CVEA Annual Meetings a Success!

Local community members came out in large numbers last week to support your electric co-op, with approximately 250 people attending the 2016 Annual Meeting in Valdez and 310 attending in Glennallen.

CEO Duhamel told the crowd that the co-op is in the home stretch on the Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project, showed a video of project construction to date, and outlined what work is left to do before commercial power production begins this fall. He also discussed ways CVEA is saving the members money by doing more work in-house, increasing hydro output from Solomon Gulch, and increasing efficiency. Finally, members were reminded that winter rates were lower in 2015 due to fuel cost savings, and made aware that changes will be made to the Tariff that governs the co-ops Net Metering Program once the Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project comes online.

Other highlights included the announcement of the Board of Directors election results, the introduction of the 2016 Community Foundation scholarship award recipients, and recognition of employee service awards.

In Board of Director elections Brad Honerlaw was elected, and Fred Williams was re-elected in the Copper Basin District, and Dan Stowe was re-elected in the Valdez District.

Taylor Vollman and Zoe Langseth were each awarded a $2,000 educational scholarship and Gerek Chmielowski and Timothy Kimble were both selected to represent CVEA at the Idaho Youth Rally Leadership Camp this summer.

In addition, Foundation volunteers Genia Duhamel, Cindy Orvedahl, Zoe Langseth, Cassidy Matthews and Christian Spring were on hand selling Split-the-Pot tickets to raise funds for the Community Foundation. Marc Grugier took home $360 in Valdez, and Sarah Valentine won $285 in Glennallen. In total $645 was raised to benefit Community Foundation programs.

Several CVEA employees were recognized for their years of service to the Cooperative. Travis Million celebrated 5 years; Zena Disney and Barbara Eaton celebrated 10 years; Cindy Butherus celebrated 15 years, and Mary Ellen Bedrick celebrated 25 years of service.

100 door prizes were given out in each district. Craig Grams won the Chevy Tahoe in Glennallen and Chuck and Delores Gard went home with the Ford Beater in Valdez!

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.