39TH EASTERN ILLINI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ANNUAL MEETING
We want to thank Eastern Illini members who attended the Annual Meeting on Monday, June 8th, at the First Christian Church in Champaign. It was great to be able to enjoy a sit-down fried chicken meal and talk with members, friends, and neighbors. We hope everyone enjoyed the food, music, and Home and Health Expo.
The business meeting kicked off at 6 p.m. Kevin Moore, Chairman of the Eastern Illini Board of Directors, welcomed everyone. Bruce Ristow, Vice Chairman, confirmed the notice and proof of mailing for the meeting. The meeting minutes and Treasurer’s Report were approved. Guy Hall, attorney for Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative, determined that quorum had been achieved.
He announced the board of directors’ election results:
District 2: John Wilken
District 5: Kevin Moore
District 9: Lauri Quick
Going forward, the success of our cooperative involves trust and value. We know our members trust us to provide safe and reliable electricity for their homes, farms, and businesses. You trust us to keep the lights on during the hottest days of summer, the coldest nights of winter, and during the storms that inevitably come our way. Trust is not built through words alone. It is built through actions. It is built by our employees who answer the phones. It is built by our line workers who work long hours restoring power after a storm. It is every employee who understands that serving our members is more than a job, it is our responsibility.
When people hear the word value, they often think only about cost. Value means receiving dependable service every day. It means investing in our electric system so that it remains strong and reliable. It means offering energy solutions that help our members manage their energy needs and improve their quality of life. As a cooperative, our focus is different. Our mission is not to maximize profits for outside investors. Our mission is to create value for the people we serve, you, the members who own the cooperative. That means being responsible stewards of your resources. It means balancing today’s needs with tomorrow’s opportunities. It means making decisions based on long term benefits rather than short-term gains. Trust and value work together.
At Eastern Illini, we earn trust by consistently delivering value. We create value because our members trust us to make decisions on their behalf. As we look ahead, the energy industry continues to change. New technologies will emerge. Regulations will evolve. Expectations will grow. In the midst of change, our mission will remain the same: Provide our members with safe, reliable energy solutions and exceptional service.
Following the annual meeting, the board held their reorganization meeting to elect the executive committee.
Officers are:
Chairman: Bruce Ristow
Vice Chairman: Chad Larimore
Secretary/Treasurer: Steve Meenen
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer: Kevin Moore
