Members Invited to Blue Ridge Electric Annual Meeting
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383, Ext. 3213; Pager: 1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
West Jefferson, North Carolina (June 1, 2007) – The most important meeting of the year for members of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation will be held Saturday, June 9, as the cooperative’s Annual Membership Meeting takes place at Ashe County High School.
A highlight of this year’s Annual Membership Meeting will be the awarding of the first grants to be given by the Blue Ridge Electric Members Foundation, which was formed to support local economic and community development initiatives. The Foundation, which is advised by a 12-person advisory committee made up of Blue Ridge Electric members, manages funds generated from the member supported Operation Round Up. Blue Ridge Energies, the cooperative’s propane subsidiary, also donates a portion of its profits to the Members Foundation.
Eight deserving local organizations that impact the quality of life in local communities will be announced as winners of the first grants totaling $30,000. The awards take place from 9:40 to 9:50 a.m. in the gym.
At the annual meeting, members will also vote on four nominees for open seats on Blue Ridge Electric’s board of directors. Nominated by the Nominating Committee are: Jeff Joines, Caldwell District; James Burl (J.B.) Lawrence, Watauga District; Bradley McNeill, Ashe District; and Bryan Lee Edwards, Alleghany District. No nominees by petition were received by this year’s April 10 deadline.
Edwards was nominated to fill the board seat currently held by President John Woodruff of Alleghany County. Woodruff, who has faithfully served on the board for the past 39 years, is retiring from the board effective at the 2007 Annual Membership Meeting. Woodruff has served as president since 2002. A slate of new board officers will be elected by the board at their regular monthly meeting in June, immediately following the annual meeting.
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 and related information is printed on the inside back cover of the annual report/meeting notice mailed to members in May.
All registered members will receive a gift package of three compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) as part of the cooperative’s focus on helping members become energy efficient. Visiting the Energy Fair will also help members learn how to be wiser energy users and save on their monthly energy bills. Ray’s Weather Center will be on hand, as well as NC GreenPower, the state’s renewable energy initiative to encourage “green” energy development, and the N.C. Cooperative Extension and other exhibits.
For the fifth consecutive, members can take advantage of the Health Fair offered by Ashe Memorial Hospital. The health fair offers a variety of complimentary health services, screenings and information for all ages.
Exhibits also include an outdoor “Hot Wire” safety demonstration, “spin to win” energy trivia games, and Blue Ridge Energies, the cooperative’s propane and heating fuels subsidiary with showrooms featuring gas logs and more located in each office of the cooperative.
Staff from An Appalachian Summer Festival will also be on hand to give away two family four-packs of tickets to the July 28th Outdoor Fireworks Concert featuring Wynonna on the campus of Appalachian State University. Carolina Country magazine staff will be giving away cookbooks and registering members for a gift basket give away.
There’s fun for the children too. The Children’s Program, staffed by Blue Ridge employees, will host the Giggle Gang clowns and will provide refreshments from 9 a.m. until the end of the business session for the convenience of parents.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. and members are strongly encouraged to bring their registration card and door prize tickets from the back of their annual report/annual meeting membership notice mailed to every member in May.
Members must be registered and present to win all prizes. This year, two grand prizes per district will be awarded: a 32-ince LCD HDTV and a digital camera. Four $50 bills per district will also be awarded.
Prior to the 10 a.m. business session, members can enjoy food in the cafeteria and humorist Dr. David Lee Hunter in the gym from 8:45 to 9:25.
For more information about the annual meeting, see your 2006 annual report/2007 annual meeting notice or contact your local cooperative office.
Blue Ridge Electric serves some 70,000 members in northwest North Carolina. It is a part of the national Touchstone Energy alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives in 45 states that are providing high standards of service, energy and energy solutions to approximately 22 million consumers every day. Owned by those they serve, Touchstone Energy cooperatives operate as not-for-profit entities with a focus on integrity, accountability, innovation and a longstanding commitment to communities.
