2026 Annual Meeting Recap
Our 88th Annual Meeting of Members was held June 17, 2026, at Pleasant Plains High School as published in the our official notice. Storms struck that night and for the first time in our history a quorum of members was not reached. In accordance with the Bylaws, the members in attendance voted to adjourn the meeting to June 24. Members were notified by phone of the new date. More than 550 members and their families showed up in our largest meeting turnout to date.
“The meeting’s theme this year was Member Powered. That has never been demonstrated so strongly as it was by this turnout,” says General Manager Alisha Anker. “Our members are the power behind our mission. We are a member-owned organization and this is their co-op.”
During the business meeting members approved last year’s minutes and the financial reports and elected Directors. The co-op is governed by a Board made up of nine Directors elected from and by the membership to serve three-year terms. Each year three districts are up for election. This year Leo Arnold of Bluff Springs, District 3 was elected and Michael Patrick of New Holland, District 7 and Warren Goetsch of Williamsville, District 8 were re-elected. All ran unopposed.
Members approved two Bylaw Amendments. Section 3.03 (Notice of Member Meetings) extends the notice period for which the official Annual Meeting notice can be mailed prior to the meeting date from 40 days to 60 days. Section 4.06 (Nominations) extends the number of days prior to an Annual Meeting date by which a potential director candidate must submit a Member Petition Nomination from 45 days to 60 days.
After discussion, a ballot vote was held and members defeated a proposed Bylaw Amendment to Section 3.04 (Member Quorum) to lower the percentage required.
Board President Warren Goetsch spoke about the advantages of member ownership of the co-op and gave examples of local community support. He also reminded members to visit the Voices for Cooperative Power website at voicesforcooperativepower.com to receive take-action recommendations on proposed legislation or regulations that affect the co-op.
Anker spoke of the co-op’s power provider’s efforts to improve reliability by building new transmission lines and networking substations. She also told members about the completion of a joint project with Ameren to confirm and document boundary lines around and within the co-op’s service territory.
“It protects our right to serve, and even more so, helps to ensure that the benefits of economic development remain with the local communities that supported the cooperative’s growth from the beginning,” Anker said. Another innovation helping the co-op to grow is a new advanced metering system. The co-op will mail details to members throughout the coming year.
Once questions were answered and the meeting adjourned, a prize drawing was held.