Election Process

Nominating Committee

Each year the board of directors must appoint seven individuals, one from each voting district, to represent their district on the nominating committee. The cooperative seeks individuals interested in serving on the nominating committee by asking for volunteers in newsletter announcements and on the cooperative website. The cooperative also mails a letter to the members of the districts up for election asking for volunteers interested in serving on the nominating committee or willing to run for director. Members of the nominating committee are responsible for approving members who wish to run for director and place their names on the ballot for election.

Nominating committee members meet one time in June at the REC headquarters in Marion for a dinner meeting. At the meeting, the committee member from districts that are up for election present the names of individuals who wish to run for the board of directors. The full committee reviews and approves the slate of candidates to be placed on the ballot for that year’s election. The dinner meeting usually lasts about two hours. The cooperative encourages all of its members to take an active role in the election process.

Election

Director elections are held each year on a rotating basis. Each director is elected for a three-year term. Ballots and candidate biographies are mailed out early in September and members may cast their vote by mail or at the annual meeting. Elections take place at the cooperative’s annual meeting in September.