Annual Meeting
Save the date
September 11, 2021 | 9 a.m.
82nd annual Meeting of members | Virtual FORMAT
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Many hours have been spent monitoring COVID implications since our last meeting. Even though restrictions are being eased, it’s still not the safest or most cost-effective time to host a large gathering for our annual meeting.
We look forward for opportunities to meet in-person again in the future, however, legislation has been passed granting us the ability to continue this year with a virtual meeting. This proven process will look similar to last year and includes the election covering proposed bylaw amendments and board of director candidates. The online (or dial-in by phone) format allows us to share important cooperative information while allowing safe, convenient, and accessible participation for all members.
The actual business meeting will occur on Saturday, September 11 and be live-streamed from our website and social media channels. Members are encouraged to tune-in virtually. We will again provide a call-in option for those who do not use or have access to the Internet. Wi-Fi hot spots are also still available in each WRVEC office parking lot – but only WRVEC staff participating in the meeting, the Board, and nominees will be in physical attendance.
Even though we won’t see you in person, your engagement is vital to the success of this Cooperative. Voting options are available to accommodate everyone. Members will be able to cast votes online or request a ballot to be mailed directly to your home or business in a preaddressed, postage-paid return envelope.
The voting window will be open for two weeks, starting August 23 and running through September 3. You can cast your ballot for board candidates and bylaw amendments during this time. The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, a third-party, will securely handle the election. They will tally all votes and deliver the results during our virtual meeting.
Potential board nominees have been interviewed by the nominating committee. The full slate of candidates will be published next month in the official meeting notice. This slate will include candidates that have been vetted by the committee and any petition entries.
The 2020 annual report will be sent directly to each member as an attachment to your Rural Missouri next month. We encourage you to send us questions if there are items of interest that our staff did not cover. Those questions will be addressed during the meeting.
The answers to your inquiries, the annual report, the meeting video, and election results will all be made available on our website after the meeting. In addition, any member who votes in the election will be registered for prizes that are drawn and announced during the virtual meeting. Prizes range up to 750 dollars in free electricity!
Members provided great feedback on our virtual meeting last year and your participation spoke volumes. There were more than double the number of votes than ever before. This is so important because it allows every member, regardless of your situation, a continued opportunity to play an active role in the Cooperative. Your engagement makes the convenient and cost-effective virtual format an excellent choice, especially to get us past any potential safety concerns for our members and employees. We will continue delivering need-to-know information about your Cooperative while passing on the significant savings that the virtual meeting provides.
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All 2020 documentation was sent out in the August/Annual Meeting edition of the Rural Missouri magazine. It is also accessible here:
VIEW CEO AND PRESIDENTS REPORT
View Treasurer’s Report and Financials
VIEW 2020 ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
WRVEC’s second year annual report was also attached to the August edition of the Rural Missouri. The report highlights the Cooperative’s initiatives, projects, programs and other successes throughout the past year. View it here:
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The voting window is open for 2 weeks: Aug. 23 – Sept. 3, 2021.
The 2021 Ballot will have:
- 3 Bylaw Amendments (vote)
- 3 Director Seats (vote)
- 2020 Reports & Financials (view)
Voting Details:
Members will get 1 ballot per Membership Account Number. Each unique account number is assigned a Special PIN. The information is listed in the bill message on the front page of the statement you receive this month. Smarthub and Paperless users can find the same information on the electronic invoice.
For the security of the election, be prepared to verify 3 items:
- Unique Membership Acct Number
- Special PIN
- Name on Account
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White River Valley Electric Cooperative does everything with our members in mind. You are not just customers, but members who own and control the organization. Voting is your right and responsibility as a member, and participation is key to our success.The Bylaws, Governance, and Engagement Committee continues to help evaluate what we do at the Cooperative to provide best-in-class service for our members. This includes updating necessary bylaws and continuing to review our processes annually. Three amendments will be presented to the membership for a vote this year. Please consider the following information before casting your ballots.
A “YES” vote on each amendment will enable the continued convenience in member participation, allow for more information sharing, and includes additional improvements to our governance practices.
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All candidates have been interviewed and vetted by the Cooperative’s Nominating Committee. Each candidate was also asked to provide a biography for the membership and include why they should be elected. They are printed as received.
View Board of Director Nominee’s Bios
The Nominating Committee of White River Valley Electric Cooperative met at WRVEC headquarters at 1:30 P.M. on June 24, 2021. After due consideration, the Committee made the following 2021 Board of Director nominations, in order of preference, for Cooperative member consideration, subject to each candidate’s continuing qualification to serve as Board of Director Members in accord with the Cooperative’s bylaws:
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Members were encouraged to send in questions to be addressed during the meeting through our Member Alliance Program — the Cooperative’s direct pipeline to the Bylaws, Governance, and Engagement Committee. The committee was formed to evaluate best practices to continually improve the organization and help the Cooperative to better reach the membership. The answers to your questions, the annual report, the meeting video, and election results will all be made available on our website.
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White River Valley Electric Cooperative’s 2020 Annual Meeting occurred on September 12, 2020. If you were unable to view the livestream, you may view the recorded meeting below