Annual meetings are always a special time for me. I really enjoy getting to walk around and speak to our members one on one. After all, members are what electric cooperatives are all about.
I also enjoy seeing another very important component of the cooperative enjoying the day, our employees. Our employees work each year to make sure we have a successful meeting of our members. Everyone has an assignment and a smile on their face when the day finally arrives. I think the office personnel enjoy getting out one day of the year and being able to socialize with our members as much as I do.
Not to belittle their efforts to make the day run smoothly or their everyday tasks, but we have some employees who don't have the comfort of a nice office. They do their work in the middle of the night, during storms or on a sunny 93 degree afternoon. Whenever they're called, they report to work, leaving families at home. When disaster strikes our neighbors, they even leave for weeks at the time to lend a helping hand to people just like us who suffer through power losses. These are our linemen and during this year's annual meeting, I was especially humbled to be able to honor them.
Because April is typically Lineman Appreciation Month, April 18 lent itself for the perfect opportunity to thank these men for all they do. Roger Boyd a 2nd Class Lineman did an amazing job opening this year's annual business meeting by singing the national anthem. I felt a real sense of pride when the crowd gave Boyd and all his fellow linemen a standing ovation.
The 3,643 members who attended this year's meeting voted to re-elect Billy L. Morris, Jr., James E. Scott and Harry R. Walters for three-year terms. They also approved the bylaw change, which was highlighted in the previous edition of South Carolina Living.
With this only being my second annual meeting as Santee Electric Cooperative's CEO, I can't wait to see what next year has in store. Thank you to everyone who came and participated and congratulations to everyone who won a prize. I hope to see everyone again next year!
Robert G. Ardis III
President and Chief Executive Officer