Why run for OPALCO’s Board of Directors? Help lead us through the big shift to a clean energy future!
OPALCO is looking for qualified individuals to run for the Co-op board of directors. Nominations open on December 9th for two positions in District 2 (Orcas, Armitage, Big Double, Blakely, Fawn, Little Double and Obstruction islands) and one position in District 3 (Lopez, Decatur, Center and Charles islands). The board election takes place in April 2021.
Make History. OPALCO is in a strong position to build a sustainable and healthy energy future for our island communities. Your leadership could help to shape how your generation – and future generations – will energize their island lives. The work ahead will determine where we get our power, how much it costs and how to build reliability in these uncertain times. As a local run non-profit cooperative, we have autonomy over our power supply and can ensure our members come first.
What’s in it for me? Beyond the altruistic benefits of helping your co-op neighbors, OPALCO directors get paid a stipend for their time, are reimbursed for co-op travel, provided with industry training and are eligible for health insurance coverage. Co-op board service provides excellent leadership development opportunities.
What qualifications do I need? OPALCO board members work hard! OPALCO’s Board is made up of highly committed co-op members who bring diverse skills and experience to the leadership team. In addition to consistently attending all monthly meetings, there are issues to study, materials to review and participation in regional and national industry groups. OPALCO faces complex issues on a daily basis in areas of safety, construction and engineering, business and finance, legal, insurance, technology, energy, environmental and public policy, marketing and education. To run, you must be over eighteen and a high-school graduate, an OPALCO co-op member in good standing and a resident of an OPALCO district and have no conflict of interest. Get the full details at www.opalco.com/why-run.
Since 1937, OPALCO’s board members have built a proud legacy of progress ensuring safe, reliable and affordable power for our island communities. OPALCO is well admired and respected throughout the 900 electric co-ops in the nation for its innovative solutions and skillful management, beginning with the installation of submarine cables (1950-70s), to self-funding the undergrounding our distribution system (1990s), a successful county-wide broadband solution with Rock Island Communications (2014) and, most recently, Switch it Up!, our on-bill financing solution (2019).
Democratic member control is one of the many benefits of being a non-profit cooperative. If you are interested or know someone who would make a good candidate for the OPALCO board, please visit www.opalco.com/why-run.
Not ready to run? We are also looking for new members of our volunteer Elections & Governance Committee – to help cultivate board nominations and occasionally review co-op governance issues. Other ways to stay involved in the co-op include voting in all elections, round up your bill each month to help a neighbor in need and subscribe to our online newsletter at www.opalco.com. Question? Email communications@opalco.com.
