The 2007 NUTSEA Conference at the Galt House is history.  For those who did not attend we had over 140 registered members and over 130 attend the best safety conference you can go to.  The Host of East Ky Power, Big Rivers Electric, West Kentucky Energy and Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives managed to take care of the Safety Professionals from all over the nation.  From the southern tip of Florida to Alaska and from Virginia to California we had a family of safety folks discuss mainly electric worker safety and health. 

Tim French of Salt River Electric in Kentucky won the O.G. Anderson Award which is sponsored by Chance Tools.  Mr. Anderson spent his entire career developing tools and equipment for electric utilities.

I guess the one of the most riveting moments was when Mike Bird read the letter of Danny Hayes of Tenn. JTS.  Danny was about ready to retire from the Army Reserves and was called up to go to Iraq.  He sent some pictures and I will attach them.  I did get a call yesterday that the cd of Danny’s pictures are on the way to me and I will also send some of those out to.  Danny is not in these pictures these are of utility workers.

The Southern Area Instructors Association’s Ray Pantel Award was given to Mike Weltzheimer from Texas, Norman McDugle from Oklahoma made the presentation at the SAIA meeting during the conference.  The award was not given at the awards banquet like the other awards, this should be reviewed and some arrangements be made to acknowledge the person and present the award at the awards banquet.  Many times the award winner’s supervisor will come to the banquet and be disappointed by not seeing his prize safety person win this award.  The SAIA Meeting had over 40 members present and we elected new officers, Doyle Totty Chairman, Ron Cronan Vice Chairman, and Mike Weltzheimer as Secretary Treasurer.  The 2008 SAIA Meeting will be held June 10-12, 2008 at The Hyatt Place, Albuquerque Up-town, Hotel in New Mexico.

The awards banquet was finished up with a Bluegrass Singer/Magician who was very funny and talented.

We thank all who contributed to this meeting and we will see you at next year’s NUTSEA in Tucson, Arizona

Work Safe
Clarence Greene, CLCP
SAIA Chairman 2006-2007