membership and leadership worked as a team. I could always count on all of you to keep the Association moving forward.

Transcription

1 A SSOCIATION NEWSLETTER DECEMBER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RETIRING & NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HIRED! After 26 years, Diane will be retiring at the end of the year and will be turning over the reins of the Association to the Blue Flame s new Executive Director, Annette Henkel, with MUI (Minnesota Utility Investors). Annette and her staff will be providing services to the Blue Flame starting January 1, Diane was hired in April of 1992 and has seen many changes in the Association over the years. In those years, she has formed great relationships and friendships with the members and has helped to guide and give continuity to the Association. A NOTE FROM DIANE Party The Blue Flame is having a get-together on Thursday, December 20 from 1:30 3:30 p.m. to celebrate Diane s retirement! It will be at the Park Tavern, 3401 Louisiana Ave S, St. Louis Park. Stop in for a minute to say Hi or stay for a while! Complimentary hors D oeuvres and cash bar. Bring stories and memorabilia you have to share! The Blue Flame celebrated its 46th anniversary this year and has gone through several stages over the years; from operating out of a shoebox, then into the computer era, and now moving into the social media era. Exciting times ahead! 2019 Membership Dues Coming Soon! Invoices for the 2019 membership dues will be mailed out mid-to-late December. Watch your mailbox for your invoice! If you don t get it or it was sent to you in error, please let Diane know at or dswintek@blueflame.org Membership benefits include: Your company name and website listed on our website, networking opportunities, member rates to association events, advertising opportunities, opportunities to promote at the Minnesota State Fair in the Blue Flame Lodge or at seminars, etc. Please renew! Our members are our strength! Your dues enable the Minnesota Blue Flame to continue to support the natural gas industry in Minnesota. Thank you! To the Blue Flame Board & Membership December 31st is coming quickly and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the years of support and friendship you have given me as your Executive Director. There are no finer members than you! It has been a privilege and honor to work with all of you over the past twenty-six years and I will miss you all! The Blue Flame has always been more than just a job to me, it s been family. You are not just members, you are my friends! I believe in the Blue Flame, its mission, and its members. Over the years, I have seen it change, grow, go through good times and tough times but always, the membership and leadership worked as a team. I could always count on all of you to keep the Association moving forward. The Blue Flame and its members have heart and determination! When I started in 1992, there were many state Blue Flame Gas Associations. Over the years, they have all gone by the wayside but the Minnesota Blue Flame keeps on going! Why? Because of amazing members like you! Your support and participation in the Blue Flame keeps it going. My job has been so rewarding and I will cherish all the memories I have made with all of you and being a part of the Minnesota Blue Flame. I am looking forward to retiring and having more time to spend with my family and having lots more time at the cabin. This will be the first summer in 26 years that my summer isn t consumed with planning and coordinating events. I am looking forward to relaxing at the cabin and visiting the Blue Flame Lodge at the State Fair vs. running it! Thank you again and wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2 2 MINNESOTA BLUE FLAME GAS ASSOCIATION MEET YOUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR! ANNETTE HENKEL Welcome to Annette Henkel, the new Blue Flame Executive Director who will be taking over January 1st, 2019!!! Annette is the and CEO of Minnesota Utility Investors (MUI) and will also be taking over the Executive Director duties for the Minnesota Blue Flame. She has been with MUI since 2001 and is a graduate from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN and resides in Mendota Heights. Annette and her staff are ready and excited to work for the Blue Flame and its members! Welcome Annette! New Blue Flame Office Address, and Phone Number-January 1st, 2019 Effective January 1, 2019, the Blue Flame will have a new address and phone number. Please update your records to reflect the Blue Flame s new address of 413 Wacouta St, Suite 230, St. Paul, MN Annette s address is ahenkel@blueflame.org The new Blue Flame phone number will be coming soon! Ballots are Tallied! 2019 Board of Directors Officers: : Greg Olson Xcel Energy Vice- Jeremy Fischer Great Plains Natural Gas Secretary-Treasurer Eric Schlacks City of Duluth Public Works & Utilities/ ComfortSystems Directors: Todd Berreman CenterPoint Energy Paul Bertucci Franklin Energy Brian Hammarsten BDH Consulting, LLC Jim Hoch Standby Systems Mike Morgan John J. Morgan Company Shawn Walls Minnesota Energy Resources The Minnesota Blue Flame thanks these directors for volunteering their time and talents to help direct and lead the Association in 2019! upcoming shows Energy Design Conference & Expo February 25-27, 2019 at the DECC (Duluth Entertainment Convention Center). For more information: Early bird registration ends February 1, Home & Garden Show February and March 1-3, 2019 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. For more information: Mark Your 2019 Calendars Tuesday, June 4 Blue Flame Walleye Fishing Event Mille Lacs Lake Thursday, June 13 Blue Flame Golf Event Cannon Falls Golf Club Thursday, Aug. 22 Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2 Minnesota State Fair TBD Commercial/Industrial Fall Energy Conservation Conference

