One of my favorite events is coming up on April 11, when Victory Electric will host our annual meeting for you, the members we proudly serve. I always look forward to this event because it’s a great opportunity for me and our employees to talk with our members and hear what’s on their minds.
We hope you’ll join us for the annual meeting, which will take place at the Western State Bank Expo Center in Dodge City. For those who are unable to attend in person, we will also offer a virtual option. The meeting will be live streamed on the Victory Electric YouTube channel and linked on all social media channels. Whether you attend in person or online, we thank you in advance for getting involved because your participation means so much to us.
During the annual meeting, we’ll share a few brief business updates on financial reports, recent projects, 2022 success and future growth of the cooperative.
Spending time with you and hearing your take on our community’s energy future is so important to us. In fact, it’s essential because everything we do is shaped by the members of our community. As I’m sure you know, the energy industry is in the midst of massive change. Consumer needs and changing technology impact nearly every aspect of how we manage and deliver energy to local homes, schools and businesses.
As we navigate major changes in the coming years, we need to hear from you and your neighbors to inform our planning as we strive to meet the long-term needs of all Victory Electric members.
You have a say.
You may be wondering if your opinion really makes a difference, and yes, it does! Gaining guidance and perspective from our members and board helps set priorities for the co-op and guide future decisions. At our annual meeting, we raise issues for voting consideration by the general membership (that’s everyone who pays for electric service from Victory Electric). The annual meeting is also a time for members to vote on the co-op’s board of directors.
Our board of directors comprises 11 members who live and work right here in our local service area, so they are in the best position to know where community investments are most needed. And by the way, we hope you’ll consider running for the board in the future — we’re always looking for folks who care about our community who would be willing to serve.
Your electric bill is an investment in our community.
This local input means those closest to the community know its needs and priorities and help direct where the co-op’s dollars are spent. Every year, we invest funds to make updates to our local system, which helps maintain reliability and grid resilience. Think of it this way: Every time you pay your electric bill, you’re investing in your community because the money we take in stays here in the local community. By making these investments in our local system, we can ensure you have reliable power for everyday life.
Most consumers likely don’t equate active involvement with their electric company with helping their community. But Victory Electric is not an ordinary utility company. We’re a co-op, and our business model is meant to serve the members and the community in which it operates.
Our core purpose and mission are to provide safe, reliable and affordable power. But as a co-op, we’re also motivated by service to our community, rather than profits. We hope you’ll exercise the benefits of your co-op membership and join us for the annual meeting on April 11. We look forward to seeing you!
—Shane Laws, Victory Electric CEO