OPALCO Announces Elections Open; Annual Meeting Upcoming

Annual Meeting, Saturday, May 3, 2014, 9:45 a.m., On-board Washington State Ferry

— from Suzanne Olson –

Our member-owned electric cooperative is holding its annual meeting and election for the Board of Directors. This is every members’ opportunity to influence who sets our co-op policies and rates. Every OPALCO member has the right to vote in each election– regardless of their home district. In this election, there are six candidates running for two open positions in District 1 (San Juan, Pearl, Henry, Brown and Spieden islands) and, in addition, two member-initiated bylaw amendments. Ballots arrived by mail this week; members can vote online, by mail or at the Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 3rd. Six members who vote by absentee ballot will be rewarded with $50 bill credits.

Candidates for the Board are nominated by committee or by petition. The 2014 candidates nominated by committee are: Vince Dauciunas (incumbent), Glenna Hall (incumbent), Bryan Hoyer, Doug Rowan and John Sheehan. The 2014 candidate nominated by petition is Steve Hudson. Note: Don Galt, Sr. was also nominated by petition, but withdrew from the election. Candidate bios were sent by mail to each co-op member with their ballot booklet and are available online at www.opalco.com.

Members and their families who attend the 77th Annual Meeting on the ferry will be treated to a healthy and delicious lunch, catered by The Galley of Lopez Island. Every member will receive an energy savings backpack with LED bulbs included – and has a chance to win one of more than fifty fabulous door prizes, such as power and garden tools, gift certificates, kitchen tools and appliances, camping and sporting equipment, OPALCO bill credits, art, and merchandise from local businesses. Every member who attends will receive a $5 credit on their next bill (one credit per membership).

The annual meeting begins at 9:45 a.m. on the ferry. Members should arrive earlier than their boarding time to park and register for the meeting. Boarding times for each island are as follows:

• San Juan Island: 7:15 a.m. – Charter boats at Spring Street Landing. Please call 376-3549 to reserve your space on the charter boats as space is limited
• Orcas Island: 8:45 a.m. (Ed. note: ferry is due to return to Orcas Landing at 11:45 a.m.)
• Shaw Island: 9:00 a.m.
• Lopez Island: 9:30 a.m.

Members who are disabled or required special accommodations to participate in the meeting should call Bev Madan at 376-3549 to make arrangements. Full travel details are available at www.opalco.com.

Why does OPALCO hold an annual meeting? The annual meeting meets requirements of the Co-op’s bylaws and the federal government (USDA/Rural Utilities Service). The agenda for the 77th Annual Meeting is:

• Introductions (Board, Candidates, Special Guests)
• State of the Co-op, Chris Thomerson – Board President
• Special Guests (TBD)
• Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Awards
• General Manager’s Report, Randy J. Cornelius
• Co-op Safety Award – Tim Savage, Journeyman Lineman
• Assistant Manager’s Report, Foster Hildreth
• Absentee Voter Rewards – Six members drawn randomly from absentee ballots for $50 bill credits
• Election Results
• Q&A with the Management Team
• Door Prizes

For the latest information about OPALCO, go to: www.opalco.com; sign up for our email newsletter; and follow us on Facebook (Orcas Power & Light Cooperative) and Twitter (@orcaspower). OPALCO is our member-owned cooperative, powering about 11,000 members on 20 islands in San Juan County since 1937.