owned and operated Floyd’s Auction Service for many years. JoAnn, meanwhile, is one of Horry County State Bank’s original employees. She is now the branch operations manager in Homewood. In addition to their sons, Rodney and Jonathan, the Floyds now have three grandsons.

Loving living in the countryFloyd adds, “I’m glad my kids grew up in Horry County.” Today, he rents his fields to other farmers but retains his love of the country life.

He’s happy giving tours of his 60-acre property in a trusty old farm truck.

Along the way, Floyd points out thriving young oaks, persimmon, hazelnut, pear and crabapple trees and lespedeza he’s planted for the benefit of quail and other wildlife. Floyd shares that appreciation for nature as a member of Wildlife Action, the Mullins-based organization that nurtures

young people’s enthusiasm for hunting, fishing and other wholesome outdoor activities. A self-described “people person,” Floyd notes, “I like to invite neighbors and parents with little kids to bring their kids out to fish.”

His hobbies include collecting Native American artifacts, many found around the farm. He’s an avid collector of duck decoys, too. “There’s a couple of them I carved myself,” Floyd notes.

He has been active in his community. A past president of the Tabor City Lions Club, Floyd has served as a board member and state president of the S.C. Auctioneers Association. He and JoAnn are active members of Green Sea Baptist Church, where Floyd has served as Sunday school director and co-chairman of the Brotherhood.

Horry Extra

Be prepared for dangerous weather anytime of the year.

Be prepared for dangerous weather anytime of the year. Follow these tips and play it safe around electricity.

Storms■ Stay indoors, away from windows and doors.

■ Unplug electronic equipment before the storm arrives and avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords during storms.

■ If you lose power, call Horry Electric’s Power Touch at 1-843-369-2212 to report the outage.

Generators■ Never plug a portable electric generator into a regular household

outlet. Always use the proper power cords.

■ Never use a generator indoors or in an attached garage.

■ To avoid electrical shock, make sure your generator is properlygrounded.

CONWAY: 843-369-2211 MYRTLE BEACH: 843-650-7530

Visit www.horryelectric.com for more electrical safety tips.

SCLIVING.COOp   | september 2010  | SOUTHCAROLINALIVING 20C

Horry Extra

20D SOUTHCAROLINALIVING |   september 2010 |   SCLIVING.COOp

Horry Extra

Gasque has been a part of the team at Horry Electric since 1996. He’s shown here testing a load management switch for the H

2O Select program.

What is 811? It is the national number designated by the Federal Communications Commission to help protect do-it-yourselfers, landscapers and contractors from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working on digging projects—large and small.

Why call 811? South Carolina Law requires a 72-hour notice (three working days) before you excavate. Why? In order to reduce and/or prevent dig-ins. A dig-in can cause death or injury, damage to public or private property and loss or interruption of services.

Who will I get at 811? In the area served by Horry Electric Cooperative, you’ll be connected with PUPS (The Palmetto Utility Protection Service, Inc.). PUPS is a corporation formed and funded by participating utility companies hoping to improve community and job safety, and to promote improved service through damage reduction to utilities.

What happens when I call pUps? The computerized notification center will establish a computer link between those who dig underground and those who operate underground facilities. The service is FREE and one call does it all, as long as all of the utilities involved are members of PUPS.

When your call is answered, be prepared to provide the following information:

f Telephone number

f Name of caller

f County and city

f Address or job location

f Start date and time

f Type of work

f Contractor

f Contractor address

Whether you are planning to do it yourself or hire a professional, smart digging means calling 811 before each job.

Homeowners often make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call—even small projects like planting trees and shrubs. The depth of utility lines varies, and there may be multiple utility lines in a common area. Digging without calling can disrupt service to an entire

neighborhood, harm you and those around you and potentially result in fines and repair costs. Calling 811 before every digging job gets your underground utility lines marked for free and

helps prevent undesired consequences.Having lines located before you dig can save you:

f Costly repairs to damaged pipes, lines, etc.

f Delays in construction

f Wasted crew time

f Personal injury or property damage

The alternate phone number for PUPS is 1-888-721-7877. A link to their site is provided on horryelectric.com.

Dial 811 for underground locates

Garrett GasqUe, marketing and energy management representative for Horry Electric Cooperative, has earned certification as a Building Analyst Professional through the Building Performance Institute, Inc.

The written and field examinations required of all candidates for credentials available through the Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) are nationally recognized. Achievement of certification means an individual has passed both successfully. The exams cover six specific areas, including Building Science; Buildings and Their Systems; Measurement and Verification of Building Performance; BPI National Standards and Project Specifications; Analyzing Building Systems and Professional Ethics, Conduct and Communication.

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Gasque certified as Building Analyst Professional