Country JANUARY 2022 - Serving up more than food GERALDINE GOLDADE: KEM Electric Cooperative
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KEM Electric Cooperative, Linton, N.D. JANUARY 2022
GERALDINE GOLDADE:
Serving up
more than food
JANUARY 2022
IN THIS ISSUE
• Serving up more than food
• Scholarships available
• Happy New Year!
www.kemelectric.com | KEM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE | JANUARY 2022 C1
KEM
Electric Cooperative
GERALDINE GOLDADE:
Serving up more than food
BY ANNE HANSEN
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) food had to
be picked up at the nearby towns.
Goldade recalled several times
where she would drive a grain truck
into town to deliver grain to the
elevator for the family farm, then
pick up food for the school and head
back home.
A gathering place
It seems the kitchen is a natural
Odessa Country School had four buildings, with the kitchen and lunchroom located place to gather. It not only provides
I
behind the classrooms. nourishment for the body, but
t has been said that food brings she had attended until eighth grade. gives rest, entertainment and builds
people together and nourishes The choice to return to the school for friendship. This was the case at the
the soul. If that holds true, one employment was easy for Goldade, Odessa Country School.
can only imagine the amount of love as she simply put it, “I liked cooking Goldade enjoyed preparing and
and nourishment Geraldine Goldade, and the school needed a cook.” serving meals to those attending
a newly retired school cook, gave Being close to home, Goldade school, yet she gained the most
throughout her 37 years of service. would jump on her motorcycle and enjoyment from the simple
From her early days in Odessa, drive three miles to the school, where conversations with the students.
to her career move to Strasburg, to she would then prepare breakfast and She was able to visit with students
farming and raising six children, lunch for the 50 students – some of one-on-one, as she recalled, “In the
Goldade has spent most of her life those students were her own siblings original Odessa County School, there
serving others. and, later in life, her children. were four separate buildings. The
Goldade was not fazed by cooking building where the kitchen was had
Beginning in Odessa for a larger crowd, but noted she the only running water. Because of
It was in her home economics needed to ensure there was enough that, I would often see the students
class where Goldade’s passion for to satisfy the hungry students. as they came in to use the restrooms
cooking flourished. “Students had a bigger appetite and students would peek into the
“There was something about when I began cooking, mostly kitchen and visit about what I was
preparing the meals that I enjoyed,” because the majority of those planning to make for lunch that day.”
she said. students had morning chores – like
That passion continued in 1973, milking cows – before they came to
when 19-year-old Goldade began school,” she said.
working at Odessa Country School. “The cooking was very simple in
The school had a rural Hague Odessa,” Goldade said. “We had one
address and was situated 19 miles refrigerator, one chest-type freezer
southeast of Linton, and 12.5 miles and one electric stove.”
northeast of Strasburg. In addition to equipment, the food
“We were right in the middle of was simple as well, Goldade said.
all the little towns, including Hauge, “The food that was served came
Wishek, Zeeland and Strasburg,” from many sources. Some people
Goldade explained. would donate their garden produce,
The school was familiar to as well as a lot of USDA commodity
Goldade, as it was the same school food,” she said.
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KEM
Electric Cooperative
Returning to the kitchen the school.
In 1974, Geraldine married “From a simple salad for the salad
Michael Goldade. As they began their bar to a complex holiday meal for
family in 1977, Geraldine stepped students and parents – Geraldine has
away from Odessa Country School helped mold me into the cook that
to raise her family. A little over 10 I am today. Without her help and
years later, Geraldine returned to encouragement, I don’t think I would
the kitchen. have had the courage to take on her
Things had changed during her position when she retired. The past
time away, as the Odessa Country eight years with Geraldine have been
School grew smaller and, due to the a blessing,” Baumgartner said.
upkeep of the buildings, the school New challenges would arise
had moved locations to the basement throughout the years that called for
of the local church. Eventually, creative cooking, including more Retired school cook Geraldine Goldade
fed many students, including her own
the school closed permanently, food sensitivity and allergies, stricter siblings and children, during her 37-year
and the district was split, with guidelines and COVID-19, noted career at Odessa Country School and
various students traveling to nearby Valerie Scheer, Strasburg Public Strasburg Public School.
public schools. School administrative assistant. “We were able to make the best
A year after the closure, another “She never complained of those out of it and work creatively,” she
opportunity arose for Geraldine – changes – whether it was new said. “We would mask up, make sack
an opening for a part-time cook at sodium guidelines, whole grain or lunches and have yardsticks on the
the Strasburg Public School. In the portion size changes and all the floors to ensure we were staying six
beginning, it was an adjustment to paperwork that went with her daily feet apart.”
cook for a school five times the size responsibilities. She adapted to
of Odessa Country School. the changes with a smile. She was a Looking ahead
“I remember opening up the hardworking, reliable co-worker that In late 2021, Geraldine retired
school cookbook to make cookies, I will miss.” from the Strasberg Public School. It
and the recipe calling for 24 eggs,” Cooking during the pandemic was a hard decision for her, as she
Geraldine said with a smile. “I had was unlike anything Geraldine had truly enjoyed what she did.
to double-check to make sure that it previously experienced. “It never felt like a chore to me, I
wasn’t a mistake.”
