Annual Meeting Bylaws
The annual meeting of members of Gascosage Electric Cooperative is held on the last Saturday in September.
In addition to considering and transacting other business, the members will elect persons to the Board of Directors for a term of three years.
The following is a summary of the Bylaws regarding membership, annual meetings, board representation and nomination and election procedures. This is to encourage greater participation by all members in the affairs and activities of Gascosage Electric Cooperative. A complete set of the current Bylaws may be obtained by calling or writing the cooperative office in Dixon.
ANNUAL MEETINGS: The annual meeting of members shall be held in the County of Pulaski between the dates of June 1 and October 1 as designated by the Board of Directors. An official notice of this meeting will be published and mailed out to each member as specified in the Bylaws.
MEMBERSHIP: Any person, firm, association, corporation, or body politic or subdivision thereof may become a member of Gascosage by signing an application, paying a membership fee, and agreeing to purchase electric energy from the cooperative. The term “member” as used in the Bylaws shall be deemed to include a husband and wife holding a joint membership.
BOARD REPRESENTATION: The business and affairs of the cooperative shall be managed by a board of nine directors. Two directors shall reside in Miller County, two directors shall reside in Maries County, two directors shall reside in Phelps County, and three directors shall reside in Pulaski County.
QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify as a Board Member, no person shall be eligible to become or remain a director who:
(a) is not a member and bonafide resident in the area served or to be served by the cooperative; or
(b) is any way employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric energy or supplies to a cooperative, or a business primarily engaged in selling electrical or plumbing appliances, fixtures or supplies to the members of the cooperative; or
(c) is the incumbent of or candidate for an elective public office in connection with which a salary or compensation in excess of one hundred dollars per annum is paid.
NOMINATIONS: A member may become nominated for election as director of the cooperative in one of three ways:
(1) NOMINATING COMMITTEE: It shall be the duty of the board of directors to appoint, not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days before the date of a meeting of members at which directors are to be elected, a committee on nominations consisting of not less than five nor more than eleven members who shall be selected from different sections so as to insure equitable representation. No director will be eligible to serve on this committee. The committee will select a list of nominations for directors, and post this list at the office of the cooperative thirty days before the annual meeting.
(2) PETITION: A member wanting to become nominated for election to the Board of Directors may do so by obtaining fifteen or more members’ signatures on a petition, and presenting the petition to the office not less than twenty-five days prior to the annual meeting.
(3) NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR: The chairman of the annual meeting shall invite additional nominations from the floor. The nominations shall be open for no less than one minute during which no additional nominations have been made. No member may nominate more than one candidate.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING: The secretary shall mail with the notice of the meeting or separately but at least ten days before the date of the meeting a statement of the number of directors to be elected and the names and addresses of the candidates, specifying separately the nominations made by the committee on nominations and also the nominations made by petition, if any.
Highlights of Gascosage Electric Cooperative’s 2006 Annual Meeting
Gascosage Electric Cooperative’s 59th annual meeting was held this past Saturday, September 30 at the Dixon High School. Approximately 700 people attended this year, and they enjoyed friends, prizes, entertainment, health services and a free lunch.
The health services available to our members this year included: body composition, BMI, PSA (for men over 50) and cholesterol checks provided by Carolyn Tilford from Phelps County Regional Medical Center, blood pressure checks by the Dixon Ambulance Service, glaucoma testing from the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation, oral cancer screening given by registered dental hygienists and blood sugar and hemoglobin checks provided by the Pulaski County Health Department.
Buddy Bear, the Rural Missouri mascot, courtesy of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, attended this year’s meeting, and entertained the kids and greeted members as they registered. Other entertainment for the children was also provided by “Radical Rompers” of Rolla, with an inflatable bounce, 18’ high slide and Seaweed the Monster. Terri Holtsclaw and staff also provided free childcare throughout the day.
