April 2011
Mailing to Members Early May
Director Elections Will Now Include Vote-by-Mail Option Members now have the convenience of voting by mail to elect their board of directors starting with this year’s election. Coming to members’ mailboxes in early May will be director election materials, including information on candidates and a ballot proxy form for members to make their selections. To vote by mail, the form must be signed by the member and returned in the enclosed postage-paid envelope by the date specified in the packet. The ballot proxy must be mailed; it cannot be given to an employee or accepted at any Blue Ridge office. While members may still attend and vote for directors at the Annual Membership Meeting Saturday, June 11, 2011, at the Watauga County High School, the new vote-by-mail option is designed to provide a more convenient opportunity for members to be involved in their cooperative. With a service area stretching from the foothills into the mountains and across seven counties combined with busy family schedules, the new option enables members who can’t attend the annual meeting to vote for their board of directors. To ensure the integrity of the new vote-by-mail process, a third-party election management firm was selected by the Credentials and Election Committee. Made up of members from across the cooperative’s service area, this committee is responsible for ensuring elections are properly conducted and certifying director election results. Look for more information about the new vote-by-mail option in the director election materials mailing to each member in early May. Included in the materials will also be your cooperative’s annual report and information about the Annual Membership Meeting. One advantage of being served by a cooperative is the right to elect peers — other members — to serve on the board of directors to lead and guide their cooperative. The new option to vote by mail is designed to provide a better opportunity for more members to take part in this democratic process. Carolina Country APRIL 2011 29
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