Schedule
– Gates open: 4:30 PM
– Registration: 5:30 – 7 PM
– Business meeting: 7 PM

Menu (while supplies last) (cash ONLY) 
– Hot dog and bag of chips: $1
– Fried pie: $1
– Popcorn & soft drinks: FREE

The event will be held at Carroll EMC’s main office at 155 N. Highway 113, Carrollton, GA 30117. The Carrollton office will close at 3:30 PM to prepare for the arrival of guests.

Carroll EMC is a tobacco-free campus. There will be no designated smoking area at the Annual Meeting. 

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As Manager of Operations, Harris will oversee all construction, operation and maintenance activities of the Construction Department and coordinate all vehicle and power equipment maintenance in the vehicle shop. Harris will also develop and manage all short-term and long-term departmental goals to align with cooperative strategic planning.

“We’re fortunate to have someone like Kevin who cares deeply for his fellow co-workers and the cooperative Members,” said Jerome Johnston, Chief Operating Officer for Carroll EMC. “His field expertise and prior leadership roles make him a natural fit. We trust that Kevin will lead with the same care and commitment he has demonstrated over his many years of service.”

Harris’ career in the electric industry began at Georgia Power in 1992 where he completed maintenance work. He was hired by Carroll EMC in 1994 as a Meter Reader and soon pursued the lineman career path. Harris progressed through every stage of the program, beginning as a groundman and advancing to apprentice, lineman and eventually foreman in 2011.

In addition to extensive work experience, Harris is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Management Development Program and serves on the board for the Heard County Chamber of Commerce. He is certified by Georgia Transmission as an Integrated Transmission System Qualified Operator and has been trained in emergency and substation restoration. Harris is also a certified arborist.

Harris and his wife, Iris, live in Franklin where they are members of Faith Baptist Church. They share two children, Drew and Ally Harris, a daughter-in-law, Lauren Harris, and two grandchildren, Layla and Indie.

The post Carroll EMC Announces Retirement of VP of Operations, Names Harris as New Manager appeared first on Carroll EMC.

“I am honored to take on this role serving the Members of Carroll EMC,” said Goldin.  “I am very familiar with the company and its cooperative business model and look forward to lending my expertise to its leadership.”

Goldin currently works in real estate sales and has been named a top producer for 22 years. She served as the West Metro Board of Realtors President in 2011 and 2018 and was named Realtor of the Year in 2014. Additionally, she received the Phoenix Award in 2012 and the Crystal Phoenix Award in 2022. Goldin is also very active in the Georgia Association of Realtors and has been the chair of state and local governmental affairs committees. She served as a West Georgia Technical College Foundation Board Trustee for 15 years, serving as vice chair for two years and chair for two years.

Goldin was married to the late Max Goldin for 42 years. They have two daughters, Amy Norton and Suzanne Purser, a son, Craig Goldin and a grandson, John Mark Purser.

The post Carroll EMC Welcomes New Director Delores Goldin appeared first on Carroll EMC.

The Lineman School Scholarship, a program that helps recipients take their first steps into the electric utility industry, has a demonstrated track record of kickstarting successful careers with electric cooperatives, municipalities and contractors in the area. Since 2017, nearly 50 individuals have been sponsored through their training.

“It’s important that we prepare this next generation of lineworkers,” said Carroll EMC Vice President of Operations, Tommy Cook. “Many in our workforce are reaching the age of retirement, including myself, so we need young men and women who are willing to pursue a career and stick with it. We’re proud to support those who do.”

This year’s recipients, all with a passion for serving their community, have answered that calling.

“This is not just a job to me,” wrote Richardson, a scholarship recipient. “It’s a career and something I plan on retiring from. This is my calling in life.”

To qualify for the scholarship, interested applicants must live in a home served by Carroll EMC or be an employee, employee’s child or employee’s grandchild. They must also be a graduating senior in good standing or have earned a high school diploma or GED and be drug free with a safe driving record. If these requirements are met, individuals can submit an online application with two letters of recommendation and an essay outlining why they want to pursue this career path. Each qualified applicant must sit down for a panel interview with a scholarship committee.

In addition to the $5,000 scholarship, which may be used to cover the cost of tuition, tools, gear and other program-related expenses, each recipient is assigned a lineman mentor who regularly checks in on their progress.

