Business Briefcase (Published 11/02))

SEMO Electric Co-op board member is appointed to Mo. service organization

SIKESTON -- John Bledsoe, vice president of the Board of Directors with SEMO Electric Cooperative in Sikeston was recently appointed as a district representative to the executive committee of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives (AMEC) in Jefferson City. AMEC is the service organization of the state's 47 electric cooperatives, which serve more than 500,000 rural consumers.

As a member of the executive committee, Bledsoe will have responsibility for developing the association's annual work plan and budget and monitoring its operating policies.

The executive committee consists of 12 members and is chaired by the president of the AMEC state board of directors.

SEMO Electric Co-op manager appointed to two committees for state association

SIKESTON -- Reuben Jeane, manager of SEMO Electric Cooperative in Sikeston was recently appointed to the load management committee and the training and development committee for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives (AMEC) in Jefferson City.

As a member of the load management committee, Jeane will be responsible for helping develop programs related to reducing peak electric demands. The committee keeps abreast of technical developments in this field to help ensure that electric cooperative member/consumers are receiving power at the lowest possible cost.

On the training and development committee, Jeane will be responsible for activities relating to improving the professional and technical abilities of electric cooperative employees and directors. These activities include workshops and conferences developed by AMEC and the national association.

Extension seminar gives tips for small businesses to handle difficult employees

POPLAR BLUFF -- The University of Missouri Extension Telecenter has teamed up with Steve Halter to offer a program helping small business owners, office managers, and staff members manage difficult employees. The series will meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 and 13 at the University of Missouri Extension Telecenter in Poplar Bluff.

During the two-day workshop, attendees will develop the skills needed to address a difficult person according to their specific behavior. Students will have the opportunity to learn the guidelines for managing difficult people to decrease the department's turnover rate and meet the release date for a new product. Students will also learn how to give constructive feedback-both praise and criticism-to subordinates or peers, and use strategies for effective conflict resolution.

Seating is limited please pre-register for the event. For more information on the Employee Performance training, call 573-840-9450, or go to www.mutelecenter.com/news.