As a member of FreeState Electric Cooperative, you will be sent this e-newsletter each month that provides important information, announcements, and news that may impact your account or service.

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March 2021
Important Notices
FreeState will be holding the annual meeting virtually this year due to COVID-19 and our concern for public safety. More information can be found on our website at. www.freestate.coop/annualmeeting.



Please be aware that the United States Post Office is experiencing some delivery delays. Please allow enough time for payments to arrive at the cooperative if you are using the mail. FreeState does not control the mail. 
Hello!
Here are a few helpful links
Your Vote Is Your Voice

Members Elect Representation.

Annual meeting season, as we like to call it here at the cooperative, has arrived. We’re beginning to prepare for the annual meeting and we’re doing so with an abundance of caution. FreeState will still report the financial health of the cooperative and elect trustees, but we’ll be doing it a little differently this year — we’ll be doing it virtually. The board of trustees discussed annual meeting at length and have decided that a virtual annual meeting is the safest way to report cooperative business in 2021.
As part of a cooperative, the trustees guide the business on your behalf. Each month, they examine challenges facing the industry and determine how issues will impact all consumer-members. Trustees have a great responsibility, committing time and effort to our members and the communities we serve.
This is why using your voice to vote in the trustee election is so important. It’s what makes the cooperative unique. It’s your chance to have your voice heard. You have one vote, so use it wisely. Take time to read their biographical information or ask questions about the candidates. These are your neighbors, friends and community leaders who have chosen to step up for the chance to lead your cooperative.
Each year, we have a nominating committee tasked with choosing qualified candidates from the applicants and presenting members with a slate of qualified candidates. I can tell you that our committee takes recruitment of trustees seriously.
On Feb. 9, the nominating committee determined the 2021 slate presented to you. On pages 16B and 16C, you’ll find that information. We’ll also be posting short videos from each candidate to introduce you to who is running for the board, their qualifications and why they think they deserve your vote. 
This year, you can expect your ballots to be delivered around April 1. The timing of this publication allows us to introduce the candidates to you this month and provide more information next month to help you decide who to vote for your representation.
All the information will also be available online at www.freestate.coop/annualmeeting. Candidate videos found at www.freestate.coop/candidates.

Annual Meeting FAQ

Information regarding our April virtual meeting.
On Feb. 9, 2021, members of the FreeState nominating committee appointed by the board of trustees met to present candidates for election to the FreeState board. The candidates listed are to be presented to the membership for consideration at the upcoming annual meeting on April 27.

Prior to the annual meeting, three board members will be elected. The results of that vote will be announced during the virtual annual meeting.

FreeState members will vote by an at-large system. Members can vote for any of the nominees in any district.

The 2021 trustee positions up for election are as follows:

East District Trustees
  • Ed Mullins
  • Michael McNary
  • Matt Turecek (incumbent)

West District Trustees
  • Bill Conley (incumbent)
  • Robert Sage (incumbent)

The two candidates with the most votes in the west district, and the candidate with the most votes in the east district will be elected to the board of trustees.

FreeState is governed by the policies set by our board, all of whom are FreeState cooperative consumer-members. Our board provides a vital connection with our membership and the community at large.

How can I vote?
We understand that not every member can attend the virtual annual meeting, but we want to make sure you can participate in the election.

Vote by mail
Ballots will be mailed beginning April 1, 2021, and will need to be returned by April 23, 2021, to ensure they are counted. It is easy to vote by mail. Simply complete the ballot using the instructions listed and return as directed in the postage-paid envelope provided. Please return the ballot using the postage-paid envelope. Do not bring ballots to the office.

Who do I vote for?
Candidate biographical information is printed in this magazine and will be reprinted in the April magazine for your reference. It will also be included with mailed ballots. The information printed has been provided by the candidates. To see candidate bio videos visit www.freestate.coop/candidates.

Vote to approve 2019 meeting minutes
No meeting was held in 2020 and that means the cooperative still needs to approve the 2019 minutes. FreeState is adding the minutes to the 2021 ballot packet and members will vote via mail to accept the minutes as presented, or to not accept the minutes as presented.
Meeting registration opens March 1. Voting begins April 1 and closes April 23. Mail-in ballots will be the only way to vote in 2021.
Members will vote for two trustees in the west district and one trustee in the east district. The top two candidates who receive the most votes in the west district and the candidate with the most votes in the east district will serve trustee terms.

Vote to Approve 2019 Meeting Minutes
No meeting was held in 2020 and that means the cooperative still needs to approve the 2019 minutes. FreeState is adding the minutes to the 2021 ballot packet and members will vote via mail to accept the minutes as presented or to not accept the minutes as presented. Members can find the minutes in the 2020 annual report or online at www.freestate.coop/19minutes.

Submit Any Co-op Business in Advance
Members who have cooperative business to bring to the board of trustees of FreeState Electric Cooperative are asked to fill out an online form found at www.freestate.coop/coopbusiness or call the office to file the business due to the virtual nature of the 2021 annual meeting. Submissions will be reviewed and the member will be contacted on how to proceed. Please submit business by April 23.
Please be aware that the United States Post Office is experiencing some delivery delays. Please allow enough time for payments to arrive at the cooperative if you are using the mail. FreeState does not control the mail. 
FreeState Electric Cooperative, Inc., is not subject to the jurisdiction, regulation, supervision and control of the Kansas Corporation Commission, except as specified in K.S.A. 66-104d(f). 
Privacy Policy 
FreeState is a consumer-owned and consumer-controlled electric cooperative. FreeState operates on a not-for-profit basis for the benefit of its member-consumers. Accordingly, the Board has adopted this Policy on Privacy of Member-Consumer Information to establish fair information principles for FreeState in carrying out its responsibility to respect the privacy of personally identifiable information about member-consumers.

Notice: FreeState publicly discloses its policies and practices for the collection, maintenance, use, and disclosure of personally identifiable information about member-consumers.   
         
Statement of Non-Discrimination
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
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