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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Contact FreeState

March 2022

Notice

When mailing payments to the McLouth office, please address them using the PO Box.

Remit to:

PO Box 70

McLouth, KS 66054

NOTICE: Annual Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, at the Topeka FreeState Office. A meal will be served at 5:30, and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. Find out more information online at www.freestate.coop/annualmeeting.

Weather Can Impact Your Bill

When we experience prolonged winter temps, our heating systems work harder and longer, which can increase energy bills. Here are three tips to save.

2 Reasons Why You Should Attend FreeState's Annual Meeting

From CEO, Chris Parr

It’s annual meeting season here at FreeState and that means we’re preparing information, putting together our trustee election, and going through the processes that make being a cooperative member different. I’ve been asked, “why should I go to another meeting?”

The answer is because the annual meeting is more than a meeting. It’s an opportunity to engage with your cooperative because we work for each of you. Here are two reasons why you should attend the annual meeting on Tuesday, April 26.

Electing Your Trustee Representative

Each month, trustees represent you around the boardroom table. They are members just like you who take on the responsibility to review and carry out due diligence on policies that will affect every member of FreeState — including themselves. They are not shareholders, they are members fairly elected by the membership to serve three-year terms. Members who meet the trustee requirements according to the bylaws can run for a trustee position. While our trustee candidates for the 2022 election have already been slated, consider serving your cooperative in the future.

Staying Updated

The annual meeting serves as a place for members to get information on how the cooperative has done over the past year. It is a place to celebrate milestones and discuss industry trends that may impact members. It also creates accountability. Each year FreeState puts together an annual report available to each member that includes financial information, and insight into the overall performance of the cooperative. The annual meeting gives you an opportunity to ask questions and connect with FreeState trustees and staff and industry experts that can answer your questions directly.

There are other reasons to attend the annual meeting, but these two are what drive the staff at FreeState. We want our members involved. We encourage engagement and dialogue. We work for you, and we do our best to provide each member with an avenue to get the most out of your cooperative membership.

And, we’ll provide a meal and a free gift to the first 750 members who attend. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 26. We’ll see you next month!

Read Online

While the annual meeting will be back in person this year, voting via mail will be the primary way members can vote for their representation on the FreeState Board of Trustees. Members will vote for two trustees in the East District and one trustee in the West District.

The candidate receiving the most votes in the West District will be elected to a trustee position for a three-year term. The two candidates getting the most votes in the East District will be elected to serve a three-year trustee term. There is only one incumbent running in the East District.

Learn More About the Candidates

2022 Annual Meeting Information

Join us at the annual meeting of FreeState Electric Cooperative on April 26, 2022, at the Topeka FreeState office (1100 S.W. Auburn Road). Members attending will receive a $10 bill credit after registering. The first 750 members will be guaranteed a meal and attendance gift.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and the co-op will be serving food prior to the business meeting that will begin at 7 p.m.

At-Large Trustee Election

On Feb. 7, 2022, 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 26.

During the annual meeting, three board members will be elected. FreeState members will vote by an at-large system. Members can vote for any of the nominees in any district. The candidate receiving the most votes in the west district will be elected to a three-year term. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the east district will both be elected to three-year terms. The 2022 trustee positions up for election are as follows:

EAST DISTRICT

RALPH PHILLIPS (incumbent)
GARY COLEMAN
JAMI HEINEN
KAROL LOHMAN

WEST DISTRICT

MARK WULFKUHLE (incumbent)

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

How Can I Vote?

We understand not every member can attend the annual meeting, but we want to make sure you can participate in the election. Each FreeState member gets only one vote and every member has three voting options available.

Vote by mail
Vote at the annual meeting
Vote by proxy

Vote by Mail

Ballots will be mailed beginning April 4, 2022, and must be returned by April 22 to ensure they are counted. 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 FreeState office.

Vote at the Annual Meeting

The annual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at FreeState’s Topeka office. Members will be issued a ballot when they register if they have not voted by mail prior to the meeting.

Vote by Proxy

If you cannot attend the annual meeting and you forget to mail your ballot in time, you can vote by proxy. Complete the proxy form online at www.freestate.coop/annualmeeting and give it to another FreeState member or adult relative in the same home and they can cast the vote for you.

Annual Meeting FAQ

FreeState Electric Cooperative

800-794-1989

www.freestate.coop

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).

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.

Read the complete statement

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.

Read the complete statement

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