■ New District 4 Trustee Board appoints replacement for retiring co-op trustee. page 2
■ Meeting Highlights Large crowd turns out for prizes and voting at Annual Mtg. page 3
■ Squash Casserole Fresh yellow squash takes center stage in a delicious side dish. page 4
Members Approve Bylaw Changes Lengthy process culminates in “yes” vote at Annual Meeting
fter 18 months of review, debate and discussion among
co-op trustees and legal counsel, it took members mere minutes to cast their ballot on changes to the East Central Electric Cooperative(ECE) bylaws. Members approved the changes by a vote of 764 to 279 at the ECE Annual Meeting on July 23.
General Manager Tim Smith said the board wanted to clarify certain sections to bring them up to date with state and federal laws, as well as co-op policies and practices. Changes included amending eligibility requirements for board members to include a board nepotism policy established in 1979 that prevents an individual from serving as trustee if a close relative has worked at the co-op within the past five years.
Other changes included broadening terms to allow multiple individuals living
operation roundup update
Operation Roundup funds support local charitable organizations, civic groups, youth programs, community services, and needy families and individuals. For more information on this voluntary bill roundup program, please visit
www.ecoec.com.
in the same household to apply for joint membership. The old language only specified husband and wife. “We serve areas near several college campuses, and there may be three or more students living in one house,” Smith pointed out. “Because of the new federal privacy laws, they all need to be listed on the account before we can discuss account details with them.”
countryliving A
SEPTEMBER 2015 PUBLISHED FOR MEMBERS OF EAST CENTRAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CROWD FLOW
Co-op members are directed toward the information and voting tent at the ECE Annual Meeting on July 23. The tent provided an area for members to review bylaw amendments in printed form, or on a large overhead screen, prior to casting their ballot. Co-op trustees and employees were readily available to answer questions about the changes or other issues.
East Central Electric Cooperative PO Box 1178 • 2001 S. Wood Drive Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447-1178 (918) 756-0833
www.ecoec.com
OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm.
POWER OUTAGE HOT LINE (918) 756-0833
Of the multiple amendments considered by members, Smith said the section on joint membership generated the most questions. “Some members seemed to confuse the issue with same sex marriage,” he said. “The reality is we are simply trying to accommodate the college students who live and work in our area.”
For more details on the ECE Annual Meeting, see page 3.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Lowell Hobbs, President
Larry Harvey, Vice President Dwight Luther, Secretary Treasurer Max Shoemake, Asst. Sec. Treasurer Ed Kloeckler Michael Vernnon Jim Hall
Tim Smith, General Manager PAYMENT OPTIONS
• Pay online at
www.ecoec.com using SmartHub, or download the app.
• Pay by phone using VISA, Mastercard or Discover at 866- 999-4584. Available 24 hours a day. Convenience fee associated with payments.
• Pay with cash or credit⁄ debit card at participating Moneygram or Pay Site locations. Convenience fee associated with payments.
• Pay using our drive-through window or lobby, Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm.
Figures to date: Applications reviewed...........................720 Applications granted..............................512 Applications denied................................198 Applications tabled...................................13 Scholarships awarded..................$149,000
Total Disbursements.........$1,214,219.15 Average member contribution............44¢
• Pay via automatic draft of your checking or savings account. Sign up online or download the ebill form for easy automatic payments at
www.ecoec.com.
Country Living is published monthly by East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Inc., 2001 S. Wood Drive, Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447. Second class postage paid at Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447 and at additional mailing office. Subscription price: 60 cents /year. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to
ECE Country Living, PO Box 1178, Okmulgee, OK 74447. country living |SEPTEMBER 2015 | 1
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