The SEI REMC Podcast

What if one experience could open a door a young person never knew existed? 

A new friendship. A new interest. A little more confidence. Or maybe even a new dream for the future. 

In this episode of Watt's Up Wednesday, B.J. Myers welcomes Karlee Gable, Youth and Education Manager with Indiana Electric Cooperatives, to explore the opportunities electric cooperatives provide for young people across Indiana. 

From Youth Tour and Camp Kilowatt to Page Day and the student art contest, Karlee shares how these programs help students discover their potential, develop leadership skills, build friendships and experience things they might never have imagined. 

We're also celebrating some exciting news close to home! 

Kallie Riley of Switzerland County has been selected as one of just five students in Indiana to receive a 2026 Youth Power and Hope Award! This recognition honors young people who are already making a positive difference in their communities. We'll talk about the awards and why it's so important to recognize the contributions young people are making today—not just what they might accomplish in the future. 

And there's more good news for local students! Southeastern Indiana REMC's Board of Directors recently approved sponsorships for two students to attend Youth Tour and four students to attend Camp Kilowatt in 2027. 

As we begin November's theme, What We Pass Along, this conversation reminds us that investing in the next generation isn't just about providing opportunities. It's about offering encouragement, sharing experiences and helping young people recognize what's possible. 

🎧 This week's Member Question: 

Is there a young person in your life who might be ready for an opportunity they haven't considered yet? 

Sometimes all it takes is someone saying, "I think you'd be great at this. Why don't you give it a try?" 

Learn more about youth programs and upcoming application opportunities at www.seiremc.com. 

Because the opportunities we pass along today may help shape the leaders, neighbors and communities of tomorrow. 

#WattsUpWednesday #SoutheasternINREMC #NextGenerationOfPossibilities #WhatWePassAlong #YouthTour #CampKilowatt #YouthPowerAndHope #IndianaElectricCooperatives #YouthLeadership #ConcernForCommunity #ElectricCooperative #SoutheasternIndiana 

What does it really mean to be partof a community—not just do business in one?

Throughout National Co-op Month, we've been introducing you to Southeastern Indiana REMC employees who are making a difference beyond their everyday responsibilities. From supporting 4-H members at county fairs and creating a family-friendly Halloween safety event to sharing lifesaving electrical safety information, these stories remind usthat the cooperative difference is about more than providing electricity andfiber service.

In this solo episode of Watt's Up Wednesday, B.J. Myers reflects on the conversations we've shared throughout October and the people who bring our cooperative's commitment to community to life.

We also look back at REMC Community Day, when 20 Southeastern Indiana REMC employees volunteered at Versailles State Park on October 9, helping with vegetation management and brush clearing. Their efforts were part of a larger statewide initiative, with electric cooperatives across Indiana volunteering in their own communities todemonstrate one of the seven cooperative principles: Concern for Community.

Different cooperatives. Different projects. Different communities. But one shared purpose.

From a simple trunk-or-treat idea that grew into Safety Spooktacular to employees sharing their knowledge with students and first responders, this episode explores how individual talents, ideas and acts of service can grow into something much bigger when people work together.

As National Co-op Month comes to a close, B.J. leaves listeners with two questions:

What do you have that could help somebody else?

And where could you put it to use?

Maybe it's knowledge, experience, creativity, a willingness to volunteer—or simply an idea waiting for someone to take the first step.

Because being more than a utility isn't just something we say.

It's something we do.

#WattsUpWednesday #SoutheasternINREMC #MoreThanAUtility #CoopMonth #ConcernForCommunity #CooperativeDifference #ElectricCooperative #REMCCommunityDay #VersaillesStatePark #CommunityEngagement #SoutheasternIndiana

What would you do if you were involved in a vehicle accident and a power line came down on or around your car?

It’s something most of us hope we’ll never experience—but knowing what to do before it happens could make all the difference.

In this episode of Watt’s Up Wednesday, B.J. Myers sits down with Todd Huff and Josh Meyer, the Southeastern Indiana REMC employees who take our Live Line Demonstrations into the community.

Using specialized demonstration equipment available through Hoosier Energy, the team shows schools, 4-H groups, first responders and community organizations what electricity can do—and, more importantly, how to stay safe around it.

With Teen Driver Safety Week and Careers in Energy Week both taking place October 18–24, it’s the perfect time to talk about electrical safety and introduce listeners to some of the people who work around electricity every day.

