After thanking the board for allowing a forum for questions and answers, CEC member Bill Dansby of Rattan took the mic. “I wish I could address our U.S. congressional delegation like this,” he declared. He then asked if the board would agree to an independent member committee organized for the purpose of amending the CEC bylaws.


CEC Trustee Joe Briscoe pointed out that members are invited to submit proposed changes to the bylaws every year. The notice to submit bylaw changes is published every June in CEC’s newsletter, Inside Your Co-op. Proposed bylaw changes will be voted on by co-op members at the annual meeting.


Some individuals expressed outrage at the noticeable security measures, but retired schoolteacher Lois Parsons countered by thanking CEC for taking extra safety precautions. The crowd responded with generous applause.


d prize winner Eunice Cox will enjoy the $1,500 electric bill t. Presenting the prize is Mike Bailey, CEC president.


Electric co-ops face challenges ahead due to EPA regulations on power plant emissions, Meyers explained. The rules, he said, will change the fuel mix used to generate electricity at power plants across the US. “Our fleet of power plants will change from using primarily coal to using mostly natural gas,” he said.


Co-ops are asking EPA for more time to prepare for the new regulations. “We believe they are rushing into this, and it will have unintended consequences if this happens,” Meyers stated.


He encouraged CEC members to voice their concerns over EPA regulations and resulting liklihood of price increases by visiting www.action.coop. Over half a million co-op members have sent comments to the EPA, including 600 Oklahomans.


Following Meyer’s comments, the CEC business meeting concluded and drawings for prizes commenced. Immediately following the prize


CEC member Jim Baker (right) said he was offended by the security at the meeting..


drawings, Mike Bailey, president of the CEC board of trustees, opened the floor for questions from co-op members.


What ensued was volley of questions and responses that offered insight into the frustrations of co-op members and CEC trustees alike.


Questions to Bailey ran the gamut from high bill complaints to employee salaries, board member compensation, right of way clearing, use of co-op equipment and solar power. One member wanted to know why CEC buys power from Western Farmer's Electric Cooperative.


"We don't generate electricity at CEC, we deliver it,” Bailey explained. "We buy it from Western Farmers because they are a generation facility, and a member of the Southwest Power Administration power pool.”


Tony Macon of Clayton stepped up and said he appreciated the programs that CEC offers to its members. “As for all these comments about our board members and what they did and didn’t do, well, aren’t you guys elected by us?” he said.


After roughly 45 minutes, the questions began to wind down. Bailey asked members with additional questions to please leave their names and telephone numbers at the nearby table, manned by co-op employees. “Someone will get back to you, I promise you,”Bailey said. He also directed members to the CEC website at www.choctawelectric.coop, where board member’s email addresses and telephone numbers are published.


The final comment came from a member as he stood to stretch his legs. "You don't get to get in front of the CEO and board members of most major corporations and ask questions, but you can sure do it here," he noted.


And that is the cooperative difference.


inside•your•co-op | 9


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