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Board of Director Duties
Blue Ridge Electric members choose 12 individuals to serve as their representatives on the Board of Directors. The board guides the management and operations of Blue Ridge Electric. Each member has one vote in determining who should serve on Cooperative's Board of Directors.
These duties include:
- Setting policy
- Approving strategy
- Hiring and supervising a chief executive officer for the cooperative
Requirements to serve on Blue Ridge Electric's Board of Directors
All Director candidates, whether nominated by the Nominating Committee or by petition, shall complete a Director Candidate application by the date established in these Bylaws. It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee, with the advice of Legal Counsel provided by the Cooperative, to determine if a Director Candidate considered by the Nominating Committee, meets the Bylaws qualifications of a Director Candidate. It shall be the duty of the Credentials and Election Committee, with assistance of the Cooperative's General Counsel, to determine if a Director Candidate by petition, meets the Bylaws qualifications for a Director Candidate.
Directors by District
The number of directors is distributed by district to ensure full representation of the cooperative's total service area:
- Watauga district - (3) directors
- Ashe district - (3) directors
- Caldwell district - (3) directors
- Alleghany district - (3) directors
There are two ways to be considered as a potential board candidate:
- By the Nominating Committee - which is composed of cooperative members.
- By petition - signed by 20 or more members of the Cooperative with five being in each of the four directorate districts and submitted to the cooperative's corporate office at least 60 days prior to the Annual Membership Meeting.
Interested candidates should contact Julie O'Dell, senior vice president and chief administrative officer, to receive a director application packet.
Director Elections
The election of directors opens approximately four weeks before the annual meeting each year.
One of the strongest benefits of belonging to a cooperative like Blue Ridge Electric is the voice you have in this business. Voting for your board of directors is one of the most significant ways for you to participate in your cooperative.
Based upon your cooperatives bylaws, the number of directors shall not exceed 15 and shall not be less than seven (7).
You may vote one of three ways:
One advantage of being served by a cooperative is the right to elect peers — other members — to serve on the board of directors to lead and guide their cooperative. Please use this opportunity to take part in this democratic process.
Director Elections Include an Online Option
Members have the convenience of electronic voting to elect their board of directors.
While members may still attend and vote for directors at the Annual Membership Meeting or by mailed proxy, the electronic voting option is designed to provide a more convenient opportunity for members to be involved in their cooperative. With a service area stretching from the foothills into the mountains and across seven counties combined with busy family schedules, this option enables members who can’t attend the annual meeting to vote for their board of directors.
To ensure the integrity of the electronic voting process, a third-party election management firm was selected by the Credentials and Election Committee. Made up of members from across the cooperative’s service area, this committee is responsible for ensuring elections are properly conducted and certifying director election results.
Look for more information about the electronic voting option in the director election materials which is sent to each member in May.
One advantage of being served by a cooperative is the right to elect peers — other members — to serve on the board of directors to lead and guide their cooperative. The option to vote online is designed to provide a better opportunity for more members to take part in this democratic process.
Director Elections Include More Convenient Options
Members have the convenience of voting either by mail or electronically to elect their board of directors.
Each year in May, the notice of Annual Meeting and director election materials are mailed to all members, including information on candidates and a proxy form for members to make their selections. To vote by mail, the form must be signed by the member and returned in the enclosed postage-paid envelope by the date specified in the packet. The proxy must be mailed; it cannot be given to an employee or accepted at any Blue Ridge office.
To vote electronically:
While members may still attend and vote for directors at the Annual Membership Meeting, the electronic and vote-by-mail options are designed to provide a more convenient opportunity for members to be involved in their cooperative. With a service area stretching from the foothills into the mountains and across seven counties combined with busy family schedules, this option enables members who can’t attend the annual meeting to vote for their board of directors.
To ensure the integrity of the voting process, a third-party election management firm is selected by the Credentials and Election Committee. Made up of members from across the cooperative’s service area, this committee is responsible for ensuring elections are properly conducted and certifying director election results.
For more information about the director election materials mailing to each member in May.
One advantage of being served by a cooperative is the right to elect peers — other members — to serve on the board of directors to lead and guide their cooperative. The electronic and mail voting options are designed to provide a better opportunity for more members to take part in this democratic process.