The meeting was called to order with the “Star Spangled Banner” sung by Ava Kasich, theYouth Tour winners led the “Pledge of Allegiance,” and the Rev. Lee Todd provided the invocation.
The grand prize, a $200 credit for an electric bill was awarded to Alberta Fisher. The second grand prize, a Char-Broil patio-bistro grill was won by Wilbur Jones and Iberia Church of Christ won the church grand prize, a Rival 20 quart roaster oven.
Gascosage employees who received service awards this year included: Debbie Doyle-5 years, Kim Doyle-5 years, Aaron George-5 years, Brent Holtsclaw-5 years, JR Scott-5 years, Jimmy Clark-30 years and Janet Rigsby-40 years.
Guest speaker, Jim McCarty, Editor of the Rural Missouri at AMEC (Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives) spoke of how there is a mass exodus of people leaving the city on a weekend, and few cars going into it. McCarty said it was because, “they want what we have.” A place where we can see the beautiful Ozarks right from our front porch, and a place where we can hunt, fish or hit the trail to enjoy nature. The cooperative way of life has allowed many of us to live a dream in a rural area where we can work, live and raise a family. Mr. McCarty focused on how the electric cooperative has added to this great standard of living by keeping their commitment to the rural communities.
Board President Jake Warren reported that Gascosage had a very successful and challenging year in 2006. The cooperative was successful in that the co-op gave away $265,165.00 in capital credit checks to our members, maintained a 66.7% equity in our cooperative, we have completed the installation of the TWACS system in the Iberia, Newburg, Brumley and Crocker areas, and our Grassroots program was successful in contributing to the passage of a rural electric cooperative-friendly Eminent Domain Bill. The year proved challenging in that costs have risen drastically for power, steel, fuel, wire, poles, transformers, employee healthcare, labor, insurance, taxes and all other essentials necessary to run and operate the cooperative.
Mr. Warren talked about the potential for rate increases over the next six years, and how electricity demands have risen 30% over the past decade. The demand is even supposed to increase more (over 32%) over the next few years. Other factors in the potential rate increases include coal concerns, environmental requirements and inflation. Mr. Warren stated that the good news is that a 4.5% increase in power costs for 2007 is expected to be absorbed by Sho-Me Electric at no added costs to Gascosage, which would mean no rate increases next year. The bad news is that beginning January 1, 2008, Associated is projecting annual increases in the cost of our power through 2012, resulting in the cost of our power increasing by a total of 41% from 2008 to 2012.
Mr. Warren also said that the board and management is confident that through conservative management and good business practice, Gascosage is ready to handle to challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of us. Further, Gascosage commitment to providing reliable and affordable electricity to our membership will remain our top priority.
General Manager John Greenlee discussed how Gascosage employees serve more consumers proportionally than any other cooperative in the state or nation. He then stated the contracts that have been completed this past year including a pole change-out of 270 poles in Iberia, a 3-phase conversion on highway 133 north of Dixon, and the 3-phase line move at Dixon elementary school, the completion of a tree clearing contract with Asplundh that included most of Maries county, and completion of a spraying contract with Progressive Solutions that sprayed about 250 miles in the Iberia area.
Mr. Greenlee noted how Gascosage is starting a two-year work plan with Sho-Me Engineering that will show us the work needed to be done in order to keep the system in top form for the coming years.
Also, Mr. Greenlee reported that the storms in Mississippi and Louisiana showed us the need to prepare for disasters. Ameren in St. Louis showed us disasters can occur close to home. Therefore, Gascosage has prepared a threat assessment and a comprehensive disaster plan.
Mr. Greenlee ended his report with announcing to the membership that Gascosage provides electric service to our members 99.97 percent of the time.
Following the meeting, everyone was served a picnic lunch. Entertainment then followed, provided by Ava Kasich, a gospel singer from Texas. After giving away a few more prizes to our members, the meeting was adjourned around 3:00 p.m.
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