Planning a major event is never easy, but in the middle of a pandemic, it’s just this side of impossible. The Kankakee Valley REMC staff considered a variety of options for our annual meeting before deciding a drive-in style would be the best way to ensure a fun event while protecting everyone’s health. Staff members planned carefully using past attendance numbers to make sure we would be fiscally responsible.
The amazing news: our annual meeting’s attendance far exceeded our most optimistic estimates! Our member-consumers enjoyed an entertaining evening featuring classic ’60s hits from the popular Indianapolis band 45 RPM. We had great food and shared valuable information about the REMC during our meeting. This was the second year we offered three voting options and we had a strong voter participation in this year’s meeting. The membership re-elected a veteran director and welcomed a newcomer, creating both continuity and a bright future for our co-op. We were happy to see many familiar faces and some first-time attendees as we greeted each vehicle at registration.
On the not-so-amazing side: the turnout was so strong we just didn’t have enough box dinners for everyone and member-consumers had to wait in a long line to get through registration. In addition, we ran into some technical issues while airing the virtual business meeting. We apologize to everyone who was delayed or didn’t get a meal, and we promise to do better next year. If you haven’t viewed the virtual business meeting yet, you can find it on our website at kvremc.com.
Despite those hiccups, we were extremely pleased. Why? Co-ops like ours are non-profit organizations owned by member-consumers and operated for their benefit by directors they choose. The fact that so many of you took the time to participate in the annual meeting says you’re interested in what we do and want to be involved with your cooperative. All of us at Kankakee Valley REMC are proud to serve you … and I’m already looking forward to seeing you on June 10 at the 2021 annual meeting.
