This year — 2023 — is a special year for Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WEC).
That’s because in 1948, 75 years ago, NINE WESTERN KANSAS RESIDENTS took matters into their own hands and formed an electric cooperative, with a powerful vision to provide affordable and reliable energy to our rural farms and homes.
These pioneering individuals were tired of being left behind by big for-profit power companies that were not interested in making the investment to connect rural America to the national electric grid.
In 1950, thanks to loans made available through the RURAL ELECTRIC ADMINISTRATION (REA) and their own grit and determination, these founders who served as the first trustees of our grassroots cooperative welcomed an additional 2,246 members to WEC.
Their hard work and perseverance in our earliest years lives on through THREE-QUARTERS OF A CENTURY and shapes us into the powerful organization we are today, one that serves over 20,000 members, and delivers energy over 4,600 miles of power lines across 13 Kansas and three Colorado counties.
ATTEND
We cordially invite you to learn more about our powerful beginnings during our 2023 ANNUAL MEETING, WHICH WILL BE HELD APRIL 26, 2023, IN SCOTT CITY, and will be livestreamed in seven additional remote locations: Leoti, Tribune, Syracuse, Garden City, Great Bend, Harper and Caldwell.
As a WEC member, which is anyone who pays WEC for electric service, you are encouraged to ATTEND the meeting location most convenient to you, from where you will have the opportunity to NOMINATE, VOTE AND WIN some amazing door prizes!
As a MEMBER-OWNED organization proudly serving individuals, small businesses, farms and industrial partners, we look forward to this event and encourage participation because it’s an opportunity for us to visit directly with you and hear what’s on your mind.
Spending time with you and hearing your take on our community’s energy future is important to us. In fact, it’s essential because everything we do is shaped by you.
The energy industry is in the midst of massive change, and consumer needs and changing technology impact nearly every aspect of how we manage and deliver energy.
As we navigate these major changes in the years ahead, we need to hear from you and your neighbors to guide and inform our planning as we strive to meet the long-term needs of the communities we serve.
NOMINATE
You may be wondering if your opinion really makes a difference. Yes, it does!
The original founders of WEC intended for all members who joined the cooperative to have a say in how the organization is run, in the best interest of our membership at large.
In fact, voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, and members’ economic participation — just a few of our cooperative’s guiding principles — have held true since our earliest days, when our original trustees drafted our very first bylaws.
As A VOTING MEMBER, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO NOMINATE any candidate from the floor of the annual meeting from any meeting location. That candidate then serves as a “write-in” candidate at the meeting.
In addition, our bylaws also allow for NOMINATION BY A PETITION: 15 members, or more, can nominate any member as a candidate for trustee. These nominations by petition must be sent to Wheatland at least 40 days before the annual meeting in order for the candidate to appear on the ballot during the April gathering.
VOTE
In addition to the nomination and trustee selection process, we also raise other issues for voting consideration by the general membership.
Gaining guidance and perspective from members like you helps us set priorities for the co-op and guide future decisions, and these voting powers are something that our original founders intended every co-op member to hold and exercise.
In fact, our original “membership certificate” from 1948 explicitly expresses the following decree: “Each member of the cooperative, or in the case of a joint membership, he holders thereof jointly, or either of them, but not both, shall be entitled to one vote, and no more upon each matter submitted to a vote at all meetings of the members of the cooperative.”
Back then, to join the cooperative and gain electric service, members completed this signed membership certificate and also paid a $5 fee, which would be used toward the infrastructure and development of electric service in the region.
Today, it takes a lot more than $5 per member to make updates to our local system and maintain reliability and grid resilience so that we can ensure you have reliable power for everyday life.
Though many things have changed over 75 years, one thing has not: as a co-op member you have a say in how your co-op is run, and we invite you to EXERCISE THAT POWER ON APRIL 26.
WIN
One last (and best!) reason to attend your annual meeting — YOU COULD WIN BIG!
In addition to enjoying a catered lunch at all of our meeting locations, members in attendance will have the opportunity to win one of several dozen door prizes, which can range from small electric appliances, smart tech gifts, or possibly even a big credit on your next electric bill!
In fact, every member household in attendance will go home with a special member gift.
But best of all, for our grand prize giveaway this year, we’ll be giving away a red, retro Galanz fridge to one lucky co-op member from one of our meeting locations.
The 12 cubic foot top-freezer refrigerator has the look and feel of the fabulous old days with the appeal of a modern-day appliance — the best of the past and our present, just like our celebration this April!
Whether you attend in Scott City or one of our remote locations, we thank you in advance for getting involved because your participation means so much to us.
Most people don’t equate active involvement with their electric company with helping their community, but we’re no ordinary utility company. We’re a co-op.
Our core vision is to provide essential services that are safe, reliable, and competitively priced to enhance the lives of our members. We’re also motivated by service to our community, rather than profits. This allows us to fulfill our mission of DELIVERING ENERGY FOR LIFE.
We hope you’ll exercise the benefits of your co-op membership and join us for the annual meeting on April 26.
We look forward to feeling the power of our PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE WITH YOU!
