Concern For Community Takes Center Stage at The 81st Annual Meeting
On Thursday, April 25, 2019 Choptank Electric Cooperative members and Board of Directors assembled at The Milestone in Easton, MD to conduct the 81st Choptank Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting. The doors opened at 4:30 p.m. and members took advantage of various vendor booths including the electronic recycling station and Choptank Electric’s electric vehicle, learned new Coop information, asked questions to the Choptank Electric employees, and enjoyed light refreshments.
Various vendors on site included: the Choptank Electric Energy Efficiency display, Lineman Challenge demonstration, SmartHub and solar display, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC), vegetation management display, Aero Energy, Asplundh, and additional Co-op information.
The business meeting began at 6:00pm with Mr. Jeffrey Rathell, Chairman of the Board, introducing special guests, including Senator Adelaide Eckardt (R) from District 37, Delegate Johnny Mautz (R) from District 37B who also addressed the membership at the beginning of the meeting. Mr. Rathell also introduced Brandon Foy, Choptank Electric Cooperative’s Youth Leadership Council Representative, who spoke to the crowd about his experience with Youth Tour and how it would propel him into the future, where he will be enlisting in the Marine Corps. The Credentials and Elections Committee Chair, William Edwards, later announced that Mrs. Amy Brandt was elected to be the new Board of Director for Caroline County with 984 votes. Mr. Matthew Holloway, Board of Director for Wicomico County, and Mrs. Donna Richardson West, Board of Director for Worcester County, were re-elected to the board to represent their respective counties.
A total of 2,332 members voted this year in the election, with 743 votes made electronically, and 1,590 by mail.
Micheal Malandro, the new President and CEO of Choptank Electric Cooperative, reported to the membership about the Co-op’s plans for the future regarding broadband and how we, the Co-op, can better serve its members.
The business meeting ended with the drawing for door prizes that were bill credits ranging from $75-$500 and the Luck of the Draw Scholarship drawing, which awarded ten $1,000 scholarships, and two $2,000 scholarships, one in honor of David Bruning, who retired in September as board member from Worcester County and the other for Francis "Sonny" Callahan Jr., who will retired in April. There were 42 members who submitted their name for the scholarships.
The Annual Meeting was a huge success and Choptank Electric is looking forward to the 82nd Annual Meeting which will be announced in the 2019-2020 Member Guide.