The board of directors establishes the basic business policies, the same as the board of directors of any other corporation. The board employs a manager who is responsible for all operational details.
Your board of directors is chosen through elections each year at the annual meeting. Each of the nine directors are elected for a three-year term and may be re-elected. Majority vote at the annual meeting decides who is elected. Terms are staggered; three directors are elected each year. Directors are limited to seven (7) successive three-year terms.
Any members, including incumbents, must be nominated by petition to run for the board of directors. Starting in 2013, any member wanting to be a director will need to obtain twenty-five (25) signatures on a petition to be eligible to run.
Your board of directors meets regularly on the fourth Thursday of each month at the headquarters in Camp Point. Your board, as required, holds additional special meetings. Directors receive no salary; they are reimbursed for travel expenses and receive a per diem for meetings attended.
Directors must receive electric service from the Co-op at their primary residence.They pay the same rates for electric service and follow the same policies as all other members. They are not eligible to serve on the board if they have any conflicting business interest.
What is Expected of a Director?
Director candidates often ask this question when they consider running for the board. Click here to see a list of the minimum requirements for an Adams Electric Cooperative director.
Additional details are provided in Adams Electric Cooperative’s Bylaws.
Request a Director Petition Form.
All meetings are held at the Adams Electric office unless otherwise specified. Monthly Board Minutes are posted after their approval at the subsequent board meeting.
Member who wish to attend a Board Meeting should please see Policy No. 126: Attendance at Meetings or Appearance by Members or Others Before the Board of Directors and utilize the Request Form.
Meet Your Directors
District #1
Eric Ewing from Rushville
Representing District #1, consisting of Astoria township of Fulton County and Littleton, Oakland, Buena Vista, Woodstock, Browning, Rushville, Bainbridge, Hickory and Frederick townships of Schuyler County.
Eric is serving his 6th year on the Board of Directors. He has earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director and Board Leadership Certificates.
District #2
Brent Clair from Loraine
Representing District #2, consisting of Keene, Northeast and Houston townships of Adams County and Augusta, Chili and St. Albans townships of Hancock County.
Brent is serving his 6th year on the Board of Directors. He has earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold Certificates.
District #3
Laura Meyer from Liberty,
President
Representing District #3, consisting of Gilmer, Columbus, Burton and Liberty townships of Adams County.
Laura is serving her 12th year on the Board of Directors. She has earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold Certificates.
District #4
Jim Ward from Mt. Sterling, Treasurer
Representing District #4, consisting of Mt. Sterling, Elkhorn, Ripley, Cooperstown and Versailles townships of Brown County.
Jim is serving his 8th year on the Board of Directors. He has earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold Certificates.
District #5
Kris Farwell from Plymouth, Vice President
Representing District #5, consisting of St. Mary township of Hancock County; Birmingham, Camden, Huntsville and Brooklyn townships of Schuyler County; Bethel and LaMoine townships of McDonough County.
Kris is serving her 11th year on the Board of Directors. She has earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold Certificates.
District #6
Tom Travis from Payson
Secretary
Representing District #6, consisting of Melrose, Fall Creek, Payson, Richfield, Beverly, and Quincy townships (south of Broadway Street) of Adams County; Kinderhook, Barry, Fairmount and Hadley townships of Pike County.
Tom is serving his 8th year on the Board of Directors. He has earned his NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold Certificates.
District #7
Rex Niekamp from Quincy
Representing District #7, consisting of Lima, Ursa, Riverside, Mendon, Ellington, and Quincy townships (north of Broadway Street) of Adams County; Rocky Run and Walker townships of Hancock County.
Rex is serving his 4th year on the Board of Directors. Rex has earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director and Board Leadership Certificates.
District #8
Glen Koch from Mt. Sterling
Representing District #8, consisting of Buckhorn, Lee, Missouri and Pea Ridge townships of Brown County.
Glen is serving his 4th year on the Board of Directors. Glen has earned his NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director and Board Leadership Certificates.
District #9
Becky Barlow from Clayton
Representing District #9, consisting of Camp Point, Clayton, Concord, Honey Creek and McKee townships of Adams County.
Becky is serving her 16th year on the Board of Directors. Becky has earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold Certificates.
Director Election Process
Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by a vote of the active members. If you have an interest in running for your district’s director seat, the information below outlines the process and eligibility requirements for prospective candidates. Additional information can be found in the bylaws or by calling Adams Electric Cooperative.
