Welcome to MEA’s 2020 Membership Election · 2020-03-10 · this election booklet for additional information on proposed bylaw changes and candidate information. Ballots must be

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(2021)

(2021)

(2020)(2020)

The 2020 MEA district seat elections include the Susitna West and Susitna East districts. The Susitna East seat represents the Wasilla area. The Susitna West seat represents the areas of KGB, Big Lake, Houston, Willow, Talkeetna and Trapper Creek. The Board District Map is available to the right and includes the year in which each Board district seat is up for election.

Only members residing within the district seat boundaries can vote for candidates running for that specific district. Please refer to your enclosed ballot or your SmartHub account to determine which voting district you are in. All members will be voting on bylaw changes and an advisory vote in the 2020 election. Applications of district candidates were reviewed by the member-led Election Committee to ensure candidates met all minimum bylaw requirements. The proposed bylaw changes were developed by the member-led Bylaw Committee and were approved by the MEA Board of Directors. Please refer to this election booklet for additional information on proposed bylaw changes and candidate information. Ballots must be received at MEA offices by April 20, 2020 at 5 p.m.

The Bylaw and Election Committees, and the Election Overseer, are guided by MEA’s bylaws. During the election their purpose is to ensure fairness, transparency, and all bylaws are followed. You can view an electronic copy of MEA’s bylaws at www.mea.coop or request a hard copy at any MEA office.

Welcome to MEA’s 2020 Membership Election

MEA Voting Districts(Number in parentheses notes next district election year.)

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Log in to your existing SmartHub account or sign up for a new SmartHub account by visiting MEA’s website and selecting the ‘Account Login’ icon.

*Please note voting must be completed via the SmartHub website (not the app).

Once logged into SmartHub, select the ‘Vote Now’ option in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. You will be directed to another site to view candidate info and submit your vote.

Follow the instructions to cast your vote electronically.

SmartHub votes must be completed by 5 p.m. on April 20.

Fill in your hard copy ballot and sign the return envelope on the back.

Member signature is required so the MEA Election Overseer can verify it. Your vote will only be counted if the signature matches the one on your member application. Spouses and domestic partners may not sign for one another unless they have a joint membership.

Only the names listed on business accounts are authorized to vote.

Return your ballot via the postage-paid envelope included with this packet. Send only through the U.S. Mail.

Ballots dropped off at MEA cannot be accepted.

Any ballot received after April 20 at 5 p.m. will not be valid regardless of its postmarked date.

Make Your Voice Heard - 3 Ways You Can Vote

Bring a photo ID and attend the Annual Meeting on April 21 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. Registration opens at 5 p.m. Meeting begins at 6 p.m.

During registration, if you have not already submitted a mail-in ballot or voted online, you will be given a paper ballot.

*Please note the ballot you received in the mail cannot be used to vote at the Annual Meeting. You will be issued a new ballot to vote at the meeting.

Members attending and voting at the Annual Meeting will be able to hear candidate speeches. Voting will close five minutes after candidate speeches have been completed.

Online with SmartHub By Mail In Person at the Annual Meeting

Questions about your SmartHub account, membership or the MEA Annual Meeting? Contact MEA Member Service at (907) 761-9300 or (907) 689-9300.Want to learn more about voting or have issues casting your ballot? Call the Election Overseer’s Help Hotline at (855) 761-9111.

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Bylaw Change ProposalsRespectfully submitted by the Bylaw Committee for inclusion on the 2020 MEA ballot for vote by the MEA membership.

Bold Italic Text = Recommended Additions Crossed Through Text = Recommended Deletions

1. Adjust Board of Directors election schedule so At-Large Directors’ terms are staggered.

Change Article IV, Section 2, third sentence to read:

‘The terms of the directors shall be staggered, so that two District Directors shall be elected one year in year one, two one District Directors the next year and one At-Large Director in both year 2 and 3 , and the one At-Large Directors the third year in year four.’

