Looking Forward to the Annual Meeting on June 20

By Paul Erickson, Chief Executive Officer

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association’s annual meeting is next month—10 a.m., June 20 at the Cotopaxi Consolidated School. You are invited to join us.

SDCEA is an electric cooperative. A cooperative (or co-op) is a business operated and democratically controlled by its membership of owners to meet their common needs and aspirations. That means as a company we:

• Are owned by our member-customers. Electric service account holders are members of the co-op.
• Are a not-for-profit business. Excess profits (w ecall them “net margins”) are returned to members through ownership in the co-op (we call them “capital credits”).
• Establish rates by a board of directors elected from and by the membership.

At our annual meeting, members will be elected to serve on the board of directors, financial information about Sangre de Cristo Electric will be shared and guest speakers will talk about industry news. Other matters will be discussed, including questions taken from the audience. Our bylaws require an annual meeting open to our members because as a company, we are guided by seven cooperative principles.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership
   As an account holder with Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, you are a member. Membership in a cooperative is open to all persons who can reasonably use its services and stand willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, regardless of race, religion, gender or economic circumstances.
2. Democratic Member Control
   Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Elected representatives (i.e. directors) are elected from among the membership and are account- able to the membership.
3. Members’ Economic Participation
   Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative; setting up reserves; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4. Autonomy and Independence
   Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control as well as their unique identity.
5. Education, Training, and Information
   Education and training for members, elected representatives (directors), CEOs, and employees help them effectively contribute to the development of their cooperatives. Communications about the nature and benefits of cooperatives, particularly with the general public and opinion leaders, help boost cooperative understanding.
6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives
   By working together through local, national, regional and international structures, cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies and deal more effectively with social and community needs.
7. Concern for Community
   Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by the membership.

Sangre de Cristo Electric is your local provider of electricity, shaped by the communities we serve. Based in Buena Vista since 1940, SDCEA now provides electricity to rural consumers in Chaffee, Lake, Fremont, Custer and Saguache counties.

With this long-time presence in our area, we are also poised to meet the future, embracing new energy sources and technological advances in our field. We encourage our readers to read this newsletter; visit our website, myelectric.coop; or follow us on social media and learn more about your cooperative. Of course, if you prefer talking with one of our helpful consumer service representatives, give us a call with your questions about SDCEA.

We hope to see you June 20 in Cotopaxi.

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Join us for the 78^th Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Annual Meeting.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Cotopaxi Consolidated School
345 CR 12, Cotopaxi, CO

9 A.M. Registration
10 A.M. Meeting Convenes