I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving! I would like to devote this article to the NEPPA community. One of Webster’s Dictionary’s definitions of community is: "a unified body of individuals such as a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society." While this describes one level of NEPPA members it is a little sterile in reference to the actual spirit and workings of our relationships.

In 1965 the New England public power community came together to reinforce their bonds and to strengthen their individual operations. This was prior to the creation of the EPA and OSHA. New England public power communities realized that they were all in the same boat and that in an effort to provide education and to protect public power from growing privatization, the common interest needed a place to house, organize and direct public power utilities on crucial industry issues. In 1971 and 1973 when OSHA and the EPA came into being, these common bonds were crucial to the survival of public power in New England.

As we begin to celebrate our 50th Anniversary it is a great time to reflect on how NEPPA’s mission and offerings have grown. Throughout 2015 we will attempt to do justice to the people, events and actions that have allowed the public power community to flourish for the past 50 years. From our origins to our four prongs of services today (Education, Government Relations, Mutual Aid, and Communications), we will recognize the steps that got us here.

Our celebration/homage to the past will be integrated into all of our 2015 interactions. In this publication you will find requests for historical stories, photos, equipment and memorabilia to help us record and reflect the milestones. It is crucial that you respond and help us provide the most well-rounded retrospective we can.

As a newbie who has been a part of other communities who have celebrated significant anniversaries, I can tell you that I expect that many of the moments we will recognize will probably evoke emotions from the personal investments that we and our predecessors had in creating them. These moments and history are the foundation of our community or (dare I say) family. Like the police and fire communities, there exists a special bond of brotherhood. Like the Thanksgiving dinner we all just shared with our individual families, as we go through 2015 when we recognize these moments, we will remember all of the love, fights, triumphs and failures that families experience.

These moments are what create our bonds. These moments maybe state significant times when the ties between the six states were tested or reinforced. Like snapshots they will record our ever-changing family and communities. So, I ask you to take a few moments and review our requests for stories, photos, etc. and share with this family what you have. We will take good care of what we receive and return them to you in the same condition.

Additionally, there will be plenty of opportunity for you to participate. Please watch our 2015 e-Newslines and website for polls and results on what you and your brothers and sisters find significant for us to remember or reflect upon. We want to represent every element of our community/family, so please participate.