It didn’t take long for Geraldine
to get back into the swing of things,
cooking for over 250 students daily.
In 2008, she would advance to the
head cook and begin implementing
new programs for the students, as
well as being a mentor to those cooks
who followed.
“I’ll never forget the first day I
walked into the kitchen at Strasburg
Public School to be a substitute cook
— not knowing what I was going to
do as I only had cooking experience
from being at home,” said Amanda
Baumgartner, cook at Strasburg
Public School. “Little did I know that
I was about to learn some amazing
lessons from Geraldine Goldade.”
Through the years, Geraldine
has taught many, including Geraldine Goldade would occasionally pick up food for the Odessa Country School,
Baumgartner, how to cook for where she cooked, in a grain truck, after delivering grain from the family farm to the
elevator in town.
www.kemelectric.com | KEM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE | JANUARY 2022 C3
KEM
Electric Cooperative
quite enjoyed it,” she said.
Although she misses the students,
she is looking forward to this new
chapter in her life.
“I have six children and 25
grandkids that I am looking forward
to spending more time with,”
she noted.
She continues to cater for
weddings and events and spends time
volunteering in the community.
The Strasburg Public School kitchen
staff adapted to changes during the
pandemic, wearing masks, making
sack lunches for students and using
yardsticks on the floor to maintain a
6-foot distance.
Geraldine’s most requested recipes
Cauliflower Broccoli Salad Three-layer Rice Krispies Bars
8 oz. bacon, cooked and chopped 1 cup butter
3 cups cauliflower 2 10-oz. bags marshmallows
3 cups broccoli florets 1 1/4 cup Rice Krispies
1 cup shredded cheese ½ cup sugar
½ cup red sweet onion, chopped ¾ cup corn syrup
1/4 cup sunflower seeds ¾ cup peanut butter
⅓ cup dried cherries or cranberries 1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup green grapes 2 T. peanut butter
1 cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream Melt the butter with the marshmallows. Mix in
⅓ cup sugar 1 cup Rice Krispies, then press in cake pan. For
Dash of salt and pepper the second layer, boil sugar and corn syrup. As
soon as it boiled, remove from stovetop and
In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, sour mix in peanut butter. Finally, melt chocolate
cream, sugar, salt and pepper. Put mixture chips with 2 T. peanut butter and add to
in a bowl with cauliflower, broccoli, cheese, the top.
onion, seeds, dried fruit and grape mixture.
Meatballs Mix ground beef, minced onion, salt and
5 lbs. ground beef pepper together. Moisten 6 slices of bread in
1/4 cup minced onion water and mix with eggs, milk and ground
dash of salt and pepper beef mixture. Shape mixture into golf ball
2 eggs size and brown in pan, then place in roaster
½ cup milk and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Add
6 slices of bread (or gluten-free oatmeal) brown gravy and serve with mashed potatoes.
C4 JANUARY 2022 | KEM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE | www.kemelectric.com
KEM
Electric Cooperative
MANAGER’S MESSAGE:
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! We wish We are aided by the use of technology, which continues
you and yours a safe, healthy to play an important role. Holding virtual board and annual
and prosperous new year! meetings is just one way we continue to find the beneficial
It is this time of year that use of technology can help our cooperatives.
evokes comfort and nostalgia, In addition to helping members today, we’re focusing on
recalling family gatherings and the future. We continued to have a reliable and financially
traditions and often is a time for sound year and expect the same for the future. At the end of
us to reflect on the past year. the day, we are committed to you and the communities we
Today and every day, I’m serve.
grateful for my own family At the heart of all we do are the members we proudly
and my co-op family. At KEM serve. Looking back, I’m grateful for so many wonderful
Travis Kupper Electric Cooperative, our team community partners and for the positive impact we can con-
feels a strong connection to our tinue to make.
community and our members, because we live here, too. Speaking on behalf of our team at KEM Electric, we know
This past year, we were driven by the motto, “Together we the future will be bright, because of you. During this new
all make a powerful difference,” which was also the theme of year, we wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and pros-
our annual meeting. perity.
The motto shines a light on how together we not only We look forward to serving you in 2022.
make a difference, but we accomplish more than we would
independently and do so in a safe manner. We continued
to work in our new normal and placed a heavy focus on the
safety of our employees to ensure our workforce was able to
be there for our members.
