CVEA's 2018 Annual Meetings A Big Success

Local community members came out in large numbers to support your electric co-op, with approximately 188 people attending the 2018 Annual Meeting in Valdez and 275 attending in Glennallen. Special guests, Senator Dan Sullivan and his wife Julie were also on hand in Glennallen. The couple spent time mixing with the crowd, visiting displays, and even posing for a photo at the new bucket truck photo booth before spending a few minutes addressing the packed Murdock Center. He congratulated the CVEA organization and members on the success of the Allison Creek Hydroelectric project and highlighted issues of importance to the state.

Several elements were added to this year's event providing additional information, opportunities, and fun. Members were able to sign up for member tours, learn about upcoming summer projects, watch a Power Town electric safety demonstration, and enjoy an equipment display and bucket truck photo booth.

CEO Duhamel talked to the crowd about the lengthy power outage caused by severe weather in the Copper Basin last winter, outage prevention and reliability improvements, right-of-way clearing guidelines, and hydro successes. Additionally, he outlined the forthcoming automated meter infrastructure installation and rate study. He also discussed CVEA's successful safety program and announced that CVEA was recently awarded a first place honor from the Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) for having the best safety record for a utility CVEA's size. The NWPPA includes over 150 utilities in Alaska, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Other highlights included the announcement of the Board of Directors election results, the introduction of the 2018 Community Foundation scholarship award recipients, and recognition of employee service awards.

In Board of Director elections Paul Kildal, Lon Rake, and Will Stark were re-elected to three year terms.

Gloria Jacobson and Jared Bowden were each awarded a $1,000 educational scholarship, Aric Cox, Kathleen Hale, Bobbi Mott, and Aidan Hinkle were each awarded $500 scholarships, and Celia Chmielowski and Gaea Latta-Bard were both selected to attend the Idaho Youth Rally Leadership camp this summer.

In addition, Foundation volunteers Genia Duhamel, Dalon Gage, Gaea Latta-Bard, Celia Chmielowski, and Cassidy Matthews were on hand selling Split-the-Pot tickets to raise funds for the Community Foundation. Leslie Bauman took home $224 in Valdez and Ryan Cook won $408 in Glennallen. In total $632 was raised to benefit Community Foundation programs.

Several CVEA employees were recognized for their years of service to the Cooperative. Kyle Anderson, Cindy Unger, and Josh Geldersma celebrated 5 years; Ryan Compehos celebrated 10 years, and Nancy Heidelberg celebrated 25 years of service.

96 door prizes were given out in each district. Grand prize winners Lisa Nicholai and Acres Beverage Center each won a CVEA beater! Winners of the ballot drawing were Bobby and Diane Gibbs, in Valdez, and Nora and Richard Tombaugh, in the Copper Basin; each couple will receive a $50 credit on their May electric bill.

CVEA thanks everyone who attended and those that helped make this year’s events successful.

If you have questions on this or any CVEA topic, please contact Sharon Scheidt at 822-5506, 835-7005 or email scheidt@cvea.org.