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Cooperative membership meetings

The 73rd Annual Meeting of the Membership, held September 13 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, was the grand finale of three membership meetings held this year. The first two membership meetings were held in July at or near our local offices in Spur and Childress.

As a consumer of South Plains Electric Cooperative, you are also one of the member-owners. As such, a cooperative business invites you to attend an annual membership meeting to hear reports, ask questions and elect your local board of directors.

We say “invite,” but actually, it’s part of your responsibility as a cooperative member to be informed and participate in the governance of your electric cooperative. The success of South Plains Electric Cooperative depends on each individual member’s involvement.

Gate City Division

The Gate City Division membership meeting was held on July 19 at the Fair Park Auditorium in Childress. The Main Event, from Childress, served dinner to more than 200 members and guests while Darrel Sparkman of Quanah, entertained the crowd.

This was an election year for the Gate City Division members. The District 11 Nominating Committee nominated Larry Browning of Childress. Members unanimously voted to elect Browning to the board.

Board President Tommy Joines and General Manager James Driver reviewed the Cooperative’s financials and overall state of the business.

Recognition was given to this year’s Youth Tour and Operation Round Up Scholarship recipients.

Five employees were recognized for a combined total of 55 years of service to the Cooperative: Cory Bachausen, 5 years; Sheldon Duncan, Scott Park and Jeff Watson for 10 years; Randal Bailey for 20 years.

The evening always ends the same—with door prizes! This year’s lucky winner of the grand prize was Tammy Neighbors of Kirkland.

Dickens Division

The Dickens Division membership meeting was held on July 21 at the local office in Spur. Riversmith’s Catering, from Lubbock, catered a catfish and chicken dinner to about 300 members and guests while Mike Porter, Dickens, entertained the crowd.

This was an election year for the Dickens Division members. The District 9 Nominating Committee nominated Glenn Jones of Kalgary. Members unanimously voted to elect Jones to the board.

President Joines and General Manager Driver gave their reports. Members heard about steps to guarantee the availability of long-term, wholesale power resources and the value of wind power to this area.

Recognition was given to this year’s Youth Tour and Operation Round Up Scholarship recipients.

Two employees received service awards, representing 55 years of service: Lorita Thomason, 25 years; Terry Adcock, 30 years.

Employees handed out great door prizes until the grand prize was awarded to Jane Bridge, representing the Powell Partnership of Afton.

Annual Membership Meeting in Lubbock

The official annual membership meeting is held in Lubbock where the Cooperative is headquartered.

This meeting happens on a grand scale. With 640 members registering for the meeting, it means we provided dinner for more than 1,900 guests because members always bring their families. Danny’s Fins & Hens, from Lubbock, offered a delicious barbecue dinner.

The business meeting was called to order and the membership seated four directors to board positions (see side bar on next page).

General Manager James Driver talked about how the weather can greatly affect the Cooperative’s business and member’s pocketbooks. He went on to explain how the Cooperative’s rates were designed to withstand years with extreme circumstances. The next fight to keep rates as low as possible will be with the EPA and the regulations they are proposing.

Driver also spoke about community level support with programs such as Operation Round Up grants and scholarships, sending students on the Youth Tour and the money being saved using the Co-op Connections card.

Twenty employees from the Lubbock offices were honored for their 330 years of service. They are honored on pages 20-21 of this issue.

We thank our door prize sponsors: Brazos Electric Cooperative, Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, PlainsCapital Bank, SGS Engineering, TEC Utility Supply & Service and Xcel Corporation.

The grand prize of $500 went to Eustacio Madrid of Slaton.