Planning to build or upgrade? BY ANNE HANSEN
W
hether you are looking to build a new structure This year, it is especially important due to the global
or make changes to an existing structure, supply chain disruptions, Nagel noted.
it is important to contact KEM Electric “We want to ensure your building project or upgrade
Cooperative in the early planning stages. goes as smoothly as possible, and that is why it is
“Each year, we help our members with their important to call us in the early stages,” he said.
construction upgrades and new builds,” said Dale Nagel,
line superintendent at KEM Electric Cooperative. Building new?
“Projects can range from pasture wells to grain storage, Are you planning to build a new structure on your
new outbuildings, houses and businesses,” Nagel said. property? Follow these tips to achieve energy efficiency:
“For projects of all sizes, it is important to contact your • Location matters. If possible, carefully consider where
local cooperative.” you build your shop or barn. Consider drainage,
By doing so, we can help you confirm the viability of sun exposure and how the building may affect
your project. your neighbors.
“Our engineering department can verify whether we can • Start with a sustainable design plan. A sustainable
serve additional load in your area and the availability and design plan, according to the U.S. General
cost of equipment and materials,” Nagel said. Services Administration, includes the ability to use
Information that will be needed to share with the environmentally preferable products; protect and
cooperative includes the type of upgrade or new build, conserve water; enhance indoor environmental quality;
location, timeline and power requirements. and optimize operational and maintenance practices.
“If you are unsure of this information, work with an • Choose efficient building methods. Pole barns offer
electrician that can contact us,” Nagel said. reliable shelter without costly excavation, concrete
foundations or general site disruption.
www.kemelectric.com | KEM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE | JANUARY 2022 C5
KEM
Electric Cooperative
KEM Electric supports students with scholarships
K
EM Electric Cooperative takes pride in assisting The co-op will also award one $500 scholarship to a
with the development of rural leadership through graduating senior from a homeschool setting, GED setting
our scholarship program. We feel it’s important to or a school outside of our service area. Please contact
help finance our local students’ educational journeys by KEM Electric if interested.
offering scholarships to qualifying seniors.
We are happy to continue our updated program $1,000 scholarship sponsored
to include more scholarship opportunities to our by Basin Electric Power Cooperative
graduating seniors. The applicants must be U.S. citizens KEM Electric will award a $1,000 scholarship to a
and dependents of KEM Electric Cooperative members. student who is already enrolled or planning to enroll
All scholarships will be awarded during the 2021-22 in a full-time graduate or undergraduate program. The
school year. student must attend an accredited two-year or four-year
college, university or vocational/technical school. All
$500 scholarships available post-secondary students whose parent(s)/guardian(s) are
through area high schools members of KEM Electric are eligible to apply.
KEM Electric Cooperative will award eight $500
scholarships to qualified applicants whose parent(s) Luck-of-the-draw scholarships
or guardian(s) are members of the co-op. School KEM Electric will award two $500 luck-of-the-draw
representatives from Ashley, Wishek, Zeeland, Strasburg, scholarships to be drawn at our annual meeting. All
Linton, HMB, Kidder County and Napoleon will select high school seniors who are dependents of KEM Electric
one graduating senior to receive the funds. members and have not previously been chosen for a
Interested in applying? Students should contact their co-op scholarship are eligible. Students must attend our
school counselor for information. The schools will annual meeting and be accompanied with at least one
then forward each recipient’s name to KEM Electric. parent or guardian, and will be required to RSVP before
Applications are available at area schools, at the Linton the meeting.
office or on KEM Electric’s website. The deadline to apply
is Feb. 11.
Download the applications
at www.kemelectric.com.
You may also call 701-254-4666 or
800-472-2673 to request an application.
Complete the online application
or mail paper applications to:
KEM Electric Cooperative
Attn: Marcy Sanders
107 S. Broadway
P.O. Box 790
Linton ND 58552
Return completed applications before
Feb. 11.
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KEM
Electric Cooperative
Interested in becoming a director?
KEM Electric Cooperative’s 2022 annual meeting will be respective district, or members at large, as the case
held on Thursday, June 16. This year, the director seats up may be.
for election are those of Dean Hummel, director at-large, (b) In the case of joint members, the signature of one
and Neil Meidinger, District 3. or more than one joint member shall constitute one
KEM Electric is governed by a seven-member board of joint member.
directors that is elected by you – the members and owners (c) Firms, associations, corporations or body politics shall
of the electric cooperative. have the right to place one signature on a petition, the same
The cooperative is divided into five districts, with one as other members, by the signature of a duly appointed
director representing each district and two at-large board representative.
seats. The current board of directions includes District 1, (d) Petitions may not be circulated or signed more
John Beck; District 2, Carter Vander Wal; District 3, Neil than 90 days before the date when petitions must be filed
Meidinger; District 4, Victor (Chuck) Wald; District 5, pursuant to this bylaw. Any signatures to a nominating
Dean Dewald; at-large director, Dean Hummel; and at large petition obtained more than 90 days before that date may
director, Carmen Essig. not be counted.
