Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors is made up of co-op member/owners – just like you. They are tasked with setting the policies and guidelines that Eastern Illini’s management team then carries out. Each year, three of the nine positions on the board are up for election. Board terms are for three years.
Credentials Committee:
The 2018 Credentials Committee met at the office of Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative in Paxton on Thursday, April 12, 2018 to determine the eligibility of candidates who had filed nominating petitions for the June 7, 2018 director election. Directors will be elected in Directorate Districts 3, 4 and 6. Attending the meeting were Herb Aden of Newman, Dale Gillette of Chatsworth, Roy Johnson of Penfield, Terry Kaeb of Hoopeston and Mark Waldbeser of Loda. In accordance with the cooperative’s bylaws, the Board of Directors appoints members of the Credentials Committee to serve a 1-year term.
Herb Aden was selected as chairman of the committee.
The committee reviewed the qualifications of Joel Hastings of Loda, District 3; Steve Meenen of Melvin, District 3; Bruce Ristow of Cissna Park, District 4 and Brad Ludwig of Fithian, District 6 who had each filed nominating petitions. No other candidates filed petitions. After reviewing the petitions, affidavits, and qualifications, the Credentials Committee determined that all candidates are eligible to serve as directors of the cooperative. There being no other business to come before the committee, upon a motion made by Mark Waldbeser, seconded by Dale Gillette and unanimously approved, the meeting was adjourned.
June 7, 2018 Election Information
| District 3 (Contested Election) | |
 Joel Hastings, Loda Candidate |
Joel Hastings is General Manager of Operations at Nexstep Commercial Products. He has responsibility for overseeing manufacturing and distribution for O-Cedar products. Hastings has over 30 years of business experience in transportation, distribution and warehousing. He has worked for SuperValu Distribution Center, ACE Building Center, CX Roberson and Prairie Farms Dairy. Hastings is a member of the Paxton First United Methodist Church and served on the Pastor Parish Board. He also served on the SuperValu Credit Union Board. Hastings is a graduate of McKendree University. He is the son of Dave and Judy Hastings of Paxton and the brother of Cliff Hastings. Hastings, and his wife, Mary, reside near Loda in Ford County. They have two daughters. Asti is a senior at McKendree University and Jolee is a sophomore at PBL High School. |
 Steve Meenen Melvin Incumbent |
Steve Meenen has served on the EIEC Board of Directors since 2006. He is currently District 3 Director and assistant secretary/treasurer. He received NRECA Credentialed Certification in 2008. He sees serving EIEC members as a privilege. He has served on many EIEC committees: executive, audit and finance, land use and facilities, and policy, regulation, member and public relations. These experiences have given him a solid background to help implement decisions for EIEC. Meenen believes cooperatives are one of the best ways to do business. He believes in the philosophy of servant leadership for the common good of the whole. He sees giving back to his community as a way to enrich his life and to help build better organizations. Meenen is a farmer, a DuPont Pioneer Hi-Bred seed sales representative and a highway commissioner in Wall Township. He resides near Melvin in Ford County, with his wife, Kimberly and sons, Mitchell and Spencer. |
| District 4 | |
 Bruce Ristow Cissna Park Incumbent |
Bruce Ristow was elected as a director of EIEC in 2006. He received the NRECA Credentialed Certification in 2008 and Board Leadership Certification in 2017. Ristow cares about his neighbors and his community and wants to do all he can in decision making to provide the best electrical service to EIEC members while being fiscally responsible. He is active in his church as Sunday school teacher and has served on the board of Eastern FBFM and 30 years as Fountain Creek Township trustee and clerk. Ristow farms and is a DuPont Pioneer Hi-Bred seed sales representative. He and his wife, Pam, reside near Cissna Park in Iroquois County. |
| District 6 | |
 Brad Ludwig, Fithian Incumbent |
Bradley J. Ludwig was elected as a director of Eastern Illinois Power Cooperative in 1985 and has served EIEC as chairman, vice chairman and is currently serving as secretary/treasurer. Ludwig has received the NRECA Credentialed Certification, NRECA Board Leadership Certificate, and the NRECA Director Gold Certificate. Ludwig also serves as Director for Prairie Power, Inc. and is finance committee chairman. Ludwig’s goal is to keep electric rates reasonably priced while providing excellent electric service to members. He takes his fiduciary duty very seriously. Much like his commitment to EIEC, Ludwig values the opportunity to belong to organizations where he can impact the community and people associated with it. He is a farm owner/operator and an insurance agent. He and his wife, Sally, reside near Collison in Vermilion County. |
If you can’t attend our annual meeting on June 7 to vote, consider filling out a Proxy Ballot and giving it to an Eastern Illini member this is going to attend.