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Amicalola EMC is very committed to improving the communities in which we live and serve. Click on the items below to learn more about some of the many activities and initiatives that Amicalola EMC is proud to participate in.
Released August 20, 2010 Pennies from heaven...
left to right: Penelope Marshall, VP Finance & Admin, Amicalola EMC; Edward Ressler, GA Lions’ Camp for the Blind, Pat Thuman, Hope House; Carole Maddux, Good Samaritan; David and Jacque Jacobs, Collaborations for Resiliency; Ben Laughlin, CARES; and Don Quinton, Vice Chairman, Operation Roundup Board. In 1999, Amicalola EMC made a decision that would benefit the communities served by the cooperative for years to come. That decision was to participate in the Operation Roundup® program. By asking members of the cooperative to “roundup” their power bills to the next dollar amount, Amicalola EMC has been able to donate over $1.3 million to individuals and charitable organizations right here at home. In July, over $22,000 was donated to area families and organizations. One grateful recipient described it as “pennies from heaven”. Individuals received funds for shelter, clothing, medical expenses and dental expenses. Organizations which received donations were Appalachian Lifeline Center, CARES, Choose Life/Safe Choice, Collaborations for Resiliency, GA Lions Camp for the Blind, Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center, Hope House, Long Branch Elementary School, No One Alone, Young at Heart Alzheimer’s, and The Isaiah House. For just pennies a month, pocket change that won’t be missed, members of Amicalola EMC are making their community a better place to live. Please call 706-253-5200 for information on how to turn your pocket change into “pennies from heaven”.
OPERATION ROUND-UP®
REACHES
Operation Round-up® Board of Directors: (Left to Right) Charles L. Gibson, Amicalola EMC, President/CEO, E.C. Kelley, Jr., Don Quinton, Vice-Chairman; Doug Caldwell, Lee Lowman, Gene Cornelison, Chairman; Lloyd Sumner, Jim Williams, Edgar Land, Treasurer. Not pictured: Lanier Swafford, Secretary Thanks a million! Amicalola EMC members donate one million dollars When the Amicalola EMC Trust was formed in 1999, and began the Operation Round-up® program, expectations were high and everyone involved was optimistic about the success of this program. High expectations and optimism still abound as the Operation Round-Up® program reached a remarkable milestone in July of this year. ONE MILLION DOLLARS has now been returned to the communities served by Amicalola EMC. The guidelines for the program are simple. A volunteer group of community leaders make up the Amicalola EMC Trust Board of Directors and oversee the program. Members of the cooperative “round-up” their power bills to the next whole dollar amount. These pennies collectively turn into dollars and are then distributed back to needy individuals and charitable organizations for specific purposes. The money must be used for food, shelter, clothing, health needs, education and specialty needs. The list goes on and on of the organizations and individuals who have been helped by this program. 100 % of the money collected from the co-op members is returned in the form of donations. Amicalola EMC absorbs all the administrative costs to operate the program. On behalf of the board of directors, thanks a million to each member of the cooperative who contributes to the Operation Round-up® program. Please call Member Service today at 706-253-5200 to find out how you too can help make a difference in your own community. Operation Round Up® Application for Organizations Application for Individuals What is Operation Round Up®? Operation Round Up is a program designed to provide financial assistance to worthwhile activities and community projects. How does the program work? Each month, we "round up" the electric bill of participating members to the next highest dollar. For example, if your electric bill is $62.78, we would round it up to $63.00. The additional 22 cents would go to the Operation Round Up fund. How much will a member contribute? The average yearly contribution from each participating member is about $6.00. The most a member could contribute in a year is $11.88. And, contributions are TAX DEDUCTIBLE! Participation is strictly voluntary. Our cooperative's membership is over 25,000 people - members who are good citizens, desiring to enhance the quality of life for all who live in our area. By pooling each participating member's average $.50/month together we collectively are able to return a substantial amount to community projects and programs annually. Who administers the fund? Money contributed to Operation Round Up is administered by a nonprofit corporation called Amicalola EMC Trust. This trust is operated by a board of directors completely independent of the cooperative. The trust board evaluates all requests for funds and determines how the funds will be distributed. Plus, Amicalola EMC will pay for all administrative costs, so 100% of your contribution goes to the Operation Round Up Trust Fund. What will the money be used for? Funds will stay within the Amicalola EMC service area. Guidelines for awarding these funds addresses such needs as food, shelter, clothing, health care and specialty needs where funding is not available. IT IS NOT THE INTENTION OF THE PROGRAM TO PAY FOR ELECTRIC BILLS. Also, political campaigns will not be considered for Operation Round Up funding. How can someone apply for help through Operation Round Up? Application forms