If you are interested in becoming a director for KEM (e) All petitions must be filed at the principal offices of
Electric, please see the following section of bylaws the cooperative not less than 45 days prior to the date of the
pertaining to filling a petition for a director’s seat: meeting of the members, as fixed by the board of directors.
404. Member Petition-Form. (f) After verifying that a petition complies with this
(a) Each petition shall contain the following: bylaw, the secretary of the board of directors shall post
1. The name of the member nominee. a list of nominations for directors at the principal office
2. The director position for which the member of the cooperative at least 30 days before the meeting of
nominee shall run. the members.
3. The printed names, addresses and telephone If you would like to place your name on the ballot, pick
numbers, date of signature, and original signatures of up a petition at the KEM Electric office. Petitions become
each member signing the petition. available on Feb. 1. Petitions must be returned to the
4. At least 10 signatures of the members of the cooperative office no later than May 2.
What to do during an outage
KEM Electric Cooperative strives to provide you with reliable, uninterrupted service every day of the year, but sometimes
Mother Nature creates unavoidable power outages. KEM Electric Cooperative wants you to remain safe during severe
winter weather, so consider these tips.
To report an outage During a power outage
• Confirm the outage. Check your • Only use flashlights for emergency
own fuses and circuit breakers first. lighting. Candles can cause fires.
• Check with a neighbor to confirm • Keep refrigerator and freezer
if he or she is also experiencing doors closed. Most food requiring
an outage before you call the refrigeration can be kept safely in
cooperative. This will help your a closed refrigerator for several
cooperative determine the extent of hours. An unopened refrigerator
the outage. will keep food cold for about four
• Call the cooperative. If the outage hours. A full freezer will keep the
is widespread, the phone lines temperature for about 48 hours.
may be busy, but keep trying. Your • Never burn charcoal for heating or
cooperative will send a line crew to cooking indoors.
find the problem and restore power • Turn off or disconnect appliances
as quickly as possible. and other equipment in case
of a momentary power “surge”
that can damage computers and
other devices. Consider adding
surge protectors.
www.kemelectric.com | KEM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE | JANUARY 2022 C7
KEM
Electric Cooperative
BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Nov. 18, 2021
• Approved the minutes as presented • Approved Carmen Essig as North Dakota Association of Rural
• Approved capital credit refunds Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) director
• Approve the special equipment summary • Approved a Corps of Engineers easement
• Held executive sessions • Reviewed board appraisal goals
• Heard co-general managers/CEOs report • Reviewed 2022 budget
• Heard updates on power suppliers • Reviewed upcoming meetings
• Heard update on ETP • Received CFO report
• Board cast a vote for National Information Solutions • Received board of director reports
Cooperative director elections • Received legal counsel report
• Approved Dean Dewald for Innovative Energy Alliance/ • Set the next board meeting for Dec. 14, 2021
Maintenance Solutions Cooperative board • Meeting adjourned
• Approved annual meeting date of June 16
Statement of nondiscrimination
KEM Electric Cooperative Inc. is a recipient of federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In accordance with federal civil
rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees and institutions
participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity
(including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance pro-
gram, political beliefs or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply
to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American
Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD3027, found online at www.usda.gov/
oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the
information requested in the form.
To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 1) mail: U.S. Department of Agri-
culture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 202509410; 2) fax: 202-690-7442; or 3) email:
program.intake@usda.gov. KEM Electric Cooperative Inc. is an equal opportunity provider.
Prepare for tax season with SmartHub!
Print copies of your monthly utility bills for your tax records by logging into
SmartHub! Visit www.kemelectric.com and click SmartHub to proceed to your
billing history. If you have not signed up for SmartHub, you can set up a new,
secure account.
Call 800-472-2673 with questions.
KEM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC.
MANAGEMENT:
Don Franklund..................................Co-GM/CEO
Travis Kupper....................................Co-GM/CEO
DIRECTORS:
Victor Wald, Chairman........................................................................Napoleon Report outages to the following toll-free number:
John Beck, Vice Chairman.......................................................................Linton 800-472-2673
Carter Vander Wal, Sec.-Treas. .............................................................Pollock Hazelton, Linton and Strasburg exchanges’ phone
Dean Dewald, Director.......................................................................... Dawson number: 701-254-4666
Carmen Essig, Director................................................................................Lehr
Dean Hummel, Director........................................................................... Hague OFFICE HOURS:
Neil Meidinger, Director........................................................................ Zeeland Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Website: kemelectric.com / Email address: info@kemelectric.com
C8 JANUARY 2022 | KEM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE | www.kemelectric.com
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