Decade of Support for Lineman Rodeo Earns Four PUDs a National Service Award
Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas and Grant PUD raised $190,000 for scholarships in honor of fallen lineworkers
Okanogan, Wash. - Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas and Grant Public Utility Districts received the American Public Power Association (APPA) Community Service Award June 9, 2015 at the association's national conference in Minneapolis, Minn.
This award for the PUDs support of the Andrew York Lineman Rodeo recognizes "good neighbor" activities that demonstrate commitment to the community by customer-owned utilities and their employees, APPA officials told the awards ceremony audience.
The Andrew York Lineman Rodeo began in 2005 as a way to honor the life of the Chelan PUD lineman who died after he was hit be a drunken driver while he was on the job.
For more than a decade, the namesake rodeo grew into a regional event. It raised $190,000 for scholarships and spotlighted the skill and safety required for power line work and how to be safe around electricity. The Community Foundation of North Central Washington manages the endowment.
The rodeo brought together employees from a half-dozen PUDs across Washington State who met nearly year-round to plan and host the annual competition. The rodeo put a spotlight on the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. Moreover, the Andrew York Lineman Rodeo exemplified service to PUD customers and community in the best tradition of public power.
Employees and volunteers from Okanogan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, and Chelan PUDs (public utility districts) and IBEW Local 77 (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) hosted the Andrew York Lineman Rodeo. Help also came from many community members, business owners and volunteers.
The grand finale event was held in 2014, after fundraising exceeded goals to ensure that the endowment, with interest earnings, will provide scholarships for students far into the future.
