|
|
Say no to the Arrowhead Directors’ request to increase their maximum time serving to six terms instead of four. “Rapid changes in the energy industry and increased demands of directors require Board members to have extensive knowledge and certifications.” The explanation is that more time is needed for training. However, it is doubtful that is the real reason.
Natural Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is made up of all of the electric cooperatives in the United States. One of their functions is to develop training needed for directors and provide it. Credentialed Cooperative Director training should be completed early in a director’s career. Board Leadership Training Certification includes some great courses. Minnesota Rural Electric Association also provides training for Directors.
Time is not a limiting factor for a director to get training. Instead, self-motivation and a desire to learn how to become the best Director a person can be is the main factor.
Look at the absence of certificates on the wall in the conference room at Arrowhead Electric. My personal experience is there is plenty of time to complete training; one must want to. I came into the job with a strong education and experience background yet sought the training beneficial to a director. More time is not the answer. We are paying our directors an amount of money each month to perform these duties.
NRECA also provides current information to directors about government programs, policies, and technology that may affect cooperatives at their national meeting. The earlier mentioned training is also provided at the National Directors conference and the opportunity to share issues between directors and cross-feed. I felt that both provide extremely beneficial education, but directors have not been taking advantage of these opportunities. I am not suggesting that all directors attend each event each year, but one or two directors should attend and bring back a report to the board.
Twelve years, four terms, is a suitable time limit. The staggering terms allow new directors to obtain training soon after being elected and obtain cross feed from the older directors. In addition, the rapid change in technology encourages new experiences and innovative ideas to be introduced into the managing process by electing new directors. New directors also challenge management with their questions. Both are healthy for our cooperative.
Four term directors built out broadband and telephone throughout Cook County, way ahead of most rural communities in America.
Four term directors developed a new meter system using broadband throughout the county.
Four term directors developed a solar array for Arrowhead Electric.
Four term directors developed a plan to build employee housing on land formerly owned by Arrowhead Electric.
Four term directors have directed Arrowhead Electric for well over twenty years.
Many professional organizations that propose such significant changes as pay raises, and changing term limits, include a provision that the proposal is only for newly elected directors/officers, not current directors/ officers. They do this, so their action is not self-serving. So why is such a provision not in this amendment to the By-Laws?
I suggest each AECI member contact a Director and see if you can obtain a strong justification on why the need to extend the term limits? Why does it have to be done now? Why is there not an exclusion for the current Directors?
Make up your own mind.
I have not read the updating as needed, but there is no need to bundle the recommended changes. There is nothing that I read that was so time sensitive that it had to be voted on this year. So let us vote NO and ask the cooperative to come back with the bylaw changes and individual recommendations and at least a provision that the change in Director term limits is not applicable to current directors.
Carol (Keck) Melby, Hovland, is a former Director, credentialed Director, and Board leadership certificate.
Leave a Reply