Justification: This change evenly rotates each of the three At-Large Board seats along with one district seat to be on the ballot in each of three consecutive years of a 4-year election cycle with elections in the fourth year including 2 remaining district seats. The goal of this redistribution of At-Large seats is to increase member engagement and voter turnout. In addition, the change reduces the number of possible board seats up for election in a year from three to two, assisting with continuity of governance and purpose.

2. Reduce time a candidate has to withdraw from the election to five days after filing deadline.

Change Article IV, Section 4(d) to read:

Candidates approved by the Election Committee who wish to withdraw and who do not wish to have their names appear on the ballot must deliver to the Association in writing their written wish to withdraw to the Association not more than 5 business days after the filing deadline at least sixty (60) days before the annual membership meeting.

Justification: Currently, generous timelines create potential delays and inefficiencies in the election process. This would change the number of days a candidate has to withdraw from the election to better meet printing and other key deadlines and would still allow the candidates to reconsider their commitment without placing undue burden on the efficiency of the election process.

3. Provide additional reasons for Director removal by the Board of Directors.

Change Article IV, Section 6 to read:

Directors absent from three (3) consecutive regular board meetings without leave of absence granted by the Board of Directors may be summarily removed from office by the Board. The Board, in its discretion, shall take such action by

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declaring the office vacant and proceeding forthwith to fill such vacancy in accordance with the provisions of Article IV, Section 7, of these Bylaws; provided, however, that written notice of such contemplated action has been given to and received by all the directors at least seven (7) calendar days before the time of the meeting at which such action is to be considered. Failure to comply with Board requirements may also be reason for removal.

Justification: Currently the only reason for the board to remove a fellow director is based on the number of unexcused absences. This change would allow the board to consider existing board policies and other stated requirements when holding a board member accountable for their actions.

4. Clarify procedures for member submittal of a Bylaw amendment.

Change Article XII, Section 3 (a) and (b) to read:

Following one of the below captioned procedures, a A member may have a proposed amendment of the Bylaws placed on the official notice to the members, if such amendment is consistent with applicable law, by one of the following procedures:

(a) Submission Procedures (choose one)

(a i.) Filing the proposed amendment in writing together

with a petition signed by at least ten per centum (10%) of the members or 300, whichever is the lesser, with the Secretary of the Association at least ninety (90) sixty (60) days before the meeting; or

(b ii.) Filing the proposed amendment in writing with the Board of Directors at least ninety (90) sixty (60) days before the meeting for its consideration and decision for placement on the official notice; or

(b) Bylaw Committee Review

(i.) A properly submitted bylaw amendment proposal shall be presented by the Secretary of the Association to the Bylaw Committee for review and comment.

(ii.) During the Bylaw Committee review, the member will be offered the opportunity to discuss their proposed bylaw with the board and/or bylaw committee.

Justification: The current bylaws do not allow adequate time for board research and consideration, nor provide an avenue for Bylaw Committee review as representatives of the broader membership. This change would allow the board to consider existing policies and other requirements ahead of a decision and provides Bylaw Committee review to ensure the membership perspective is included in any decision.

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Member Advisory Vote An advisory vote is used to understand the members’ direction on a specific issue. A “YES” vote means the MEA Board should pursue the course of action. A “NO” vote means they should not.

Submitted by MEA Bylaws Committee:

Should the MEA Board, in conjunction with the member-led Bylaw Committee, undertake a review of the MEA Bylaws to make them more readable and understandable while retaining the unique needs and character of the cooperative?

Justification: The current bylaws have undergone 75+ years of amendments and clarifications based on specific circumstances and modernization. The result is a set of bylaws that are confusing and provide unclear, vague or overly detailed direction. They also do not reflect some changes and enhancements in communication and voting practices that are now available.

MEA is considering revising its bylaws to align with national cooperative best practices, while keeping necessary local provisions. The goal is to make the bylaws easier to read and

understand by all members and to provide a guiding document that can inform more workable board and management policies.

NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) has a nationally recognized Bylaw Revision Guide that includes national standards for rural electric cooperatives. As a part of their listed duties, MEA’s Bylaw Committee has conducted a preliminary review of both the existing bylaws as well as the model bylaws. Based on that work, the committee is proposing this re-alignment as a necessary and responsible action for MEA.

