The past year has been full of tough decisions in service to the health and well-being of our members, employees and community. One of these was moving last year’s annual meeting online, with the hope to go “back to normal” this year. 

Fortunately, it seems we’re starting to see the other side of this pandemic. Unfortunately, we start planning this event in January each year. Because of that, we couldn’t predict where we would be by June, especially in these unprecedented times. Therefore, we decided we couldn’t take the risk of an in-person meeting in 2021. Your safety and health mean too much to us.

So once again, Noble REMC will be holding our Annual Meeting virtually on Saturday, June 5.

ANNUAL MEETING

How to attend

1. Grab a cup of coffee or tea the morning of June 5 and get cozy. The meeting will begin streaming at 10:30 a.m.
2. Open your phone, computer or tablet and visit facebook.com/nobleremc.
3. If you are prompted to log in but don’t have an account, simply press “Not Now” to continue viewing.
4. Watch the meeting, which will broadcast on our page as the top post, to learn the results of the board of directors’ election, the state of the cooperative and the members who won gift prizes for casting their vote.
5. Interact with us through comments, reactions and more!

If you would like to read over last year’s annual meeting minutes or review our 2020 financials before the meeting, please visit nobleremc.com/annual-meeting.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION

How to vote

All Noble REMC members will receive a paper ballot in the mail like last year. Mark your vote for your directors, tear off the ballot on the perforation and send it back in the prepaid return envelope.

Ballots must be postmarked by May 28 to be counted in this year’s election.

It’s so quick and easy, you don’t even need to set it down on the counter when you return from the mailbox. Have your pen ready, make your marks and send it right back!

New this year is the opportunity to write your name on your ballot to be entered into a drawing for gift prizes, which will be announced during the meeting. The prizes will highlight local businesses and activities in our community, with a side of REMC merch, and could be all yours!

NOTE: Please do not include any bill payments in the prepaid return envelope. We understand it’s tempting with the free postage, but these will not be opened until our credentialed ballot committee meets in June to tally the votes, possibly making your payment late if included. Instead, call our secure pay line or pay through SmartHub, which are both free options to you and available right from your home.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATES

District 3

Andrew F. Strack is a bus driver for East Noble School Corporation, as well as project manager for Cobblestone Golf Course and Event Center. He is the current director for District 3 and serves as secretary on the Noble REMC board. He is a member of the Kendallville Rotary Club. He and his wife, Yvonne, have four children and two grandchildren.

District 6

George D. Bennett is a retired banker, previously serving as the senior vice president and Albion branch manager for Campbell & Fetter Bank. He is the current District 6 director and recently earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director certification from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). He is also president of the Noble County Plan Commission, chairman of the Parkview Noble Hospital Board, and serves as a member of the Noble County Council, Albion Rotary Club and Parkview Health Board. He and his wife, Shelley, have seven children and three grandchildren.

District 7

Mark Demske is the owner and president of Biggby Coffee in Fort Wayne. He currently serves as the District 7 director and recently earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director certification from NRECA. He serves on the boards of Community State Bank and Community Foundation of Noble County. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife, Carrie, have two children.

The Noble REMC bylaws allow any qualified member to file a petition to seek election to the board of directors from the districts being elected that year. The filing period was not less than 60 days nor more than 150 days before the annual meeting. Notification of this election procedure was published in Indiana Connection in January, February and March, as well as posted at the REMC office. The individuals above have placed their names in nomination with 15 or more valid REMC member signatures. Their qualifications have been verified by an independent members’ committee.