Although it is several months until Pee Dee Electric’s Annual Meeting on October 6, the election process for cooperative directors is rather involved and must start early.

Our cooperative has 10 directors elected for three-year terms on a staggered basis so that approximately one-third of the Board of Directors is elected each year. In accordance with the cooperative’s bylaws, a 10-member nominating committee is appointed. The nominating committee is composed of members who are not cooperative employees, agents, officers, directors, or a close relative of a current board member or a known candidate for director. The committee meets, nominates members for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting, and posts the results at the cooperative’s headquarters, which is located at 9825 U.S. Highway 74 East, Lilesville, NC. This year, the committee will nominate members for the cooperative’s Board of Directors from District #2, District #8, and one “At Large” member of the Board for election at the 2022 Annual Meeting.

• District #2 is composed of Lanesboro I and Lanesboro II Townships, White Store Township in Anson County, and the area in Marshville and Lanes Creek Townships in Union County served by Pee Dee Electric.
• District #8 is composed of that part of Richmond County east of NC Highway 38 south of Hamlet, east of NC Highway 177 north of Hamlet, and the cooperative’s service area in Scotland County served by Pee Dee Electric.
• In accordance with the cooperative’s bylaws, the At-Large director position eligible for election this year must reside in the cooperative’s service territory west of the Pee Dee River.

In addition, interested candidates may be nominated by member petition. The petition must be signed by 50 or more cooperative members and received in person at our office at least 70 days prior to the annual meeting. It is recommended interested candidates contact the cooperative to ensure the petition meets all bylaw requirements. This year, nominations by petition must be received in the cooperative’s office no later than July 28. This allows time to validate the petition, determine that the person nominated is a qualified member and the nominee is interested in serving as a director. It also provides time to include their names on the director election ballot. All nominations are closed 70 days prior to the annual meeting.

Section 5.02 of the cooperative’s bylaws outlines the qualifications to serve on or be elected to Pee Dee Electric’s Board of Directors. Listed below are some of those qualifications (additional qualifications can be found in the Cooperative’s Bylaws):

• Must be a cooperative member Have the capacity to enter legally binding contracts
• During the 180 days immediately preceding the Director Election, maintain their primary residential abode within the boundaries of the applicable Director District
• Must use, receive and purchase electric service at their primary residence
• Must not have a conflict of interest as defined by the cooperative’s bylaws
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Cannot be a convicted felon or have pled guilty to a felony
• Must reside year-round in Pee Dee Electric’s service territory
• Must be current in all respects regarding payment to the cooperative and not subject to disconnection for non-payment at their primary residence
• Cannot be a close relative of a Pee Dee Electric director or employee

Contact Pee Dee Electric’s office for a copy of the cooperative’s bylaws for complete information on the nomination process, director qualifications, and detailed election information.

I look forward to seeing each of you October 6 at Pee Dee Electric’s Annual Meeting, which will be held at Cole Auditorium on the campus of Richmond Community College.