by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the May 19 meeting, the Sewanee Community Council heard from Michael Watson, CEO of Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC), and Betty Carpenter, director of the Community Action Committee (CAC). Watson introduced a new DREMC program aimed at curtailing electricity costs, and Carpenter invited the council and community to join with the CAC in helping to break the cycle of poverty in the Sewanee area. In other business, the Council appointed an election officer and approved a change to the bylaws.
DREMC is a customer-owned energy distributor with more than 71,000 members in a six-county area covering 2,800 square miles. DREMC is committed to “enhancing the quality of life for its members,” Watson said, quoting from the mission statement. DREMC recently launched a new program, “Beat the Peak,” offering members an opportunity to take an active role in reducing the demand-based cost of electricity. (See story on page 6.)
Giving a brief overview of the CAC’s history and work, Carpenter said the organization got its start 40 years ago, when Marilyn Powell began collecting and distributing day-old bread. The CAC is a ministry of Otey Parish and now serves more than 300 people, regularly providing groceries and in some cases, help with paying utility bills. The CAC serves the Sewanee and Sherwood areas. Ninety-four percent of CAC clients are below the poverty level.
The CAC recently provided two families with flocks of chickens and other clients with container gardens, Carpenter said, calling attention to new programs. Plans also call for training volunteers to conduct energy assessments to help clients reduce utility costs.
Carpenter provided council members with information on ways individuals can help fight poverty and encouraged the council and community to work with the CAC to find solutions. (See “Ten Things You Can Do to Fight Poverty.”)
The council selected Theresa Shackelford to serve as election officer for the November Council member elections.
At present, the population is not evenly distributed in the four districts which elect representatives to the council. A committee, composed of council representatives Pam Byerly and John Flynn, Superintendent of Leases Barbara Schlichting and Provost John Swallow, is researching possible changes to district boundaries. The committee is also looking into altering the council’s composition to include more student and at-large representatives.
The council approved a change to the bylaws, modifying the meeting schedule. The change stipulates meetings will “occur on the fourth Monday of the month, as needed,” rather than on “the fourth Monday of every month except July and August.”
The next meeting of the council is June 30.
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