No changes will be enacted until there has been a comprehensive review by the MEA board and full disclosure and explanation to the membership. Approved results of the study will then be proposed to the membership for a vote.

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District Seat 2020 Election CandidatesSusitna West and Susitna East

Candidate elections are only applicable to MEA members located in the Susitna East and Susitna West Districts for the 2020 election.

Please refer to your ballot for your district designation.

MEAGAN | ENGINEERING ADMIN Helping our Engineering Department assist members.

Bill Kendig Susitna West District, Incumbent

Content below is published exactly as submitted by the candidate.

How many years have you lived in MEA’s service area? 32 years

Why I wish to serve on MEA’s Board of Directors (200 word maximum): The last 4 years I have served on the MEA Board of Directors, I really didn’t know what to expect, but it has been a rewarding experience. First of all, MEA has continually offered me education, so I not only have a better understanding of how an electric co-op works, but also how the Boards function. First level is the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, second is the Board Leadership Certificate, and finally is the Director Gold Certificate. Being a part of this organization has been an inspiration. From the CEO and his Senior Staff, and all of the Union Members, to the smiling cashiers that collect your money, thus is truly a very professional and dedicated group that has been my privilege to serve with.

Some of the things we work on behind the scenes: Transco was an effort by an outside FOR PROFIT group to try to form an organization to run all utilities in the Railbelt. This would have added an additional cost to MEA Members of about $6 Million a year, forever. We stopped it, dead in it’s tracks!

MEA’s Earthquake Response, Team members, from top to bottom, responded immediately, some without even checking their own property.

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Biography (400 word maximum):I have been in the Mat-Su Valley for over 32 years. I am very civic and community minded, serving on the Knik-Fairview Community Council since 1999. I am the current president. At the Community Council we have fought for such things as the KGB Road upgrade, fighting for a safe design and currently in discussions for adding lighting.

I enjoyed serving on the Mat-Su Planning Commission, and am currently on the MEA Board of Directors. One of my functions, which I find very satisfying, is a seat on the MEA Charitable Foundations and being able to help so many charities.

Also, I currently have a seat on the Board of Directors for the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, (AIDEA), who’s mission is for economic development and job creation throughout the State of AK.

In short, I am very civic and community oriented not just for the Mat-Su Valley, but for the entire State. Having a seat on the MEA Board and AEA helps me with the development of clean energy such as the recent Solar Farm project in Willow. This project has developed clean energy at no additional cost to MEA Members. That allows MEA to stick to its Mission Statement, to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy. I love what I do, and would be honored to serve the members for another term.

Randall D. Kowalke Susitna West District

Content below is published exactly as submitted by the candidate.

How many years have you lived in MEA’s service area? 9 years

Why I wish to serve on MEA’s Board of Directors (200 word maximum): In past years I have served a PUD Commissioner for the largest PUD in Oregon (Central Lincoln PUD), been a fiber/ISP consultant to Okanagan PUD in Washington State, been employed by Umatilla Electrical Cooperative in Oregon as Manager of all non-electric business (DirecTV, Fiber, 5000-line Phone Company and ISP). Additionally, I have been employed by CASCO Communications which was owned by Consumers Power, Blachly Lane Electric and Pioneer Telephone as Chief Operating Officer. All three of these companies are Oregon Cooperatives. CASCO is an ISP (PEAK INTERNET). I understand the “COOPERATIVE WAY”.

My goals in serving on the MEA BOD include but are not limited to the following:• Keeping the lights on!• Continuing to work to supply reliable power at the lowest possible cost.• To provide Five/Nines reliability. Lights on 99.999 percent of the time!• To participate actively in the Railbelt Reliability Council (RRC) to achieve better reliability and ultimately lower energy costs.• To work with new technologies and producers of alternate energy sources to economically integrate into the MEA system.

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I understand the industry and Cooperatives’ and ask for your support in electing me to the BOD!

