GEC Holds Annual Membership Meeting

A large crowd attended Grundy Electric Cooperative’s annual membership meeting, held on Thursday night at the South Harrison R-2 High School in Bethany.
Prior to the business meeting, over 400 members and guests were served a meal by the Harrison County 4-H members. Entertainment was provided by the Marks Family from Jefferson City. Members also browsed the information booths and visited with employees of Grundy Electric Cooperative and Mid-States Services, LLC. Various booths exhibited products and services available to GEC members. The GEC Community Foundation, Inc. and Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. also had a booth.
GEC Community Foundation President Cliff Addison discussed the foundation and encouraged members to participate in Operation Round Up. Addison and Vice President Dennis Gutshall presented 18 fourth quarter grants, totaling $8,480 to area schools.
Boy Scout Troop 100 led the pledge to the U.S. flag and GEC employee Randy Kinnison offered the invocation. Corporate Development Manager Peggy Boulware acknowledged special guests.
GEC Board President Dan Lentz presided over the business meeting, welcoming and thanking members for their attendance and participation. Lentz announced that the board of directors approved a capital credit refund with 25 percent of 1984 and 25 percent of 2016 totaling $201,363.96. Capital credit checks will be provided to members during Member Day events scheduled for Oct. 23, 24 and 25.
General Manager Scott Wilson thanked members for their commitment to the cooperative by attending the meeting. He introduced the board of directors and presented years of service awards to four employees. Wilson informed members regarding maintenance of the distribution system, including pole replacement, and reconductor projects. He also gave members an update on federal legislation as well as distributed generation.
Guest speakers Madyson Williams of Laredo and Dereck Bowman of Bethany spoke about their experiences at Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. Lauren Cox of Princeton spoke about her experience at the Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience in Jefferson City.
Members elected three directors to each serve a three-year term on the board, including incumbents Richard Moore of Princeton, representing Area 4; and Marvin Harding of rural Ridgeway, representing Area 5. Rodney Ewing of rural Lineville, IA was elected to represent Area 3.
During the business meeting, Mrs. Boulware presided over the prize drawings which included six $200 electric bill credits.
GEC directors held a re-organizational meeting to elect officers, including, Dan Lentz, president; Joe Hartley, vice president; Marvin Harding, secretary; Eric Woodard, assistant secretary and Richard Moore, treasurer. Other board members include Rodney Ewing, Alan Guernsey and Adrian Cox.