Register today for 2024 Electric Operations Conference & Expo: MEUW and the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA), along with the Wisconsin Utility Suppliers Association (WUSA), will hold the 2024 Electric Operations Conference & Expo at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells on Jan. 10-12. Employees at all levels are welcome and encouraged to attend this year’s event, which features a full agenda with a great lineup of speakers, including best-selling author and motivational speaker Scott Welle who will give a talk on “Outperforming the Norm.” There will also be breakout sessions on a wide variety of important topics, as well as an Expo of WUSA members that will run for five plus hours on Thursday, Jan. 11.
There are three different options for registration passes – Kilowatt, Megawatt, and Gigawatt. The Gigawatt pass provides access to all sessions on both days, the Welcome Reception, the Expo, and all meals (except for the Apprentice Graduation Banquet, which requires a separate registration). However, those most interested in the trade show, for example, can opt to purchase a Megawatt pass, which offers access to the Wednesday Welcome Reception and Thursday’s conference sessions, meals, and the Expo. MEUW members who register by Friday, Dec. 15 will only pay $300 for the Gigawatt pass or $200 for the Megawatt pass. There are also special rates for retired public power employees who wish to attend to reconnect with former colleagues and keep up with what’s happening in the electric utility industry.
Full details about the event — including the preliminary conference agenda and information about the Apprentice Graduation Banquet — are available here. Don’t forget to book your hotel room today to take advantage of the reduced rate.
The November edition of Live Lines was distributed last week, including a look back at MEUW’s 95th Anniversary Celebration events. In case you missed it, you can find it online here.
National Apprenticeship Week Spotlights Utility Career Opportunities: During this 9th Annual National Apprenticeship Week from Nov. 13-19, MEUW is raising awareness of the high-quality career opportunities available through Registered Apprenticeships, such as the Electric Line Worker Apprenticeship Program offered through the Wisconsin Technical College System and MEUW.
MEUW is proud to partner with Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) to offer a four-year registered program. Click here to read the MEUW news release distributed last week. Kendal Schmidt, Electric Line Worker Apprenticeship Instructor at CVTC, says the program is ideal for students who want both classroom instruction and hands-on training. And the partnership allows municipal utilities to join together and share the cost of the Apprenticeship Program.
The program requires one week of training each quarter at the technical college along with about 8,000 hours of on-the-job training over four years.
Register today for Leading Through Coaching: Join us on Wednesday, Dec. 6 in Mauston for our final Municipal Utility Leadership Certificate Program session of the year, Leading Through Coaching. As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, we’re offering a one-day leadership development course focused on the importance of effective coaching as an essential leadership skill for utility leaders. Participants will take away practical ideas they can apply to setting a good example and becoming a leader who gets the most from others. Click here for more information and to register.
New Utility Planning and Risk Management course now available: As part of MEUW’s professional development programming, we’re launching a new one-day course to focus on utility planning and risk management. The course will explain the basics of strategic and operational planning, why planning matters, and how well-thought-out plans and careful assessments of risks can contribute to long-term success.
Join your municipal utility colleagues in Mauston on February 14 for this critical session. Full details and registration are available here.
Underground Facility Locating Workshops registration is open: MEUW is hosting a one-day workshop designed to cover the National Utility Locating Contractors Association (NUCLA) Professional Competency Standard Manual Units 1-3. Material is first covered in the classroom and then applied in the field. Attendees learn locator theory, how to use a transmitter and receiver, how to overcome common obstacles, and how to evaluate difficult situations encountered in the field. Full details are available here.
Two dates are available: Thursday, March 14 in Marshfield, and Tuesday, March 19 in Two Rivers. Register for the one that work best for you.
Happy Thanksgiving: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, we will not distribute the Weekly on Nov. 21.
All of us at MEUW are grateful for your support as we focus on our mission to unify and strengthen Wisconsin’s community-owned utilities. We send best wishes to you and your family for a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday.