CEO Corner

My family was one of the first families to be served by White River Valley Electric Cooperative (WRVEC) when it began in 1939. A lot has changed in our industry but what hasn’t changed is the fact that members have a say in how we operate. We recently had our 84th Annual Meeting in which we celebrated the members who made us! We were lucky to have 2,468 members take part in this important yearly process by voting online or through mail-in ballots.

The 84th Annual Meeting featured two Bylaw Amendments in which members passed with unanimous support. Members voted to allow WRVEC to hold their annual meeting any time during the months of July, August, or September. This flexibility gives the cooperative the opportunity to hold our annual meeting at times that are more conducive to member participation. In addition, members agreed that future Board of Directors candidates should be required to disclose any campaign funding they may receive to ensure the integrity of the election process.

In addition to voting on the bylaws, members were asked to select three seats to represent them on the WRVEC Board of Directors. The winning candidates for the Board of Directors election were as follows:

· John Cooper (District A)
· Jeffrey (Jeff) Hyatt (District C)
· Norman (Jim) Britt (District E)

We would also like to recognize our outgoing Board of Directors—Pat Funk from Ozark County and Keet Short from Stone County. These gentlemen dedicated over 40 years collectively to serving our membership. Their leadership has seen the Cooperative through a lot of change, and we are so very thankful for their gift of time.

October is National Cooperative Month. It is a time our team at White River Valley Electric Cooperative celebrates each of you. Electric cooperatives exist to serve their members. It’s what sets us apart from other utility providers. We encourage you to get involved in your local cooperative. After all, you are the members who make us!