SVEC’s board and select staff gathered at the headquarters in Rockingham County, Va., for the telephone town-hall-style event. More than 100 members registered to receive a call to participate. The cooperative met its quorum requirements for the business meeting through members who returned proxy cards or voted online for the director election.
SVEC corporate attorney Dale Davenport announced members reelected Howdyshell to the board for the seat designated to Augusta/Highland counties. Of the 6,358 valid votes cast, Howdyshell received 56.8% of the tally while candidate Shaun Mooney received 43.2%.
Larry Howdyshell
Members voted online and by mail for several weeks leading up to an Aug. 9 deadline. SVEC’s board does not vote proxies in relation to the election of its directors. The election results are tallied from individual member selections of a given candidate.
Out of 10 director seats, Howdyshell’s was the only one up for reelection in 2021. He will serve another four-year term, adding to a tenure that began in 1992. Howdyshell has served as secretary/treasurer, vice chair and chair of the board. He has completed the Credentialed Cooperative Director program and received the Board Leadership Certificate through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He also has the Director Gold Certificate, the highest level of board certification.
The rest of the meeting provided members with customary business updates to include reports from Board Chair Dr. Conrad Helsley and President and CEO Greg Rogers, a question-and-answer session, and the announcement of 12 winners for a $250 bill credit. Helsley also surprised Davenport with a resolution from the board commending him for 29 years of service to co-op members. Davenport, who works at Hoover Penrod PLC in Harrisonburg, is retiring at the end of August.
An audio recording of the event is available at www.svec.coop.
—Report by Preston Knight, Public Relations Coordinator, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative
Above photo: SVEC Board Chair Dr. Conrad Helsley (l) and President and CEO Greg Rogers (c) present retiring SVEC corporate attorney Dale Davenport with a resolution from the board commending him for 29 years of service to co-op members.