Biography (400 word maximum):Randall Kowalke, is a recent Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly member representing District 7 which encompasses 18,500 square miles of the West Virginia sized Borough (70% of the Borough land mass).

Randall is a highly respected and accomplished Alaskan whose friends describe him as loyal, confident, and engaging. His compendium of experience resulted in him being appointed to the Alaska Senate by Gov. Bill Walker as well as being selected to represent the Matsu Borough as part of the Governor’s Trade Mission to China.

Additionally, his professional relationships have earned him accolades for an award- winning film on ANWR development and his unique representation of the Alaska Oil Industry to Congress and other national audiences.

Randall and his wife Karen have been married for 44 years and originally came to Alaska in 1975 when he was part of an engineering firm that had the design and construction management contract for the water and sewage treatment facilities for ARCO and BP on the North Slope. Randall’s early career included stops at an iconic Alaskan enterprise, Alaska

Industrial Hardware (AIH) and a number of oilfield service companies. At AIH he excelled as the general sales manager and adeptly improved the businesses profitability. Later, as a project manager for the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation assisting in bring FEDEX and UPS to Anchorage and then Vice President of an multi-million- dollar oilfield service contractor, Randall demonstrated his ability to see complex projects through from beginning to completion and made his mark on helping to build the backbone of Alaska’s developing resource infrastructure.

Randall has helped a number of companies in leadership roles such as vice president, marketing manager, general manager, project manager and consultant. Each of these dynamic and essential positions enabled Randall to improve the effectiveness and performance of companies he worked for in international oilfield services, sports equipment manufacturing, forest products and business communications technology (which included a fiber network, several internet service providers and a small rural phone company).

Randall’s hobbies include spending time with his grandchildren, snow-machining, 4 wheeling and his serious interest in outdoor photography.

Randall is a committed public servant!

Molly WoodSusitna West District

Content below is published exactly as submitted by the candidate.

How many years have you lived in MEA’s service area? 15 years

Why I wish to serve on MEA’s Board of Directors (200 word maximum): This is a time of change and opportunity for Alaskans. Affordable, reliable power will ensure a prosperous future for everyone. I want to serve on the MEA Board to represent community interests and support MEA in its efforts to addresses energy issues facing the Railbelt. I applaud MEA’s leadership working with other utilities and decision makers to promote efficient and integrated planning. MEA’s work on state legislation (SB123) is an example of the leadership we need to ensure that electricity will be reliable, affordable and shared throughout the Railbelt grid. I also support transmission infrastructure improvements to reduce bottlenecks and waste, access for independent power producers and increased storage capacity for renewable energy and peak production. As a member from the Northern Valley, where we experience outages, improved reliability of the grid needs to be a priority. Finally, I believe MEA members can benefit from the governor’s vision of advancing renewable energy if done right. MEA’s Eklutna station is an important asset in realizing this goal. It will allow flexibility and reliability while we develop energy from renewable sources, which in turn can keep consumer prices stable if the cost of fuel rises. I am committed to supporting this effort.

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Biography (400 word maximum):I am a Senior Partner at Meridian Institute, where I have worked for 20 years as a mediator and strategic planner on water, energy, fisheries and other policy issues. I am passionate about the potential we have in Alaska to design innovative infrastructure services so that our economies thrive and our energy, water, waste and food systems are secure and affordable.

My work focuses on designing and facilitating collaborative processes that help diverse groups work together effectively and build trusted relationships. I have facilitated numerous organizational strategic planning processes. As a Senior Partner, I lead the management of our organization of 35 people, overseeing effective business systems, budget management, personnel management and organizational strategy. I am responsible for building and managing effective project teams. Examples of projects I have led as the facilitator, workshop designer and/or strategic planner include:

