2015 Annual Membership Meeting Each NEC annual meeting is unique in some way, but the 2015 annual meeting October 8 was unique in a particularly meaningful way: It was the last annual meeting for John Sims as CEO of NEC. Both employees and board members of NEC recognized Sims for his decades of service to the co-op and his unwavering commitment to the co-op’s members. “We always remember that the members are who we work for,” Sims said, “and they’re the ones who pay the bills.” Video tributes to Sims and to the Co-op’s success in 2014 drew the attention of the crowd as it rolled on screens throughout the meeting hall at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown. Members lined up outside before the exhibit hall doors opened at 5 p.m. and, once inside, made their way through the registration line to get a ballot for the board of directors election and a ticket for the barbecue supper catered by Howard’s BBQ and Catering. Once registered, the members and guests cast their votes for directors at the voting booths that lined the path to the serving area. Co-op event coordinators prepared the meeting hall and set tables for a total of 1,780 members and guests, with approximately 1,166 members included. During registration and dinner, the crowd listened to big-band favorites presented by the Texas A&M Kingsville Jazz Combo. Outside, co-op staff members cruised the parking lot in golf carts to help transport members from their cars to the front door. Many of the children attending were in a hurry to eat sup-
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per so they could join the activities in the children’s area. As parents looked on, the children took part in craft activities, jumped and careened into one another in the inflated bounce house and made a personal connection with a chicken, duck, rabbit, pig or goat in the petting zoo. At a few minutes before 7 p.m., Board President Brian Menking alerted the band that they had time for one more number before the annual meeting began. After Menking called the meeting to order, Pastor Jason Fry of Grace United Methodist Church offered the invocation and the U.S. Navy color guard presented the colors while the jazz combo performed the national anthem. Menking then returned to the microphone to recognize special guests and get started on the co-op’s business. The minutes for the 2014 Annual Meeting were approved and Menking and NEC CEO John Sims reviewed the co-op’s business performance in 2015. Total annual revenue for the co-op was $82,293,230 with expenses of $74,300, 146 and a net margin of $7,993,084. Each dollar the co-op touches breaks down to 68 percent for purchase cost of power, 6 percent for distribution operations and maintenance, 6 percent to member services and information, 5 percent to taxes, 7 percent for administration and general expenses, 4 percent to net interest and 4 percent to depreciation. For this period, NEC returned $9.2 million in capital credits to its owner-members. NEC also awards $14,000 in scholarships. Nearly $20,000 goes to local agencies to help members pay their electric bills, and more than $135,000 to 30 area nonprofits.
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