3 NATURAL GAS: YOUR BEST ENERGY VALUE 3 UNPLUGGED Call Before You Clear Educates Contractors And Consumers On Cross Bores AMERICAN GAS, NOVEMBER 2018 CenterPoint Energy has revived its Call Before You Clear promotion to remind customers and contractors to check with the utility before addressing a clogged or backed-up sewer line. With Call Before You Clear, CenterPoint Energy along with its utility partners across the state-hopes to raise awareness about the possible presence of intersecting underground natural gas and sewer lines, as well as the potential dangers of blindly addressing sewer-line issues without first checking for natural gas lines. Call Before You Clear got its start about eight years ago, after a plumber struck another utility s gas line and caused an incident. CenterPoint Energy felt a communications campaign was needed to address this issue and they invited other utilities to join them in the campaign. QUOTE OF THE QUARTER Retirement is not the end of the road; it is the beginning of the open highway. Author: Unknown Those other utilities now include Xcel Energy, Minnesota Energy Resources and Greater Minnesota Gas, Southwest Gas in Arizona, California and Nevada, and Ameren Illinois are also members of the campaign. For the complete article, visit INTERESTED IN JOINING THE ASSOCIATION? Associate memberships are $200 per year. Join the team now! Join the team now! Benefits to joining: Website exposure on Blue Flame website (Natural Gas Product Finder), Networking Opportunities, Industry Contacts, Advertising Opportunities, Member rates (reduced rates) for Association events, seminars, etc., and many more. INTERESTED IN JOINING A COMMITTEE? Contact the office for more information. The State Fair/Residential Committee is in need of additional members, if you can help, please contact Annette at ahenkel@blueflame.org Have something to submit? change? If you would like to submit information to be considered for the next member newsletter or have an change, contact Annette at ahenkel@blueflame.org

4 4 MINNESOTA BLUE FLAME GAS ASSOCIATION Steam Boilers Complete Systems Components Parts in Stock Sales & Service Matt Haley amssteamproducts.com Stone Creek Drive, Suite 140 Chanhassen, MN TOM DANLEY GENERAL MANAGER, SERVICE 909 MONTREAL CIRCLE ST. PAUL, MN C: EMERGENCY SERVICE: E: O: Hussong JimJim Hussong w w w. ozk y hoez ay th.ec ao tm. c o m w wk w. tdanley@harriscompany.com Save energy & Money Natural gas Rebates & Programs are available for residential and business customers. Visit cashrebatesnow.com to learn more ME Residential Rebate Ad_Final.indd 1 3/6/15 3:36 PM P.O. Box 577 P.O. Box Industrial Park Dr. 204 Industrial Park Dr. Lakefield, MN Lakefield, MN jim@kozyheat.com jim@kozyheat.com T: F: T: F:

5 5 NATURAL GAS: YOUR BEST ENERGY VALUE YOUR BUSINESS IS UNIQUE. HOW YOU SAVE ENERGY WILL BE TOO. Visit xcelenergy.com/business to learn more. 3.5x2_MN-BlueFlame_P04.indd 1 11/21/16 2:30 PM