“Helping students succeed in linework is more than a workforce goal—it’s also an investment in our communities’ future,” added Cook. “We’re excited to see where this journey takes them.”

Interested applicants for next year’s scholarship cycle can contact Rolando Benitez at (770) 830-5721 or rolando.benitez@carrollemc.com for more information or with questions.

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Chuck Bargeron, the Director of the Center for Invasive Species & Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia (UGA), shared a high-level synopsis of the many plants, insects and animals that are considered invasive in the Southeast. According to Bargeron, an invasive species is one that is not native to that ecosystem and causes harm or is likely to cause harm to economic, environmental or human health.

Statistics show there are currently 6,500 invasive species established in the United States, and every year, billions and billions of dollars are spent in damages, losses and attempts to control further spread. While difficult to prevent the spread of invasives, like the wild boar, Asian longhorned beetle and newly introduced yellow-legged hornet and spotted lanternfly, Bargeron shared how everyone can help identify and report them.

“If you see something unusual, and you can’t figure out what it is, let someone know,” Bargeron encouraged the crowd. “It’s the same concept as homeland security, but it’s our food security and biosecurity.”

Some ways to be proactive is by being familiar with the native plants in your region and choosing to plant those in your garden or yard. If you see something sprouting out of the ordinary, properly dispose of it and report it to your local UGA Extension or Forestry Commission offices. When you go camping, use local firewood, and if you go boating, check for hitchhikers before traveling home.

For additional resources on early detection or archives on thousands of invasive species, you can visit www.bugwood.org or www.invasive.org.

Agriculture will always be a driving economic force locally, regionally and nationally, and Carroll EMC proudly invests in that future through continued engagement and education. To submit topics for the next agribusiness seminar, please email corporate.communications@carrollemc.com.

The post Carroll EMC Begins 10th Year Promoting Agricultural Education with Biannual Seminar appeared first on Carroll EMC.

The Walter Harrison Scholarship, a program sponsored by Georgia EMC, the cooperative’s statewide association, is awarded to outstanding students beginning or completing a post-secondary education at any two- or four-year university, college or technical institute in the state of Georgia. To be eligible, students must be accepted or enrolled in an undergraduate program and complete an application with their electric cooperative. Academic standing, community involvement and financial need are all considered when choosing a semifinalist.

Applications of each cooperative’s semifinalist(s) are then sent to Georgia EMC where the Walter Harrison Scholarship Executive Committee will make the final selection.

“It’s a tough competition with more than 100 students to narrow down,” said Rolando Benitez, Member Advocate and Community Relations Representative for Carroll EMC. “But with a resume like William’s [Orr], I’m very hopeful that he will make the top pick.”

On top of maintaining a 4.0 grade point average and being recognized for a number of academic honors, Orr plays two varsity sports and is a member of the Student Government Association, Future Business Leaders of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society and Beta Club. He plans to attend Gordon State College in the fall to pursue an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Scholarship winners will be announced on or before April 1.

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For more than 60 years, the streets of Washington, D.C., have been filled with eager juniors and seniors from across the country during the month of June as they experience what the capital city has to offer. During the seven-day trip, delegates spend sunup to sundown touring landmarks like Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, Library of Congress, National Archives, Lincoln Memorial and so many more. They are also given the opportunity to meet with Georgia’s congressional delegation and state senators.

“I have attended the WYT as a delegate and a chaperone, and let me tell you, it never gets old,” said Ryan Sammon, Carroll EMC’s Community Relations Specialist and WYT coordinator. “The energy is contagious, and it stays with you forever.”

Each year, the trip is coordinated between the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and electric cooperative statewide associations. Participating EMCs accept applications and select their delegate(s) from the pool of applicants. After conducting a panel interview, Carroll EMC selected Rivera and Pullen as the top candidates based on academics, community involvement and good fit.

Since Carroll EMC is only able to sponsor two students for the WYT, the co-op invites its other impressive applicants to the Georgia Co-op Council Leadership Conference in Covington, GA. The five-day conference is designed to enhance participants’ leadership skills and teamwork abilities through a series of exercises, training sessions and presentations. This year, Carroll EMC is sending Brady Otwell, rising junior at Mt. Zion High School.

“Students have nothing to lose but so much to gain if they apply,” said Sammon.

Applications for next year’s WYT will be available online at carrollemc.com/wyt beginning November 1, 2025.

