On hand to receive checks from Operation Round Up for the organizations they represent were, L-R: Peter James, Great Expectations School; Ann Mershon, Art ’Round Town; Sissy Lunde, Community Education; Eleanor Waha, Cook County Historical Society Museum; Suzan From, Schroeder Historical Society; Karl Hansen and Paul Nelson, Oral Task Force.
Saturday morning, June 10, was a busy time at the Cook County High School (CCHS) cafeteria as the CCHS softball team fed about 175 people gathered for the 64th annual Arrowhead Electric Cooperative (AEC) meeting hosted by AEC employees and its board of directors.
At the conclusion of breakfast everyone headed to the Arrowhead Center for the Arts (ACA) auditorium where they gathered to hear the annual report and guest speaker.
AEC has nearly 4,000 members and maintains over 600 miles of distribution lines in Cook County.
Scott Harrison, board president, was the MC for the meeting. Roger Opp was elected to the board. He will represent District 1 (Hovland/Grand Portage). Keck Melby retired from the board after serving his term limit.
David Saggau, president & CEO of Great River Energy, was the guest speaker. He discussed GRE’s role as an energy provider and its outlook for the future of the industry.
The management report was given by the trio of Jenny Kartes, Finance & Administration manager, John Twiest, operations manager, and Yusef Orest, Member Services manager.
Following the meeting drawings were held, and quite a few in the audience went home with some very nice gifts, anything from gift certificates donated by area lodging establishments, restaurants, and area businesses.
Operation Round Up winners
One of the highlights of the AEC meeting was the announcement of Operation Round Up awards to nine different Cook County nonprofit groups.
Since its inception, Operation Round Up has donated 231 grants amounting to over $237,000, which is spread throughout the county.
When members join the program, their bill is rounded up say, from $72.68 to $73 and the change is donated to the Round Up fund.
The following are the 2017 selectees of AEC grants: . Gunflint Trail Historical Society received $1,000 to purchase supplies and educational materials. . Schroeder Area Historical Society received $597 for a quilting event that features the 2017 Minnesota Quilter of the year. That event will run through July 31 at the Cross River Heritage Center. . Oral Health Task Force/ North Shore Health Care Foundation received $5,000 to help provide preventative and restorative dental care to children in Cook County, especially those children whose families are unable to afford preventative or restorative dental services. . Cook County Soil & Water Conservation District received $1,218 to help fund “Take a Kid Fishing Day.” . Great Expectations School was given $1,674 for a teacher responsive classroom training session attended by elementary staff from the four public schools in the county. . Cook County Historical Society museum received $3,132 to help create an oral history recording and listening room, or Story Room, as it will be called at the museum. . Cook County Extension was granted $1,316 to help establish community garden raised beds. . Cook County Community Education received $5,000 for Summer Kid’s Camp Scholarships. . Art ’Round Town was granted $2,000 to help produce two sets of banners for Grand Marais downtown light posts designed by artists connected to the community. One banner will be for winter and one for summer.
Leave a Reply