POWERGRAMS

16 ENERGIZERS During a period of great unpredictability, some things don't change: Friendships and relationships are more important than ever. Indeed, close friendships are a mainstay for Energizers state President Becky York and President-elect James Glover, who have lent their strong leadership skills to the retiree service group throughout the pandemic. York, state president through 2022, said that "staying in touch" has helped the Energizers remain cohesive and meet their goals for helping communities. Despite the inability to meet in person because of COVID-19, all 11 chapters statewide met membership requirements via Zoom, online and by phone. "Our members have been active online," York said from her home in Tuscaloosa. "We're behind the scenes making plans for leadership workshops in the future. Some of our chapters have new presidents this year, and that is stirring up a lot of excitement. We are proud that our chapters are donating to our statewide project for 2022, the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind." However, York continues to caution Energizers about the need to stay safe: "We need to be careful with our valuable membership," she said. Noting the majority of members are of retirement age – "that magic number of 65" – York said the chapters will begin meeting when they receive the "go-ahead" from Alabama Power leaders. York and Glover hope the volunteer retiree service organization will be able to begin meeting in March, after meeting guidelines set by the company. Like York, longtime Eastern Division Energizer Glover wants to see his friends and former co-workers experience the joy of being back in face-to-face meetings. Retirees of Alabama Power, Southern Nuclear and Southern Company Services in Alabama – along with their spouses – are eligible to join Energizers. The need for social distancing has been a hindrance, Glover believes, despite the chapters' ability to meet virtually since the pandemic began: "There's just nothing like being there." Birmingham, Corporate, Southeast and Southern Division chapters are combining Zoom meetings with phone updates. Glover and York are happy that the Corporate chapter last November mixed fun and fellowship – while maintaining social distancing – during their annual Heaton pecan fundraiser to support Birmingham-area nonprofits. "I want everyone to know that, with the pandemic as it has been, we are doing our community distribution of our funds and through community involvement with each chapter, and let everyone know that we're still here, trying to work and to do the best we can under these circumstances," Glover said. He has asked members to start 2022 by making calls to other retirees to attend online Energizers meetings. Glover wants each member to reach out to five former co-workers. He knows re- starting in-person meetings will take some planning. "I want to continue and let them meet, and try to increase our membership numbers," Glover said. "The only way I know to do this is to make phone calls to all of our retirees and ask them to come back and join our different chapters. If we increase the membership, we can then get our community fundraising started again." An Energizer recently told him, "I will be glad when we can just go out and be with one another." That's exactly how Glover feels. "When you work with the company the way we have, it's like a family," he said. "You haven't seen your family in so long, you miss them. That's what we want to get back to. Sometimes you have to be direct with them. You need to let them know that you're thinking about them, you love them and you still want to be a part of their family. "I enjoyed my job at Alabama Power – I don't have any regrets at all," said Glover, who retired in April 2011 as a Transmission analyst in the Eastern Division Office. "I made a lot of friends." Since then, Glover has enjoyed the camaraderie of former co-workers in the Eastern Energizers. For about 15 years – until the pandemic hit – Glover assisted with Class Act, a learning and mentorship initiative for fourth graders at Anniston Middle School. That program has halted indefinitely. He wants retirees to be able to return to the easy camaraderie they had before "the world stopped." "I pray that I can do a good job with the Energizers and represent the Energizers and the company as a whole," Glover said. "When you're working, you don't realize how much time you spend with everybody – you spent more time with employees than you do, most of the time, with your families. You miss those friendships. This is something I want to do and I want to do a good job at it." York said Energizers are looking forward to evaluating each chapter situation and finding the time when they can meet again. "We're making plans to start fresh as conditions allow," she said. "We're still here with the same goal that we've had from the beginning: to make a positive difference in our communities." By Donna Cope ENERGIZERS LEADERS HOPE RETIREE VOLUNTEERS CAN MEET AGAIN SOON Glover is state president-elect of the Energizers. PHOTO BY PHIL FREE

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