One of my favorite events of the year is the annual meeting we host for you, the members that 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. While June 2 may seem a long time away, I encourage you to mark your calendar now and make plans to join us for this great event.

During the annual meeting, we’ll share a few brief business updates on the progress of the Orange County Fiber expansion and the general financial health of Orange County REMC. You will also have a chance to participate in the director election. But we’re going to have a lot of fun, too! We’ll have activities for the kids, tasty food, live music and several prizes.

Spending time with you and hearing your take on our community’s energy future is very 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 Orange County REMC members.

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. Our board of directors is made up of 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. (More information about how to run for a seat on the board of directors is published on page 8.) 

We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting on June 2!