Another annual business meeting is in the books after members participated in a telephone-style event on Aug. 3.
The meeting serves several functions, including being the culmination of several weeks of online and mail ballots for the board of directors. Members re-elected Jerry Dofflemyer, Bill Orndoff, Dr. Conrald Helsley and Robbie Marchant to the panel. Each incumbent was unopposed after no members submitted the required documentation to get on the ballot against them.
Dofflemyer, the current board vice chair, represents the central region of Page, Shenandoah and Warren counties. Orndoff is board chair and represents the northern region of Clarke and Frederick counties, and the city of Winchester.
Helsley represents Shenandoah County, while Marchant represents Winchester.
The board is in a transition period with the goal of going from 10 directors to nine and having three elections — one from the northern, central and southern regions —each year. The southern region covers Augusta, Greene, Highland or Rockingham counties, the city of Staunton, or any other county bordering Augusta.
In 2024, as part of the transition, one board seat will be up for re-election in Rockingham County.
Co-Op Business Discussed
The annual meeting also provides President and CEO Greg Rogers a forum to update members on pressing matters and answer questions. In his remarks, he offered status updates on large-scale projects such as SVEC’s fiber utility network and community solar facility. The fiber network, which will connect substations to improve grid reliability and security, is a complementary piece to the meter exchanged featured on pages 19-20 of this issue.
“We are working with members as we build out this fiber network across our service territory,” Rogers said. “SVEC is still on track to complete the planned construction for 11 segments in 2023.”
The community solar project, which is in Shenandoah County, is on track to begin operations in the coming weeks. Soon after, members will be invited to subscribe.
“SVEC’s community solar project gives our members access to solar and the ability to reduce their carbon footprint,” Rogers said.
To listen to a recording of this year’s annual business meeting, visit svec.coop.
–Report by Preston Knight, Manager of Communication, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative.