May and June often remind us of our relationships. We seem to be inundated with graduations, births, weddings and important anniversaries.  As an organization, we have the E&O, Apprentice Rodeo and Annual Conference, which serve as our family reunion activities. They are times when we reconvene with various groups, network and strengthen friendships. For 50 years, NEPPA has been used to create community and the strong bonds that communities provide.

NEPPA’s relations with our members’ crews and engineers were reinvigorated this past month by a great Engineering and Operations Conference. Dan Folding and his committee did an outstanding job and Mike Coppellotti facilitated the Engineering Roundtable. For those unable to attend, the event was a great success with educational sessions, demos and great vendors. Participants had plenty of time to network and it was a great demonstration of community.

Last week our community lost one of NEPPA’s great friends and outstanding legislative affairs resources. Phil Sweeney, Light Commission Chairman of Marblehead Electric, passed away on May 22nd. A regular figure at the Annual Conference and NEPPA’s annual congressional visits, Phil was no wallflower. He was well thought of and connected in the Democratic Party of Massachusetts. We would often find him having sidebars with a House Representative or Senator in DC. Having a great sense of humor he would banter with the best of them. While some can and did argue with his politics no one argued with his love of the industry or his genuine good nature. He will be missed. 

June will also see the retirement of Barbara Grimes of Burlington Electric. For the few of you who might not know Barb well, during her career she has:

• Served as Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Training for the State of Vermont. 
• Served as Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs in the Agency of Commerce. 
• Served five terms in the Vermont State House of Representatives. 
• Chaired the Vermont Interactive Television Council 
• Chaired the Housing Vermont Board
• Served on the Board of the United Way of Chittenden County 
• Served as a member of VELCO’s Board of Directors 

As the current President of NEPPA’s Board of Directors, Barb has been crucial to the development of NEPPA’s Training Center and my hiring. Don’t blame her for that last one, it was a group decision! As she worked her way through various NEPPA volunteer roles she also served as Vice Chair of the Legislative and Resolutions Committee for the American Public Power Association.  Her dedication and devotion has transformed public power both regionally and nationally. Working closely with her for almost three years has been a great asset. Her no nonsense business approach was beneficial to our decision making process. Barb has the rare ability to turn this business style on and off and relate to people on a personal level.

Barb retires from Burlington on June 30th. She will complete her term with NEPPA as President Emeritus at our Annual Conference. 

Perhaps for me and the rest of the staff, this is the most difficult part of our jobs. We get to know, work with and be friend all of these great folks and many times these relationships continue post-NEPPA, but sometimes outside circumstances they do not. So, on that note I would like to take a moment and say something we do not say enough, thank you all for sharing your time, thoughts and passions with us. You have made us the unique community known as NEPPA.
 

Finally, congratulations to  Savas Danos on his retirement from Littleton Electric Light and Water Departments. Savas was crucial to the future of NEPPA; in 2010, he stepped to the plate and guaranteed a home for NEPPA for 20 years!