In this episode:

• What happens during a Live Line Demonstration
• Common misconceptions about electricity and downed power lines
• Why you should always assume a downed line is energized
• What to do if power lines fall on or around your vehicle
• What to do if an immediate danger forces you to exit the vehicle
• How to safely help if you come upon an accident involving power lines
• Why electrical safety training is important for police, firefighters and EMTs
• How Todd and Josh found their way into the electric utility industry
• The training and safety mindset behind their work
• What they would tell young people considering a career in energy
• Why they take the time to share their knowledge with the community

Parents of young drivers: use this episode to start an important conversation. Ask your teen:

“What would you do if you were in an accident and a power line fell on your car?”

And if your school, 4-H club, fire department, police department, EMS organization or community group could benefit from a Live Line Demonstration, contact Southeastern Indiana REMC to learn more.

⚡ Request a Live Line Demonstration:

Live Line Safety Demonstration | SEIREMC
🚗 Electrical Safety & Downed Power Line Information:

800-737-4111

🎧 Listen now—and remember: Never assume a downed power line is safe. Stay back, keep others away and call for help.

#WattsUpWednesday #SoutheasternINREMC #WhenTheLinesComeDown #ElectricalSafety #TeenDriverSafetyWeek #CareersInEnergyWeek #LiveLineDemo #Lineworker #CoopMonth #ElectricCooperative #CommunitySafety 

What happens when an employee has an idea, others get behind it, and together they create something that brings the community together? 

Sometimes, it becomes a new tradition! 

In this episode of Watt’s Up Wednesday, B.J. Myers continues our National Co-op Month conversations with Robin Monday, Member Service Representative at Southeastern Indiana REMC, to talk about how a simple idea for a trunk-or-treat grew into our annual Safety Spooktacular. 

What started as an opportunity to bring families together for some Halloween fun has evolved into an event that combines costumes, candy, games, a hay maze and hands-on safety education. 

Robin shares how the event came together, the time and creativity her family has contributed, what we learned from the first year and what's in store for this year's celebration. 

We also talk about what happens when coworkers bring their different talents and ideas together—and why working for a cooperative can mean so much more than simply coming to work every day. 

🎃 Join us for the 2nd Annual Safety Spooktacular! 

Saturday, October 17, 2026 
5–8 p.m. | Southeastern Indiana REMC, Osgood 

• 5–6 p.m.: Not-so-spooky, sensory-friendly hour 

• 6–8 p.m.: More Halloween fun! 

• Trunk-or-treat, a bigger hay maze, games, safety activities, touch-a-truck and more! 

As we celebrate National Co-op Month, this episode reminds us that being part of a cooperative means more than providing electricity or fiber service. It means finding ways to connect with our neighbors, share our talents and make our communities better places to live. 

🎧 And after you listen, think about this week's Member Question: 

What's something our community needs? 

Maybe it's an event, a resource, an educational opportunity—or simply an idea waiting for someone to ask, “What if we tried this?” 

Because sometimes the best community traditions begin with one simple idea. 

#WattsUpWednesday #SoutheasternINREMC #MoreThanAPlaceToWork #CoopMonth #SafetySpooktacular #ElectricCooperative #CommunityEngagement #HalloweenFun #SoutheasternIndiana 

There’s a lot more behind a 4-H ribbon than what you see hanging in the exhibit hall.

Months of work. Early mornings. Responsibility. Problem-solving. Disappointment. Perseverance. Family support. And plenty of lessons that have very little to do with winning.

In this episode of Watt’s Up Wednesday, B.J. Myers kicks offNational Co-op Month with Jen Saner, Marketing Specialist, and Andrea Shuter, Joint-Use Coordinator and Easement Specialist, for a conversation about 4-H and the impact it has on young people and their families.

This summer, Southeastern Indiana REMC employees visited county fairs throughout our seven-county service territory. Jen spent time outside the REMC booth photographing 4-H members, visiting the barns and letting kids tell herabout the animals and projects they had worked so hard to prepare.

Andrea brings a different perspective. Her family is deeply involved in Dearborn County 4-H and raises and shows livestock each year. She takes us behind fair week to talk about the months of work that happen before an animalever enters the show ring—and the lessons that remain long after the fair is over.

In this episode, we talk about the responsibility that comes with 4-H, what kids learn when things don’t go as planned, the commitment families make during fair week, the way 4-H members look out for one another and why there truly is a project for just about everyone.

We also talk about why Southeastern Indiana REMC supports 4-H, including our 4-H reimbursement program, which provides eligible member families up to $20 per participant. Applications for the 2027 program are open through July31, 2027.