• Ocean Acidification Adaptation Decisions for Alaska’s Salmon Fisheries; Stakeholder engagement, with the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at UAA, UAF, and U of WY (ongoing)• Building a Sustainable Economy in Bristol Bay, Regional Strategy Sessions (2018, 2019)• Water Resource Recovery: Utilities of the Future, a gathering

of experts on recovering resources from urban wastewater systems, including energy (2015, 2017, 2018)• Innovations in Food, Energy and Water, a National Science Foundation project to bring scientists and engineers together to share their work (2017)• US Water Alliance, Board of Directors, Strategic Planning Retreat (2018)• The City Upstream and Down: How Integrated Water Resources Management Can Help Cities Manage Water Resources Sustainably (2018)• Alaska Women’s Adaptation Network Initiative (2019)

When I am not working, my husband and I are perfecting off-grid systems at our cabin in Chase or fish camp on the west side of Cook Inlet. I am most happy in the garden and most inspired when connecting with my dedicated neighbors and community members on an important local cause.

-End of Susitna West Candidates-

Robert DoyleSusitna East District, Incumbent

Content below is published exactly as submitted by the candidate.

How many years have you lived in MEA’s service area? 37 years

Why I wish to serve on MEA’s Board of Directors (200 word maximum): I wish to continue my service to Matanuska Electric Association and lead in our mission to provide reliable and affordable power to our growing membership. For over 75 years, MEA has met our members’ increasing need for electrical power. Now we own and operate Eklutna Generating Station which can provide up to 170 Megawatts of power with the lowest grams of carbon output per kilowatt hour in the railbelt. This dual fueled power plant supports renewable wind and solar power with a reliable base load. We have increased our use of renewable and affordable hydro power. The Board has worked with staff to improve our performance and we are always open to a better idea. We improved our equity levels and restored the payment of capital credit retirements. We were prepared for emergencies such as the recent earthquake. We are always trying to find the right balance to serve your long term interests. Our focus has been on safety, reliability, affordability, and your peace of mind. We are not for profit and we are locally controlled. I am asking for your vote.

Biography (400 word maximum):I was elected to the Board in 2010 and have served for the past nine years never missing a meeting. During my tenure on the Board, I have successfully

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completed training as a Credentialed Cooperative Director, the Board Leadership Certificate, and the Director Gold program through National Rural Electrical Association (NRECA). I have served as your Board’s Secretary/Treasurer for three years. I have served on and chaired the finance committee and the audit committee. I have worked with the entire Board in policy reviews and improvements. I was happy to help our team of Board members and staff to open our Eklutna Generating Station, and to improve our equity level and restore capital credit retirements. MEA has been prepared and very responsive during emergencies. We continue to work hard to with other utilities to improve and strengthen reliability throughout the railbelt. We are incorporating more and more renewable power including hydro, solar, and wind. We have the lowest grams of carbon output per kilowatt hour in the railbelt. I am proud of our accomplishments and I am asking for your vote to serve another term.

Join Us for the Annual Membership Meeting

Official Notice2020 MEA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGNotice is hereby given pursuant to Article III, Sections 1 and 3, of the bylaws of Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. that the annual membership meeting of the Association will be held on Tuesday, the 21st of April, 2020 at Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center. The doors will open and registration will begin at 5 p.m. and the business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Members who register at the Annual Meeting will receive a $10 credit applied to their primary MEA account and will be eligible for door prizes. Members must be present to win.

Dated at Palmer, Alaska this 28th Day of February 2020.

Director Bob Doyle, Secretary-TreasurerMatanuska Electric Association, Inc.

L O C A T I O N

CURTIS D. MENARD MEMORIAL SPORTS CENTER 1001 S. CLAPP ST. WASILLA, AK

D A T E / T I M E

APRIL 21, 2020 REGISTRATION BEGINS AT 5 PM MEMBERSHIP MEETING BEGINS AT 6 PM

Palmer163 E. Industrial Way(907) 761-9300Outages: 746-POWR (7697)

www.mea.coop

Eagle River11623 Aurora Street(907) 694-2161 Outages: 696-POWR (7697)

[email protected]

PO Box 2929Palmer, AK 99645

Members who register at the meeting will receive a $10 bill credit and be entered to win door prizes.

Wasilla1401 S. Seward Meridian Parkway(907) 761-9500Outages: 746-POWR (7697)