Blue Ridge to Hold Annual Meeting
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (May 29, 2002) — Members of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation who register and are in attendance at the cooperative’s Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, June 8, will be eligible to win a refurbished 1995 Ford Explorer, the grand prize at this year’s event.
The Annual Membership Meeting will be held at Watauga High School in Boone, and registration begins at 8 a.m. with ham biscuits, doughnuts, coffee, and soft drinks to be served while they last. The business session begins at 10 a.m.
Other prizes to be awarded during the annual meeting include four $50 bills per district and each registered member attending will receive a complimentary collapsible cooler.
Entertainers performing prior to the business session include the Hayes Family and the Appalachian Mountain Girls.
During the business session, members will hear reports on the performance of the cooperative in 2001 as well as plans for the future. Members will also vote on five nominees for four open seats on Blue Ridge Electric’s board of directors. Director nominees are: G.C. Norris, Watauga district; Jackie Blackburn; Ashe district; and Martha McKnight, Alleghany district. David Eggers and Tana Murray are director nominees for a new Caldwell seat. The new seat, which is in addition to the two existing Caldwell seats, was approved last year by the cooperative’s board of directors to more thoroughly represent Caldwell district. Each position involves a three-year term on the board of directors. Nominated by the Nominating Committee were Norris, Blackburn, McKnight, and Eggers. Murray was nominated by petition of at least 15 members as specified in the cooperative’s by-laws.
Information on the nominees is included in the 2001 Annual Report mailed to members in mid-May. The nominees recently attended the cooperative’s series of Member Advisory Committee meetings for a “Meet the Candidates” forum.
During the business session members will also hear and vote on a resolution to honor the memory of Johnnie Austin, who served as president of the cooperative for the past 21 years until he passed away unexpectedly in January. The resolution has been approved by the board of directors and is listed in the 2001 Annual Report/2002 Annual Membership Meeting notice mailed to members.
Before the business session, members and their guests can visit energy displays and exhibits which will include: hearth products and services from Blue Ridge Energies, the cooperative’s subsidiary offering propane, home heating fuels and commercial gasoline; Bank Draft advantages booth, on-line services available from the cooperative at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com, Carolina Country magazine, Touchstone Energy, a booth for general member information, and An Appalachian Summer Festival booth featuring information on Outdoor Fireworks Concert headliner Diamond Rio.
Children attending the meeting with their parents may participate in the Children’s Program from 9:30 a.m. until the end of the business session. In addition to crafts and games, magician and balloon artist Tommy Rash will perform. Refreshments will be served.
Special parking will be available for handicapped persons in front of the school and employees will be available with golf carts to assist all members as needed. Overflow parking is provided at Boone Mall behind the former Food Lion, with Applecart buses providing transportation to and from the school.
Members are reminded to bring with them the ticket stubs printed on the back of the 2001 annual report. Members must be registered to be eligible for prize drawings and present to win the grand prize. Members who cannot stay for the business session may register, vote and leave if needed. Those choosing this option are eligible for all prizes except the grand prize.
Members who are unable to attend the annual meeting but want to vote for directors can assign their vote by proxy to another member who will be attending. The proxy is printed on the inside back cover of the Annual Report and meeting notice mailed in mid-May. See the annual report/meeting notice for additional requirements concerning proxies or contact your local Blue Ridge Electric office.
For more information about the annual meeting, see the 2001 Annual Report/2002 Annual Meeting Notice at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com or call your local cooperative office.