As we celebrate National 4-H Week, October 4–10, this episode is a reminder that the ribbon may be what we see—but confidence, responsibility, leadership and community are what young people carry with them.

🍀 Learn more about SEI REMC’s 4-H reimbursement program: seiremc.com/4h

🎧 And after you listen, think about this week’s Member Question: What did 4-H teach you?

Who has your back? And whose back do you have?

Throughout September, Watt's Up Wednesday has explored what it means to look out for one another - and we've discovered that it usually doesn't require a big or extraordinary gesture.

In this solo episode, B.J. Myers reflects on the people and stories we've heard throughout the month and the many different ways people take care of one another.

We've seen cooperatives share knowledge, resources and people. We've met volunteers who give their time to serve their communities. We've talked about employees making decisions with members in mind. And we've seen how a few cents contributed through Operation RoundUp can become backpacks, shoes, vision screenings and other meaningful help for our neighbors.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why looking out for someone often starts with simply noticing
• How small acts of kindness and service add up
• Why listening can sometimes be one of the best ways to help
• How thousands of small Operation RoundUp contributions become meaningful community grants
• The people working behind the scenes every day who may never receive recognition
• Why helping someone doesn't have to mean solving their problem
• How the cooperative model itself demonstrates the power of people working together

The challenge this week is simple:

Find one small way to look out for somebody else.

Check on a neighbor. Help a coworker. Donate something you no longer need. Volunteer. Make the phone call. Listen. Or simply ask someone how they're doing - and wait for the answer.

Because small acts of kindness and service don't stay small when enough of us are doing them.

🎧 Listen now - and then ask yourself: Who has your back? Have you told them lately that you appreciate it?

Sometimes looking out for one another means helping with the things many of us take for granted—a backpack for the first day of school, a warm coat for winter, a new pair of shoes or a little help when an unexpected emergency turns life upside down.

In this episode of Watt’s Up Wednesday, B.J. Myers sits down with Chris Denton and Mary Lou Schwipps of Samaritan’s Hope Chest in Milan to talk about the many ways the organization helps individuals and families throughout thecommunity.

Samaritan’s Hope Chest recently received a $2,500 Operation RoundUp grant from Southeastern Indiana REMC to help local elementary students start the school year with backpacks, school supplies, two new outfits, socks and shoes.

But back-to-school assistance is just one part of their work.

In this conversation, Chris shares:

• How Samaritan's Hope Chest serves individuals and families in the Milan community
• Why providing new clothing and shoes can mean so much to a child starting school
• How the $2,500 Operation RoundUp grant helped support their back-to-school project
• How their free store works and what people can find there
• How the organization helps with warm clothing, coats, emergency needs, utilities and assistance following house fires
• The ways they've supported local students through books, prom tuxedo rentals and other needs
• What their annual community Christmas project looks like
• How increasing needs and decreasing donations are affecting the organization
• Why grants have become increasingly important to continuing their work
• How community members can donate, volunteer and help

Samaritan’s Hope Chest depends entirely on the generosity of the community. And as families face increasing financial pressures, the organization is finding that the people who have traditionally supported its work are feeling those pressures, too.

It’s an important reminder that sometimes the people who are always helping others need a little help themselves.

🎧 Listen now to hear how small acts of generosity—including the few cents REMC members contribute through OperationRoundUp—can become something much bigger for a neighbor who needs it.

Learn More & Get Involved:
❤️ Samaritan’s Hope Chest: [email protected]
💡 Operation RoundUp: www.seiremc.com/operationroundup

#WattsUpWednesday #SoutheasternINREMC #SamaritansHopeChest#OperationRoundUp #MilanIndiana #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors#LookingOutForOneAnother #CommunitySpotlight #CooperativeDifference#ElectricCooperative

What does it really mean to put members first?

In this episode of Watt’s Up Wednesday, B.J. Myers sits down with Ron Barnhart, Southeastern Indiana REMC’s recently promoted Vice President of Member Services, to talk about his 13-year journey with the cooperative and the perspective he brings to his new leadership role.

Ron originally joined Southeastern Indiana REMC as GIS Coordinator, where he helped build and expand the cooperative’s mapping services. Although GIS wasbased within Engineering, the work connected him with Operations, Fiber and teams throughout the organization—giving him a firsthand look at just howinterconnected the cooperative really is.

Today, those mapping capabilities continue to evolve, putting better information and data into the hands of employees across the organization. And Ron is taking what he learned from working across departmental lines into his newest challenge: leading Member Services.