Eligibility Requirements
SECTION 4.02. Qualifications. (Bylaws, pages 17-18) No person shall be eligible to become or remain a Director of the Cooperative who is not a member in good standing of the Cooperative and receiving service therefrom at their primary residential abode: PROVIDED, that no more than one (1) such person per membership may serve on the Board of Directors at the same time. No person shall be eligible to become or remain a director of, or to hold any other position of trust in, the Cooperative who is not at least eighteen (18) years of age; is employed by the Cooperative; or has been employed by the Cooperative at any time during the preceding five (5) years. While a Director, and during the one (1) year immediately prior to becoming a Director, a Director or Director-candidate must not be, not have been; a close relative (a close relative is defined as a member of an incumbent Director’s family, including a brother, sister, spouse, ancestor or lineal descendant) of any existing Director, other than an existing Director who will cease being a Director within one (1) year; an existing, or close relative of an existing, non-Director Cooperative Officer, employee, agent or representative; employed by, materially affiliated with, or share a material financial interest with, any other Director; engaged in, nor employed by, materially affiliated with, or have material financial interest in, any individual or entity; (a) directly and substantially competing with the Cooperative; or (b) selling goods and services in substantial quantity to the Cooperative. Upon establishment of the fact that a Director-candidate lacks eligibility under this Section or as may be provided elsewhere in these Bylaws, it shall be the duty of the existing Board of Directors to disqualify such Candidate. Upon the establishment of the fact that any person being considered for, or already holding, a directorship or other position of trust in the Cooperative lacks eligibility under this Section, it shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to withhold such position from such person, or to cause such person to be removed therefrom, as the case may be. Nothing contained in this Section shall, or shall be construed to affect in any manner whatsoever the validity of any action taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, unless such action is taken with respect to a matter which is affected by the provisions of this Section and in which one or more of the Directors have an interest adverse to that of the Cooperative. No person shall be eligible to remain a Director of the Cooperative unless an incumbent Director completes all requirements for a Certified or Credentialed Director, as defined by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), within the first five (5) years of service, then an incumbent Director shall be eligible for an additional five (5) terms and a maximum of seven (7) successive terms. Provided, however, an incumbent Director must complete at least two (2) additional continuing educational offerings, as defined by Board policy, during a three (3) year period ending with the second (2nd ) year of each successive term to maintain eligibility as a Director under this Section 4.02, except such person may be appointed to fill an unexpired term without violating this provision.
Nomination Procedures
SECTION 4.06 Nominations. (Bylaws, page 21) Any 25 or more members acting together may make nominations by petition filed ninety (90) days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting and the Secretary shall post such nominations at the principal office of the Cooperative within thirty (30) days following the petition deadline. Requests for petitions will begin no earlier than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the Annual Meeting. Either husband or wife can sign the petition if a joint member. The Secretary shall be responsible for mailing to each member at least thirty (30) days before the date of the Annual Meeting, a statement of the number of Board Members to be elected and the names and addresses of the candidates nominated in each district. The Secretary shall be responsible for mailing with the Notice of the Annual Meeting, or separately, but at least five (5) days before the date of the Annual Meeting, a statement of the number of board members to be elected and the names and addresses of the candidates nominated by petition. The names of the candidates shall be arranged by district.
Voting Methods & Member Instructions
SECTION 3.06. Voting. (Bylaws, pages 15-16) Each member who is not in a status of suspension, as provided for in Section 2.01, or an inactive member as defined in Section 1.06, shall be entitled to only one vote upon each matter submitted to a vote at any meeting of the members. Voting by members shall be allowed upon the presentation to the Cooperative, prior to or upon registration at each member meeting, of satisfactory evidence entitling the person to vote. At all meetings of the members all questions shall be decided by the affirmative votes of a majority of the members present, except as otherwise provided by law or by the Cooperative’s Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws. Members may not cumulate their votes or vote by mail. Each member who is not in a status of suspension as provided for in Section 2.01, or an inactive member as defined in Section 1.06, may vote on any question properly before the annual meeting of members by casting an absentee ballot during regular business hours at the headquarters office of Adams Electric Cooperative or at any other location the Board of Directors may designate, not more than ten (10) days preceding the date of the meeting of the members.
Election Timelines & Deadlines
SECTION 4.03 Election. (Bylaws, page 19) At each annual meeting of the members, directors shall be elected by secret written ballot by the members and, except as provided in the first proviso of Section 4.02 of these Bylaws, from among those members who are individuals. Voting for directors shall be from the membership of the entire Cooperative at large and shall not be restricted to districts.
Future Election Years:
Districts 4, 5 & 6: 2026
Districts 7, 8 & 9: 2027
Districts 1, 2, & 3: 2028