Connections

8 ALABAMA POWER SERVICE ORGANIZATION In Touch Editor: Donna Cope 205-257-1951 Art director: Clyde Adams 205-257-2632 APSO director: Tan Grayson 205-257-4611 APSO executive director: Hallie Bradley 205-257-4245 About our cover Delivering smiles, a cheery word and a warm meal are only a fraction of the myriad ways that members of the Alabama Power Service Organization help our residents. In September, Eastern Division APSO's Chris Jones (left) and Diana Price (right) brought sunshine and a hot lunch to I.V. Roberts of Anniston while delivering Meals on Wheels. Whether working in a soup kitchen, revitalizing a children's advocacy center or helping to stock cans in a community food bank, APSO is all about neighbors helping neighbors – assisting with critical needs throughout Alabama, to strengthen our state. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha schedule to get the work done," said Thomas, 2013 co-president of Southeast/Farley Chapter. "It was time-consuming. The school system really needed the investment of our time and work to get this completed before school started." Southern 'Stuffs the Bus' Several weeks before the start of school in Lee County, Southern APSO members were already working to help low- income schools. Chemical Technician Ethel Pate said employees at Plant Franklin, near Smiths, Ala., were excited to help. Pate said Southern APSO members wanted to get involved, similar to other APSO chapters' activities on behalf of kids in low-income school systems. Therein, the plant's first "Stuff the Bus" campaign was born, to provide school supplies for three schools around Lee County: Loachapoka Elementary and High schools, located in a rural area outside Auburn; Baker Elementary School in Muskogee County, near Plant Franklin; and Wacoochee Elementary in Salem. Using a list made by teachers, Pate said, "We bought copier and college-ruled paper, binders, crayons, pens and pencils." Southern Division APSO volunteers loaded supplies, delivering truckloads to the schools. Their final delivery was made just in time for the new school year. "We took the last group of materials to Wacoochee on Friday, Aug. 9," she said. Western readies tomorrow's leaders It's critical to Alabama's future to ensure that our young people in our state are properly developed, so they can be their best – and be strong leaders for the future. In response, Western Division APSO called on 53 members to assist with the 2014 Youth Leadership Conference on April 15 at the Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa. Market Specialist Derek Monk served as project chair for the event that focuses on career information for junior high students. About 440 students attended. "We helped organize the event, setting up keynote speakers who could share from their careers, providing valuable tidbits for students about how to be the best they can be, to inspire them," said Western APSO's Monk. Alabama Power speakers included Western Division Vice President Mark Crews and Workforce Development Specialist Tom McNeal, who shared important job training information. The teens also had the opportunity to meet with college recruiters from several universities. "Anything you can do to help, once you have children of your own, being able to give back tends to mean more and more," said Monk, who has a son and a daughter. Fifty-three APSO volunteers gave more than 530 hours of service. By Donna Cope APSO Chapter Reports Britt (left), with Thomas and her project co-chair Melinda Boswell, senior customer service representative - Enterprise Office, are thrilled Southeast APSO volunteers' work allowed Enterprise City Schools to insert barcodes to textbooks before school's start on Aug. 6. Glenn White (left) and David Fourhman of Plant Franklin, a subchapter of Southern Division APSO, delivered truckloads of school supplies, accepted by Baker Elementary volunteer Pamela Seldon. Western Division APSO members served lunch and assisted teen attendees at the 2014 Youth Leadership Conference in Tuscaloosa in April.

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