In this conversation, Ron shares:

• How Southeastern Indiana REMC's mapping capabilities have evolved over the past 13 years.
• Why GIS touches nearly every of the cooperative.
• What he learned from working alongside employees in Engineering, Operations, Fiber and other departments.
• Why the relationships he's built at REMC are his favorite part of the job.
• What Member Services means to him.
• Why he believes every decision should consider the impact on members.
• The importance of listening - even when the answer isn't easy.
• How cooperation between employees and departments ultimately leads to better member service.
• The kind of culture he hopes to build as a leader.
• Where he sees opportunities to continue improving the member experience.

Ron’s story is a reminder that looking out for members isn’t the responsibility of one department. Whether someone is working with maps and data, maintaining the electric system, answering the phone or making decisions behind the scenes, every role eventually connects back to the people we serve.

🎧 Listen now—and then tell us: Whatdoes great service look like to you?

#WattsUpWednesday #SoutheasternINREMC #PuttingMembersFirst#MemberServices #MemberOwned #CooperativeDifference #ElectricCooperative#EmployeeSpotlight #LookingOutForOneAnother

What happens to those old eyeglasses you drop into a LionsClub collection box? And how does a new vision screening camera help identify potential vision problems in children?

In this episode of Watt’s Up Wednesday, B.J. Myerssits down with Jack and Robbie Everage, members of the Versailles Lions Club to talk about the many ways this longtime organization looks out for the community.

The club recently received an Operation RoundUp grantfrom Southeastern Indiana REMC to purchase a new vision screening camera.

We’ll learn how the camera is used, why early vision screening matters, and how REMC members’ small contributions are helping make those screenings possible.

We’ll also follow the journey of donated eyeglasses—from thecollection boxes you see around town to how Lions Clubs put those glasses to use helping others.

And, of course, September in Versailles means one thing: Pumpkin Show! Our guests give us a preview of this year’s event and share what you need to know if you want to do more than just attend.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The Lions Club's new vision screening camera and the Operation RoundUp grant that helped purchase it
• What happens to used eyeglasses donated through Lions Club collection boxes
• The grants, projects and other ways the Versailles Lions Club supports the community
• What to expect at this year's Versailles Pumpkin Show
• Where to purchase ride wristbands
• How to enter Pumpkin Show contests - including the Giant Pumpkin Contest
• How to register for the parade
• Special entertainment, food vendors and the other Pumpkin Show highlights
• How to volunteer with the club or become a Lions Club member

Whether they’re helping someone see more clearly, supporting another local organization, or bringing the community together for one of Ripley County’s favorite fall traditions, the Versailles Lions Club demonstrates what can happen when people simply ask:

“How can I help?”

🎧 Listen now—and if you have an old pair of glasses tucked away in a drawer, this episode might inspire you to finally put them to good use.

🦁Versailles Lions Club/Volunteer Information: www.facebook.com/Versailles-Lions-Club

email: [email protected]

#WattsUpWednesday #SoutheasternINREMC #VersaillesLionsClub #VersaillesPumpkinShow #OperationRoundUp #CommunitySpotlight#LookingOutForOneAnother #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #ElectricCooperative #RipleyCountyIndiana

What does it mean to lead—and what happens when cooperatives work together to look out for the people they serve?

In this episode of Watt's Up Wednesday, B.J. Myers sits downwith Melissa Menchhofer, President of the Southeastern Indiana REMC Board of Directors. Melissa was elected Board President in May 2025, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the cooperative's history.

Melissa also represents Southeastern Indiana REMC on theBoard of Indiana Electric Cooperatives (IEC), our statewide cooperative association, where she serves on the Executive Committee.

During this conversation, Melissa shares:

• What first inspired her to serve on the Southeastern Indiana REMC Board
• What she's learned since becoming Board President
• Why listening is such an important part of leadership
• How Indiana's electric cooperatives share knowledge, resources, and support
• Why having a collective voice matters for electric cooperative members
• What she's learned from working with cooperative leaders across Indiana
• What Cooperation Among Cooperatives means to her personally

From mutual aid following major storms to sharing expertiseand advocating for cooperative members, this episode explores how Southeastern Indiana REMC can remain proudly local while also benefiting from being part of something much bigger.

Because whether it's neighbors helping neighbors orcooperatives helping cooperatives, sometimes we're simply stronger together.

🎧 Listen now—and then tell us: What's one way someone has looked out for you?

#WattsUpWednesday #SoutheasternINREMC #StrongerTogether #CooperativeLeadership #IndianaElectricCooperatives #CooperationAmongCooperatives #ElectricCooperative #CooperativeDifference #MemberOwned #LookingOutForOneAnother