The grassroots participation in nominating and electing directors is one of the most important powers that members have in controlling a cooperative. Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI) is seeking nominations for the board of director for District 1, the Hovland and Grand Portage area. AECI Customer Service Representative Rose Thoreson said the current District 1 director, Keck Melby, has indicated he will run again.
However, the cooperative uses a democratic process to determine who will serve on the board of directors, so nominations for someone else to run for the seat are now open.
Members who live in District 1 who are interested in being considered for nomination or people who know a member whom they believe would be a qualified candidate are urged to contact Arrowhead Electric or their nominating committee representative. The nominating committee is: District 1 – Hovland-Grand Portage – Nevin Holmberg; District 2 – Maple Hill- Colvill – Burt Carlsted-Gillis; District 3 – Gunflint Trail – Fred Smith; District 4 – Rosebush – Devil’s Track – Eleanor Waha; District 5 – Pike Lake-Cascade – Nancy Daley; District 6 – Lutsen – Jeff Latz; District 7 – Tofte-Carol Tveekrem.
The nominating committee will be meeting on Tuesday, April 5 to discuss and nominate candidates for the director position.
To qualify as a director candidate you must be a member in good standing receiving electric service from Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Inc., live within the district from which the director is to be elected, have been a member of the cooperative for at least one year, not be a close relative of an employee, not be a convicted felon, and not have a conflict of interest, financial or otherwise, with the cooperative.
Monthly board meetings are held the last Thursday of each month beginning at 9 a.m. with the exception of November and December due to the holiday season.
Voting will take place by mail and at the annual meeting. The AECI election will be held at the annual meeting to be held Saturday, June 11, 2011.
The director candidate receiving the highest vote for each district will serve on the board of directors for the next three years.
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