are available at the headquarters and district offices of Amicalola EMC. You may also have
an application mailed to you by calling (706) 253-5200 or e-mailing Member Service and requesting one
or down load one here (you will need adobe reader installed on your computer to
view): How do I become a volunteer of Operation Round Up? Amicalola EMC members are already enrolled in the program. However, if any Amicalola EMC member does not wish to participate in Operation Round Up, he or she can contact any of our offices and we will be happy to remove them from the Operation Round Up program. Why should I participate? Operation Round Up is a unique opportunity for you to provide financial assistance to worthwhile projects and charities in our surrounding communities. Pennies donated by you each month become significant when added to pennies donated by your fellow cooperative member-owners. How much money can possibly be raised when the individual contributions are so small? The answer to that question hinges on the participation level. Just think, if 100% of Amicalola EMC's 25,000 members participated, we would collect approximately $150,000 annually. Together we can make Operation Round Up a great success! To obtain a form to sign up for Operation Round Up click here, print it out and mail back to Amicalola EMC's Member Service Department.Organization Recipients of Operation Round Up Funds: Friends of the Pickens County Library - North Georgia Community Action Agency - The geriatric program for G.A.P. - Habitat for Humanity - Gilmer County Parks and Recreation - Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary - Starbright Foundation - Northwest Home Health Agency - Friends of the Gilmer County Library - Gilmer Women's Alliance - Gilmer County Reading Program - Pickens County Fill-A-Stocking Fund - Talking Rock Schoolhouse - Lumpkin County Medical Service - Pickens County Council on Child Abuse - Sequoyah Regional Library System - NOA's Ark - Lumpkin County Community Resource Outreach - Rainbow House - Lumpkin County Senior Center - Dawson County Senior Center - Gilmer County 4-H Club - The Anna Crawford's Children Center - Young at Heart Alzheimer's Program - Pickens Animal Rescue -Appalachian Chapter of IAAP - Gilmer Middle School Volunteen Program - Mountainside Nursing Family Council - Gilmer County Fire Department - RIC RACK Resource Interaction Council - Pickens County Emergency Foster Care Home - Gilmer Middle School Outback Team - Pickens County Certified Literate Community Program - Habitat for Humanity - Gilmer Middle School, Delta Team - Gilmer County Family Connection Commission - Cherokee County Arts Council, Inc - Simonds/Mayfield K1 Multiage Class - Gilmer Middle School - Upper Etowah River Alliance - Mountain Education Center - Pickens County 4-H Club - North Georgia Mountain Crisis Network - North Georgia Mountain Youth Science & Tech. Center - Reinhardt College - Georgia Mountain Hospice, Inc - Pickens County Board of Education, Pickens Partners Program - Dawson County Volunteer Fire Department - Cherokee County Volunteer Fire Department - Pickens County Volunteer Fire Department - Gilmer County Volunteer Fire Department - Gilmer Middle School, Endeavor Team - Yukon Civic Organization - Rainbow Children's Home - Holy Family Community Food Pantry - Gilmer Board of Education, Family Connection - Dawson County Fire/Rescue - Georgia Highlands Center - Clayton Elementary School - Ellijay Elementary School - Gilmer Middle School Abstinence Education - The Master's Academy of Fine Arts - Truth and Harvest Christian Academy - Gilmer Christian Learning Center - Joy House - Pickens High School Special Ed - and many more. back to top
Join the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Campaign - We encourage all members to consider this program and to pledge to change your regular light bulbs in your home to an Energy Saving Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb. Choose Amicalola EMC from the drop down box when pledging. The ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World campaign is a national call to action from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Amicalola EMC’s goal is simple: To encourage every individual to help change the world, one energy saving step at a time, by changing a regular light bulb to a (CFL). An ENEGY STAR qualified light bulb can save about $30 in electricity costs over its lifetime. ENERGY STAR bulbs use 75% less energy, last 10 times longer and produce about 75% less heat than traditional bulbs. The most effective way to get the most energy savings is by replacing bulbs where lights are left on the longest, such as family and living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. This program is a joint venture between Amicalola EMC and the Georgia Department of Transportation. This program allows us to enhance our rights-of-way with beautiful wildflowers.
Amicalola EMC was the first electric cooperative in Georgia to become a member of Project Habitat. Project Habitat is a utility wildlife enhancement program that helps in the management of rights-of-way to benefit species such as songbirds, deer, quail and wild turkey. It's co-sponsored by The National Wild Turkey Federation, Quails Unlimited, Buckmasters, and Butterfly Lovers International.
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