The post Carroll EMC Empowers Future Leaders with Trip to D.C. appeared first on Carroll EMC.

As a reminder, Carroll EMC’s headquarters in Carrollton is full-service, open Monday through Friday from 8 am – 5 pm.

The post Franklin Office Closing, Buchanan Office Hours Changing appeared first on Carroll EMC.

Each August, applications for Bright Ideas grants are open to public school educators teaching grades pre-K through 12. Teachers can request up to $1,000 to fund a project in the classroom including but not limited to science, technology, engineering, arts, math and social studies. A school is automatically made eligible if an enrolled student’s home is served by Carroll EMC.

This year, representatives of the cooperative hand-delivered checks to 40 schools, and in the process, walked to each classroom to surprise the teachers and their students with the news.

“Every single teacher was so excited and wanted their students to know what the grant was going to do for the classroom,” said Nita Burns, Carroll EMC Foundation Trustee. “The students buy in to the project a lot quicker this way.”

Burns, who is a former local educator of 40 years, knows just how valuable grants of this nature are for the success of students. With a limited budget, it can be difficult to create engaging work that goes along with the curriculum. Bright Ideas grants are set up to where teachers can apply year after year and build upon previous projects or submit new ideas.

“When I was teaching, we had access to grants at the state level, but they were difficult to apply for,” said Burns. “If you won the grant, there was a chance you wouldn’t be eligible again for another five to ten years. It would have been so exciting to have something like this available back then.”

To be considered for a Bright Ideas grant, teachers must submit an online application outlining, in detail, their classroom project and the expected budget. All applications are judged blindly by the cooperative’s Foundation Trustees and are automatically disqualified if any reference is made to a specific teacher or school.

“If you’re considering applying, my advice is to look for things that will support your curriculum in a new and different way,” added Burns. “I’m always surprised at just how forward-thinking the teachers are in creating new experiences that are relevant to what the kids are going to need to know in the future.”

Bright Ideas grants are funded through the generous donations of Carroll EMC Members who participate in Operation Round Up®, a program where they elect to “round up” their electric bills to the nearest dollar. The program is governed by the cooperative’s Foundation Trustees and funds a variety of community service projects including Bright Ideas, Impact Grants, student scholarships, and many health and human services programs.

To see a complete list of this year’s Bright Ideas recipients, please visit carrollemc.com/brightideas. Applications for 2025 will be accepted beginning August 15.

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When severe weather systems are forecasted to impact the area, whether snow, thunderstorm, hurricane or tornado, Carroll EMC immediately begins preparation by placing all personnel on standby, securing assistance from outside crews and restocking any necessary supplies. The co-op corresponds closely with local emergency agencies to receive the most recent and accurate weather updates.

As little as a quarter inch of ice can make electrical equipment more sensitive to the elements and likely to become damaged. The extra weight of ice can cause power lines to sag, even when melting, which can result in an outage. Fallen tree branches can also be 30 times heavier to a power line covered in ice. Being proactive and maintaining a 15-foot right of way is key during situations like this because it allows for fewer fallen trees and easier access for repairs.

During Winter Storm Cora, phone lines were open outside of normal business hours to help Members report outages and damage. Fortunately, repairs were minimal with less than seven thousand total outages and nine broken poles. The cooperative received assistance from Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) and Satilla REMC, as well as MasTec, a local contractor.

“Winter storms are tricky, especially in the South, because there is always a layer of ice to deal with,” said Matt Young, Manager of Safety, Training and Loss Control for Carroll EMC. “Ice makes everything more difficult. Travel and repairs take longer, and you have to be careful of slips, trips and falls. Safety for everyone is our top priority. We’re glad the snow and ice didn’t last any longer than it did.”

The winter season, however, is far from over. In the event of another winter storm or extreme cold spell, Carroll EMC encourages Members to prepare their homes and vehicles for safety and energy efficiency.

• Keep an emergency kit stocked with the appropriate items.
• Weatherproof and insulate your home to keep the warm air in and cold air out. Use towels or blankets under doors and windows to block drafts.
• Adjust the thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature to avoid a dramatic increase in energy usage. The recommended temperature is 68 degrees or lower in the winter.
• Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Have plenty of blankets or another heat source in case of an outage. If using a portable generator, follow manufacturer instructions.

For additional tips, follow Carroll EMC on social media or visit carrollemc.com.

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